“Tell us your secret now, Candice.”
My stomach twists uncomfortably, but I know this is important. My words matter now, so I just spit it out quickly. “Jarron imprinted on my sister. She was his chosen.”
Lola gasps. Janet looks slightly pale. But then, she places a wooden lid over the now smoking bowl and closes the book.
I look down at my hands and wait for their reaction. I’m distracted by a tiny red dot on my inner wrist. It doesn’t move when I wipe at it. A mark of the spell?
“You can tell us more now,” Janet says softly.
I close my eyes. I don’t want to force the cursed words from my lips.
“Do you know what it means? To be a demon’s chosen?” I ask them. I don’t know how much context they need. It’s not exactly common knowledge.
Janet shakes her head. “I only know they mate for life. It’s more intense for them than many other supernaturals. Except Fae, I think?”
“Is it like fae’s fated mates?” Lola asks.
“No,” I whisper. “It’s not predestined or anything, and it’s one-sided. As I understand it, males choose a mate before adulthood. Only they know who their chosen is until the bond is accepted. Trevor said it’s forbidden for anyone to talk about it.”
“So, Trevor and Bea?” Lola asks.
I nod. “Yes, she is his chosen, and that’s common knowledge, at least to the demons, because she’s accepted the connection. In their culture, it’s a sacred rite of passage for the young demon to pursue his chosen. ‘To earn your chosen is to earn your right to rule,’ that’s what Bea said. Until you’ve earned them, the secret is sacred.”
“And Jarron’s chosen—”
“Was Liz.”
“Wow,” Janet breathes.
“Is that why Mr. Vandozer…”
“Maybe,” I say. “I don’t know exactly how all of that happened, but he did imply he was going to use it against Jarron. He had proof Jarron’s chosen rejected him and chose another.”
“Why? What happens if your chosen rejects you? Or dies…”
“Um, I guess it can be used to weaken his right to the throne? He could be usurped.”
Janet fidgets with her silver chain. “But Mr. Vandozer couldn’t gain the throne, could he? It would go to Trevor or someone close to the queen?”
“I think he wants Trevor on the throne. Or maybe that’s what Bea wants. They were working together in some capacity.”
“This is so crazy,” Lola says.
“I know.”
“And now, your relationship makes so much more sense,” Janet says.
I huff.
“Does it?” Lola whispers.
Janet and I both frown down at her. She hasn’t left her spot sitting on the ground, which is unusual for her.
“I get that you have some bad feelings about Jarron and your sister, but…” She looks at her hands. “Were they ever even together?”
“No. Not really.”
“Then, what does it actually change?” Lola asks. Her wings perk up and begin vibrating.
