by V L Moon
“They love me. And, you only wish your ass was as sexy as mine. Maybe then you’d grow some balls and pick up the phone and talk to Shaver.” The stern look was somewhat surreal considering Tobias was always there with the wisecracks and one liners.
“I spoke to him earlier. That’s how I know about Alexa and Damian challenging Trenton. I was supposed to be there to face this with them. Shay, fuck, he sounded so hurt. But, that was hours ago. I’ve called, left messages and got fuck all in response. Damn it. What if Trenton somehow got the upper hand? What if they're hurt or worse? Trenton’s a real piece of work. You have no idea what the male’s capable of, but I do.” Khad was about to hyperventilate, his pulse rate spiked and his heart pounded hard inside of his chest.
“Son.” The sound of his father’s voice vibrated through the room. He’d been so caught up in his own thoughts he hadn’t noticed Jorn enter the room.
“You need to listen to Tobias and calm your thoughts before you do yourself and the rest of us injury.” Strong hands gripped his shoulders. “Alexa and Damian are strong and smart. Have faith in your family.” Jorn smiled at Khad's look of dismay. “They are your family, my Khadlyn. As much as we are."
Khad saw the pain in his father's eyes. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt the male. His father. His blood. “I'm sorry.”
“For what?” Jorn asked. "Loving the people who took you into their lives and made you part of their family? For worrying about them?" His father squeezed his shoulders. “You're loyal and caring; never traits to be ashamed of, my son. I will forever be in their debt.”
The phone rang. Khad dashed across the room to grab his cell off the dresser. He answered and hit the speaker icon. “Hello? Shaver? Are you okay?”
“Trenton's dead. Damian killed him in the middle of Iniquity's dance floor. Everyone here is okay.”
Relief stole his strength. Tobias caught him when his knees buckled. Khad pressed the phone tighter to his ear. He wished like hell he was beside Shaver instead of across an ocean.
“The nightmare is over; the pack can finally move forward.”
“Not yet. Khurn was here with him. He escaped during the fight. No one knows where he went.”
Behind him, Jorn cursed. Shaver immediately apologized. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your time with your family. Alexa thought you would want to know.”
“Of course, I want to know,” Khad growled. “It’s my pack, too. I’ve been going out of my mind with worry.”
“Well, we’re all safe.”
Khad hated the dull impersonal tone in Shaver’s voice. For the first time in his life, Khad wished he were alone. The distance between him and Shaver was ripping a hole in his soul. His wolf whined for Shaver, an almost constant mantra in his head. He hadn’t slept more than a few hours at a time since leaving Thunder Bay.
You’re bonded to him, little brother.
Khad shot a startled glance at Tobias. It’s the way I feel about my Roman. When I’m away from him, I only want to get back to him. When I’m with him, I never want to let go of him.
Bonded? With Shaver? Khad swallowed hard, but the grapefruit sized lump in his throat didn’t budge.
“Talk to your mate,” Jorn ordered. “We’re going back to bed. Leave word for Alexa to call me tomorrow. Goodnight, Khadlyn. Tobias with me.”
“What the Hell? I want to stay and torment the rug rat.” Tobias barked when their father cuffed him behind the ear.
“You’re not too old for me to beat your ass, pup. Leave your brother alone.” Jorn brushed a hand over Khad’s hair before leaving the room with a still protesting Tobias.
“Shay?”
“I’m here.”
“We need to talk. Everything’s changing and I’m so confused. It’s all happening so fast. I never thought I’d leave Thunder Bay and now I’m in Rome, at the vampire king’s enclave. Shay, you wouldn’t believe this place.”
“I bet it’s grand. Denali has quite the reputation.”
“It is. I haven’t met him yet, but we’re supposed to have an audience tomorrow. Can you believe it, Shay? I’m meeting the male himself, Malachi Denali. How insane is that?”
“It’s crazy.”
Khad took a deep breath. “I miss you, Shay.” The words were barely above a whisper, but they carried a wealth of emotion. A mournful whine carried over the telephone line. “Shaver? Are you hurt? What’s wrong?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I’m fine, except, I think I miss you more.” A deep sigh echoed in Khad’s ear.
