Read Nikolas for Free Online Page B

like one?” Xenia walked to a cabinet on the far side of the room and poured a tall glass of what looked like whiskey. Xenia downed the glassful of liquor and poured herself another.
    “No, thank you. Xenia, you aren’t going to believe what I tell you at first. But please, just hear me out. In the end, it will make sense. Sort of.”
    Xenia brought the glass with her and sat across from Sophia. When she was settled, Sophia removed the scarf from her head before she continued. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way about who and what you are. I am your niece.” When Xenia started to interrupt her, Sophia held up her hand. “Yes, I know, you were adopted and don’t have any siblings. Actually, you have sixteen, well fifteen now. One is recently deceased.” Sophia stood and went to the kitchen, wetting a paper towel. She handed it to her aunt and sat back down. “You have a little blood on your chin.” Xenia wiped the blood as Sophia continued, “You were put up for adoption by your biological parents to protect you.”
    “Protect me from what?”
    “From those of our kind who are prejudiced against the less than pure of our kind. Have you ever read a book about a shapeshifter, you know, like a werewolf?”
    Xenia’s eyes were huge. “You mean we’re…”
    Sophia cut her off. “No, not exactly. But we do come from a line of shapeshifters. The earliest Gargouille date back millennia. They were created to protect humans. The name has been modernized over the years to Gargoyle. Your father is a full-blood who is from the original line of shifters. Your mother is human; therefore, you are what is considered a half-blood. My father, one of your brothers, is also a half-blood. I guess that would make me a quarter-blood, but that doesn’t have the same ring to it. Anyway, what you have seen, the claws and fangs, is a small part of being a shifter. Females of our kind have enhanced strength, vision, and hearing. Once we meet our mate, we go through our initial transition into our shifter side.
    “Phasing is what we call it when our extra parts show up,” Sophia said, using air quotes. “Now, the males, they are special. The Gargoyles have an awesome set of wings as well as special skin that is impenetrable. And yes, before you ask, they can fly. The half-blood males get wings upon their transition, but not the thick skin. It develops over time. I know this is a lot to throw at you at once, but honestly, the worst part is over.” Sophia spent the next hour filling Xenia in on all things Goyle and answering her many questions. It was a lot to take in, especially the feeling of betrayal by parents who kept some of their children and not the others.
    “So, what you’re saying is even though I’ve been seeing Keene for the last few months, anyone I’ve come in contact with could be my mate?”
    “Yes, but you will know whether it’s him or not by the feelings you get when he’s near. I’m surprised it took you so long to transition, though. Most of us phase for the first time pretty quickly after meeting our mate.”
    “I’ve had fangs for months now. I just didn’t know what to do about them. I’ve taken a sabbatical from work to come to terms with the new me.”
    “That makes more sense. Have you not been around Keene since you transitioned?”
    “No, and as you can see, he got tired of waiting on me. I’ve been putting him off, telling him I was sick. When I’m around him, my body does its own thing.”
    Sophia couldn’t help but think about her own body’s reaction to Nik.
    “Where did you go just then?” Xenia asked with the first smile she’d formed since Sophia walked into the house.
    “I was thinking about my mate and how he makes me feel. When he’s near, I absolutely have to touch him. It’s as if part of my soul leaves me and takes up residence with him. Until I’m in his presence again, part of me feels gone. You might look at others and think they’re attractive, but no one