With Everything I Am (The Three #2)(131)

Where his mind moved also wasn’t to his duty as king.

It went to the fact that every day he didn’t tell her his secret, their life was becoming a lie.

Ryon came in on a smile and closed the door.

Since discovering Sonia had had her abilities her entire life, long enough for her father to explain she should hide them, they no longer held suspicions against the vampires.

However, they were also all aware that Sonia’s abilities rivaled theirs and clearly Ryon closing the heavy door meant there was something he wanted muted should Sonia be in hearing distance.

He approached Callum’s desk and sat opposite, declaring, “All is in place for tomorrow.”

Callum’s mouth got tight.

Ryon still felt Sonia needed time with the wolves and was against Callum telling her. They’d had words about it. Callum disagreed and decided he’d bloody well tell her when the right time arose.

Unfortunately that hadn’t happened and tomorrow hundreds of wolves would be celebrating in the streets.

Shit happened. Especially with wolves.

Therefore, like Drogan, Maraleena and Callista, his Royal Guard had been warned by Ryon that Sonia was to be protected from witnessing any transformation or talk of werewolves and tomorrow everywhere she went she would be with him, his family or under escort of his Guard.

“I don’t like this,” Callum told his cousin. “I’ll find time to tell her tonight.”

“You should wait until after tomorrow,” Ryon differed. “She’ll enjoy tomorrow. She’ll see the true wolf nature. You need to give her more time.”

Callum watched his cousin, again questioning his motives when it came to Callum’s mate.

“What makes you think she needs more time?” Callum asked.

Ryon grinned. “Call it instinct.”

Callum didn’t find anything amusing.

“Have you not noticed the change in her?” he queried.

Ryon’s expression turned serious and he shared, “Yes, Cal, I have and I don’t f**king trust it.”

Callum felt his blood run cold. “And why the f**k not?”

Ryon shook his head and his eyes went vague as did his tone when he said, “I can’t put my finger on it but I feel she’s holding back.”

It was then Callum’s hands clenched into fists.

First, if Sonia was holding anything back then the true Sonia would be beyond perfection which was impossible.

Second, because his cousin was still clearly keeping a close eye on his mate and he didn’t like it.

And last, because it felt like Ryon was trying to make Callum doubt his wife.

“I think,” Callum said calmly and evenly, a tone that Ryon knew and it caught his immediate attention therefore his distracted gaze cleared and focused on Callum, “that perhaps you should stop worrying about my mate so f**king much.”

“Cal –”

Callum leaned forward and said deceptively softly, “She’s my mate, Ry. Mine.”

“Cal –”

“Leave it,” Callum warned and Ryon leaned forward as well.

“Have you been talking to her as I told you to?”

“Leave it.”

“Cal, have you?”

“Yes, I f**king have. Now, f**king leave it!” Callum bit out.

Ryon scowled at him then sat back. Callum watched the muscle work in his cousin’s jaw for long moments before Ryon spoke again.

“You should know. I’ve given a vial of her medicine to a friend of mine who knows someone who can analyze it.”

Callum sat back too. “I thought we’d covered this. She’s had her abilities since birth.”

“I know. It doesn’t hurt to check though,” Ryon returned.

Callum stared at him before asking, “What are you thinking?”

“Well,” Ryon replied, still aggravated but, Callum sensed, not because of their earlier exchange of words. “I’ve had my fair share of experience with humans. I’ve never run across anything like her abilities.”

“Yes, we’ve had this conversation before.”

“It’s unusual.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Ry –”

“You don’t protect a life-threatening condition behind nearly unhackable passwords, Cal. Something’s wrong here. I don’t like it and I haven’t had time to give it my full attention.”

Callum sighed. “You do if she’s destined queen to a secret society and that knowledge in the wrong hands would make her vulnerable. She’s had her gifts since birth, her father knew about them for f**k’s sake. She and I have talked about it. Her father likely made some explanation to her doctor. Gregor nearly came out of his skin when he’d heard she’d had a turn and he’s not a male prone to showing his reactions. My instincts tell me his reaction was not because of some nefarious plot but because the thought of her in pain hurt him. Lassiter probably told him about her gifts as well but even if he didn’t, he’s a vampire who’s lived with Sonia for years. He’d notice it. It took me a bloody week. If Lassiter didn’t tell Gregor, it probably took him about as long as it took me. What she can do is unusual for a human but she’s amongst those who’ll accept her now. It’s fine. She’s fine. Let it go.”