Page 159 of His Retribution

I also may or may not have bought two onesies, a purple one and a blue one, that sayMy Daddy is a Superherowith the Bat symbol in the middle and capes on the back and a matching men's t-shirt with an arrow pointing upward,SuperDadunderneath it and another Bat symbol below that. And of course Samson got one that says he's theBest Big Brother In the Worldbecause he will be.

They were just so cute and since Havok is a vampire—no, he doesn't actually turn into a bat—with endless superpowers, I thought they were fitting. It'll be a while before we can use them but I just couldn't resist.

I also bought a special shirt for Zan, something along the same lines as everything else but will be very fitting when the time comes.

It's going to be brutal keeping all of those things to myself but I'm sure I can manage. If I can hide my real identity through almost ten lifetimes I'm sure I can hide those damn shirts.

It was a fun girls trip though and I have a way better idea of what Havok and I will need to shop for when we have to but I am so ready to spend time with him, maybe cuddle up and watch a movie before we go at it like we did a few hours ago then fall asleep for a while before doing it again. Definitely ready for that.

Right after I bring Zan his dinner and visit for a bit.

I hate that he's still in the prison cell, but Kai asked that he stay there at least until shit with Nero blows over and since he saidplease, I agreed. It's going to take time for him, for everyone, to see that Zan isn't what they think he is, especially since I can't share his memories with them the way I did with Havok.

I get that, I really do. The only things recorded in their chronicles about demons are negative and pretty scary so the only way to convince them he's actually a good guy will be for Zan to show them. Which I don't really think he can do from behind bars but oh well. In the meantime I'll make him as comfortable as possible and visit whenever I can.

"Your dinner is served,monsieur!" I sing-song as I enter the prison. "I hope you aren't starving, I know it's been—"

"Cora!" Zan stops pacing, spinning toward me, and rushes the bars. "Cora, my gem, please tell me your mate has returned."

I frown. "Returned from where? I didn't know he went anywhere."

"You've not been home?"

I shake my head. "Not yet. I wanted to come here first, make sure you ate and had everything you needed before I turned in for the night."

His eyes soften for a split second but a look of panic replaces it quickly. "So you have no idea if Havok is here or elsewhere?"

I frown, and set the tray loaded with food on the table by the cell door. "No… why wouldn't he be here? Havok was feeling way better before I left, but I doubt he was up for a trip into town. He usually calls whoever I'm with if he changes his plans, always lets me know if he's leaving. He's actually rather paranoid and overprotective and since I didn't hear from him I doubt he went anywhere."

"Dammit," Zan spits before he begins pacing again. "Do you have a way to reach him?"

"What's going on? Why are you all of the sudden so concerned about Havok?"

"Cora, my gem, please. Do you have a way to contact your mate or not?"

I frown harder. "I could tap into our blood-bond, get a read on him through that, but he was going back to bed for a bit when I—"

"Do that!" he practically yells as he grabs the bars again. "Please, do that, connect with him through your bond, see if you can find him."

"Why?" I arch a brow and cross my arms against my chest. What the fuck is his deal? Zan hasn't had the same negative feelings toward Havok that my mate has toward him but he sure as hell hasn't ever been this emphatic on anything related to my lovey before.

"I realize that you still may not trust me, that it is a lot to ask for you to do so, but please, my gem, please channel your bond and reach out to your mate."

"Will you tell me why first?"

"No."

Both brows lift. "No?"

Zan shakes his head. "I will not tell you why until you tell me where he is. It would be unnecessary concern if your mate is in fact at home."

"Zan, I don't understand—"

"Dammit, Cora! Please! I know I have given you no reason to trust me but I am begging that you try now. Try to trust that I would do nothing to jeopardize you or your mate, especially now."

"Ok, ok. Sorry, jeez." I shake out my shoulders and roll my neck. "I'll try to reach out to Havok through our bond but I haven't had to do it before, so bear with me."

Zan nods as he grips the bars so hard his knuckles turn white. His eyes, those eerily beautiful eyes are wide, and fixed on my face, his whole body rigid with anticipation. So I humor him and take a deep breath, close my eyes and let Havok's blood in my body sing to me.