Page 36 of Cold Heir

Julian’s gaze rose to meet Levi’s when I inquired, watching as he aimlessly swirled what little Scotch remained in the bottom of his glass. There was a grave look I didn’t miss, one that only confirmed my thoughts.

Therewasmore to the story.

“He bit her,” Levi breathed. “She was taken from me one night and they didn't return her for several hours. When they did, there was a mark on the side of her neck.” Peering up, he swallowed hard. “Only, within seconds the mark was gone.”

Tension spread across my brow, and I straightened in my seat. “He injected her with his venom? But why would—”

“I'm still a bit foggy on the details myself,” Levi admitted. “Starting with Corina's description of the guy. Something strange stood out to her about him. Something I'm still trying to make heads or tails of, honestly.”

“What aren't you saying?” The coarse words flew from Julian's mouth, but the sudden burst of anger was not meant for Levi. It was intended for this stranger whose motives were slowly beginning to unravel.

“His eyes,” Levi continued. “She said they were like ours. Silver.”

My lips parted, and a question rested on the tip of my tongue. However, instead of asking it, my thoughts snagged on this detail. If I was understanding Levi correctly, their captor—an Ianite who bore the rare trait of having silver eyes—had taken the time to inject Corina with his own venom.

“He initiated a bond.” I believe I understood long before I spoke the words aloud, but there were aspects of this situation I found impossible to grasp.

Levi responded with a hard glare, one that told we were of the same mind. One that told of our collective anger and a sudden air of uncertainty resting in the room.

“Is she all right?” I asked, knowing immediately after what a stupid question that was.Of courseshe wasn’t.

The effects of the bond were no secret. Not even to me, and I still had yet to partake. If this Aaric had performed the process properly, and then went on to successfully initiate the Claiming, that would mean Corina was linked to him in the same manner in which she was linked to Julian and Levi.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine what that must have been like for her.

Levi released an uneasy sigh. “Mostly, yes. At least sheseemsto be, anyway,” he revealed, “Although there are times when I'm not so sure. For instance, there was an episode during our stay at Glenn’s. She was certain Aaric had been there while we slept. Only, I found no evidence to prove it. She's also admitted to having vivid dreams involving him, but hasn't shared what she’s seen in them.”

Of all the things I could have imagined would take place during their time away, Corina being forced into a bond, and then Claimed by a stranger, was not one of them.

“And I didn’t say as much when the topic first arose,” Levi continued, “but we were held at Blackthorn.”

I knew all too well of the experiments conducted there. I was also aware of who’d been responsible for them. The things that had gone on there weren't often spoken of, but for someone’s soul to be dark enough that they’d choose that particular location to dwell in, it gave further insight into Aaric's character. Without having met him, I felt it safe to assume he was a twisted, sinister bastard, who’d been born without a heart.

“When do we go after him?” The question left Julian’s mouth with a wave of darkness that could be felt around the room. It was rare to see him angry, but once he reached that point, there wasn’t much anyone could do to calm him.

Only, in this instance, calming him was imperative. With the reputations the three of us had earned for ourselves recently, storming the sanatorium, guns blazing, was unwise. I needed to help him see that.

“Levi and Corina are home, and they’re safe,” I reminded him. “That's what matters most. Let's focus on Corina’s wellbeing, and then we can decide how to proceed with Aaric at a more appropriate time.”

I prayed he saw the logic in what I expressed. For us, from here on out, timing was everything.

The look he wore made it clear he preferred whatever dark scenario he created within his thoughts, versus my logical response, but I believe he understood I was right. Aaric would get every bit of what he had coming to him.

Just not tonight.

“In the meantime, I'll find out what I can about this guy,” I assured them. “That way, when we do move forward, we'll know who we're dealing with.”

It was clear Julian was still troubled. The tension in his brow was a dead giveaway, as was the path he wore pacing from one edge of the rug to the other.

“How is it possible that his eyes were like ours?” he asked. “Have either of you ever heard rumors of, maybe, Percival having a son?”

I shook my head. “Never. Besides, it's common knowledge that Percival's strain of the vaccine yielded gold eyes, not silver. So, I would assume that any offspring of his would bear the same. Especially if said offspring was a son. “

Julian let out a sigh with my revelation. While it didn't make sense for this bastard to be Percival’s son, it did bring up the question of whose son he might be. Unless of course, his existence and connection to Blackthorn was somehow a clue. For now, there was no way to answer these questions. No way to know in what other ways Aaric might be different.

No other way to know how dangerous he might be.

“Carina is too proud to let us hover, but I’ve sensed that she's afraid of him,” Levi revealed. “Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to offer her more protection? Her own security detail?”

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