After a little small talk they made themselves comfortable in the modern armchairs in Brad's sparse office.
Lexi had to admit that this room was very different to the rest of the pack house. It felt as though she had entered a completely different building having gone from antique and classy decoration into sparsely decorated, modern and if she was honest, a little sterile.
You could tell that Brad was effectively a bachelor as there was no warmth in this space, only functionality.
"I hope you didn't mind me asking my mother to bring you here. I've had early meetings this morning and I didn't want to miss you before you got busy for the day."
"If I have my way, we have no plans to be busy in the slightest," Lexi smirked, "I was hoping to relax a little while we were here, honestly. The past few weeks have been chaotic."
"So I understand." Brad nodded sympathetically, "Are you any closer to finding Eromaug?"
"Oh we know where he is," Lexi answered darkly, "It's just gaining access to his realm that's the issue."
"Your father can't access it?"
"Don't you think we'd be there already if he could?" She snarled defensively as Brad held his hands up in front of him defensively.
"I didn't mean to offend you. I just want to make sure I have all the information that…"
"You don't really need to know the details, Brad. It should be enough for you to know that we're looking. Your Queen and her husband know what they're doing. They have the best advisors in the kingdom at their disposal. When you need to know more, I'm sure they'll tell you." Lexi bristled.
Brad's face fell slightly, but he didn't press for more details, taking a sip of his coffee before setting it back on the table carefully and speaking again.
"I have the greatest trust and faith in our Alpha Queen and her consort, Lexi. I am merely asking due to the delegation from the Lycan King. They want to know exactly what happened, why it happened and why it isn't over already." Brad answered steadily.
Greyson snorted and shook his head.
"Typical." He muttered irritably.
"Quite honestly, I think there's a little panic within their kingdom over whether or not the confrontation will spill over their borders." Brad continued eying Greyson carefully, "I think that's why they are reaching out to packs that border their territory in the hopes of strengthening their own response should it be needed."
"They couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag no matter how hard they tried." Greyson laughed dismissively, "So the chances of them being able to repel an attack from Eromaug and his cronies is slim to none."
"You seem to have a lot to say on the matter," Brad commented, raising an eyebrow dryly, "Your father's kingdom has an impressive reputation and I assumed it was warranted."
"Perhaps at one time," Greyson scoffed, "But now? The depravity and debauchery of the influential royals and nobles have allowed corruption to run rampant within the leadership of our society. Why do you think I left?"
"I don't know. Your reasons are your own. It is not my job to question your motives." Brad shrugged, feigning disinterest, but Greyson could see the curiosity twinkling in his eyes.
"We were actually intending to come and speak with you today Brad," Lexi cut in, directing a meaningful look towards Greyson as a sneer curled at his lips, "Greyson wanted to talk with you about his family so that you knew what you were letting yourself in for."
"Really? I'm all ears…" Brad answered, leaving the sentence hanging in the air expectantly.
"I know you intend to run this alliance past Queen Ann first and honestly, you would be wise to do so. But I want you to have all the information about the kind of people that run the Lycan Kingdom before you subconsciously begin to be intrigued by the idea, and potentially be disappointed when Ann refuses."
Brad cocked his head as his eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"You're so sure that Ann will reject their offer?"
"With the way things are run there?" Greyson paused as a wicked smile crossed his face, "Undoubtedly. The Alpha Queen certainly has an impressive way of viewing things, as does her consort, and a strong desire to punish injustice and enact positive change throughout her kingdom. Seeing how she has dealt with major issues here that would be seen as irrelevant in the Lycan Kingdom, then I cannot imagine that she would ally herself with them."
"What do you mean? What issues?" Brad's brows furrowed as he leaned forward on his desk, hands clasped together.
"There's so much…" Greyson sighed as he ran his hand down his face wearily, "I left because my father refuses to act to put an end to everything. Our birth rate is low and our population is shrinking. We don't know why because it's not for lack of trying on the Lycan's part. But conception just isn't happening."
"I don't see how fertility issues are relevant…" Lexi frowned as Greyson silenced her with a look.
"I'm getting there," he snapped before continuing, "The solution that was agreed upon was to bring in Breeders, or Echo's if they were available for those that refuse to lay with anyone other than their mates."
Eleanor, Brad and Alen sucked in a sharp breath as he explained, whilst Lexi looked around at them in confusion.
"Echo's? What the hell is that?"
"They're unnatural creatures, Lexi. Still people, obviously, but some of them are..unstable." Allen answered.
"That's outrageous! How can they enslave people in this way again! That practice was abolished shortly after the Daemon War!" Eleanor hissed angrily from her corner.
Greyson sighed as he turned to Lexi.
"They were created as a fusion between some of the strongest species and bloodlines and enhanced with magickal energies. The mix of genetics varied depending what strengths you wanted to enhance but it's suffice to say that some of the genes that were combined should never have been able to produce viable offspring. In all cases, the Echo's possess a unique ability to mimic the mate scent of whatever individual they are laying with. It made them fantastic agents for espionage but…they were treated and thought of as nothing more than property by their owners."
Lexi blinked in disbelief.
"How is that even possible?!" she breathed.
"Magick," Brad snarled, "It binds the genetics together."
"And you're using them as breeders?" Lexi asked slowly, trying to absorb what she had been told.
"The kingdom is, yes, and not only for breeding. Many are enslaved and satisfy the desires of their 'masters'," Greyson answered flatly, "Rape and murder is commonplace among the population of breeders and Echo's, but the Lycan kingdom does not see them as more than property…in line with the now ancient practice."
Lexi's fists curled in fury, her nails digging into the palm of her hand as she felt her souls roil in anger.
"And these women have no choice?"
"No. It's not just women Lexi. Men and children too. If the offspring produced does not meet the standards of genetic testing after they are born, then they are sent back to the breeding pool…adding to the population available to breed with for the Lycans."
Lexi laughed suddenly, a short sound that held no humor to it.
"You're right. Ann would never ally herself with your kingdom. But what I want to know is why, as a prince, you left your people and did nothing to stop this injustice."