 |
|||
|
|
CHAPTER 13
William looked up as Zak and Loki entered the room. "Hi." He whispered kissing his lover. "They fell asleep a few hours ago. It took me forever to convince them that no one, here, got off on making their lives hell."
"So, how successful were you?" Loki bent to gently wake Kyle, before reaching for Amy.
"I don't know, you'll have to tell me how it went, tomorrow." He reached out and squeezed Amy's fingers as the girl woke.
"Thank you William. I am sure that anything you said to them was only to help them accept that they are safe."
William yawned, rubbing his eyes. "Sure, anytime, my pleasure." The he shook himself, trying to put off sleep. "Good night," he reached for the Kin. "Loki," and for the first time, since he had come here, he willingly, with his mind clear and not drugged, kissed a man, other than Zak.
Loki not grasping the importance of, his, kiss turned to kiss Zak as well, only to be stopped by a hand on the side of his face. Looking down at the eyes that were connected to the hand, he moaned, feeling the utter openness, the kiss, as William pulled at his shirt.
"What?" Loki held the trembling youth to him as he looked up, trying to understand how it was that this boy, who loved another, man, was suddenly willing to show such new openness.
"He has had to face too many horrors for one lifetime." He reached out and touched William as his lover was trying to draw in another. "I was finally able to know what he feared, and why. It was me that put the space between him and his dark memories. You just didn't know him before you kissed him. If you had, you might never had been willing to draw him open as you have."
Loki, calling on every ounce of will he had to control himself, and a little that he could pull from the link he now shared with Azrael, fighting the urge he had to just lay down and melt with the boy. He groaned. Breaking free of the kiss as he gritted his teeth and pulled away. Handing William back to Zak. "I have to be gone from him. I can't stay, and with what he, is, calling up in me if I stay any longer, I would not be able to leave him until the sun sets tomorrow night. And I have to go be with Azrael now."
Zak just chuckled, holding William close, transferring his willingness to open from Loki to himself. "The boy can be a tad bit distracting when he sets his mind on it, can't he?"
Loki backed away from the bed, slowly reaching for his two pets. "Yes, too damned distracting by far, if you ask me." He closed the door on Zak's laughter.
* * *
Azrael looked up at Loki as he escorted his two charges into the room. "Loki, I felt you call upon me. Was there a problem?" He took in Loki's disheveled state. "Are your two well?"
"Yes, it wasn't either Kyle or Amy who had me seeking your aid." He pulled the remains of his shirt from him, before beginning to undress. "Why didn't you tell me that Gabriel's boy was shy with the rest of the men here?"
"Forgive me, it completely slipped my mind. Why what happened?"
"I went to thank him for watching Kyle and Amy, and discovered that the only man he had ever kissed was his lover."
"Oh, dear. I take it he did not deal well with it at all."
"No," he nodded at the remains of this shirt in the floor. "He was not only fine with it, he was why I was having to pull so much self-control. Had I bent to his charms, you wouldn't have seen me until the sun set." He motioned for Kyle and Amy to, the bed. "You two make yourselves comfortable, I will be with you soon enough."
"I am glad. It is high time for that boy to learn to open up. He has been very shy since Gabriel brought him here. I had hoped that the time he had spent with Megel's boy, would be enough to help him along, alas, all it did was frighten him more. Good for him, I am so happy for the boy. Now if you could please help me with something."
"I will do, of course, anything I can." He took Azrael's outstretched hand.
"I am worried. I fear that with the two of them as, bound, soul to soul as they are. I will never be able to Gift them both, and they both live through it."
"What do you want me to do Azrael?"
"If I were to ask you to take one of them, and make them your Childe, would you honor them with your Gift?"
"But, Azrael, you told me when I was finally ready to give my Gift to my First-Born, due to my nature, I would never have them pushed out. That they would be with me forever."
"Yes, my love, but that was before I took you as my husband. You will find that I am not like some of the younger blood. I do not choose a husband for just a few numbers of years. When I took you as my, Husband. I took you for life." And then he glanced at Loki, smiling. "Besides, if I have to do this, and if you chose not to push your First-Born away, when the hundred years is over, preferring to keep them with you a while longer. Then I will, of course, keep their mate here as well. It is not just for you that I do this. I am not going to be in any hurry to let them leave me either."
Loki kissed him, feeling his lover's arms pull him close. "If what you say is true, and I will be with you for life. Then I will be both pleased and honored to take either of these two as my Childe." He bit at Azrael's neck. "But, I am no Mage. How will I see that mine is trained as they should be?"
