Page 79 of A Wolf in the Garden

“Yeah. Obsessed, devoted, all of that. You’ve seen them together, they’re a tight unit. And they had to be from the start, because neither side was happy with the relationship — no one could deny that they’re fated mates, but it only made it marginally easier for my father’s pack to swallow.”

I open my mouth to askwould they have gotten together if they weren’t fated mates?but I stop myself in time, thinking through that question. Because if I ask that about them, when I know that Van and I are also fated mates, what am I really asking? There’s some things I’d rather not think too hard about. I love Van. I’ve always loved Van. Asking hypothetical questions like that won’t make any positive difference, because it’s not something that can be changed. The wholefatepart of fated mates is pretty telling.

“Okay, so going back to your mum and these werewolves — Bronte left the Maheras clan when she met Weston?”

Van nods, flicking on the indicator and pulling off onto the winding road that leads down to one of the larger beaches on the island. “She left the clan and the coven.” He glances at me, and I must look confused, because he explains further. “The big traditional Houses in the First Realm — the ones with all the power — each of those are a clan — huge extended families —”

“Likeiwi?Everyone can trace back to common ancestors.”

“Yeah, it’s similar. And within each clan, there’s a core group of witches, wizards, druids… whatever you want to call them. People that wield magic. They’re usually organised into a coven, one within each House. Remember, in that realm, those with powerful magic also wield political power, it goes hand in hand.”

“So not every werewolf is a witch or wizard?”

“No way. Definitely not. At the heart of the Maheras clan is the Maheras coven. And Mom was considered one of the stars of the coven, until she left when she mated my father. It was a huge controversy for Mom tosettlefor a shifter.”

“Because marrying a dude worth a billion dollars is settling.O-kay.”

Van shakes his head, pulling into the beachfront carpark of sorts; everyone parks on the grass bank overlooking the sand at this particular beach. The wind has picked up and the sky is overcast now, making the water grey-green in appearance, topped by white-capped waves. We choose to eat in the car, and Van cuts the engine while I start opening the first parcel of food, setting it down between us, precariously perched over the handbrake and drink holder.

“You have to understand, these people that live and die in the First Realm — especially those at the head of the old Houses that still collectively rule the realm — they don’t see any value at all in this world. That’s why the First Realm is the First, and this place is the Second.”

“Nobody calls this place the Second Realm.”

“Everybody on that sidedoes. And that’s the polite name for it.”

“What are the other names?”

Van frowns behind his sunglasses, and I watch him take a piece of fried fish, tearing it into pieces so it can cool faster. He sucks the salted grease from his fingers as he stares out at the ocean. “Way back, people commonly called this realmThe Farm. You still get the odd extremist groups popping up that would like the world to be that way. It’s why it doesn’t feel like a stretch at all to assume that when those fae are kidnapping humans,” he nods at his phone, sitting in the hands-free dock on the dashboard, “they are taking them to use, toconsume,in some way or another.”

The skin pricks at the back of my neck, and I shudder involuntarily. “I take it that humans are the farm animals in this instance.”

He nods, picking up a bite-size piece of fish and popping it in his mouth, and I can’t help but focus on the sharp points of his canines as he eats. “Vampires have no choice. They have to feed on blood, and humans are their preferred flavour by far. And sure, they don’t drain them dry, these days. It’s all above board and consensual in every single instance, if you want to believe the propaganda.”

“You don’t think that’s the case?”

“I don’t see how it can be, Ellie,” he says, sounding so resigned. “I know this morning I said that we’re not freaks… and I meant that. I don’t want to sound contradictory. The vast majority of non-humans are perfectly normal, decent people, but there are bad people in every species — there’s plenty of monstrous humans, after all — and it’s naive to think some of these darker things aren’t happening out there. Which is why paying for these protection wards is worth it.”

“But you don’t have a personal ward attached to you, do you?”

“I don’t need one, baby. I can be just as monstrous as anyone who wants to harm me.”

I shake my head. “I think you should have one. I would feel better, now that you’ve told me all of this.”

He makes a dismissive tone.

“Evander.”

He smiles around another mouthful of fish. “Oh, I know I’m in trouble when you use my full name. The only other time you use it is when you’re begging for cock.”

“Well I’m definitely not doing that right now.Jeez.Sometimes I think back to three years ago and gowhat the fuck, life wasso simpleback then, and I didn’t appreciate it.” He eats silently, and I realise I need to explain that point a little more. “I don’t mean life without you was great, I’m not wishing for that.”

“I know.”

“I just mean it was a lot less scary. It didn’t feel like there were monsters lurking under the bed. Now I think everyone has just grown numb to the idea that there’s this danger present.”

“They don’t know the half of it.”

“That’s what I’m beginning to realise. I don’t like this feeling, Van. I don’t like living with this fear constantly in the back of my mind.”

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