“‘Civilian’?” Gabriel repeated, and then comprehension dawned in his face. His mouth quirked, and he added, “That is an amusing term. I will have to remember it. But no, my powers were just as strong as Joaquin’s — in a way, stronger than Vicénte’s, although of course you will never hear him admit to such a thing.”
“So why aren’t you in charge?” Tony asked, genuinely curious.
“Because I am not Joaquin’s heir.”
While that still didn’t make a lot of sense, Tony decided to roll with it. All witch clans were bound by tradition, and he supposed the Escobars were no different in that regard from anyone else.
“I don’t see why that has anything to do with your mother,” he said.
A frown pulled at Gabriel’s brows. “Once Joaquin had had her, and had a child by her, he saw no reason to keep her a
