Beauty in Ashes (Phoenix Rising #7)- Harper Wylde Page 0,74
was his own fault he ended up with a phoenix instead of a koschei.”
“He stole her,” I whispered on a gasp as pain tore into my stomach. Of course he had. From the memories I’d uncovered, I knew my mother had been sweet but strong. If she’d known what he wanted—her blood, most likely—I couldn’t see her agreeing to mate with the man. I shuddered at the realization that he had either raped my mother or experimented on her.
“He did,” Drake replied grimly. “And it seems that one decision started a long tradition of utilizing hunters to find and take rare shifters for his program.” Fury and shock both roared through me, my body strung tight as a wire at the implications of his statement. Because my mother had rejected him in his quest for power, Stepanov had taken her, and I had been born of that violence. He had used her refusal as an excuse to steal others and continue his sick games.
“She escaped?” Theo guessed, adjusting his glasses. His voice was like ice, and I could feel the tension radiating off of him from here.
Drake nodded. “From what I understand, yes. She escaped while she was still pregnant with Nix, before he even knew if she was carrying a male or a female, let alone what type of shifter she would be. The rest of this is more inferred from knowing Stepanov and hearing what I did of their argument. It seems that Stepanov had assumed he would bear a koschei like himself. He did not believe he would be able to create another phoenix.”
I scoffed. Of course he didn’t. He saw himself as undefeatable, all-powerful. He truly believed, like many shifters seemed to, that the so-called ‘dominant’ shifter would breed through, no matter what the science of it said.
“I’m sure he assumed you to be related to Kamilah despite your name, but it wasn’t until they studied the blood they had taken from you that they were able to verify your paternity.”
“So his own program backfired on him,” Hiro murmured. “He hired bounty hunters to provide him with rare shifters. Michael found her…”
“But didn’t want to deliver me right away,” I added softly. “Seeing a way to profit off of me himself.”
“When you returned, Stepanov thought he could continue his experiments—using your blood instead of your mother’s, using your eggs to create more phoenixes with other types of mythological bloodlines, though they were mysteriously destroyed before he ever had a chance to bring that plan to fruition. It’s why he fought to control you and keep you close. Now, though, he has another reason for your destruction—you represent failure. His own blood didn’t prove pure enough to provide what he had most desired, a koschei heir to maintain his immortality and legacy.” Drake’s multicolored eyes closed as he shook his head. “I’ve done so many things that destroyed my soul, Nix, but I swear to you I was not aware of your lineage until recently. My only desire now is to see the Council destroyed and my son at your side before I disappear. It is more than I deserve, but it’s my fondest wish.”
I slumped backwards into my seat as Hiro’s hand slipped away, my mind spinning with everything Drake had told us. The Landing was a trap, which we had always assumed, but now we had a way around their plan. My paternity was certain, despite the dark implications that secret disclosed. Drake was able to give us some insight before this war began, and we could utilize every piece we received.
“Drake, I’m sure we’ll have more questions for you,” Hiro spoke up, his smooth tone flowing over me. “There may be more issues with The Landing or with their strategy that we’ll want to address. I’m sure you’re tired after your journey. I can have you shown to a room to rest.”
“I would appreciate it,” Drake admitted, glancing quickly up at me. “Nix, I wish I had more for you. The why, the how. All I can tell you is that I’m sorry. I wish things had changed before now, and I regret plunging you, my son, and your other mates into a war because of the choices of those who came before you.” He pushed to his feet, risking a glance at Joshua whose pale face was turned down, his hair covering his eyes. Hiro ushered Drake from the room as I stared around me, taking in my mates’ expressions.