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CHAPTER 11
Megel, rolled over on his back, trying hard to understand what had just happened to him. 'It just isn't possible' . He told himself, there was no way that, ' he' could be bonded, soul to soul with Torin. He just couldn't believe it. But as he looked back over at his sleeping Childe, and felt the stirrings in his soul, he had to accept that , 'yes' , he had indeed found the one soul in all creation that was the match to his.
But even in the joy that he felt, looking down at the man who would share his life with him. That he would never have to push out, to walk away from. The knowledge that his little Brother, who he had named his Childe after, had likewise been soulbonded to another. And the horror of the end of that glorious pairing. And unlike that horror, with him, if he should die with his mate, he had another Childe, who had been forced to become a Sire, at such a young age, to keep him from following his brother into the Shadow Realm. He would follow him and Torin into death, and with him his Childe.
But, no, Torin might be so like his brother in his gifts and abilities. But he wasn't near as strong yet, and he was whole, completely and totally whole. His mind was not too strong for him, and Megel didn't feel any threat. He had helped Azrael, though his mourning of his little brother, to work out why the Childe had died. And his Torin, it wasn't the same. The bond, was a normal one, there was no stronger or weaker.
He forced himself to remember that. Had Torin and Sapphire's bonding been of the normal kind, then Torin would have never died. Two, who are soulbonded, and Kin, did not simply die. He held on to that truth as he watched his Childe sleep.
Azrael moved, to come close to the bed, where Megel lay with his Childe . *I must say Megel, you are as full of surprises as that First-Born of yours. * The amused thoughts touched him.
*Aye, Father, it would appear so. * Megel carefully, not wanting to wake his Fledgling and mate moved from the bed. *It, how can it have happened? Lifemate's I can see. Shadow is already, the moment I let him, or he is able to walk away from me, going to wed his Childe, but this? *
*Why do you not, go and ask your little sister. She is the one that saw it before it happened. She seems to be just full of helpful hints today. *
Megel looked to his Childe as the infant slept. *I keep telling myself that it was the imbalance of Tori and Sapphires bonding that caused him to die, and with him, her as well. That mine is like yours and a normal one. * He looked to his dearest friend and Sire. *No, bondmate's, other than Tori and Sapphire have ever just died before, have, they? *
*I will not lie to you my son, yes, but it is as rare, if not rarer than the Gift not taking correctly. You're son and mate will be fine. * He hugged him. "I am so proud of you, Childe." He whispered. "So very proud."
Shadow came to him, Thorne not a breath behind. "Father?"
Megel pulled him close. Catching his head in his hands, to look down at the young Kin. "Listen to me Shadow, take this to your heart. Tori might be my mate as well as my Childe. But you are still my First-Born. And nothing that has happened between Tori and I will ever change that. You are my 'First-Born' ."
Shadow laughed at him softly. "So, what is being said around here, is true. You up and took my little brother as your mate." He hugged Megel. "Chill, Megel, I'm not a baby anymore. Hell, I am one of the overwhelming numbers of Sire's in this place. I know who you are, and even more important, I know who I am. I love you, you love me, I learned with Cain that you could love, more, than just one, and it not matter in the least. Congrat's Father."
"Now, I really am going to have to take my wife and run hide in my father's home. Bad, enough, when it was my little cousin, but now two of them." Zephyr squeezed Topaz.
"Hold up here, you could at least give me a few minutes to gush over my big brother's good luck. And you can't forget I've got Susan, to take care of before I can go. I'm, not without responsibilities anymore."
"Well, hug Megel, Childe and see to your girl there, I will take care of her, while you are gone." Azrael wanted to discuss what Crystal had suggested with his son, but he could, and, would wait.
Bryan's stomach rumbled, causing the boy to blush. "Hungry?" Zephyr looked at him, smiling, before looking up, trying to locate one of the few remaining mortals that had been here before the blast. "Casey?"
The young mortal pulled away from Selene and came to his side. "Yes, Master?"
"Have you guys eaten yet? I know that Bryan is going home with me, but the kid hasn't eaten anything since before we took him yesterday."
