House of Leights (Secret Keepers, #3)(22)

“We just need to make sure he’s the only casualty.” The masculine voice came from a hallway leading off the main living area. It was the voice of a rock star, deep rumbly tenors. He stepped out from the darkness, moving into the light where we were all standing.

Holy hell. Beautiful but deadly was exactly how I’d categorize him. His head was shaved, almost completely bald, which showcased his own set of dark red tattoos across one side of his head and down his neck. It looked like they were a similar style to Chase’s, the same symbols. That had to be something to do with their houses.

“Daniel, overlord major of House of Imperial.” Star introduced us. “He is bonded to Callie, the second secret keeper.”

Okay, that was interesting.

“Was Callie born in House of Imperial?” I blurted out.

Daniel paused, tilting his head at me in a completely unhuman way. “Yes, she was. Why do you ask?”

Don’t look at Chase. Don’t look at Chase. “No reason.” I shrugged in an attempt to act causal. “Just trying to piece all of the information together.”

Information like … was there a deeper reason I felt a connection to Chase? Callie and Daniel were bonded. She was born in his land…

“Ask all the questions you want,” Star said to me, moving forward to take a seat on a large one-seater chaise chair. “We have nothing else to do for the next few days until we receive word of where we move to next.”

With a sigh, I sank down into the long couch. My parents and Brad joined me, all of us looking exhausted and ready to call it a day – despite the fact it was about 8 A.M.

“Thank you.” I attempted a smile. “I have about a billion questions, but let’s start with … what’s an overlord?”

Daniel answered: “We have a leadership system which is a mix of your human monarchy and military forces. The overlord major rules over his house, and there are four houses in total. If they have a mate or betrothed, she or he will also rule in supremacy. This title is passed through bloodlines, like a monarchy. Next in line is the overlord minor, then we have admiral major, admiral minor, and it continues down in a ranking system.”

I waved toward his head. “So, the marks you wear, they’re something to do with being an overlord?”

He nodded. “Yes, a true inheritor is born with the marks, but if there are none to inherit, the marks can be added once you’re initiated.”

So that means … I turned toward the silent Chase, who was standing with one shoulder nudged into a nearby wall, observing everything. “Chase is an overlord m…”

“Minor,” he filled in for me. “My parents are still alive and well. I’m next in line to House of Leights.”

Great, he was a prince – kind of – too. Of course he was.

Star piped up then. “My father is the overlord of House of Darken, my oldest brother Lexen is the next in line. His draygone soul chose Emma as a mate.”

My entire world ground to a halt, and I knew I must look crazy, trying to breathe and blink and not pass out. Someone started to talk but there was a roaring in my ears. Eventually, I held both hands up and whoever was talking stopped.

My voice was a breathless whisper: “Are you telling me that the first secret keeper is mated to an overlord of Darken. The second secret keeper to an overlord of Imperial. What? H-how?”

I was destined to be with Chase…

That had to explain why he affected me so greatly. I wasn’t weak – it was beyond my control.

“Yes,” Star said with a nod. “Both of them are bonded in a way which makes them true mates. A soul-deep bond. We believe it might have something to do with the timing of the secret keepers and overlord minors being born, like all of you were born in a similar year and under the same moon. Maybe the great gods thought this time the secret keepers needed extra security to keep them safe.”

No! No! No! No! And hell no! I did not want that. Predestined bull. I controlled my own life. No one else had that right. Unable to stop myself, I looked up to meet glittering green eyes. Chase’s expression was unreadable. He didn’t look angry, but there was something there that told me he was as confused about this as I was. Neither of us said anything. He didn’t confirm that he felt the same connection I did, and I wondered if it was mostly on my side.

“What’s a draygone?” I heard Brad ask, and it was enough to pull me from my own head.

I looked down to find my hands clenched, nails biting into the soft flesh on my palms.

“It’s like your dragon myth on Earth,” Daniel offered. “Lexen can shift his form to a half-beast, half-Daelighter version.”

Guess that explained the beasts. They had dragons … no big deal. And Lexen was like a … werewolf but in dragon form. Also … no big deal…

My breathing was increasing rapidly. I was going to embarrass myself if I didn’t calm down soon. “I need a moment,” I said, somehow keeping my voice even. “Is it okay if I step out onto the porch?”

My dad took a moment to look at Daniel and Chase, who were no doubt the authority here, being princes and all. Both of them nodded and I shot up in my chair. “Don’t wander off,” my dad warned me. “If you see anything weird at all, get back inside immediately.”

I wasted no time bolting from the room. Brad half-rose from his chair but I shook my head at him. I really did need to be alone.