Luciano

A while longer in Dillion's office, I learned everything. Poor, old man had no glimpse of anything that had been happening. He had no idea that he even had another daughter. His wife, Martha, hid the fact that she had twins as she sent Anna off to another country right after her birth and their Father never knew.

I was going to stay longer and I had decided on telling the truth, but only after consulting with Red and letting her know that the old man she was working for was her own Father. A part of me knew she'd be thrilled but then I was slightly concerned and scared of what would happen. She thought her Father was dead, for a very long time, both of the sister's did. How would I ever tell them?

When my own Mother began calling me, I had to excuse myself and leave. It wasn't just a single call, she repeatedly rang me for the entire hour I was speaking to Dillion and I just hoped someone hadn't died.

"I'm sorry, I was a little busy. Is everything okay? How are you?" I asked my Mother upon accepting her fourteenth call. I wasn't able to speak to her last night as Ben and I were looking at hotel apartments after leaving Dillion's house.

"Yes, I'm fine. I just needed to talk you immediately." My Mother said, worry coating her voice.

I held my breath back. "What's wrong?"

My Father was the temporary regent of the werewolf kingdom, and I was sure nothing would go wrong under his ruling since he had been the King for almost a century, long before I came.

"It's nothing about your Father or me. Everything is fine at our side." She said. "I know you've told me about the issues at your side that have put a pause on your and Red's return here but we will need Red to fly back immediately."

I walked out of the house and stepped at the backyard. The leaves rustled and the wind got stronger. My brows furrowed at my Mother's words.

"What's wrong? Why? Is Fiona okay? Did something happen to her?" I grew curious. I knew it wasn't the right idea to stay here, we should've left and ditched Cordelia, not that she would have done anything as she would be a hundred hours away from us.

"No. Fiona is perfectly fine, she's doing great. It's not about her." My Mother paused for a moment. "In our world, when a Queen dies, the one who kills her becomes the next Queen. When Red killed Gretel, she needed to set her claim over the throne but wasn't able to do so as she died. Now that she's alive, she is required to return and claim what's hers as someone else has their intentions on it and we cannot to that."

I was abrupt and quick in replying. "What? I don't understand. I'm sure Red doesn't wants to become a Queen of the witches. She killed Gretel for herself, not to become a Queen."

"I know, I know, Luciano!" The fear in her tone grew with every second passing by. "If Red becomes the Queen, both the worlds will be in peace, probably forever but if she doesn't, someone else will come by and ruin it, ruin ever chance."

I couldn't say anything for Red as I wasn't sure whether or not she wanted the power my Mother was offering. Maybe she did, maybe she didn't.

"Okay. But, who's the one claiming the throne? You can cover up for the time being, right?" I asked, hoping she could as she was a powerful witch herself.

"I cannot. It's not in my hands. Damon, Gretel's son, has his intentions on the throne. And that's not only worst part, he's married now, to Lisa and they both are against us." She struggled to get the words out.

Silence fell between us after that. I turned around, gasping lightly as my heart hammered in my chest. We were talking about Lisa, Red's best friend, who had now betrayed her.

"Lisa?"

"Yes, she is around and she's no longer in the favor of Red or her living." My Mother continued.

I eventually began panicking. There were so many things I needed to tell Red but I didn't know where to start from. Did I need to tell her that her friend betrayed her? Or that her Father is in the same house as her? It hadn't even been a week since she was bought back. All this would tear her apart again, throw her in another year of suffering and sadness and I no longer had the strength to see her gone again, not after I watched her die in my arms.

"Luciano."

"Yes, Mother."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'll try flying back soon with her, there are a few things here that need to be handle—"

"I can take care of Cordelia if you want me too." She suggested, cutting me off.

I shook my head, "No, Mother, it's not about her. When I came here, I didn't expect secrets to open up, secrets that were long gone. I just need some time, till then, please, look out for Fiona and everything else there. I promise I will be there, soon." I gave her my word.

"All right. It's okay, take your time. I'll go to Lunaris and see what Damon and Lisa are upto."

"Thank you, Mother."

I cut the call after that and shoved my phone back inside my pocket. As I walked inside, I stumbled across the same servant who directed me to Dillion's office. The young woman had a shaky look over her face as if she was anxious about something. Upon seeing me, she whipped her hand behind her back and hid something.

"Sorry." I mumbled, walking away with only one thing in my mind.

Red.

I had to protect her this time, in my way—in a way she wouldn't be disturbed, in way she wouldn't have to loose her sanity all over again.

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