“Look, I have to go. There’s a bloody mess to clean up before the humans can be let in here. Alexa and Damian are dealing with the Pack. They can all feel that Trenton is gone. It’s a madhouse.”
“I should come home. You’ll need help.”
“You’re where you need to be, Khad. You’re with your family. I’ve got this.”
Khad didn’t doubt that for a minute. Shaver was the most dependable wolf in the Pack. When he gave his word, it was gold. But, he was wrong about one thing. Well, partly wrong.
“You need to remember something, wolf. You, Alexa and Damian are my family, too. My mother and father both understand that. I’m coming back to Thunder Bay.”
“Don’t rush. By the time you get here, everything will be settled again. Alexa is a natural leader and the Pack already responds to her and Damian. I’ll have the club open tonight. Like I said, I’ve got this.”
“When I get back there, you and I are going to talk.”
“Yeah,” Shaver reluctantly agreed. “We definitely need to talk.” A loud banging sounded from Shaver’s end of the call. “Damn it that will be the staff. I called them in early to help with the cleaning. I’ll tell Alexa to call your father. We’ll talk later, okay.”
The line went dead. Khad dropped his cell into his lap. His mind circled right back to Tobias’ earlier observation. Was he really bonded with Shaver? The thought didn’t upset him. He knew he was in love with the other wolf, but what terrified him most was not knowing if Shaver returned those feelings.
~*~*~*~
Chapter Sixty-One
~*~*~*~
For all of his fear and nervousness, the tiny Nephilim beside him stood tall with his shoulders back. His courage and pride were admirable. In many ways, he reminded Arial of Clariel and the bravery he’d shown in his last few moments of his too short life. Pushing back at the sorrow in his heart, Arial smiled down at the Nephilim in a bid to offer the injured male some moral support. However, the male was fully engrossed in Arial’s wings and failed to notice.
A soft ruffle of feathers had the male’s leaf green eyes as wide as saucers. Arial teased, lifting the tip of his wings to touch the male’s face. A broad smile sent a soft ray of light spilling through Laziel’s private chapel. It seemed the young Nephilim had a few celestial traits of his own; one of them being the angelic life force presently lighting up the room.
“Gabriel. Your name, it’s Gabriel?” Laziel appeared, drifting into form from shadow. His braided hair fell between six translucent, impressive wings. The feathers gave off a subtle kaleidoscope of color when they moved. He strode into the room dressed in nothing but a pair of tight fitting leathers and a huge ass grin. Tears welled in the opaque depths of his eyes. He closed the gap between them fast. Clutching Arial in a tight embrace, he buried his face in the crook of Arial’s neck.
“Brother, as glorious as ever. I knew that demon would prove himself, eventually. Glad to have you back.” Arial had never been the hearts and hugs type, but he didn’t mind or shy away from Laz’s touch. His soft hands ran over the mounts of Arial's wings and stroked over the array of soft sensitive plumage. “You’re like the glorious sunset at dusk. All bright and shiny. Bastian is a very lucky male.” A broad smile, a press of heads and then Laziel stepped back to address the Nephilim at his side.
“Gabriel.” Laziel lowered himself onto the floor and held out his hand. The Nephilim faltered, his nerves getting the better of him.
“L
aziel is Seraphim. The only one of his kind. He is the beloved of the king and my oldest friend. I trust him with my life. There is no cause for fear. You’re safe here; no one will harm you.” Arial inclined his head toward Laziel who was thankfully playing nice and keeping his usual potty mouth well under control.
“Do you know the meaning behind your name or where it originates?” Laziel eased the trembling male into his arms and smiled. Jasmine scented the air as a wash of light grew around the room.
“I was never allowed to utter my true name. Onoskelis forbade it. How do you know of it? What does it mean?” Gabriel’s voice trembled.
Laziel stroked the small male’s hair. He looked like a child in the arms of his father. Arial’s breath shuddered and his heart gave a sudden lurch.
