ELLA'S POV

We drove in silence for a while. I was trying to process everything that had happened.

Lucien was my first mate. Noah had been lying to me. And I had just killed a bunch of vampires with my bare hands.

"Mom," I said finally. "I need you to tell me everything. From the beginning."

She sighed. "Where do I start?"

"Start with why you never told me about Klaudius," I said.

"Because I was trying to protect you," she said. "When I found out I was pregnant, I knew Klaudius would try to use you for his war. So I ran away."

"And you met Dad?"

"Yes," she...