A Werewolf’s Seduction - Chapter 111

“Son. I heard from Sibyl about the vision she foretold and then I went looking for Vander.” She paused and stared at him with questioning eyes.

“Yes. And?”

“He told me what happened yesterday.”

Cedric gave his mother a dry look. He was not about to go launching into some diatribe. If she wanted to tell him something, she needed to just come right out and say it.

“Son. We need to bring your sister back.”

“Yes we do, but not at the cost of my wife and son.”

“Cedric—”

“Mother. I spent the last two years living in a different realm and risking my life on a daily basis trying to find her. If it wasn’t for the fact that Faria is falling apart at the seams, I would still be searching for her.”

Athena sighed. “I know you have sacrificed so much trying to find your sister. I appreciate it more than you will ever know.”

She closed her amber eyes to hide her distress.

“But Son. We now have a solid tangible lead to her whereabouts. We can’t just abandon her when we are this close.”

“What would you have me do, Mother?”

Athena opened her eyes and glared at him.

“Send Talia into the other realm with Vander. She and Vander will be able to bring Viviene back.”

“Talia is MY WIFE. She is pregnant with MY CHILD!” Cedric grounded out. “There is no way that I will allow Vander to mark her as his mate!”

“Son. Devin needs his parents. I need my daughter. You need your sister!”

“You’re asking me to sacrifice my wife and son for the sake of my sister. I can’t do that!” Cedric snarled. “I need my wife and child too!”

“If all goes well, you will get your wife and son back, along with Viviene and Dimitri!” Athena insisted.

Cedric shook his head.

“For the last time, Mother. NO!”

Athena pursed her lips and heaved a heavy sigh.

“Fine. I’m not going to keep harping on this, but I want you to at least think about it. You are the only one who has the capability to find a way to bring your sister back.”

Cedric stared at Athena’s back as his mother walked away and felt a surge of bitterness well up within his throat.

For the umpteenth time, he wished he could just disregard everyone and simply live for himself and his tiny family that was barely starting to form.

And why not? Viviene had simply taken off with her man, leaving behind a newborn for him to care for. He had spent so much time trying to find her that his kingdom had turned to shambles and now .

Since when was one person allowed to get so disruptive that it affected an entire kingdom of people?

He slammed his hand onto the table and sank back down on his chair. He was feeling sorry for himself and that was a rat hole he did not want to go down. He didn’t have time for this.

The distressing sound coming from inside the throne room attracted all the ne’er-do-goods who came flocking back to hound him with all their various demands and complaints and troubles.

Steeling himself, Cedric went back to the daily grind and comforted himself with the knowledge that he was going through the backlog of work quite speedily. It wouldn’t be long before things would revert back to their normal pace.

He hoped.

===========

While the stress was swirling around Cedric and his work day, Talia had a few small issues of her own.

At that very moment, she was seated across from a very distressed person who she could not disregard. The woman who had showed up at her door in tears was none other than the Royal Consort Athena, Cedric’s mother.

“Please, Talia! You must find a way to convince my son to allow you to go find Viviene! You are her only chance!”

“Lady Athena—”

“Mother. Call me Mother Athena.” Athena reached out and grabbed Talia’s hand. “You will be my son’s wife in a very short time.”

Talia nodded. “Mother Athena. Are you aware that if I am to take this journey, I will have to be marked by a man who is not my husband?”

Athena shut her eyes and heaved a sigh.

She picked up her dainty porcelain tea cup and took a tiny sip, as if to clarify in her mind exactly what it was she needed to say to Talia. She could not overstep her bounds.

Although she was Cedric’s mother, her position within the court was not a very lofty one. With Cyrus no longer King, she held little more than an honorary title.

Athena had been wanting to meet Talia ever since the girl had arrived, but court etiquette dictated that she had to wait for Talia’s invitation before she could show herself. After all, Talia’s position was the Queen Bride of Faria and Athena was only a Royal Consort of the former King.

“Cedric has a very deep love for Viviene.” She replaced the tea cup onto its saucer and folded her hands together on her lap.

“When they were first born, they looked so much alike, the only way anyone could tell them apart was to check to see which one was the boy and which one was the girl.”

“As they got older, they were inseparable. They were the best of friends and they were soul mates in a way that no other individual could replace.”

Talia blinked. “Soul—soul mates?”

Athena waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.

“Not in a romantic way. You have to understand. Cedric and Viviene are not fraternal twins.”

Talia shook her head in confusion.

Athena smiled. “My children are the product of two sperm from their father fertilizing a single egg of mine which then divided into two different fetuses. They are identical twins in every way except that one is a boy and one is a girl.”

Talia’s jaw dropped. “I didn’t even know that was a possibility.”

Athena laughed gently. “Until it happened to me, I didn’t either.”

She turned serious eyes at Talia.

“What I am trying to say is that Cedric deeply cares for his sister. The fact that he must choose between you and her is causing him great stress.”

Talia lifted her tea cup and took a sip of the rapidly cooling tea. What in the world did Mother Athena expect her to do?

Mother had sought her out that very morning to discuss with her the very same thing. Mother wanted her to accompany Vander to the realm beyond Earth.

She had simply listened without saying much. Whatever Mother had planned, Talia could almost guarantee that Cedric would not approve.

“I am sorry Mother Athena. I cannot leave Faria and I cannot allow another man to mark me. My wedding is coming up in two weeks and I love my husband.”

“There is also one other consideration. As you know, I am also pregnant.”

She narrowed her eyes. “As a soon-to-be mother, I need to protect my child over anyone else.”

“I know that sounds selfish of me, but my child comes first. I cannot put my baby’s health or life in danger by moving across worlds and stressing my body. I am declining to take on this trip.”

She placed the tea cup back on the saucer with a clink of finality.