Casey just laughed. "Yeah, I had dinner with the rest already, but it's okay, come on, Bryan. I am willing to bet there is still something in the kitchen." He took the confused mortal and moved to leave.
"Wait," Topaz reached for Susan. "I know you have to be hungry too, baby, even if you haven't said anything. Why don't you go with the rest if they can be separated from their owners and get something to eat."
In a matter of moments Casey had the whole lot of the new pets, and was heading for the kitchen, muttering to himself about how it didn't used to be this bad.
"Well, now that we got all the kids out of the way, come here." Topaz threw her arms around Megel. "Do you have to do everything our father does?" She fussed teasingly as she squeezed him tight.
"Azrael, didn't have to face being a Grand-Sire to my First-Born when I was only three. Trust me, little one, all in all, I have done many things that our father would never have dreamed of." He looked up the where Torin was beginning to wake, with hunger. "One moment Sis, I have to take care of my mate."
Torin moaned against Megel's throat as he fed. *What happened, Father? * He had meant to ask that earlier, but for some reason, he had lost consciousness.
*It would seem that you are as full of surprises as my son, love. How was I to know when I made you my Childe, that the first time we shared blood, and what always follows that sharing. I would end up with you as a mate. * Megel looked at Torin as the Childe pulled away to look at him in confusion. "You are a Mage, Childe, as am I. So now we are soulbonded." He smiled softly. "I will never have to push you out. No one pushes out the other half of his soul."
Torin just looked at him, a strange look of confusion and joy on his face. "We are what?"
"I know I haven't even begun your training yet love, but it would seen that young as you are, we are like Azrael and his girl, my little sister, Crystal. Our souls are linked, for life. As long as you live, or I do, we will always be together."
"You mean we, like, are soulmate's?" Okay, now this was a twist. "Really, you're not just teasing me, are your Megel?"
Megel laughed at him, hugging him to him again. "No, Childe, I am quite serious. You and I share a bond that is so very rare. Our souls, they melded together, there is now only one soul in two bodies. You and I will live together, as lifemate's, for the next countless years." Then he looked up to Crystal. "And we owe it all to my Sire's little mate there. And the books she wrote. For had you not read them, you would have never trusted me enough to come without struggle."
"'Them', don't you mean, it, as in single Megel? I read 'Blood's Lust'. What, you mean to tell me I missed other books by her?"
Megel just laughed. "What, I thought you knew, why didn't you tell me you had no clue what was going on?" Then to Crystal, "Okay, little sister, obviously since I never heard of these books, care to fill me in on what my boy does and does not know?"
Crystal just chuckled. "He's read 'Blood's Lust', that was my first book. That covered you coming home, Azrael taking Topaz, who was Morgan back then, healing her, and then deciding to make her his Chosen. Vincent and, his, two coming here. Wolf and Billy, and then the slaughter of most of his others, who were not what a proper pet in a Covenstead, should be like. Mark's besting. The trip to the, mall, to get Morgan a dog. Torin's collection and Wendy's death, the book went from the first time you sought out Azrael's help up to and including you taking Cain as your Childe." She took a breath. "And every thing that went on during that time. Then my second book, 'Blood's Promise', went into the finding and reclaiming of Gabriel, Torin's soulbonding to Robyn. Hunter's love for Gabriel. Selene's adoption, and then Jenna's torture, Set's subsequent death. That was the first time I had mentioned not only Cerberus and the Warlocks but also the promise Azrael made to Titania. That is the book that I did my first introduction, of Christian, who ended up, as Vincent's Childe. That is one of the things that scared me the most, after 'Blood's Pain', I got a package, that only had two things in it. A photo of Adrian Carr's funeral, which had Robyn and Torin in it, and another clipping that talked about the mystery surrounding the death of six prominent businessmen in Chicago." She lay a hand on Azrael's arm. "My third and final book, was Blood's Pain." She didn't want to talk about that one. Even after over three years, she still didn't like to think about that one. "Tell you what, Tori, why don't you ask Megel to go our and if he can't find them, have the book store order them, they are still in print. I'd just as soon not talk about my third book. It took a lot out of me, and gave me nightmares for weeks."
