She allowed her eyes to round with wonder for the barest of moments before she hid her reaction and said softly, “Thank you for that explanation.”

“I’ll be happy to share more with you, and your son, should he trust us enough to meet with us,” Callum replied.

“And I’ll be happy to share those traits he has that are vampiric,” Lucien added.

Strangely, when her eyes came to Lucien as he spoke, they dropped to Leah briefly before coming back to Lucien.

This he read.

The third of The Three had a mate who was as The Prophesies foretold.

A human.

“There is much he needs to know,” Lucien told her and held her eyes as he carried on, “And not simply about what occurred three nights ago.”

She understood him and didn’t wish for him to know that, this being why she looked to her lap.

Lucien felt Leah’s fingers curl around his and hold fast.

She sensed it too.

“We don’t wish to alarm you further than you and your family have already been alarmed, Mrs. Jin, but I’ll tell you now, it’s urgent we speak to your son and his mate,” Gregor told her. “There are matters they must know, and the sooner they know them, the better.”

Mrs. Jin looked to Gregor, allowing, “I’ll speak with him again.”

“Please,” Gregor replied, “be convincing. As you know, the threat is very real. In an effort to establish trust, we have not approached again but kept our distance. However, we cannot leave. And we cannot because they will try again, Mrs. Jin. They will bring reinforcements and they’ll try again. And even if we have the mightiest of vampires, with King Callum holding his position as sovereign of the wolves because he’s by far the strongest of them all, we still fear without our own reinforcements, the threat they will bear when they return could be overwhelming. And if it is, that would be catastrophic.”

Lucien sensed her escalating panic, even as she endeavored to hide it when she implored, “Then, please, share that with me.”

“You’ve most assuredly earned our loyalty with what you’ve shown our brother,” Gregor told her gently. “But I’m afraid it’s his right to hear this and we cannot withdraw that right, even for you.”

“Then I’m afraid I’ve had the bad manners to request tea when I cannot drink it, Mr. Gregor, since it’s clear I should get home to my family,” she returned.

“Of course,” Gregor murmured, standing as she did the same. Callum came up off the arm of the couch out of respect and Mrs. Jin’s eyes moved to him when he did so, taking that in. “I’ll show you out,” Gregor finished.