Crimson Storm

by V L Moon

  Khad ran for a few more hours before meeting up with Damian. They boarded the boat and Damian guided them toward the dock. “Wow, that’s gotta be your father, huh?” Damian shuddered as they moored the boat and stepped off onto the jetty.

  Khad shrugged his reply. Truth be told, his heart was in his mouth. He was scared, sort of excited and confused. For as long as he could remember, he’d wanted to belong. He’d found a place with Damian and Alexa, more so with Shaver and his parents. They’d become his family, loved him regardless of his many faults and offered him the security he so avidly craved.

  He’d sought solace on the island, using his time there in a bid to hide. He’d been a fucking jerk to Shay, treated him like shit when Khad could feel the fear that had been riding his best friend. He couldn’t count the amount of times he’d done that to Shay, and through it all, Shaver would be there, window open, arms ready to hold him. For years, Shaver had put up with his crap, and the one time Shaver needed him, Khad had punched him, kissed him and ran. He’d run from his feelings in an attempt to escape having to explain. Now, everything was a mess and he needed Shaver more than ever.

  “Hey, c’mon man. What’s wrong? This is what you’ve always wanted. Why the face?” Damian frowned, pulling Khad up short.

  “I know. It’s just…damn it. I don’t know. My head’s a mess. This is everything to me, but what about Shaver? He’s so pissed at me right now, and what if Sage got it wrong and I’m not the one these people are looking for? But, what if I am and they don’t like me. I’m scared Dame.

  “You, Lexi and Shay took me in and took care of me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you guys. But, there was always something missing.” Khad was rambling. He wanted to tell Damian he loved him. He’d been a brother and a friend to Khad, but when it came to saying how he felt, he was better at showing rather than saying. With that thought, he grabbed Damian and hugged him close.

  Strong arms hugged him back, Khad sucked back the tears as he buried his face against Damian’s chest. “I’m so scared of fucking up.”

  A soft rumble of laughter rolled through Damian’s chest. “Kid, you have no fucking idea how much we love you. Lex, me and Shay, we’ll always be your family and believe me, I don’t give a rat’s ass who your dad is. I’ll kick your ass if you don’t quit with the pity party. That’s not who you are. So c’mon, dry those eyes and pull back those shoulders. You’ve got people to meet.” Damian pulled Khad in against his side as they made their way toward Iniquity.

  At the door, Damian dropped the smile and clapped a hand on Khad’s shoulder. “Whatever happens, you’ve always got a home here with us. You know that. Take a few minutes before you come inside, and remember, we’ll be in there with you. Neither Alexa nor I will let anything happen that you aren’t comfortable with or don’t want.”

  “He’s the Summus.”

  “And, when has Alexa ever backed down from a challenge? You’re our boy, Khad. We fight for family.”

  Khad’s throat closed. Unable to speak, he nodded. When Damian disappeared into the bar, Khad’s shoulders drooped. He was terrified. After years of wishing for his family, the possibility of meeting them had his insides shaking. He wanted Shaver; the male’s calm and steady strength. But, he’d fucked that up.

  The door swung open. Khad’s gaze snapped up and collided with a pained stare. Shaver didn’t speak. He shifted so the door closed behind him. Those beautiful blue eyes traced over Khad. He felt each place they lit on his body.

  “Khad, I…”

  The door swung open again. Sage slipped through the door and glanced up with a startled gasp. Shaver snapped his mouth closed and looked away. Khad felt the mental barriers go up. It broke his heart.

  “I could feel the turbulence of your emotions. I can help ease you, if you like.” Sage shot a glance at Shaver and stepped a bit closer to Khad. Shaver’s head dropped, but not before Khad caught the glint of tears. He looked at Sage and then again at Shaver.

  In that moment, he knew where he belonged. He shot an apologetic look at the female and closed the distance between him and Shaver. Gathering every bit of courage he possessed, he wrapped his arms around the male he loved and held on. Shaver was his home.

  He felt the shudder ripple through Shaver’s body, and then the rigid muscles relaxed. Shaver’s arms closed around him so tight he could barely draw air. He wasn’t moving though, not away from Shaver. Not anymore. Khad buried his face in Shaver’s neck and inhaled his familiar scent. Everything inside his head and heart settled.

