Sarim's Scent by Juliette Springs Page B

because of their heritage, something beyond their control. He couldn’t let them down, or his mother’s memory, or even his cold-hearted father. Duty weighed on him and left him with no option.
    He would have time, their entire lives, to make up for the lies to Victoria. She was his mate, and she may very well be mad, justifiably so, but she would eventually get over it. She needed him. He would have to supply her with the energy necessary to sustain their life force. If she were breeding, she would need him even more and would not have time to be angry for long.
    “You win, Father. I will wait before I tell Victoria. But you need to get it together as quick as possible.”
    “Of course, son,” his father stated, obviously relieved. “We will also need time to find the proper Taalibs to help your mate deal with who she is and with being a Dalili Nakissa.”
    “You’re right,” Khafil said. “I can’t think of any local Taalib who has expertise in this matter. The Imvura Council must be notified. They will know the proper way to handle this situation.”
    Khafil also had to figure out how to handle the situation as well. He had to find a way to convince Victoria to stay with him. It was forbidden to use mind manipulation on one’s mate, no matter the circumstances. He didn’t want to add to his list of sins. He did, however, want this to be over; the sooner the better. He had a life to lead, one that included his mate, Victoria.
    Zanhoden sat in the head seat at the empty Imvura Council table. He had a lot of things to think about since the meeting with his son. Revenge was so close he could taste its honey. He had waited so long, planned and plotted for decades to get to this point. The fact his soon-to-be daughter-in-law was a Dalili Nakissa was an added bonus. Getting Sarim’s heir pregnant was a brilliant move, and even though he’d stressed to his son the importance of doing so, he was never sure Khafil would actually complete the task and certainly not on the first try. He reined his excitement in. First, it had to be determined she was impregnated. Then he would celebrate the success. But he knew if she wasn’t—which was highly unlikely—she would be soon.
    He had instilled a strong sense of duty in his son at a young age. Khafil was his only son and next in line for the Imvura Council leadership. He was his legacy. He understood the enormity of what that position entailed. Khafil understood that the Imvura Brotherhood would depend on him to lead them in the right direction and make sure their interests were met, represented, and spread throughout the Taalib Duma Nation. It was a hard, burdensome task, but it was his task. His son was the future of the Imvura, and now with revenge and success standing so close by, Khafil had to comprehend the situation more than ever.
    It was the reason he had asked him to wait to tell Victoria the truth. The relationship between mates could be an emotionally and physically satisfying one. On the other hand, a mate’s relationship could also be a source of hell. There were stories of mates who betrayed each other, even killed each other, and mates who had tumultuous relationships. He had enjoyed a passionate union with his mate, Khafil’s mother, who was at the center of his quest for revenge against Sarim. She’d been beautiful, intelligent, and loving. She’d also been Sarim’s intended. The relationship had never been consummated, but it was understood they may eventually marry. However, when Zanhoden first saw her, he felt an instant attraction he could not walk away from. He unashamedly pursued her, driven by some unexplainable need, an almost insane desire to have her. She rejected him at first, saying she belonged to Sarim, and she would bring great shame and dishonor to her family if she didn’t honor the intended union.
    She’d been raised and and groomed to become Sarim’s bride. It had never happened, and Sarim had never forgiven him. Zanhoden