"No love, you are no Mage, but I am. I am hoping that they are right, and their tie is strong enough for me to begin with one of them, and the other live until I can reach them. But if they are not, and you will help me. If you enable me to pass my Gift to my Chosen, safely, without fearing that his mate will die before I get to her, I will be ever so happy to train her." Azrael pulled away, reaching for Robyn, feeling her tremble against him as he kissed her. "I do not wish to do this, precious, but if I can not reach you before you die, I lose both of you. I think this is for the best.
"Husband." Loki reached to pull Azrael to him. "I will, if her only choice is death, or me, I will."
"If I give you my precious one here, and she ends up as yours, will you allow my boy to still master her?"
"You know I will have to. I can't give her that. No, let her come to me, and if I end up making her mine, She will still be almost as much your Childe as the one that you give your blood to." Loki hugged Torin to him, so happy. Thanks to, his wonderful, new, love. He would indeed have a chance to pass on his blood, to Sire, a Childe. And oh, what a Childe she would be.
Azrael hushed Robyn as she cried against him. "Hush, my darling. You know I am doing the only thing I can. I dare not risk losing you as I make Tori mine. If I do not make it to you in time, now, at least, I know, you will be safe."
Robyn nodded, closing her eyes against his kiss. "Tori needs you too much, I'll be fine." She looked up, a soft smile on her face as she gazed at the one man. She would have to learn to live without.
"And just remember, precious if Loki makes you his Childe. You will share First-Born status with both Megel and Lilith in my home."
She just shook her head laughing weakly. "Yeah, Master, there is always that."
* * *
Jason cried against Michael's lips as his master pressed him back into the firmness of the bed. "Please, Master, Megel, make me yours. Be my Sire."
Michael looked, just briefly at Joseph who had pulled both Amber and Ben to him as he had entered the room. "Keep them company for me, Cain. I have a promise to fulfill."
"Go on, Father, you see to my little brother. I'll take care of the rest."
With his Childe's promise, Michael was able to turn back to his precious Chosen. "You want me, Jason? You want what I can give you?" One last time, he knew that all in all, he was going too quickly. Jason had only been with him for three years, but the boy had been begging for months. And he just didn't have it in his heart to make the boy wait any longer.
Jason pulled Michael's head down to his throat. "Yes, please, Megel, please be, my Father."
"Yes, but this first." His teeth sank into his own wrist, drawing blood. * Share this with me. * He felt Jason's mouth open to his, to the blood that he offered with his kiss.
Twice more did Michael feed his blood to his Chosen. And twice did Jason answer his demanding mouth. Kissing his master with such force that Michael could taste the, bitter, sweet, blood as he crushed Jason's gums against his teeth.
* * *
Robyn whimpered against, Loki's lips. She could feel Torin die, her soul cried out in agony as she felt herself begin to die with him. To live, she would have to give up Azrael. "Please." She pulled Loki's mouth to her throat. "Father."
'Yes, Father'. He had been ready for this, knew that if the chance had not been great, Azrael would have never asked his help. Loki moaned, as he felt Robyn's blood fill his mouth. She would be his First-Born, and oh what a Childe she would make him. * Hold on to me, even as you begin to fade, hold on to me. *
* * *
All traces of humanity were wiped from Michael's features as he took Jason to him. Wrapping the boy's fragile soul in his power, safeguarding his continued existence. Even as he, took his mortality. * Be with me. Be mine. * He felt the boy slip into the stupor of the first shadow of death. He pulled away, crying in both pain and joy, as he lowered his mouth to Jason's throat again. But this time, it wasn't his, death that he offered his newest Childe, but his life.
The shock of the new life as it flooded Jason, was painful. He could feel himself die, even as he was born again. And his soul opened to the new birth. Sire. He cried into the darkness that held his mind. Reaching to hold this man, the one that offered him life, against him.
* Shadow. * The naming force came down on Jason's open soul. * I name you Shadow. From this day hence, you are, and are only, Shadow. Jason died. You are Shadow. *
' Shadow', yes, he was Shadow. He had given his mortality to this man. He was Shadow now. * Father. * Again his soul cried to the one that he now lived for.