  “I’m sorry,” he murmured and ran his nose along the clean line of Shaver’s jaw. “For everything.”

  “It’s ok.”

  “No, it’s not. I didn’t handle things the right way. I…”

  “I’m going to head back inside.”

  Shaver stiffened and tried to move away. Determined, Khad held on to the male. “Thank you, Sage. Tell everyone, I’ll be right there.” He waited for the little she wolf to go back inside before looking at Shaver again. The healing cut under his eye was a jab into Khad’s chest. He’d done that; he’d hurt Shaver. He lifted his hand to run his thumb gently over the area. Shaver flinched away from his touch.

  “I shouldn’t have hit you.”

  “I was being an ass. I deserved it.” Shaver dropped his arms and stepped away. Khad had no choice except to let him go. “They’re in there. Your family. Jorn is…you’re definitely his son. The resemblance is astonishing. You could be Tobias’s twin. Trenton had to have known the whole time.” Like his eyes, his words were flat and lifeless.

  “I can’t do this without you, Shay.”

  “You don’t have to, Khadlyn. I’ve always had your back, and this is no different.” Shaver held out a hand. Khad reached out and twined their fingers together, took a deep breath and reached for the door knob.

  The soft rumble of voices died when they entered the club. Alexa and Damian were behind the smooth wooden bar. Copi and Sage occupied two stools in front of them. Three males rose from a table. Khad squared his shoulders and turned to them. The younger wolf took a step toward him. Khad’s breath left his lungs. It was like looking into a mirror. A dark stranger, a vampire, moved swiftly to the wolf’s side. Khad’s eyes shifted to the larger, older male. His heart thundered in his chest. He knew that face.

  “You’re in my dreams.”

  Shaver moved in close, sliding an arm around his waist. Khad leaned into his support. “He’s the face, the one I was always trying to reach.” His fingers tightened around Shaver’s hand.

  He had spent countless hours shaking his ass, flirting with patrons and fooling around beneath the spotlight on Iniquity’s stage. He had never felt an ounce of anxiety; however, the same couldn’t be said for the war raging inside of him in that moment. He wanted to run, hide, sink back into Shaver’s arms and disappear, but at the same time, he wanted to know. He needed to see for himself if this was, in fact, his family.

  “You can do this.” Warm lips whispered against the back of his neck. Shaver’s hand came to rest at the small of his back and gave a gentle shove.

  He took a step forward and met a wall of apprehension. Gasps rang out. Chairs shoved back against the hardwood floor and then silence, a heavy silence that made Khad’s heart race with fear. He looked up from behind the curls hiding his eyes to meet an agonized tearful expression.

  “Dad?” Khad’s voice cracked as did the man before him. Tears shone in the depths of familiar eyes, eyes more blue than the sea, eyes that mirrored his own. If Khad had ever wondered what he’d look like as an older male, all he had to do was look at the man before him.

  “Son. Oh god, it’s really you. Tobias…Tobias, it’s him. It’s our Khadlyn.” Trembling hands belied the strength of the man towering above him. Gentle fingers brushed away the tears on his face right before two powerful arms surrounded him and squeezed the air from his lungs. He rested against a chest wide enough to block out the light.

  The scent of pack permeate
d the air, filling the space between them with its rich earthy aroma. Khad’s shoulders shook with the force of his tears as he crumbled. The years of wondering, of never knowing his origins, all boiled down to the man holding him. With the exception of Shaver, Khad had never felt so safe. Craning his head, Khad looked up into his father’s eyes and smiled.

  “Room for one more?” Came a quiet question from behind his father’s back. Jorn shifted to the side. The smile on his face was extra wide as he held out his arms to a blonde male with bright gold eyes that shimmered with mischief and awe. Brought together in a bone crushing embrace, Khad felt as though his heart would explode.

  “Hey, baby brother. It’s been a long time. We never gave up hope of finding you. Mom knew; she always said she could feel you. She knew you were still alive. I missed you so much.” More hugging ensued, followed by tears filled with sadness, joy and hope.

