Page 13 of Gifts of Fate (Kindred of Arkadia #7)
“This is your home too. I hope this means that you will be spending more time in the diner so I can play with those babies.” Ma grinned and Sebastian and Ashby went to her. She wrapped an arm around each of them and pulled them in for a hug.
“For nap time we’ve tied the baby monitors into the sound system. Anything louder than a whimper and it will mute the music and you will be able to hear them,” David explained, then blushed when Rebecca kissed him on the cheek.
“Come on everyone, let’s grab something to eat,” Connor said. Everyone laughed and headed out of the new room.
“You and your family are amazing,” Madison said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“They’re your family too. But why do you say that?”
“You go out of your way to make this feel like a home. That means a lot.”
“Blame Rebecca.” He grinned and she rubbed noses with him.
“I don’t want to be pregnant anymore!” Rebecca yelled.
“Oh honey, your baby will come when he is ready,” Doc explained, rubbing her back.
“Are you sure he’s not all curled up comfy for the winter?” Rebecca asked.
Connor watched his brother-in-law fight to keep a straight face.
“I’m sure. That poor little guy is out of room.”
“I don’t think I can do this six more times,” Rebecca complained.
“Well, you have at least six more to get through.” Aleks smiled down at his mate. She scowled up at him.
“No way. This one is it.” She shook her head, sending her dark curls flying.
“No form of birth control works. Trust me, I know.” Ma laughed.
Rebecca just smiled. “I know one surefire way not to get pregnant.” She picked up a French fry and dipped it in her ketchup.
Connor could see Aleks’s brows snap together. He could tell his older brother was mentally going through all known forms of birth control. Connor couldn’t help grinning. He knew what she meant.
Suddenly Aleks’s mouth dropped. “You don’t mean that, do you, Becca?” he asked, sounding worried.
“Little Aloisius is okay with being an only child.” She rubbed her belly.
Connor couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing at his brother’s face. Liam looked over and winked at Connor. They had been teaming up to torture Aleks for years.
Connor was about to chime in when his cell phone started to vibrate. He froze. He stood quickly and headed to Baby Central, using his fob to get in. He waited until the door shut behind him before he answered his phone.
“Hello.”
“We’re heading to the town square now.”
“I’ll let them know.”
“Thanks, and I’m sorry again,” Baron said.
“Not your fault. See you in a bit.” Connor closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he walked out the diner was quiet and all eyes were on him. He met Gabriel’s haunted eyes and nodded. He watched as Gabriel leaned in, and so quietly he couldn’t hear what was being said, began speaking to his mate.
Connor watched the joy drain out of Ashby’s face. The small man stood suddenly, clutching Arthur.
“No!” he yelled.
Connor looked over to his Ma and Pa and nodded. When he had arrived at the diner earlier that afternoon he had explained what was planned. He watched as his Pa stood and silently walked outside to begin herding the children who were caroling inside for hot chocolate.
Ma walked over to where Kate, Nic, Sebastian, and Rebecca were trying to get answers out of a sobbing Ashby. Gabriel was talking quietly to David and Daniel. It was seconds later that they too dissolved into tears. Word spread quickly around the diner. Most of the patrons were shaking their heads.
Connor looked up and held his hand out to Madison, and she quickly walked over and took it.
“What do you mean that oily bastard is coming here!” Rebecca demanded, getting the story from Ashby between sobs.
Kate turned to Rian.
“RiRi, can you take my boys to Baby Central and watch over them? I’ll be standing with Gabriel and Ashby and I don’t want them anywhere near that son of a bitch.” Kate growled.
“Can you take Lucian too?” Sebastian asked, handing the baby over to Damian.
“Please?” Ashby asked, unable to wipe his tears with his son in his arms. Gently, Rex stepped forward and took tiny Arthur. Talon scooped up Landon and Lucas and Kaden helped Rian with Merrick and Matthew.
“Don’t worry about these little guys. Nothing is going to come near them.” Rian growled and nuzzled Merrick’s cheek. Beau joined the lions in Baby Central to guard the door.
Quietly, the group made their way outside into the cold, winter’s night. Inside, Ma and Pa kept things lively as the children headed in. Once the door to the diner was closed and they saw Pa’s silhouette through the frosted glass, they walked to the town square.
Baron, Salsiby and three wolf shifters waited for them in the middle of town. Baron’s mouth was drawn in a tight line.
“Professor.”
“Baron.” Connor nodded.
Baron turned to Gabriel and bowed.
“Prince Gabriel, I am truly sorry for what I have to do.”
Gabriel’s eyes had shifted to black.
“It is not your fault. Neither myself, nor my coven bear you any ill will.”
Baron straightened.
