Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 54 A Concealment Curse
“Adam, please. It’s not going to go well if you’re disrespectful in his home. Imagine how you would react if someone growled at you in your own home. You would be absolutely furious! You were very nearly going to put an end to a longstanding member of your Elder Council for daring to question you. Be reasonable. Please.” Ann pleaded softly as she placed a hand on his arm.
He seemed to instantly relax and took a moment to school his emotions properly. Ann was right. This could be the first step to securing better relations with at least this realm of Daemons. Who knew what benefits that it might bring his Pack? He couldn’t afford to risk ruining this because of his temper.
“I’m sorry, Lord Brarthroroz, I’m still a little on edge,” Adam said finally with a half bow towards where the Daemon Lord stood.
Lord Brarthroroz waved his hand dismissively and shrugged.
“It’s fine. If it wasn’t I would have reacted, but your apology is appreciated non the less. Now, the door to your left is the bedroom where you will need to..what do you call it? Mating and marking?” He asked curiously.
Lexi nodded and giggled as Ann’s cheeks blushed a furious shade of red.
“Don’t worry, sugar, no one will be watching.” She whispered behind her hand into Ann’s ear.
Ann swatted her away as the two men turned to look at them with raised eyebrows.
“Don’t you think we should sit them down and discuss exactly what will happen, Papa? I don’t want them to feel like they don’t know exactly what’s going to happen.” Lord Brarthroroz nodded and gestured to the door on the left.
“Let’s sit comfortably at least while we discuss this properly. I want to find out a little more about this curse that plagues you, Alpha.” He said darkly as he strode purposefully through the doorway with Ann and Lexi following.
Adam hung back a little while as the color drained from his face.
He wrestled with his conscience and his paranoia for a few moments before reluctantly following them into the room.
The last thing he wanted to do was leave himself, and his Pack, vulnerable because of his weakness.
But it looked like he didn’t have any choice in the matter.
The room they entered was, as expected, luxuriously furnished with sofas and day beds littered across the room and tables at the back of the area that were filled with various foods and drinks.
“Ooo yummy!” Lexi exclaimed as she hurried over and helped herself to some of the fresh dates that were piled high on a serving plate.
She rolled her eyes in ple@sure as she bit into the fruit and chewed, letting out a m*oa*n of appreciation as she did so.
“Oh, my word… Ann… seriously… you have to try these… they’re so soft and…” She exclaimed insistently.
Ann chuckled and held her hand up as she shook her head.
“Really, it’s fine, Lexi. I couldn’t eat right now even if I wanted to. I’m too nervous.” Ann said softly.
Adam frowned and put his hand on her back, rubbing it soothingly and looking at her in concern.
“I promise there’s nothing to worry about. You’re quite safe here.” Lord Brarthroroz rea*s*sured her. “Please, both of you, take a seat. I want to ask you a few things before we start.”
Adam took hold of Ann’s hand and squeezed it rea*s*suringly with a small smile as they sat down together opposite Lord Brarthroroz. Lexi remained by the table of food and their conversation was interspersed with squeals of delight and m*oa*ns of ple@sure from where she stood.
Lord Brarthroroz chuckled at his daughter’s antics as he turned his attention to Ann and Adam. A curious look appeared on his strong facial features and he narrowed his eyes slightly as he stared intently at Adam.
Adam met his gaze unflinchingly, with a proud expression and his jaw clenched. Ann could feel his tension.
Alpha’s didn’t usually tolerate being stared at this intently as their wolves saw it as a challenge, but they couldn’t hold the Daemon Lord to the same standards as they did to other wolves.
“So, Alpha Nocturne, this… darkness that clings to you. You said it has been with you since you were a child.?” “That’s right.”
“And you didn’t know the Witch that cast it?”
“No.” Adam answered unflinchingly.” Not to my knowledge at least. Things were very strained after my parents were murdered and a lot of people came and went. But there was no one that I was close to. I was only twelve when they died, and had only taken a few months of the Alpha training under my father’s guidance back then. I didn’t know what to look for, or who to be wary of.” He continued, his tone regretful.
Lord Brarthroroz nodded in understanding and scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“How did your parents die?”
“They were murdered,” Adam answered flatly. “By who?”
There was a long pause before Adam finally answered through gritted teeth.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know or you don’t remember?”
“It’s the same thing isn’t it?” Adam said with a little frustration at the constant question.
Lord Brarthroroz chuckled.
“Not at all. If you don’t know, the information simply isn’t there and you never had it to begin with. However, if you don’t remember then it means that the information has either been stored somewhere in your mind and you need reminding of where it’s stored, or… it means that it has been purposefully concealed.”
Adam scowled furiously at him and Ann chewed her lip nervously. She knew that Adam wasn’t angry at Lexi’s father, it was more at the whole situation itself. He would be angry with himself if it turned out that he had the information he needed all along and was unable to reach it.
“You mean I could actually know who the k*il*lers were?”
Lord Brarthroroz shrugged nonchalantly.
“It’s possible. As I said, the darkness that clings to you is quite old. The longer a curse stays with someone, the stronger it gets. It feels like a concealment curse.”
Adam nodded curtly.
“All I’ve been able to find out is that the curse itself is intended to conceal my true mate from me.”
“Interesting…” Lord Brarthroroz almost purred.