Michael held, Shadow, as the transformation began to take him. Holding him, sharing the pain his, Childe suffered as his fangs came down for the first time. "Ssshh, it's, okay Shadow." He kissed the side of his face as he cried the blood ran from his mouth and gums. "It is sooner than I thought. But don't worry love. It is only your mortality that is dying. You will rise with me tomorrow night." He felt Shadow begin his death spasms. "Don't be afraid, I am here for you." * I will watch over you as you die, Shadow. I will never leave you. *
Shadow screamed, only once, as his body jerked, his back arching in a painful contortion that held him frozen for just a moment, but one that seemed to last forever, before he slipped from consciousness.
"I'm sorry, Jason." Michael held him, ignoring the feel of his new Childe's bodily wastes as he died. He had lived through his own death, and knew that this was all part of it. He just lay there, stroking his cheek as he kissed the now dead flesh. "My most precious Childe, I am so, very, sorry."
"Joey?" Ben whispered. "Why is my master, sorry?"
Joseph looked down at him, smiling gently tears still streaming from his eyes. "He just killed his Chosen. When his Childe rises with the setting sun, he won't be Jason anymore. He'll be Shadow."
"But, he's still Jason." He couldn't seem to understand what Joseph had just told him.
"No, baby. That is Jason, you just saw him die. If he rises tomorrow night, he will be Shadow."
"What do you mean, if ?" Ben wasn't sure if he should be scared again, or not.
"Though, I've never seen it happen other than with my Grand0Sire's husband, and then that was not a true failure. I've been told that once in a great while, the blood doesn't take, and the Childe dies during his death sleep. Or worse, the Childe rises, but isn't whole. If Shadow is like that, Megel will kill him quick. He would never make anyone he loves live like Loki's mad Sire did."
"He would kill him? Really kill him?"
"He wouldn't let Shadow live like that. It would probably drive him, half mad, with grief, but Megel would kill him."
Michael looked up, smiling at his first, made Childe. "He will rise, and he will rise whole. No Childe that starts his change as quickly as Shadow has, ever fails to take the blood." Then, to Ben, "I won't have to kill him, he will be my Childe"
Ben looked at Michael as he held the dead body of his Chosen. "You going to do that to me? Do I have to die too?"
Michael laughed softly as he eased Shadow's body from him, laying him gently onto the bed. "I hadn't planned on it. But who knows what tomorrow will bring. You will be with me for the next hundred and fifty years. So I don't know what you will be to me then."
"Joey says he won't be Jason anymore." He didn't pull away as Michael pulled him close.
"No, my darling Chosen is dead. When he rises tonight he will be Shadow." He felt Ben tremble in his arms. "You don't have to be afraid of him Ben. He would no more hurt you as Shadow, than he did as Jason. And it will be about a year before he ever drinks from you." He was hungry. Shadow had taken so much of his blood. "Hold on to me, baby." His fangs broke through the tender flesh of Ben's neck. Sinking deep into the Jugular there.
* * *
Robyn pressed her mouth to Loki's throat, burning with a desperate drive that she had never felt before. Her newly made fangs sinking deep.
"No, Sapphire." Loki pushed her away from his throat, kissing her as she cried out in protest. "Later, let your body finish dying."
Azrael held Torin to him, making soft soothing sounds as his Childe suffered through his own lowering of his fangs. The boy was suffering so much. Azrael had forgotten how much a Mage could suffer. "Let her drink, Loki. It will help as she finishes her transformation." He felt Torin's fangs find him, willing to feed the suffering Childe in his arms. "Drink, Tori, drink. I know. Your mate does not suffer as you do. I fear that on your side of the soul you share with her is the greatest burden for the price of your death."
* Drink, Sapphire. Drink. * He held his First-Born close as she responded to his offer of blood.
The heat, the wonderful life that filled her mouth, as she drank. Never had she ever felt like this, not even when her first master had offered her his blood. She could feel it, burning down her throat to settle glowing in her belly. * Master. * She pulled herself even closer to him, letting him enter her as she fed. * Father. *
Torin cried against Azrael as he began to feel his body die. He felt as if he were on fire. His eyes stung as the salt from the blood in his tears burned them. He had never been afraid to suffer, but like this, nothing ever prepared him for this. "It hurts, Master." He moaned as his body began to spasm.
"Yes love, I am sure it does." Azrael stroked the young dying mans cheek. Sharing the death pain of his precious Chosen, so that a new Childe could be born. "But then, dying usually does."
Loki looked up as he lay his precious First-Born beside her mate, letting them die together. "Now that I have her, how am I going to brand her Azrael. I don't even have a mark of my own to pass to her."