“Where is the feral? Can you hurry it up please? I would like to get back to celebrate this monster’s execution with Alpha Devon. After tonight, shifters everywhere will be safer.” Salsiby’s smile was smug.
Connor took a step forward only to see that Caleb, Aleks and Liam had done the same thing. Gabriel remained exactly where he was but his black eyes began to smolder, turning to a dark red.
“Careful, Gabriel, or we may have to put you down as well,” Salsiby jeered.
David and Daniel stepped in front of their prince, growling low, their claws extended.
“That is Prince Gabriel to you. As for putting me down, I welcome you to try.” Gabriel’s fangs lengthened.
Behind them they heard multiple car doors shut.
Baptista and most of the coven got out of their vehicles and surrounded Rhys.
Slowly, in a stately manner, they walked forward to the center of town.
At first, Connor thought it was because they were acting as an honor guard but, as they got closer he could hear the clanks of the metal chains securing Rhys’s hands and feet.
The condemned man shuffled forward in a vacant daze.
“My Prince, we gave him the last of your blood you had stored for him. He is calm for the moment,” Baptista reported. Gabriel nodded and swallowed hard. He took the chain lead from Baptista’s hand and walked Rhys forward.
“Papa?” Rhys asked, confused. Connor looked on, fighting back his tears.
“That’s right, Rhys, I am here. It’s Christmas, we’re out in the snow. You love Christmas, remember,” Gabriel explained gently, walking him in front of Baron.
“I can’t watch.” Rebecca sobbed uncontrollably.
Connor watched as Gabriel positioned Rhys to kneel with his back to the large Sentinel.
“I am so sorry I failed you, my son. Please, forgive me.” Gabriel leaned forward and kissed Rhys on the forehead. When he stood and faced the other leaders there were pink tears streaming down his cheeks.
“No! It’s not fair!” Ashby cried. Rebecca broke away from Aleks and wrapped her arms around Ashby. Sebastian, Kate and Nic walked forward to help ease the small man’s pain.
“It’s not fair.” He sobbed brokenly.
“It’s not fair,” Kate repeated.
“Not fair,” Rebecca said eerily.
“Not fair,” Nic and Sebastian echoed. All five of them looked on, their eyes slightly unfocused.
Connor looked at the semicircle the Inner Court had formed facing Rhys. His eyes moved to Gabriel and Aleks, and they, too, looked surprised.
“It is law! Baron, what are you waiting for?” Salsiby demanded shrilly.
Baron was staring at Rebecca.
“Law.”
“Is.”
“Not.”
“A.”
“Weapon.” Each member of the Inner Court spoke a different word.
“Our.”
“Laws.”
“Are.”
“A.”
“Shield.” Once again, starting with Rebecca, then Ashby, followed by Nic, Kate and Sebastian, the Inner Court spoke a different word of the sentence.
“Whatever you’re doing, stop it!” Salsiby demanded.
“This.”
“Was.”
“Not.”
“His.”
“Fate.” Their voices no longer sounded like their own.
“This.”
“Man.”
“Has.”
“Done.”
“No wrong.” The voice that spoke through the Inner Circle was kind and gentle.
“This.”
“Is.”
“My.”
“Gift.”
“To you.” Rebecca shook her head and looked around.
Gabriel’s eyes immediately went to Rhys, who stared back at them with the same blood-red eyes.
“Some gift,” Salsiby scoffed. “Kill him,” he ordered.
Baron gripped the sword hilt at his waist and hesitated.
“You are under orders, now kill him!”
Gritting his teeth, Baron drew his sword and held it in both hands in front of him.
Rhys, oblivious to what was going on around him, began to sway back and forth gently.
“Do it!” Salsiby screamed.
Behind them, faintly at first and then growing louder, the sound of singing filled the streets. The children were singing “Silent Night” inside the diner. Connor looked around, and the entire scene took a turn to the macabre.
Salsiby was reaching for Baron’s sword when Rhys opened his mouth. What emerged had everyone rooted in place. He tilted his head back and his throat worked, as golden note, after golden note lifted effortlessly into the night air.
Rhys’s song floated through the street until the singing from the children quieted and the door to the diner opened. Ma and Pa stepped out, looking enchanted. From behind them, people left the diner to listen to the man kneeling in the snow.
“Baron!” Salsiby yelled.
“Wait!” Gabriel exclaimed, stepping forward.
Rebecca and Ashby began to laugh and hug one another.
Baron stepped around Rhys and looked down. His face broke out into a grin.
Connor looked back to Rhys to see two brilliant green eyes looking out at them. As the song ended, Rhys sat back on his heels.
“Baron! If you won’t kill him, I will!” Salsiby grabbed the hilt of Baron’s sword. With an annoyed look on his face, Baron calmly backhanded the small, rodent-like man.