  “Come sit down. I don’t know about you, but I sure as shit need a drink. I want you to meet Roman. Romy, ya sexy devil, get over here and meet Khad.” The white blond wolf tugged the vampire into the mix. “This is my mate, Roman. Babe, this is my brother, Khad.”

  His father grinned. “You’ll get used to your brother. He puts his heart into everything. He always has. Go meet Roman. You’ll like him. He’s one of a kind and a perfect mate for your brother.” Jorn murmured against the top of his head.

  “You don’t mind?” Khad asked looking between his father and brother.

  “Mind what? That you meet Roman? Or that your brother’s gay? Either way, the answer is the same. Why would I mind? Tobias is happy, and that’s all I want for my blood, and that includes you, son.” Jorn smiled, looking over where Tobias waited, clutching Roman’s hand like an excited two year old.

  “He never gave up looking for you. Your brother and Sage have missed you as have your mother and I. We’ll talk more when everyone's calmed down. I think your brother will bust a lung if you don’t get over there soon.” Jorn laughed and gave Khad a little shove.

  It was everything he’d ever wanted and wished for in the deepest parts of the night. He crossed the floor toward the group of people eagerly awaiting him. He cut his eyes nervously toward Alexa and Damian. They smiled and grasped Shaver’s hands bringing him into the middle of them, protecting him. But from what?

  Shaver kept his head down so Khad couldn’t see his face. Alexa gave a slight shake of her head, letting him know she had their boy. Whatever was wrong with Shaver, he didn’t want Khad to know. A pall fell over the reunion. His heart was torn in two.

  The pull on his hand drew Khad into a flurry of introductions and more hugs. He couldn’t deny how happy he was to find out he had real kin, a mother and father that clearly loved him and a brother and cousin who’d never given up on finding him. It left him feeling lightheaded and a little overwhelmed.

  “I think we should go check into a hotel and give your brother and his pack mates a little breathing room. It’s been a crazy night, and I think I speak for all of us when I say food and sleep are needed. Alexa, I know you have a business to open in a few hours so please accept my apologies with regards to our intrusion. If it’s alright with you, we’d like to come by tomorrow maybe in the afternoon given you most likely don’t close up until the early hours?”

  “Summus, you are welcome any time. Our home is your home.” Alexa replied with a smile.

  “Until tomorrow then. Khad, my son.” Open arms invited him forth. Khad went willingly. He felt so torn. A part of him wanted to be with his father and brother, while the other pined for Shaver and the familiar warmth of his pack.

  “It’s ok, son. I understand. I’ll be just down the road. Get some rest, and put your mate out of his misery.” Jorn winked and proceeded to say his goodbyes to Damian, Copi and Shaver. Sage, Roman and Tobias followed his father, promising to return the following day. As soon as the door closed behind them, Khad slumped against the door with a wide, foolish grin plastered across his face.

  ~*~*~*~

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  ~*~*~*~

  Rome, Italy

  “You look miles away. Anything I need to know.” Lachi looked away from his computer and cocked a brow in question.

  “Fate is a peculiar thing. It has a habit of bringing people together at the most perfect moment in time.” Laz shifted positions in the chair. “Everything is about to change, and I fear none of us will be the same again.

  Laziel’s gaze dropped to the baby in his arms. “But, you remember one thing, little miss. Your daddies love you. I will face Hell all over again before I ever let harm come to either of you,” Laziel whispered against a cute turned up nose before gently kissing its peak.

  Destahny’s eyes swirled and a precious smile tilted her lips. Laziel smiled down at her. His heart brimmed with love for the child in his arms.

  “You’re not going anywhere, angel mine,” Lachi growled. Laziel circled the desk and sat down right in front of Lachi. He met the vampire’s deadly gaze.

  “We need to prepare, Azarian. Company’s coming.” Laziel leaned down and kissed Lachi’s firm lips. Destahny squealed, breaking their contact.

  “I take it Arial is on his way. She only reacts that way when he’s close by. I think she may be fond of our broody friend.” Lachi reached out and took Destahny into his arms. Laziel watched with a sense of devotion as the two most precious people in his life pulled silly faces at each other.

  “That’s not who I meant.”

  “Then who?” Lachi asked while continuing to entertain their daughter.