Azrael gathered his lover to him. "You have done so very much for me, beloved, I promise you this. When your Childe rises, you will have a mark, and you will then pass it on to her. Your Sire does not deserve your loyalty. He ill-used you so. But as your Brother, I will mark you as part of my Line. Your mark will only differ from mine in the name you bear. If I had only thought and had Megel help me with your marking. But I had not had a chance to fully talk to my two Chosen yet, and he was too far into his boy at the time. I can not ease the pain I cause you." He took his knife and poised it just above Loki's, left breast. "I am sorry, Husband."
The man beneath him just took the hand that held the knife, kissing it and the blade. "I had always been told, by my Sire, that I never was worthy of my his mark. If you mark me as yours, I will be both honored, and willing to suffer for it, my love."
* * *
Night came quickly for Shadow. He rose with a burning in his gut. "Father." He reached for his Sire's throat. Giving in to his hunger for the first time.
* Go on, Shadow, drink your fill. * He touched his Childe's mind gently. Assuring, himself, that his Childe was whole. * Cain might be First-Made, but you are my First-Born. The first of my Fledglings that I have taken from the realm of the day, I give you to my world. *
"Yuck," Shadow looked down at him self. "You didn't warn me about this, Megel. I'm covered in shit."
"Your body died last night Shadow, and it reacted just like any other living body which meets its end. Don't worry about it, a quick trip to the bathroom and you'll be cleaned up." Michael just laughed at his youngest Fledgling, his First-Borns look of martyred pain. "Come back here Shadow, finish drinking. I'm not bothered by a little waste. I was once where you are."
"So I take it by his response that I have a new little brother." Joseph murmured sleepily, trying to wake up. It was so early. He couldn't even remember when he was so hungry that he woke with the first setting of the sun's rays.
*Yes, and with his rising, I am going to see what I can do, not only to replace Ben on the Hall, but take another, pet. I will never be able to keep up with both his and your hunger, otherwise. *
*Yeah, * Joseph pulled close as Shadow backed away, * at least one more, if not two.
Michael laughed, holding his head to his throat. "Glutton."
* No, Father, just went hungry too often in the past. *
"Well finish. I will take care of you, you know that Cain. You have been with me long enough to know the truth. Just because Shadow is now my First-Born, I won't ever push you from me. You played second for far too long to ever have to play it again.
"I know that Megel, Sire." Joseph kissed him. "I'm happy for Shadow. He was your Chosen first. Me, I just kinda happened."
Michael grabbed him by sides of his face. He had heard words of this ilk from his Childe one too many times, he had to make him stop, or Shadow would suffer too. And there had already been entirely too much suffering for one mistake. "No, Cain. Had I not wanted you as my Childe, I would have left you my slave. Never doubt that you were, and are, wanted as much as Shadow. I will never fail you. You are my Childe."
Joseph pulled back, laughing as he cried. "Hello, little brother." Shadow felt so good in his arms. He had a brother now.
"Hi, Cain." He grinned, "It feels so weird to have an older brother."
"Imagine how I feel. I've never had a brother before, older or younger. We've both only had sisters." He moved a little so Michael could take Amber and quiet his hunger with her blood. "Come on Shad, tell Ben that you won't hurt him."
"Shad?" Shadow looked at his in mock horror. "I only got my name last night, and already you're calling me Shad." He eyed his friend and sibling. "Keep it up, and I'll start calling you, Cay."
Joseph laughed. "It will be worth it, just to see the reaction you have every time, someone calls you Shad."
Michael pulled away from Amber, kissing first one cheek and then the other. "Okay, you two, behave." He just chuckled "Children, I swear. I think I've just been struck with the vampiric version of the 'Mothers Cruse.'"
Shadow looked at Ben. "Hey, it's okay. It's still me."
"But, they, he, said you died." The young mortal cried as Shadow pulled him close.
"I did, but Jason is still part of me. It's just that he was incorporated into Shadow. I won't hurt you, I promise." He closed his eyes at the feel and the smell of fear that Ben was showing. "You have to stop it Ben. Don't be afraid of me, please."
"Let the boy go Shadow. Give me a few minutes to deal with his fear, you are too young yet. Rise and greet your new life. You have a new aunt and uncle to greet. And I don't doubt that your new Grand0Sire will want to see you. Let's go and get cleaned up, and then we will go."
They both rose quickly as they could, hurrying to shower, only stopping once while they did so, Shadow stumbled in the stall, and had to feed again as hunger took him. And then dressing with such haste that he tore his shirt. He just looked down laughing at the rip in his undershirt as he pulled the buttoned top over his back. "Whoops."