Torin only nodded, after reading her first book and seeing the detail she had put into what was there, he could only imagine what would be so bad as to have her beg off talking about it. "Sure, but do me a favor, when I get them, will you autograph them for me?"
"Sure, Tori. After all, your name is in all three." She looked up to Megel. "But warn him before he reads the third that lightning isn't going to strike twice. You and he will be together for a real long time. So long that not even I can see your death, which is just fine by me."
"You are seeing the future now, Childe? My future?" Azrael took her hand.
"Yeah, that is how I know that the Renegade will try a challenge on Loki, not knowing that he has been fully healed, I also see his death. Just do the other's, a, favor Loki, when you kill the son of a bitch, set his soul free, so that it has to go to the Shadow Realm. I am more than just sure that he will get one hell of a greeting there. You and Loki have Kin there that will see to it that he spends the rest of eternity paying for what he did. Osiris can be down right ugly when it comes to his family."
Loki smiled, coldly. "I know, Childe, Osiris was the driving force behind my healing. Without his help, Torin and Thorne would have never been able to do all that was done, and I would still be there."
Azrael gently took Crystal in his hands. "I will have Megel, block this gift, for now. Until you are older and better trained, if it is as you say, and you see my future. I do not want you, as young as you are, to ever see our death."
She smiled up at him, hand stroking his cheek. "Too late, baby. I knew when you would join those you have sent on, when Loki and I would join you in your death, the moment I woke as your Childe. It's okay, it's a long way off." *I see a lot of things honey, but very few that are sure. Most of the things I see are still intermixed with what might and what won't. But the time of our Death, it is the only possible path. So I know, like I knew about the bomb, that it is going to happen. And like the bomb, it is something that I don't see any of us rushing. It's okay, Love, I have lived with this, for many years. *
*But, you never knew, my, future did you? *
*No, but like I said, it's okay. I can deal with it. I'm the other half of your soul, remember? I know and accept everything. I can live with what I know, and can do so without regret. *
*Childe, * he crushed her to him. *If you know the time of my death, then that means, you know yours as well. You can stand here, knowing the time of your own death, and do so calmly? *
Crystal laughed out loud. *I have more years than I ever thought possible. More years than you have had so far. So yeah, I can accept it, and not feel cheated. * Then she laughed even harder. *Damn, I have been living with you in my head for so long, I sound like you. To put it in the trash talk you hate so much, I will be with you, long enough, not to feel ripped off. Now, go on and talk to Megel about what we both want you to. We'll talk about this, later. But don't you think we need to get things moving? * She hid her face in his shirt . *Please, Father, I might not be bothered about what I've seen, but that doesn't mean I want to think about it. *
Azrael nodded at her, she was right. The thought that she knew his, and through him, her own death, was a frightening thing. "So, Megel," he would change the subject. "Your brother has brought it to my attention, that his newborn, is bleeding from the soul. I was wrong in my plight to save him. I should have let Christian follow his Sire. And now, I do not dare. I have lost enough Children, and if Christian fades, then I run the risk of losing Harris, and through him, Doc as well. There are too many lives at risk. I have endangered so many in my selfishness."
"Okay, so what are you planning on doing?" Megel started.
"I am not sure, there is more than one option here."
"Because, if you don't go ahead and make Harris your son by blood, I will. The Gods know, we have enough on the Hall, that between them and the pets we have, there shouldn't be a problem."
Azrael nodded. Good, Megel saw where he was going. "That is the most obvious and correct option. I was just trying to see if you had any other thoughts that I hadn't considered. You are right, there is more than enough mortals here for what I will do, but I have two already that are very tied into my heart and soul."
"Selene, she has Loki too, and Crystal, she's your soulmate, there is nothing that could threaten that connection. I know that, so if you can't, I will." Megel looked up to where Harris sat with his Brood. "If you will remember, Azrael, we had discussed something along this line, back before we had our loss."
"Yes, but back then, I had less a reason to do as they had done in my youth, and just adopt many of the Rogues that came at my summons." It must be that he was still in shock from his Bonding to his Childe, because everywhere he turned, their were those, so very much younger than him that were reminding him of his duties as the Master of his Home and Covenstead. "You are right, Megel. If ever I had a reason, I have one now."
