Declan - Heart of a Tiger (Royal Taiga Streak #1) - J.R. Loveless Page 0,90

and curled his arms around his waist. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Casey shook where he stood and the frightening, silent shifter with him wrapped an arm around Casey’s shoulders. He flicked a quick grateful glance to the man before turning back to Sean. “My brother won’t understand, but I do. I will try to make him see he’s wrong.”

“I don’t understand,” Sean said, eyebrows furrowing. “What is he wrong about?”

“My brother is very much controlled by his emotions. He will feel the need to demand justice for our lost brethren and will demand your alpha provide him with it.”

Victor stiffened next to Sean, but didn’t speak. Sean leaned a little closer to Victor without realizing his attempt to soothe the older man Declan seemed to trust wholeheartedly. “What will he ask for?”

“Either for the man who hurt our clansman or for blood in return from your streak.”

“He’s dead,” Sean whispered.

Casey gave Sean a sympathetic look. “I know.”

“What does blood in return from our streak mean?” Sean asked. “He’ll want someone else to take my father’s place?”

Casey gave a small nod. Sean gasped and trembled. “But it wasn’t their fault!”

“Luthor will not see it that way.”

“I have to tell him! I have to tell your brother it’s not their fault,” Sean said, trying to pull away from Victor and run to Declan’s office.

Victor tightened his hold. “You must remain here, little one. Alpha Declan will be able to handle this.”

Sean looked at Victor, feeling helpless. “But Carl was the one who ki-killed the others. They have to understand that.”

Victor shook his head. “Trust in Declan. It’ll be all right.”

Closing his eyes, Sean leaned into Victor’s side, soaking up the strength pouring from the other shifter. “It’s not their fault,” he whispered again.

Someone touched the back of his hand and Sean opened his eyes. Casey smiled encouragingly. “He is right, Alpha-mate. Everything will be all right.”

Sean nibbled at his bottom lip then nodded. “Okay.”

“Would you please introduce me to your family?” Casey asked, glancing over Sean’s shoulder to where Sam and the others sat.

He cleared his throat and turned. “This is Sam, Tara, and the little one is Vicky.”

Sam eyed Casey warily. “Who are you?”

Casey glanced at Victor for a split second and then ventured further into the room. His bodyguard never left his side, much as Victor did not leave Sean. “My name is Casey Ashford. My brother is Luthor Ashford, alpha of the Clan of the Claw. We are here at the request of your alpha.”

“If you’re a seer, why weren’t you able to see what that bastard was doing to your brethren?” Tara demanded.

“Tara!” Sean reprimanded her for being so blunt and for the language she’d used, especially in front of Vicky. She raised her brow at Sean, but didn’t say anything else.

“It is okay, Alpha-mate. She is just curious.” Casey turned to face her. “My visions are… tentative, Ms. Tara. I can’t call them at will. I have to touch someone or something the person has touched in order to see anything. Many of my visions aren’t clear, they lack the finer details and only reveal the broadest of information sometimes.

“A seer does not mature into their visions until they reach puberty and even when they come into their abilities there is no certainty how long it will take to master them. When Yuri was taken, I was a toddler and by the time I reached puberty, the energies that cling to an object had faded. I couldn’t have known what happened to him or any of you.”

The front door opened and Sean spotted Cameron entering the house and heading toward Declan’s office. He wanted nothing more than to follow the kind doctor, but he had to remember Declan’s promise. If he needed Sean there, he would call for him. He refocused his attention on Casey. “Will your brother try to hurt Declan?”

“Not outside of the laws of the clan.”

“What does that mean?” Sam asked.

“Luthor would not risk his right to justice by attempting to attack Declan without issuing a challenge.”

“What kind of challenge?”

“The most likely choice, an Alpha’s Challenge. They will fight to the death in front of both clans. The alpha still standing at the end will have the choice to either take control of the other’s clan or leave them without an alpha.”

Sean sucked in a breath at the thought of Declan being hurt. He couldn’t lose Declan. “Is there any way to stop it?”

Before Casey could answer, they heard Declan’s office door open