"Slow down, Shadow. Don't be in such a hurry, ever again, you have what you asked for." He felt his Childe shiver against him.
"Ow," Shadow doubled over at the pain in his body. "But, what gives Father, I though I was dead already, what is wrong?""
Michael chuckled, holding his head to his throat. "Nothing Shadow. You are, dead, but the body hasn't finished its leave taking from mortality yet." He supported his new Childe as his body trembled, holding his head to him. "Let it go, Shadow, the sooner you let your body finish it's final death, the sooner the pain will pass."
"How long is it going to be like this?" Shadow sighed pulling away as the pain left him.
"Depends. A few days, perhaps a week, but no more."
"Damn." He had hoped that after last night, he wouldn't have to hurt like this again.
"Come on Shadow." Joseph took the pain of rebirth in stride. He had lived through it, and he knew if he could, Shadow would be just fine. "I want to meet Robyn and Torin, or what ever their Sire has named them."
* * *
The room was still empty as Michael let his new Brood in. "It would seem that we are up even earlier than I had first thought."
"Azrael will be along soon enough. Probably having his hands full with two Fledglings." Joseph threw himself on the couch.
"I can take this time to brand you with my mark, Shadow." Michael took Shadow to the bed. "Or I can wait for my Sire so that I know that I won't hurt you."
"Don't worry about it, Megel, I'd just as soon you mark me now."
Michael nodded. "Cain, come and hold your brother for me."
Jason looked up, hand raising to, first open his shirt, then touch Michael's mark on Joseph's left breast. "It's just so damned beautiful." He whispered. "I've been wanting it since I saw him do you."
"Go on and mark the Childe, Megel, do not make him beg for it." Azrael and Torin entered the room followed next by Loki and Robyn. Then Morgan led the rest in.
Shadow, gritted teeth, fighting to keep from screaming as his Sire's blood burned into his flesh
*Cry out if you must Shadow, I can feel how you hurt. Cry out. Cry out for both of us. *
Shadow cried out pulling against the hands that held him, as the pain of the brand and the pain of his body combined.
Michael pulled the knife away from Shadow's shin, pulling him to his throat, waiting for the death spasm to pass him. Waiting as Shadow fell back against Joseph nodding that he could begin again.
This time a whimper slipped past Shadow's lips as his Sire finished his brand. Turning to press his face against Joseph's arm as he waited for the burns to heal.
"I will seal my brand, as soon as you both can stand without my blood. I won't have either of you ever left alone, left marked as orphan's Like Cerberus was."
"Do what you think is best, Megel. But do you honestly think that any Childe of yours, would ever be left bereft of family?" Azrael fussed at him. "From Ezekiel, and Izabo, your closest sibs, to your great aunt. Even your cousin Cerberus, would see to it that your Brood never feels alone."
"I know that, Father, and I will have to take my two to see those two, if nothing else. But, I will sleep better during the day, if I know that I have offered them what protection I can.
"Well as soon as your Childe finishes healing, let him up. I want to see my new Grand-Childe. And you have a new brother to welcome to the family."
It was then that Michael looked up at Azrael. "Just brother? Did my sister not rise?" The he looked at Robyn. "Who is your Sire, sweet?"
"I am." Loki lay a hand of Robyn's arm. "Azrael was worried that which ever he took second, would not live through the death of their lifebond."
"I had feared, and rightly so, that when I took Tori and made his my Childe, Sapphire," he nodded at Robyn. "Would never live long enough for me to reach her. So I asked Loki if he would safeguard my precious one's life, and make her his Childe, his First-Born. And, as you can see, she is alive and well, and full Kin."
Michael reached out and pulled Sapphire's shirt up, to see Loki's brand over her left breast. "Seems I've seen this brand somewhere before." He lowered his lips to it, kissing it lightly. "You are still my sister. True it is because your Sire and mine are Lifemate's. But you are still my sister. The brand you carry is the same as mine. The only difference is your Sire's mane is where Azrael's would have been."
She shook her head. "No, I'm happy with my Sire. It was the best thing Azrael could have done for me. I'm Loki's Childe, his daughter, his First-Born." She backed away, taking Michael's hand as she reached for Loki. Needing to be with her, Sire, but still unwilling to pull away from Michael completely.
Azrael caught Shadow as another spell hit him. "Megel." He supported the Childe as he wept in pain against him.
