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He nodded. “I always know where he is. Just like I know where Father is and both of you and Uncle Reuban and the Angel of Mothers.”

“That’s quite the jurisdiction,” Kildare mused at Krave.

“What did Kaos tell you?” Krave asked.

“He fears things.” Kildare eyed the boy and Krave nodded to show he understood what he couldn’t say.

“What did he need Raviel for?” Krave wondered.

“To verify.”

Krave caught the layers in Kildare’s tone, eyeing him for more details.

“Allow me to spend time with our Little King to assess his gifts and growth,” Kildare said, signaling he go see Kaos with a tilt of his head at the hut.

Great. He’d have to exchange words with the ungrateful cock-god. “You okay with that?” Krave asked the boy, getting his immediate nods.

He set him down, realizing he’d gained more inches. “Soon you’ll be as tall as me,” Krave murmured, rubbing his head.

“I’ll be seventy-six inches tall in two hours and sixteen minutes,” he informed quietly. “This will make me three inches taller than you,” he informed Krave, then, “two inches taller than you,” he said to Kildare. “And one inch taller than… Kaos.”

Krave met Kildare’s gaze, wondering if he noticed the change in names from father to just Kaos. Personally, Krave was glad. He deserved the demotion.

“How’s that for a growth spurt?” Krave squeezed Kross’s shoulder, discovering a layer of muscle padding the boney frame. “I’ll be right back. Be gentle with Kildare,” he said. “He’s delicate.”

This got big eyes promptly investigating Kildare as Krave grinned and walked off.

“Don’t listen to him,” Kildare said. “He’s all hot air.”

“Only when you’re around,” Kross educated, bringing Krave’s laugh.

“That’s right, hot pants,” Krave called. “You’re the heat up my ass.”

“Your fire saturates his pressure system,” Kross further explained. “Without it, he’s a cold front. With teeth,” he added, his fond tone tickling Krave.

“More like a down draft with denture drama,” Kildare shot back, smacking Krave’s ass with his fire.

“Now you’re just flirting,” Krave teased, just before entering the hut and looking around. His steps stilled at finding Kaos kneeling next to Josie, holding her hand against his chest with his head bowed.

The sight brought his winds to a low growl, slowly weaving its way through the thick blanket of power his broody brother filled the hut with.

With every step, an odd and unfamiliar sensation twisted itself around him. Standing behind him, Krave’s gaze landed on Josie’s still face and the sight of her, lying there dead, stole the strength from his legs.

He sank to his knees next to Kaos, realizing the usual mile thick wall he hid behind was gone. Or maybe it was the suffocating agony emanating from him that couldn’t possibly be contained.

“She was never meant to survive the three of us.”

Kaos’s words slammed into his chest as Krave looked at him, winded. “What are you saying?”

His dark gaze moved toward him then paused between them. “Raviel will reveal the meaning tonight. Along with the boy’s full purpose. And ours.”

Krave’s breaths were too thick as he stared down at Josie. “Do you realize that… the boy… sees you as his father?”

Kaos rubbed Josie’s fingers over his lips with his eyes closed. “Because I am.”

Krave wished he understood his mind in regard to the boy. “As in a real father,” he whispered. “The kind that should love his son. The kind that our Queen would expect you to be to him.”

“I will be whatever I must,” he muttered, his answer one of defeat.