Page 17

Chapter Seventeen

“S on. This is a surprise.” Father Rigel looked about. “Where is your mate?”

“He’s back at home with the baby.”

His father blinked. “What? I mean, obviously it’s kind of difficult at this point for him not to be with the baby, one would assume.”

He shook his head. “No, I found a baby. We had to go out into the human realm. There were vampires who had stolen a fae, and there was a baby as well. Hawk—he’s a dragon, one of Cullen’s brother’s mates—he killed them all.”

“Good.” That was his da, who wandered through like it was no surprise whatsoever that he was here. “I hope it hurt. What kind of baby?”

“Da!”

“What?” His sweet omega parent just arched an eyebrow at him. “What kind of baby?”

What was happening here? “A pegasus.”

Da’s eyes lit up. “Oh my. Are you going to bring him here?”

“I don’t know.” Orion didn’t know a whole lot of anything right now. He was so shocked that Cullen, who seemed like such a caring soul, would hurt someone and not feel angst about it. Now he didn’t know what to think.

“Well, it seems rather important,” Father grumbled. “I mean, to know.”

“Yes. Well, obviously I don’t. Cullen’s got him. Not sure Cullen’s going to let him go.”

Da blinked at him. “Does that bother you?”

Orion could only shake his head.

His fathers shared a look, then Da said, “I’ll make tea.”

Father nodded and motioned to a chair. “I think that’s a good idea, mate. Why don’t you have a seat, Orion? Obviously, you need to talk.”

“Oh, I don’t?—”

“Son, it’s been almost a century since I saw you last, and now you’ve been here twice in one week. It’s obvious that you want to talk. I’m here. Sit down.”

That was direct. So he sat.

“Here I am.” He stared at his dads. They stared back.

Finally, Da smiled gently. “Love. Vampires are a disease. They’re not people anymore. Or whatever creature they might have been. They’re not salvageable once the disease truly takes hold.”

He tilted his head, the distinction catching his attention. “But if they’re caught before then… How long do they have?”

“That depends on many factors. But maybe a day or two. Longer if the victim is not human. But don’t be angry at your mate. It seems ugly, but sometimes, the only thing you can do is seal them in their sleeping place and let them starve. Fighting them is too dangerous.”

“That just seems cruel.”

Father Rigel snorted. “Life can be cruel, my son. Even here, there are predators. You think those pixies who bite your fingers wouldn’t kill you if they were big enough?”

“Good thing they’re not.” Orion sighed. “It just surprised me. I’m not angry at him.”

“No, but you saw a different side of him,” Da murmured. “It’s all about learning each other.”

Father nodded to him. “Your omega is fierce. He will protect your children to the end of the earth. He will protect you. This is the perfect match. He’s going to protect this little one from anyone that comes for him.”

Orion sighed softly, and he had to smile, even if it felt like a challenge. “You two like him.”

“We do,” Father rumbled. “And we’ve missed you.”

Da bobbed his head, the face that had been there for him for so many centuries, loving him, supporting him, unchanged. “We’re looking so forward to having grandchildren. I suppose we do now, hmm?”

At the raised eyebrow, Orion chuckled, shook his head. “I think so. I don’t know, but Cullen just wrapped around him and refused to let him go, really. And then I left him to come here because I was so confused. Maybe it’s me who’s wrong? Maybe I don’t need to be here?”

Father took one of his hands, surprising him on a deep level. “You are always welcome here, as is Cullen. There will always be space for you here at the top of the stairs. But, son, you’re not infallible. Sometimes you need support and your family. I’m sorry you didn’t believe that you could have come home before. That was our mistake, and we’re sorry.”

What was he supposed to say to that? To hear the words he’d needed to hear for so long so honestly offered over? He didn’t know. He simply didn’t know anything.

“They stole a baby.” The words tumbled out of his mouth, unwelcome and surprising. Orion looked up to his fathers, his heart suddenly shattering into a million pieces, the pain and fury there near unbearable. “They stole the baby, and they were feeding off of it. A baby and a fae! Da! How could anything do that?”

