Her Mortal Mate

Chapter Seventy Two: Olive Branch

Jadea

“Look, Jadea, I’m honored that you want me to join your pack,” Kristi said as we walked side by side around the perimeter of Lance’s property. I had just asked her if she wanted to join our ranks and surprisingly she didn’t hesitate with her answer. “But I’ve found a home within the Demon Stronghold. I have found friends, and my own family, with others in the demon guard. I don’t want to leave them.”

I completely understood how she felt and smiled. “I’m glad you have made such great friendships and bonds. If ever your decision changes, we would be more than honored and happy to have you join us.”

Her expression turned thoughtful. “While I may not be interested, I know someone who might be if you would be willing to talk to him?”

“Who?”

She stopped and waited for me to fully face her before she stated seriously. “Chance. Your half brother.”

I hoped my expression was impassive and controlled, even though I wanted nothing more than to scrunch my nose to the mention of his name. She had to be suggesting this for a reason. I highly doubted she would suggest this if there was any doubt to his integrity. “May I ask why you are recommending him?”

“I know it is an odd recommendation, seeing as how he worked for those against you. Or, perhaps coerced to work against you would be a better explanation for his actions.”

Curiously, there had been no talk of Chance while we had been here. Though, I had to admit it was crazy busy. Constance had a s**t ton on her mind. There really hadn’t been an opportunity to talk about Chance other than the quick bit of information I’d gleaned from my father earlier. “Kristi, do you know what happened? I mean, how they obtained Chance? And what transpired after that?” I wasn’t quite so willing to trust him. He had been manipulated by our father. There was still the very real possibility he was working for them, that he had been instructed to be overly cooperative. It was suspicious to me, at least.

“I know some,” she admitted. “I was placed on his detail and was present for most of his interrogation.”

That would be rather helpful, I thought to myself.

“Though, whatever you are wanting to know, he would gladly tell you,” she added.

“You are so sure he would speak the truth?” I couldn’t keep the skepticism out of my tone.

She shrugged. “Ickarous was there, along with a truth mage, when they interrogated him. He was very cooperative and never once uttered a lie or tried to hide some of the truth.”

This was very interesting indeed. “Would I be able to speak to him in person?”

“I don’t think there would be an issue. We will have to ask Obsidian to teleport us to the stronghold, because he is being held in the dungeons until further notice. You would also have to get him cleared by Constance.”

This seemed overly complicated.

However, if what she said was true, I would ultimately be abandoning him. If there was any truth to her words, I couldn’t just give up on him like that. “Let’s do it,” I stated confidently. Nothing bad would come of a very simplistic conversation. If I felt he wasn’t a good match, then he could stay where he was and Constance could figure out what to do with him.

Obsidian seemed on board with the plan to talk to Chance and see if he was a good fit with my pack. He teleported us to the stronghold and took us directly to the dungeons where he was being kept. “Take your time,” he assured me. “It’s going to be a while before Constance is done with your mate. When they are getting close to finishing up business, I will come find you. I hope everything goes well.”

Once he was gone, and most of the other guards posted in the dungeon had left to stand guard at the entranceway—so we could have a little privacy—Chance stepped forward and leaned against the solid bars of his cell. “I honestly expected you here sooner,” he stated, an empty half grin crookedly spreading across his face. His eyes were sad and bellied that smile.

“Been busy,” I stated honestly.

“Are you here to beat information out of me? I’ve already told The Phoenix everything I knew.”

“What did Hans tell you about me?” I decided to change the subject, curious as to why Chance would think I would resort to violence in order to gain information from him. Didn’t he know I could just speak the command in his mind and he would spill all? Didn’t he know I had a mind reader in my pack?

“Not much, other than you ran away after you killed Benji. He told us you were so filled with grief and heartbreak over what happened you just couldn’t stay.”

For some reason, rage ripped through my chest at this blatant lie.

Chance’s gaze sharpened on me in my silence. “That’s not what happened though, was it? You didn’t kill him?”

I was a bit surprised by his intuitiveness. “No, I didn’t. But, you have no reason to believe me.”

“On the contrary, I have every reason to believe you.”

“And why would you?” It didn’t make sense. Hans had practically made his own narrative of what happened to Benji. The reason he shifted the blame of his death on to me was annoying and hurtful—because Benji and I had been rather close seeing as we had been the black sheep of the family.

“Before father asked me to run for the councilor position, I wouldn’t have believed you. I was so starved for attention. I was always made to feel incompetent and less than everyone else because I had no powers. I was useless. Scum. He always dangled the carrot of approval just out of reach. I did things, trying to gain his love and attention as I grew up. I presume you and Benji were made to feel the same way?” He asked and I nodded. He nodded sadly. “When I came of age and had the choice to leave, he realized I had lost interest in staying. In order to keep me under his control, he told me he wanted me to run for the councilor position. He praised me, said I was the best option for the position because I was smart and independent. I didn’t realize, until it was too late and I’d made an oath to his pack, that he was using me. Just as he had used you.

“Even though father told lies about you, I found out the truth as I was integrated further into the council. Father wanted to make sure I was known, so he ensured I was at every meeting. He made sure my presence was known to the public so they would be familiar with my presence as well. I spoke with other councilors, to get in their good graces. However, I was always held under father’s thumb. If I said something he disapproved of, made even one wrong gesture, I was punished, his love and approval taken away.” He paused, his eyes distant and I understood that trauma bond he had with Hans. I had once been there too.

“It is hard to break that cycle. It is hard to accept that the one you admired most and wanted to be loved by the most cannot and will not love you.”

He nodded. “It is most painful and hopeless feeling.”

Reaching out, I covered his hand with mine. “The important thing is, you survived. You were able to get away from him. You were strong enough to finally see what Hans truly is.”

“He’s the worst kind of being. A narcissist.” Chance looked curiously down at our hands and I had to wonder if he was wondering if the gesture was true or a form of manipulation.

“What do you want to do with your life, Chance?” I asked him. “When Constance comes back and you are released, what do you want from life?”

“I just want to be loved. To belong. I want some place I can call home.” He replied softly, his voice so small, as if it was a prayer. “Though, I don’t think I will be able to ever have that. Constance may never let me go for what I did. I broke the rules, Jadea.”

“You were under duress. You were being manipulated. Constance knows this. She is a caring and understanding individual.”

“It sounds like you know her well.”

“I do,” I confirmed. “Perhaps not like those within her inner circle. But I have worked with her. My family has.”

“Yes. Lucien, your step father.” He sounded almost jealous and my heart hurt for him. Because I had been the lucky one to escape. I had been the one to find true love and affection.

Hmm… He wasn’t malicious. His feelings were genuine, even if he was feeling hurt and jealous. “I have to consult the others in my pack,” I started, “but I would like to tentatively offer you a place in our pack.”