Page 58 of Charmed By Destiny

“Tell him everything, Dad,” Eric said.

“Fine, the Arwynns contacted us last year. We, along with several other important necromancer families, had a conference call. The purpose was to build an alliance of sorts, but that has never worked for us in the past, and it was as fruitless this time around,” Clark explained.

“I didn’t know all the necro families knew each other,” Luke replied, not sure what to do with that information.

“We don’t. I collect information. I’m good at it, but despite that, I couldn’t discover the identities of the families who were invited. Each person used something to disguise their voice, and we didn’t introduce ourselves,” Clark said.

Luke’s brows furrowed as he considered what he’d just learned. It didn’t take long for him to come to a startling conclusion. “But you mentioned it was Arwynn who invited everyone. So, he knows. That would be Foxe’s brother. Rowan Arwynn. That’s his name, but I never met him. Foxe is convinced he killed their father.”

“Weston Arwynn,” Eric commented. “I remember that name because I was arrested for his murder despite never meeting the man.”

“What?” Luke asked while privately wondering how many more surprises were in store for him.

“My father set Eric up. He kidnapped him, intending to kill him,” Maribeth said, her voice thick with pain.

“Don’t relive it,” Richard ordered as he pushed back his seat and stood to wrap his arms around his cousin.

“We need to tell Lucas about Eric,” Gabe commented. “Danger will always follow this household, and he deserves to know why.”

Luke bit his lip and braced himself with a slow exhale. “Eric is destiny-touched.”

“How did you know that? Did the Arwynns find out?” Gabe demanded.

“It’s my gift,” Luke replied. “Foxe decided that it’d be a good idea to create an inspirit with the ability to detect destiny-touched necromancers. People like Eric have trouble swirling around them, and Foxe wanted some forewarning. My job was to alert him whenever I found a destiny-touched so we could run like hell. But I didn’t tell him about Eric. If I had, he would’ve insisted I quit my job. I didn’t want to do that. I like what I do, and as long as I’m spilling my secrets, I already had a bit of a crush on Richard.”

Everyone at the table stared at Luke, and it unnerved him. He had no clue what any of them were thinking.

“Why the fuck didn’t we think about giving an inspirit that gift?” Eric demanded.

“I didn’t know it was possible,” Clark replied. “How many destiny-touched have you discovered?”

“Including Eric, two. The first was years ago. As I was taught, I alerted Foxe that a destiny-touched was in the restaurant where we stopped to get burgers. We didn’t even stay to eat. I never saw him again.”

“Oh, Gabriel, imagine how different and awful your life would’ve been if Samael had thought to give you Lucas’s gift,” Rosalind said. “I shudder to think of it.”

“I would’ve preferred it, actually,” Gabriel responded. “Far better than being his goon for fifteen years while he murdered the destiny-touched.”

The Marwoods were quickly piling up the secrets, and Luke was overwhelmed by what he was learning and the pieces still missing from his education of Richard’s family. Since he was overloaded, Luke didn’t bother with the questions swirling in his mind. If things worked out between him and Richard, he’d learn everything eventually anyway. He could only process so much in a single weekend.

“You have a remarkable gift, Lucas,” Clark stated firmly. “As the son of a destiny-touched and a parent of one, it gives me hope to learn that there are necros who don’t prey on the most special of our people. I won’t ask you to use your gift. It is yours to decide what to do with. But please know that the Marwoods have sworn to help those like Eric, not harm them.”

“It was a relief to sense Eric the last time I was here,” Luke replied. “I don’t understand why anyone would want to hurt the destiny-touched. Meeting Eric reassured me immediately that I wasn’t working for a family involved in what Foxe had convinced me to run from. I wish I could tell you all Arwynns feel like Foxe, but I don’t know them.”

Richard left his cousin’s side to lay a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “It’s a wonderful gift.”

“Did you get your tattoos to help conceal the mark your brother was born with?” Luke asked.

“Yes,” Richard said. “Every Marwood in this house would willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect our Eric.”

“And Maribeth has already paid a price in blood, so let’s leave that subject alone for now,” Rosalind commented. “She’s still healing.”

“I’m fine,” Maribeth insisted. Luke didn’t dare ask what had happened to Maribeth, but given how her eyes had darkened with secrets, he already knew it was intense. Rosalind was right about her journey to recovery not being over yet.

“Does anyone mind if I ask why people want to hurt the destiny-touched so bad?” Luke asked.

“Varied reasons that all boil down to fear,” Clark responded. “Men and women like Eric are rare, and their power exceeds us normal necromancers. That can be frightening to small-minded people and those looking for any reason to be violent.”

“I’m not sure if this helps or not, but my senses tell me Eric is incredibly strong,” Luke said. “Far stronger than the other destiny-touched necro we encountered.”

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