  “Oh, Arial will be here. In fact…” A loud thud sounded against the door and was quickly followed by Ms. Stroner’s announcement over the intercom. Laziel smirked.

  “Smart ass know it all.” Lachi gave Laziel a baleful look.

  “Let’s put it this way; you should be prepared to answer a shit load of questions. It’s time, my Azarian. Some people deserve the truth.”

  “What the…angel, I swear I’m going to bend you over my knee and tan that sweet hide. It’s a damn good thing Arial is here, or you’d be squirming in my lap.” Laziel merely smiled in response as the door swung open.

  “Go ahead, don’t let me stop you,” Arial retorted earning himself a snarl from Lachi.

  “Where’s DeRhys?” Lachi snapped.

  “Medical emergency, not that I need him,” Arial snarled back. “Why am I here anyway?”

  “There are more and more Nephilim turning up on Jorn’s pack lands. Apparently, there’s a mass mutiny taking place. You need to get over there ASAP. I’m concerned about their safety and the threat they bring down upon the wolves. Jorn will do his best to protect them, but the sooner we place them in other enclaves and pack lands, the faster we eliminate the targets on their heads. In the process, we strengthen our fortifications while giving them homes.”

  Lachi sat back, eyes black and hooded. Destahny cooed in his lap. Laziel knew the casual façade was a mask. Laziel easily read the tension in his vampire’s eyes.

  “I’ll leave for Jorn’s pack lands when Elder Chamberlin returns. I believe Roman is in route. Although, I’m unsure if Jorn or Tobias will be in attendance on territorial lands due to family matters. Maybe, I should await their return? I tend to cause…unrest with the wolves,” Arial replied.

  Lachi’s eyes flicked from Arial to Laziel and back again. “Something’s going on that I’m not being told. I need to be aware of everything within the preternatural world. Especially if there’s a threat to wolf, vampire, angel or otherwise.” Arial lifted a brow, nodded, but didn’t offer any explanations.

  “You want to be stubborn, that’s fine. When it bites you in the ass, remember I gave you an opportunity to avoid the fangs. I will not be lenient if I’m displeased. Now, go and contact DeRhys. He should be back in time to accompany you.” Lachi held up a hand to forestall his protest. “I don’t give a shit that you don’t want him to go or care what reasons you can manufacture for not needing him. Call him. That’s a royal ord
er. Capisce?” Lachi’s glare brokered no argument. Another nod of the head and Arial took his leave.

  “That was way too easy,” Lachi sighed looking down at Destahny.

  Laziel edged onto the desk. “His emotions are in turmoil. He grieves, death is harder for our kind, and Arial will need time. His heart isn’t as dark as he believes it to be. Bastian will ease his pain, eventually.” Laziel’s fingers ran through the ebony strands of Lachi’s hair.

  “You have a lot in common. You’re both stubborn for a start. But, that’s going to change,” Laziel stated. “This is all leading toward something bigger than either of us could ever comprehend. However, I know one thing is for sure. You’re going to be needed, desired and sought after more than you ever thought possible. Our life here is but a fraction of what you’re to become. Time to buckle up, my love. I hope you’re up for the ride.” Laziel leaned in to chase away the look of concern etching Lachi’s face.

  “I love you. Always have. Always will. We’re a team, all three of us. Ain’t that right, baby girl?” Laziel nuzzled his daughter and gained a smile in return.

  ~*~*~*~

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  ~*~*~*~

  “Sire, the royal jet landed about twenty minutes ago. Elder Chamberlin is on his way to the enclave and has sent word he is bringing a visitor. He’s requested clearance to your office.”

  Malachi closed out the email from his African Elder and scrubbed a hand over his face. Despite every effort, he hadn’t managed to locate any news about Vischeral Bourne. Darklon had apparently disappeared from the face of the Earth. Which was concerning given the bastard had summoned a demon into his enclave. If the twisted fuck had Vischeral in Hell, Laziel would be the only one able to find him. And, yeah that was not something he was ready to ask his male yet. Their reconnect was too new and Laz had a particularly hard time accepting his friendship with Bourne. Fuck, when did life get so damned difficult?