His da shook his head, eyes shimmering with tears. “They’re monsters. Monsters are real. All they know to do is harm and hurt. And feed.”

Orion had to sob, the horror finally flooding him, and he couldn’t stop it, even for a second. His fathers wrapped around him, helping him and supporting him as he let it all go, offering it to the pair who had raised him and loved him.

They let him cry until it was all over, the storm too huge to linger long. Then his Da, in his infinite wisdom, handed him a cup of tea and a little plate of cookies. In his Da’s universe, all things were healed with tea.

He smiled, with damp cheeks and a runny nose. “Some things are eternal, aren’t they?”

“Yes, you’ll learn this. Some things are. You’ll find yourself doing something when your son cries?—”

“Or their daughter,” Father pushed in, and Da nodded.

“You’ll find yourself doing the same thing.” He got a wink and a smile. “Are we going to get to meet him? Do you even have a name yet?”

“I don’t even know. He only shifted. He was in his equine form when I found him, but he shifted for me when Cullen was fixing a bottle to feed him. He’ll never be able to go out into the human world. He has wings.” He looked up at his fathers, his heart pounded. “He’s beautiful. Small and hungry, but so perfect.”

They nodded in unison. “Of course he’s perfect. He’s our first grandson. He’s mostly magic. He’ll be able to come here and visit with us. Always.”

“Do you think it’s okay to keep him? I mean, I could take him to the foundling home, but—” But Cullen might kill him. “Cullen seemed to touch fierce.”

Father tilted his head. “Do you think that you truly can?”

He didn’t even hesitate. His heart knew better. “No. I loved him the moment I saw him. I’ve rescued dozens and dozens of children. I never felt this way.”

He’d never felt this incredible need to protect, to hold the little one and promise him the earth and stars.

It was love.

He’d never fallen in love at first sight with anyone but Cullen, and now this baby.

“It’s a bond, son, and you’re starting your family.”

“Yes, and I’ve left Cullen alone, pregnant, with a new baby, and a fae that has been drained to the bone.”

Father’s eyes went wide. “Has he been infected?”

“I have no idea. Cosmo—he’s the seer—he said that if the fae was infected, it would pass through all the fae. Like a virus.”

“Son, you must go to your omega. You cannot let the fae infect the Land of Summer.”

“You’re right.” He stuffed a bunch of cookies in his pocket, one in his mouth, and then gulped down his tea. “Thank you both.” He had to go, so he leaped back through the doorway, knowing his fathers would never be offended. He needed to see this fae for himself.

“Oh!” Cullen jumped when he came through, clutching the baby until he squeaked. “You scared me.”

“I’m sorry, love. I didn’t mean to. And I’m sorry I snapped at you. I was—” Orion took in a deep breath. “I couldn’t believe they’d taken that baby. That they were going to eat him.”

“Babe.” Cullen rose and put the baby on a blanket, then put the whole kit and kaboodle on the floor before coming to him to wrap both arms around him. “I’m sorry. It’s a whole different thing with vampires.”

“I—it is. I’ve seen neglected and forgotten babies. I’ve seen changelings that just weren’t going to work, or babies who got magically transported by accident. But never vampires. I’m so sorry.”

“I love you.” Cullen slipped his arms around Orion, and he soaked up the love and care.

“I love you too. I need to go see Corbin and the rescued fae. If he’s been bitten…”

Cullen pulled a face. “Let me take this one to Cosmo and Hawk, and I’ll go with you.”

“But you’re pregnant, love.” He didn’t want Cullen in danger.

“I’ll keep my distance, but there’s no way I’m letting you go over there alone. Even if Corbin is there.”

“I just want you to be safe.”

“Ditto.” Cullen stared him down, and he realized he wasn’t going to win this one.

“Okay.” He lifted the baby into his arms. “Let’s go.”

Cosmo met them out in the main hall, smiling. “I’ll take him. You two be careful. Tell Corbin that too.”

“We will.” Cullen beamed at his brother, but Orion could see his hands shaking a tiny bit.

“Come on, love,” Orion said. “The sooner we do this, the sooner we can settle and I can hold you.”

“Sounds good.” And hand in hand, they went off to Corbin’s house.