“Gabriel is the archangel who gave the news of our Creator’s birth. He presides over the Heavens above. He is an angel of joy and life, truth, dreams, and judgment. He is honorable and mighty, as well as loving and beautiful. You hold the grace of his celestial light. Never again shall you be inhibited by the shame of my mother’s sin. Wear your name with the pride it deserves my young friend,” Arial whispered as he undid the clasp holding down the broken appendages of Gabriel’s wings.
“Fear not, Gabriel. Relax and breathe. Arial will be right here next to you.” Laziel wrapped his arms around Gabriel’s body and closed his eyes as his wings followed suit. The scent of jasmine grew stronger, filling the room. Arial wasn’t sure if the floral scent belonged to Laziel or Gabriel. It grew with a pulse of light infusing them together.
“He needs you to calm him. Wrap yourself around us. Let him see you, brother. Let him feel the heat of your wings,” Laziel ordered as the heady scent started to make Arial’s head swim.
Arial stepped back. He wasn’t used to being needed, to being a part of things. It had taken losing Celix and Clariel to open his eyes to the world around him, to break him, and Bastian’s love to put him together again. Clariel had shown the same sense of bravery as Gabriel. If they could stand up before the likes of Lucifer and the Nephilim Queen, Arial could withstand a moment of bravery in the hopes of healing the Nephilim he ruled.
Sitting down on the floor opposite Laz, Arial slowly unfurled his wings and brought them in like a wave of fire to wrap around Gabriel and Laziel. Gabriel’s hands reached out for him, and Arial took them, engulfing the much smaller hands between his own.
“It hurts. Oh Creator, it hurts!” Gabriel screamed as the light between them started to glow. Arial closed his eyes and felt the age old touch of celestial light ignite inside of him. He pushed forth, urging the spark to life and joined the dwindling embers to Laziel’s flame. The buzz of energy filled the room before shrinking back and entering Gabriel who bowed beneath its celestial force.
Breathless, Arial met Laziel’s smiling face and got to his feet, taking Gabriel’s body with him. Laying him atop of Laziel’s private altar, they sat back, side by side, and waited for Gabriel to come around.
“So. You and Bastian.”
“Don’t even go there, and don’t think for one second that I don’t know about your meddling.” Arial huffed.
“Me, meddle? Never. I’m an angel.” Laziel smirked.
“Hmm, and we all know who wears the halo and where he wears it,” Arial retorted, trying not to laugh.
Laziel mock gasped and fluttered his hands against his chest.
“Queen of the fairies has nothing on you.”
“Urgh…fairies. Don’t talk to me about the Fae. Strange lot if ever.” Laziel took a serious tone, and his eyes took on the look of a brooding storm.
“Jorn’s pack lands are full of them. Lance hopes they’ll retreat now he’s back here with us. Things did get a bit iffy though. Turns out Tobias’s brother can actually see them. It’s one of the reasons we brought him with us. Lance was worried the Fae would take exception to Khad’s ability and try to lure him into their clutches. You’ll like him. He’s a younger version of his brother without the dysfunctional mouth.” Arial gave a nudge at Laz who simply cocked a brow.
“Khad’s important. As is his family, both families. You were right to bring him.” Laziel stretched out and looked around the room. The look on his face was pensive and somewhat sad.
“Anything I need to know?” Arial had seen the look before. He could only imagine how hard it would be to bear Laziel’s affliction. Seeing the outcome of events while being bound against interfering, not that he played strictly by the rules. Laziel dabbled. He was notorious for meddling while staying on the peripheral edges and working the “strings” that would tip the scales to favor the good.
“When the time comes, you’ll know where to go. You sent the battalion on to Thunder Bay as requested?”
Arial nodded his reply, eyes glued to the slight play of tension in the Seraphim’s eyes before it disappeared behind his well-worn mask. Laziel cupped his face, eyes wide.
“Everything’s happening fast. Trust in yourself and Bastian. Be safe. Take nothing for granted. Do not come back for us. Promise me. Promise me now!” Laziel’s voice growled through his head, filling Arial with a sense of dread.
