Seeing this made Callum grit his teeth.
Then Lucien announced, “We need to talk before Sonia returns.”
Callum’s attention sharpened and his instincts made him brace.
“Then do it quickly,” Callum invited. He wanted this to be over, needed to have a word with his wife, his gaze shifting briefly to Leah, deciding she likely had full knowledge of Lucien’s abilities, he went on, “But if you sense Sonia anywhere near, stop speaking.”
Lucien’s brows went up. He’d smell her before Callum did while he was in human form. If he were a wolf, his senses would have been slightly more acute than the vampire’s but, at that moment, he was not a wolf.
“Would you like to explain that?” Lucien suggested.
“Not right now,” Callum replied, giving Lucien the correct implication that he might not later either. It depended on how this conversation progressed.
Lucien nodded, let it go and continued without preamble, “I’ve spoken to Gregor.”
Callum didn’t respond.
“He’s explained things,” Lucien went on.
“And what did he explain?” Callum asked.
Lucien’s arm tightened protectively around Leah before he said, “He’s shared The Prophesies.”
Leah’s body tensed and her happy face grew serious as she gazed at Callum.
She knew as well and her fear was palpable.
As it would be.
Lucien was watching him closely and he queried, “You know of them?”
“Some of them, yes,” Callum answered.
“I was told you didn’t know,” Lucien murmured and Callum didn’t respond. Therefore Lucien continued, “They’re vague as prophesies tend to be but they appear to be coming true. You and Sonia were obvious. Leah and myself…” He hesitated. “Not so much.”
“There is another,” Callum informed him.
Lucien’s chin went up before he noted, “Yes, but they’ll be found soon.”
“They don’t have to be.”
Lucien gazed at him a moment before saying quietly, “Yes, Callum, they do.”
Callum knew what he meant and he felt the muscle jump in his jaw.
The third lifemates needed to be found, the female claimed and bound before The Prophesies could come true.
Leah, being mate to a vampire, would have eternal life.
Sonia, being mate to a werewolf, would always be mortal.
The third lifemate would need to be found before Sonia died which meant soon, in the life of an immortal.
Callum decided to change the subject. “Do you have any idea if it will be wolf or vampire who claims the third mate?”
Lucien held his eyes and replied, “A hybrid.” Callum felt his brows go up and Lucien nodded. “Werewolf, vampire hybrid. The first of his kind.”
This was news.