you on the subject of how heirs are born?” Klaud asked when the din of the crowd had died away.
I felt a sudden stab of panic that soon Klaud would be whipping an illustrated guide out of his pocket and beginning with something like when a mommy werewolf and a daddy werewolf love each other very much…
“I know that heirs are all born of the same genetic line, and that if that particular heir decides to remain human, the genetic material remains dormant until the next of the line is born.”
“Correct,” he said, looking entirely too smug by half. “But did he tell you that not all heirs in the same line carry equal potential and power?”
“No,” I said, feeling irritation crawl up my spine on spiky insect legs. “He failed to mention that.”
His laugh felt like a slap stinging across my cheek. “Why does this not surprise me?”
That made two of us.
“The world of werewolves is governed by cycles. Cycles of the moon. Cycles of the tide. Cycles of birth. Cycles of death.”
This last word between us like an icicle. Cold. Jagged. Dangerous.
“True heirs,” he continued, “pure heirs are born in cycles as well.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.” My heart fluttered in the tight cage of my corset.
“The last true heir came to Castle Abernathy two hundred years ago.” Klaud paused, blue eyes milky in the moonlight. “That is, until you.”
The stone floor shifted beneath my feet. I reached out to steady myself against the wall. “What?”
Klaud scanned my face but failed to maintain eye contact, his gaze lodging squarely at my jugular. I tried not to enhance its pulsing by swallowing.
“Her name was Lily. She was to be Abernathy’s mate. He brought her here for the formal ceremony. The night before the wedding, she was nearly strangled to death. Following that incident, she was somewhat less interested in becoming the alpha female of the ruling clan. She left the following morning.”
The edges of my vision faded to a strange, smoky brown as I fought to drag air into my compressed lungs. Blood roared in my ears.
“Since she elected to remain human, all that she was, all that she might have been stayed dormant from generation to generation. Abernathy knew that, given time, the next true heir would be born. Which is why, I suspect, he remained near Cuxhaven, where Lily settled with her human family.”
Goosebumps spilled from the crown of my head all the way to my feet. “She settled in Cuxhaven?”
“Oh yes, she did. And for generations, they lived in secrecy, until your grandmother discovered some of the letters her grandmother had written to Abernathy. I suppose Abernathy told you your grandmother sought his assistance?”
“He did.” I said, deep melancholy spreading like hot tar through my middle.
“But not how she knew to seek his help?” Klaud’s face bore an expression of indecent pleasure as he delivered this revelation.
“No.” I let myself lean back against the wall, the rough-hewn stone, cool and surprisingly comforting between my naked shoulder blades.
“He was waiting. Or so, I imagine. Protecting your line against any interference would make infinite sense, if I were waiting for the love of my life to return.”
“But I’m not her,” I insisted. “She’s not me. We’re not the same.” I could feel the hard knot building at the base of my throat. The tears stinging my eyes.
That same, slow smile crept across his face. It should have been warning enough. “No. Not the same. But, the resemblance is—well I’ll let you be the judge.” He reached toward his pocket and withdrew a phone. His long, pale fingers danced over the screen before he handed it to me.
It felt unnaturally cool upon my palm. Even in the photograph, the painting caused me to gasp, and shrink. Those eyes. The auburn hair. The pale skin.
It was me.
Chapter 16
“Where did you get this?” The photograph of the painting looked to have been taken hastily, but the stones beyond the painting’s ornate, gilded frame belonged to Castle Abernathy. There could be no doubt of this.
“Under this very roof. In a section of the castle I suspect Mark has guarded against your entering. He has restricted your movements while you were here, yes? Under the pretense of some threat, I suppose. To think. You’ve been sleeping in her room. Remarkable how well he’s kept it. It’s been updated, I’m sure. But it was hers, all the same.”
“This isn’t possible.” I was backing away from him now, his phone still clutched