His Kitten Has Claws [Kalil's Coven 2]

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

Jotham sat in his office looking out the window. His Amante was in his coven house. So close, but yet so far away. Truer words had never been spoken. Thinking about the handsome man with that gorgeous messy dark brown hair and adorable white streaks throughout the thick mane

added to that those mesmerizing copper eyes had Jotham's mind filled with all kinds of images of the two of them together. The fact that Cory had just denied him as a mate, made those dreams a bit harder to make reality. No one had ever refused him. He can't say that Billy had not warned him about pushing his little mate, but Jotham had done what he had always done, exactly what he wanted to do. Hell, he was the Rei. He was the leader that everyone listened to. "You are an ass," Jotham muttered.

Now what? What if he could never get his mate to come to him? Had he lost Cory forever?

Feeling down and in need of answers, Jotham did what every great man would do in times of

turmoil.

Picking up the phone, Jotham pressed the numbers to where all answers were to be gained.

"Hello."

"Mother, how are you?" Jotham asked.

"Jotham!" His mother's voice was filled with happiness, "What a pleasant surprise. I am well, son, how are you?"

"I'm fine," Jotham said feeling better by just the sound of his mother's voice.

His mother sighed, "Do not lie to me, son. Besides the fact that I'm your mother, you have always done it poorly."

Jotham felt himself feeling as he had when he was a child. He wished his mother was here and could sit with him for some tea and those soft and chew oatmeal cookies with raisins she always made him when he was feeling down. "I found my Amante, Mother."

His mom gasped, "Oh Jotham, that is wonderful!"

"He doesn't want me," Jotham said in a small whisper.

"Nonsense, son. You are the Rei. Anyone would be honored to have such a great man."

"Not my Amante. He threatened to kick me in the balls if I even thought about touching him."

"Why? What did you do?"

Jotham drew back in shock. "I did nothing! Well, when I smelled that most glorious scent and knew at that moment who he was I kissed him."

"Uh huh. There is something you are not telling me, son. Now, out with it."

"I did nothing. I swear."

"Well, you had to have done something you didn't know you had done then. How did you meet this young man?"

Jotham explained about Erik finding his un amor, Billy. All that Dimitri had done from plagiarizing to attempted rape and murder. His mother listened to everything and then said, "So you ordered all your people to stay away from Cory and didn't think he might find that odd?"

"Mother, I didn't know he was my Amante when I did this."

"Son, humans are not like paranormals. They do not understand your position and the laws of our people."

"But mother, he is not human."

"Oh, what is he? Fae, shifter, pixie, witch, what?"

Jotham muttered, "I don't know."

"What do you mean, you don't know? How can you not know? Every paranormal gives off a telling scent, son."

"Not my Cory. I wouldn't have known he was anything had I not kissed him. I tasted

something...different. Yet I could not tell what that was. When I told him I knew he was not human, he became very upset with me and that is when he threatened to kick me in the balls then left me poolside."

"What were his exact words, Jotham? I want every word he said from the moment you kissed to him leaving you by the pool."

Jotham thought to the moment after the kiss, then recited his Amante's words exactly how he had said them. " I don't know how you were raised, Jotham, but you never take something without asking first. I don't know what you think you know, but you don't know me. Don't be so sure of yourself, Jotham. There is only one thing I hate worse than a thief, and that is a liar. So keep your hands and lips to yourself or I will kick your balls so hard you will be able to float to the sky."

His mother's soft laughter had Jotham bristling, "This is not funny, Mother. My Amante rejected me."

Clearing her throat, his mother said with a smile still in her voice, "I know, son. I'm sorry. But you have to admit, he is colorful with his words."

"Mother!"

Sighing heavily, "Jotham, you really need to learn to relax. Patience has never been a virtue for you, even as a child. You always wanted what you wanted when you wanted it. Well son, you

have finally met someone not willing to just give in. Your Amante is exactly what you need.

Someone that isn't going to bow to your wants or your demands. This Cory has a mind of his own as is not afraid to voice it. I can't wait to meet him in person."

"Mother, this is not helping," Jotham growled.

"Do not take that tone with me, young man. You may be the Rei, but I am your mother."

"I'm sorry," Jotham said regretfully.

"Jotham, you said yourself that Cory is not all human. That means he knows you are a clan. Yet, you have everyone avoiding and hiding that from him. You told me how he and Billy have been friends most of their life. That means they are more brothers than friends. Cory knows that something is wrong with his friend and he thinks you and your kind are behind it. He wants to protect Billy at all cost, because I highly doubt Billy was ever brought into his circle. The laws would have made sure of that. He may have issues with lying because of something from his

past. Billy might be able to answer that or you could just ask Cory yourself. However, until you come clean with the man, he will always distrust you and therefore he will continue to reject you.

