Page 47 of Immortal Bastard

“You missed a council meeting. Your mother was concerned.”

His mother. He was surprised she hadn’t come to visit him herself. Then he realized the half-breed, Dane, likely told her about Delilah.

He grimaced. “No doubt that’s what brought you here.”

A passive puppeteer who orchestrated many events without a trace, his mother played the bishop well. Of course she’d have him come here to investigate the situation for her. That way she could feign disinterest while also passively making her disappointment known.

Not that she would be unhappy about his mating. On the contrary, she’d be thrilled. But she would be disappointed that Christian hadn’t confided in her. She’d take his secrecy as a personal slight, claiming him cold and hateful for intentionally leaving her out of such a monumental life event.

He sighed. She’d show up eventually, but not before gaining a bit of information first. If anything, his mother liked to be prepared.

“How long have you had her here, Christian?”

“Four days.”

“And things are...”

It was not the bishop’s business to ask, certainly not his right to know. But Christian knew he was inquiring as a friend.

“Not well.” Glancing at his catatonic mate who watched the bishop like a statue, Christian pushed a hand through his hair, setting it on end as his neck burned. “I’m afraid the situation is worsening by the day if you want the truth.”

Eleazar’s silent observation spoke volumes. As the most powerful immortal on the farm, over half a millennia-old, the bishop had the power to look into Christian’s or Delilah’s mind and see anything he wanted to know.

Eleazar frowned. “She’s transitioned, yet...”

Christian grimaced. “The bonding was swift. I didn’t want to chance…complications.”

“I see.”

“I realize now, a little patience might have benefited both of us.” He hoped Delilah heard the sincerity of his words. The admission was made for her benefit more than anything else.

Eleazar switched from English to Dutch. “Modern mortal females are different, Christian. They like their independence and tend to be much more free-spirited than the females of The Order.”

“I realize that also,” Christian also transitioned to their native language.

“How old is your female?”

“Just under thirty years.”

He frowned, studying Delilah and no doubt reading some of her memories.

“She came to me willingly,” Christian explained. “I took nothing she didn’t offer.”

“Except her life.”

His head lowered in shame. “Yes.”

Once the calling had begun, Christian could not shake the fear of turning feeish. What had become of his once close friend, Isaiah, was an abomination. He did not want to risk the same fate.

Eleazar placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “What’s done is done, brother. Rest easy. You’re both through the transition and safe.”

Safe but not happy.

“I’ve been alone too long. I’m not sure I know how to do this.” Only because he was certain Delilah did not understand their version of Pennsylvania Dutch did Christian confide such personal information to his trusted friend.

“Nonsense. Resolutions will come in time. You must be patient.”

“She hates me. I assumed there was no point in delaying the inevitable, but perhaps I was wrong.”

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