Michael released Sapphire's hand as he turned to offer what support he could to his suffering Childe. "Go on Shadow." He pulled his Child, his true First-Borns mouth to his throat. "Drink, it will help with the pain." His eyes looked around the room, stopping on David's form as he entered the room. * Will you help me, cousin, I have a new Fledgling and a Childe that I will not push away yet. I have bled both of my pets already so far. *
*Of course, I have enough to help you until you can find another pet. And I can do so without risking Christian's care. He has been free of me, for quite a few months. But you are right. You shouldn't push Cain away, thank you for seeing that he is still cared for. It helps ease my quilt for failing him. * Michael noted the happiness in his friends thought. The first year, when all that protected a young vampire from a horrid death of starvation, was the blood in their Sire's veins. Was very hard for Sire and Childe alike. So anytime a Childe lived through his first year, the Sire would always rejoice.
Shadow rested against Michael as the pain finally faded. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to try and bleed you dry, but it hurts so bad."
"Don't worry about me love, I can always turn to Vincent and Selene. All you have to worry about it living through the pain. I'll take care of everything else.
"But, Cain?"
"Has already fed from me tonight. He won't need to do so again until he rises tomorrow." He stroked his cheek. "No, I won't short Cain, don't you ever worry about that. But he doesn't need my blood quite as badly as you do right now."
Morgan pulled away from where they all sat, and began to cry softly. "You're not my brother anymore."
Shadow pulled away from his Sire. "No squirt, I guess, I'm not. But it's okay. We'll be related again soon enough. Just as soon as Azrael take you as his Childe, then we'll be related again, maybe not as brother and sister, but as aunt and nephew." He bent, kissing her, kissing her fully for the first time in his life. "And we can be closer as aunt and nephew, than we ever could be as brother and sister."
Michael felt Torin's arms go around him as he hugged his new little brother close. "Did I hear our Sire correctly? He left you your name?
"Yeah, we talked about it and agreed that right now, too much of who I am is still tied up into Torin. So much that I would have never been able to transfer it all into another."
"Then think on this, little brother of power as well as by blood. Our Sire was calling me Megel, quiet sometime before he made me his Childe.
"Name too tied up with your power too, hu?"
"Very much so."
"Az told me that Loki could give my girl a name. And she would be able to tie her power into it. I'm just glad he chose Sapphire, it's close enough to Blue, that I won't confuse issues when I call her that."
"I most assuredly wasn't thinking of yellow sapphires when I named her." Loki smiled, holding his Childe close. "But now that she is Kin, Azrael is going to have to see what kind of potion he can come up with, so that the blue in her hair lasts more than her next washing."
"Now that she is Kin, I can see to it that her hair stays that lovely shade of blue she likes so much."
* * *
Shadow was having problems trying to convince Morgan that their relationship would be able to change now that he was Michael's Childe.
"But you're my brother." She pushed him away, angry and hurt.
"No, Mo, Jason, your brother died last night. Megel killed him. I stopped being your brother when he died."
"I know that, I knew he was dead when I saw you. But you just look so much like him."
"It's okay sweetheart, you have all the time in the world to accept me as I am now." He sat with her, rocking her as she cried against him. "I just didn't realize how my death would effect you."
"I didn't know it would hurt this bad. I just though that, one day, you'd wake up and, be a vampire, ya know? I forgot the dying part."
"Well, sorry squirt, but dying comes with the territory." He kissed the top of her head.
"Yeah, I guess it does at that." She reached out and touched the mark on his chest. "Shadow, hu?"
"Yep, Shadow." He reached and touched his new mark as well. "Isn't it pretty as hell?"
"Yeah. But then again, Michael is always accusing you of being too pretty for your own good."
Shadow just laughed. "Pretty mark to go with pretty face?"
"Something like that."
"So is Zephyr going to be dropping in to see you tonight or what?"
"I don't know. Cerberus mentioned something about a new pet of his. If he's anywhere near as skittish as Loki's two are, it might be a few days before he get around to calling again.
"I don't know about that, that kid is damned lovable when he puts his mind to it. I watched him make love to you last night, playing my last night as your big brother, and keeping an eye out for you." Then he frowned at her. "What you did about Sapphire was mean though. When you told him to make her pay for taking your place. He really thought you meant it."
She frowned. "I must have meant it on some level or the other. I don't think, with as open as I was to him, that I could have really lied to him." She held up her hands in surrender. "Okay, I admit it, I can be just a little petty from time to time."
"Then you are well on your way to being Azrael's Fledgling. I think that that one particular emotion pervades in the characters of every Kin I can think of."
|
|
|