It could also cost you your mating."

"So if I tell him everything he will agree to be mine?"

"Son, I can't tell you that."

"But he is my mate!" Jotham exclaimed in frustration.

His mother's voice softened, and her love was in her voice, "Jotham, a mate is not a guarantee because like humans we still have the freedom of choice. All a mating does is let you know who your intended is. It pulls you to that man and tells you that he is your one and only. It draws you to each other, so you can get to know everything you can about the man before you. It is

designed to assist in finding that love. The actual mating, that is when the heart and soul are bound. He is your other half Jotham, but only he can decide if he wishes to be whole once more.

You cannot force his hand."

"But he is mine."

Jotham's mother scoffed, "Now you sound like a petulant child. Cory is not yours just yet, Jotham. Cory is a man that you have to work to make yours. If you want your Amante, you are going to have to put in the effort to woo him."

"Father didn't have to woo you and you are two of the happiest, most in love people I know."

Bursting out laughing, Jotham's mom said, "Jotham, your father worked his ass off to get me to agree to even a first date. He was arrogant and an ass. He would sing to me from under my

window, leave me small gifts at my door, and when I did agree to go out with him, our first date was on a gondola in Venice."

"That is what had you finally accept father?"

Jotham's mother laughed once again, "No, what made me fall in love with your father was when he fell in the river and came out sputtering, pulled the boat to shore and there was a blanket and basket of food. He had planned a picnic. When he straightened his suit and waved his hand

towards the spot as if nothing had happened, I knew at that moment he was truly the man for me.

At that moment he showed me who he really was. Not the stuffy ass he pretended to be with

everyone else."

"So what you're saying is show him who I am besides the leader of our people?"

"Jotham, you are so much more than a Rei. You are loving, kind, smart, and caring. You need to show Cory all of you, not just the part you think he will respect. I have a feeling, Cory, could give a s**t you are a Rei. However, I do believe he will fall in love with the man beyond a leader."

"Thank you, Mother. I love you."

"You're welcome, sweet boy. I love you too. Kendal? What the hell are you doing with that wrench? No... No, you are not fixing the damn sink, I told you I called the plumber. Kendal, get the hell away from that sink! Jotham, I need to go before your father...Kendal, what the hell did you just do. Close off the damn water valve!"

Jotham couldn't help but smile as he hung up the phone. He loved his parents dearly and wished that they were not so far away. However, when he had been offered the position in Texas,

Jotham could not refuse. His father was the scion. The king of all vampires. If he said Jotham was needed here, then Texas is where he would go. However, it was times like this he wished his parents were a little closer. "Okay, Jotham. Mom says to show Cory who I really am. So how the hell do I do that?"

Hell, Jotham had been raised his whole life to be the Rei. What else was there?

A soft knock at the door, startled Jotham out of his thoughts, "Yes."

"Jotham, have you seen Cory? I can't find him anywhere," Billy asked as he and Erik walked into the room, holding hands.

Seeing the two men holding hands and being so comfortable together was something that he

wished he could do with his little Amante. He had dreamed of the day he would find his Amante.

In his mind they would laugh together, lay in bed watching movies as they ate popcorn and

cuddling close. He and his mate would go on picnics, fancy dinners, or to rundown burger shacks because they always made the best cheeseburgers in the world. Jotham would be able to talk to his love about the clan. Tell him plans, ask his opinion, and rule their people together so they may live a happier and better life.

"Jotham, have you seen Cory?" Billy asked slower and sounding confused.

Shaking his head, Jotham muttered, "Um, no. Not since I spoke with him at the pool and that was this afternoon."

"Well, I just don't get it. Where would he be? You don't think he left without saying goodbye?"

Billy asked with tears in his eyes.

Erik hugged his mate close to his chest. "I'm sure Cory is around here somewhere, un amor. He would never have just left that way. Hell, he even told me that if he did leave, it was with you even if that meant kicking and screaming."

Billy pulled back, "You don't understand, Erik. He was so hurt and upset with me, and he had every reason in the world to be upset. I lied. I lied to my best friend. I've never lied to him before. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now."

Jotham saw how upset Erik's mate was and hated that he had done this to him. His orders were being followed and it was causing Billy and Cory so much pain. If Cory was a paranormal, then there was no reason to lie.

"Erik, gather the guards. We need to find Cory." Jotham said as he walked to Billy and placed his hand on his shoulder, softly saying, "And when we do, we are going to tell him everything. No more lying, Billy. Cory deserves answers and we are going to give them to him."