Wild and Free (The Three #3)(83)

And he was good with who was there: Gregor, Leah, Lucien, Sonia, and Callum.

That was it.

The Three.

And, of course, Gregor.

“Sit. Let’s get you some coffee,” Gregor greeted expansively as they hit the room, throwing out an arm to two empty chairs to his left.

More greetings were exchanged and Abel sat only after he’d shoved Delilah’s chair with her in it under the table.

Delilah looked at Gregor. “Last night was exactly what we needed, Gregor, so I need to thank you again.”

“No thanks necessary, Delilah,” Gregor replied.

“Lilah,” she corrected.

He smiled.

Abel looked to Lucien and Callum, who were both grinning at him.

“Right.” Delilah shook off the mood and reached for the coffeepot. “Saving the world.”

“We’ll get to that, Delilah—” Callum started.

“Lilah to you too,” she cut him off to say.

Callum’s glance darted to Abel, his lips twitched, then he said, “Lilah. But first we need to understand something.”

“That is…?” Abel asked.

“Your scar,” Lucien stated.

He felt Delilah tense at his side, but he looked to Lucien. “What about it?”

“We don’t scar,” Lucien informed him. “We’re wondering if you do because you’re the only known hybrid in the world. So we’d—”

He stopped speaking when he sensed Abel’s and Delilah’s moods swing, that being to complete f*cking shock.

“Uh…what?” Abel forced out.

“Fuck. He didn’t know,” Callum muttered.

“Of course he didn’t know,” Sonia whispered with more than mild irritation.

“Know…what, exactly? The only known hybrid? What the f*ck does that mean?” Abel demanded.

“Werewolves and vampires can’t procreate, Abel,” Gregor shared, and Abel swung his gaze to the vampire. “Not until…well, you.”

“Oh my God,” Delilah breathed.

“Are you kidding me?” Abel asked.

“I’m afraid not,” Gregor said carefully. “You had no idea?”

“No f*ckin’ clue,” Abel grunted.

“Your parents didn’t share that with you?” Gregor went on.

“My parents didn’t share dick,” Abel told him.

“Do you know where they are?” Gregor asked.

“I know they left me in an alley two hundred years ago. Other than that, like I said, I don’t know dick. Don’t remember dick about them either,” Abel answered.

“Interesting,” Gregor murmured.

“Not interesting. Abusive,” Delilah suddenly snapped, her back shooting straight. “He was left in an alley as a pup. It’s a miracle Hui found him, took him in, and kept him, even after he transformed. Others might have done him harm, or worse.”

“I meant no offense, Lilah,” Gregor said pacifyingly. “It is, of course, unspeakable for a parent to leave their child in an alley.”

“It absolutely is,” Delilah agreed sharply, and Abel reached out a hand to cover hers on the table.

When he did, her head jerked around and she caught his gaze.

He shook his head.

She narrowed her eyes.

He shook his head again.

She sighed a sigh that sounded like a grumble, pulled her hand from under his, and reached for the jug of cream.

“Was this in China or here, in America?” Callum asked.

“China,” Abel muttered distractedly, watching Delilah finish with the cream, put it down, and again commandeer the coffeepot.

She lifted it his way and tipped her head to the side.

He nodded.

She poured him coffee.

“Do you have registers of wolves in China two hundred years ago, Callum?” Gregor asked, and Abel sliced his eyes from his cup to the vampire.

“Wolves check in with governors if they move to a territory, and governors pay attention to wolf activity, but only if there’s a need, such as insurrection or activities that might lead to humans discovering the existence of werewolves. Outside that, we let wolves roam without keeping records, so no,” Callum returned, then asked, “What about vampires?”

“We tend to keep tabs,” Gregor murmured. “I’ll ask The Dominion. But it’s not very helpful if we have no wolf.”

“Are you talkin’ about finding my folks?” Abel asked.

Gregor shook his head like he was clearing it. “Sorry, yes. Sorry,” he repeated. “Very rude. Much is on my mind. ” He took in a deep breath and focused closely on Abel. “But I’ll repeat my apology for not being sensitive, something we’ll be in future. But I’ll do that now by warning you I’m about to speak bluntly. I’m concerned that perhaps you were not left in an alley. Perhaps you were saved in one, purposefully, for your parents might have been hunted due to The Prophesies. The Prophesies were not widely known. However, we’ve recently learned that a once-trusted member of The Council, Marcello, was an insurrectionist. He shared them. And it’s our understanding he shared them some time ago.”

“Great,” Abel muttered.

“He’s since been dispatched,” Gregor told him. “But if your parents were under threat, or felt that you were, there’s a possibility they would find the kind of human who would do no harm to an immortal once they discovered that. A human who would keep you hidden in the mortal world due to your abilities. A human they could leave you with to do just that.” His voice lowered as he finished, “It might have been their only choice to keep you safe.”