Gregor shook his head like he was clearing it. “Sorry, yes. Sorry,” he repeated. “Very rude. Much is on my mind. ” He took in a deep breath and focused closely on Abel. “But I’ll repeat my apology for not being sensitive, something we’ll be in future. But I’ll do that now by warning you I’m about to speak bluntly. I’m concerned that perhaps you were not left in an alley. Perhaps you were saved in one, purposefully, for your parents might have been hunted due to The Prophesies. The Prophesies were not widely known. However, we’ve recently learned that a once-trusted member of The Council, Marcello, was an insurrectionist. He shared them. And it’s our understanding he shared them some time ago.”

“Great,” Abel muttered.

“He’s since been dispatched,” Gregor told him. “But if your parents were under threat, or felt that you were, there’s a possibility they would find the kind of human who would do no harm to an immortal once they discovered that. A human who would keep you hidden in the mortal world due to your abilities. A human they could leave you with to do just that.” His voice lowered as he finished, “It might have been their only choice to keep you safe.”

“Jesus Christ,” he snarled and felt Delilah’s hand curl around his thigh.

“Yes, terrible, if it happened that way. Tragic,” Gregor said. “But if we can trace this, we may be able to trace whoever found you and Delilah in Serpentine Bay.”

“And who scarred me,” Abel added.

“Sorry?” Gregor asked.

“Who scarred me, seein’ as I don’t scar either. But some bitch in a roadhouse in Texas slipped me a mickey, somethin’ else that doesn’t work on me, ’cept hers did. Then she used some weird-ass knife to carve into my face. She was goin’ for my heart, but I passed out. She didn’t finish me off, and considering what that knife did to my face, that would have finished me off.”

Gregor looked to Lucien, so Abel looked to Lucien and saw his jaw get hard.

“Did she…” Leah began, then paused before asking, “get cold feet or something?”

“No, he was saved by somebody,” Delilah answered.

“What’s got you tweaked?” Abel cut in, asking this to Lucien.

Lucien looked his way, then replied, “Witches.”

“Oh shit,” Delilah muttered. “More supernaturals. Fabulous.”

“There are witches?” Sonia asked, surprising Abel. Then again, she was new to this supernatural business too.

“Yes, baby doll, and some have power, but not much,” Callum answered. “I never mentioned them, because, by not much power, I mean they’re no longer of consequence.”

“Those who held long lines of power, and thus were very strong, were annihilated centuries ago,” Gregor explained.

“By who?” Leah asked.

Gregor shifted in his seat, suddenly looking uncomfortable, his eyes going to Lucien.

So everyone’s eyes went to Lucien.