“I give you my word, brother, if you give me yours. I know you can’t see your own fate, so I won’t ask what’s to come. Just promise me the same, that you’ll keep yourself and your family safe and when the time comes, find me?” Arial choked. Something was coming. Something bad. It had to be for Laziel to forewarn him like this.
“I’ll always know exactly where you are. We will come to you. Remember that. We will come to you.” With his words of warning delivered, Laziel drifted from Arial’s vision and faded out of sight. Only the lingering touch of his fingers on Arial’s face remained. Along with a chilling sense of foreboding of what was yet to come.
“Arial?” Gabriel softly groaned as he lifted himself up to sit gingerly a top the altar.
“Right here,” Arial whispered into the darkened room. The lack of light did nothing to dull the beauty being spread out before him as Gabriel opened his wings.
“Why are you sad? Your wings are healed are they not?” Arial frowned.
“You don’t see the difference. You wouldn’t, because they were bound, but my wings were always a drab, dirty looking grey. Now, they hold a part of you, you and Laziel. Gabriel sniffled and spread out the mounts so that Arial could see.
Arial had never known wings so white. His fingers drifted over the soft subtle feathers and he gasped when heat prickled his fingers when they reached the tips. Gabriel was right. By joining with Laziel, they had given Gabriel a part of themselves. The flame red tips were identical to Arial’s own. A burst of pride filled his heart. His Creator had not forsaken him. He’d been with him all along.
“You’re truly magnificent.” The smile he received was a just reward. With it, Arial experienced a strong sense of protectiveness. He had long believed such emotion lost to the doom of his mother’s curse, the curse he’d somehow forgotten about since being with Bastian. The same curse that had ruled his life and torn him apart from the inside out.
Shocked, Arial stepped back and tried to evaluate just what it meant. Had his union with Bastian healed more than his wings? He’d felt no hunger or need, yet his ability to sense demon kind had not diminished in strength. More to the point, since his acceptance of Bastian’s love, he could easily trace his mate’s every move. Even at that moment, he could feel Bastian’s presence within…
“Oh shit. C’mon kiddo, we’ve got to haul ass or mine will be toast. Literally.”
With Gabriel stuck to his side, Arial made his way toward the king’s private office where Bastian was due to be sworn in as an Elder. He was going to be late for the double celebration. He stumbled to a stop outside of Malachi’s office. Kimberley Stroner pinned him with her take on the stink eye for his untimely arrival and unannounced guest.
~*~*~*~
Chapter Sixty-Two
~*~*~*~
“Has the demon arrived, yet?”
&nbs
p; “If you’re referring to me, yes I’m here.”
Malachi merely lifted a brow when Laziel ported from his reclined position in his office chair and straight into the demon’s personal space. They snarled at each other, nose to nose. He was guessing that was going to be a common occurrence considering who their fathers were. So, he stood back for a moment to watch the two magnificent and aggressive males.
“You do not just show up in this office, demon spawn,” Laziel growled.
“I do what I want to, fly boy. You knew what you were getting into when you nominated me for this position. Even went as far as blackmailing me. I have to give you props for that demon worthy piece of work. I’d kick your ass for it if not for the fact it netted me my angel.”
“You could try, spawn, but none of your kin have ever been able to bring me down. I don’t see where you’d be any different.” Laziel shrugged one shoulder. “Besides, I didn’t do it for you. Arial needed you. I made it happen. For him.”
“But, now you’re stuck with me ‘cause your bestie loves me.” Bastian smirked. “And, ya baby daddy is making me part of his big ol’ vampire party.”
Before an epic war between good and evil could play out in his office, Malachi stepped between them facing Laziel. “You trust Arial and his judgement remember.”
“Yeah, yeah, but he’s a smartass.” Laziel glared at Bastian over Malachi’s shoulder.
“Well then, he should fit right in with the motley crew we’ve managed to gather around us.” Malachi moved into Laziel’s body and kissed his angel hard. “We’ve got too much on our plates tonight for you to play with the demon.”
“Aww, come on, Batman.”
“No.” Malachi smacked Laziel on the ass at the same time the door to his office swung open. Arial rushed in practically carrying a Nephilim child.
The demon’s growl went carnal and the temperature in the room rose by several degrees.
