Malrik POV
“What demons?” I asked, my tone steady, though a part of me braced for the answer I knew would be anything but simple.
Quillan exhaled slowly, tilting his head as if weighing what to reveal. Then, with a dry chuckle, he leaned forward, forearms resting heavily on his knees.
“His parents,” he began. “Their marriage was a disaster from the start. His mother Lazara Blackwell cheated openly, never bothering to conceal it. My mother used to gossip about them often. At gatherings, after the endless conferences, their screaming matches were practically the evening’s entertainment.”
My frown deepened. This story wasn’t going anywhere good.
“Lazara never wanted Kaelith,” Quillan continued. “Her father forced the bond because Kaelith was set to inherit the regional Alpha title in the
