Callum looked back to Gregor then to his mother and asked, “Perhaps one of you would like to tell me why I lived my life free of the burden of this knowledge?”
Regan stood and placed her hand beseechingly on the desk. “What would it have gained? You already knew she was human and struggled with that. To know her human existence on this earth was shorter still…”
Regan trailed off as her eyes slid away and she caught her lip between her teeth.
Callum stared at his mother, unwilling to process the emotions that were smoldering inside him.
Then he looked to Gregor. “And Yuri?”
“Let’s just say that Mac and I disagreed as to when you should meet your mate,” Gregor responded vaguely.
“Why don’t you fully explain that?” Callum shot back.
Gregor exchanged a glance with Regan as she sat back down.
Then he looked back at Callum. “Mac knew you. He knew you’d want to have control of the meeting, the courtship, the claiming. He knew you’d go after her when you were ready.”
When he stopped speaking, Callum prompted curtly, “And?”
“You were taking too long,” Gregor immediately replied.
“I wouldn’t have taken so fucking long if I knew she was dying,” Callum bit out and it took him everything he had not to roar the words. “Which brings us back to the fact that you,” his eyes included his mother in his words, “knew this fact and you didn’t share it.”
“It’s forbidden for you to see The Prophesies,” Regan stated quietly.
“Lucien has seen them,” Callum returned.
“He did, indeed.” Gregor put in steadily. “But he wasn’t able to see all of them, however, only the parts we allowed him to see.”
“Maybe someone can explain to me again why the major players in these Prophesies can’t fucking read them?” Callum commanded through suggestion then finished with eyes narrowed on Gregor, “Or all of them.”
“You’ve asked that question before, Callum –” Regan began.
“And I never liked the goddamned answer,” Callum cut her off.
“Do you think we like this?” Regan retorted hotly. “Do you think it’s been easy for me to keep this from my son?”
Before Callum could reply, Gregor spoke.
“I understand what you’re feeling, Callum,” Gregor said quietly. “And trust me, it doesn’t stop the pain even knowing for all these years.”
Regan shot Gregor a look but Callum missed it because he sat and swiped his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
Then he looked at Gregor and changed the subject. “So you and Yuri decided to speed things up by putting Sonia in danger?”
“She was never in any danger. Why do you think we arranged for the information to be leaked to Saint that the rebels were amassing?” Gregor replied smoothly.
Callum leaned forward and clipped, “They broke into her house in the middle of the night, put their hands on her and terrified her.”
“Yes, but she was unhurt,” Gregor remained calm.
“She was thrown across the room,” Callum hissed. “Hit her head and went unconscious. That is not unhurt.”
Gregor held Callum’s furious stare and rejoined, “We did what we had to do.” When Callum opened his mouth to speak, Gregor went on quickly, “And, even as angry as you are right now, you can’t have any issues with the results.”
Callum sat back.
The cold-blooded bastard was right.
Callum had planned to meet Sonia at her Christmas party, weeks after he actually met her, and give her a human courtship which would have lasted months.
Now, she was in his bed and his home. She was wearing his claiming chain and wedding rings. She was striding into his study every morning after breakfast with a smile aimed at him and curling in his lap, telling him stories while laughing.
And he was in her heart.
With nothing to be angry at, Callum was left only with that constriction in his chest that was making it difficult to breathe.
Gregor read Callum’s altered mood. “I’d appreciate it if you’d continue to keep this knowledge from her. Protect her from it. Show her a good human life for as long as she has it and,” he paused when Callum’s eyes focused on his, “call Ryon and tell him not to harm my son.”
Callum stared at the vampire for a second before he nodded.
Then he took in a deep breath which didn’t seem to make it to his lungs before he ordered, “Leave me.”
Gregor immediately prepared to leave but Regan again stood, leaned toward him and put her hand on his desk.
“Callum –” she started but when her son’s gaze met hers, she stopped speaking and her pale face grew pained.