"Don't forget Lerion and Rain." Crystal was quick to add.
Azrael snorted at her. "Lerion, goes without saying, Love, though I am not at all sure what to do about Rain. She was Forests wife, and her First-Born and only Childe. The only female Kin I have in my house, that is old enough to be on her own feet, is Topaz, and I just helped her and Zephyr with their new Lifemate brands. I don't think she is quite up to what Megel's boy is."
"Why not, you? Or did you forget that not only do you have Crystal and me, but Willow and Brandy? If she can't bear your touch after the first time, when she bonds with you, as her Sire, she can always seek us." Selene smiled.
Gabriel moved to lay a hand on Selene. "No, little cousin, Forest was her lifemate. Her Wife and Hunter is my Husband. I think being the only free man here, other than Megel's boy. And he is still too young to be asked to take another Childe. I can, and I have Jewel, as well as the rest of you, if she chooses to seek another woman."
"Well, someone needs to make up their minds and soon." Crystal muttered. "I don't want to sound like a bossy know it all, but the girl hasn't left her room since we came here. Not even to feed. The only thing that has kept her from fading, is the fact that she can't decide what to do if she fades, and how to make sure that she bleeds enough to be released to follow her Sire."
"Why did you not mention this sooner Childe?" Azrael fussed.
Crystal looked at him. "Make up your mind Azrael, either you want me to use my sight or not. I just 'knew' , okay."
*Rain, Childe? * Now was not the time to fuss at his bondmate and Childe for her tone. She was right, even if she was a little warpish.
*What? * A wall of despair hit Azrael. His Childe had been right, this one, she was so close to death.
*Come Childe, there is many things for us to discuss. * He only hoped that it wasn't too late for the girl. Well, no matter, if she could be saved, he would see if he could help, and if not. The very least he could do was assure her that she would be released if she did indeed choose to fade.
Gabriel looked down at Hunter. *I might not be quite as old as Megel or Azrael, but if she chooses to live, I won't ever forget you in my raising of her. *
Hunter just smiled up at him. *I'm not real worried, Gabriel, I have your mark on my chest, you have mine. You're connection with her will only guarantee me a little sister. She will be no more a threat between what we have, as Jewel is, or Robyn was. I mean, look at it this way. With as many as we have both Kin and mortal here, that we already love, what's one more? *
*Uh, guys. * It was Crystal's light touch. *I hate to bud in, but maybe, you both would like to know that it was Torin's and Sapphire's bonding while they were still only mortals and not like us, that sealed their doom. It won't matter how uneven the tie is between the two of you. You aren't going anywhere. You'll both still be around as long as I can see. *
The both looked at her . *How? * Gabriel started, shocked to the core.
*Did you know? * Hunter finished Gabriel's thought.
*Please, think you two, if I know the time of my death, because I know everything about Azrael. You are part of his life. I think I have proven well enough by my books, that I know you. * She gave them both a dirty look. "So, you're going to be the one to offer Rain another option, other than death?"
"If she will take it, then yes. It's not going to be easy for me. I am going to have, to visit the Hall, a lot. But yes, if she is up to taking my offer, I am going to make it."
Azrael went to where Harris sat, with his two and Melanie. "So, Childe, do you think that if I offered you my line, that perhaps your soul could heal along with your newborn's?" *Lerion Childe, * he reached for his other adopted son.
*Yes. *
*Do you feel that your First-Born is up to leaving your room with you for a bit? I need to talk with you, and it needs to be face to face. *
Lerion chuckled in his mind . *It's, not, me that's keeping Wolf in bed, but Brandon. Just give me a sec to pry the two apart, and I'll, be there in a jif. *
Azrael felt the worry and quilt in his heart ease. Perhaps he had been a little too presumptuous with Christian, with his insistence that the Childe live, but it would seem that Vincent's Chosen, who had become Lerion's Childe, was doing just fine, and the Sire as well.
Harris looked from Azrael, to Christian, and finally up to lock eyes with Doc. *Love? *
*If I can deal with you taking another Childe, with as new as our tie is, do you really think I'm going to get pissy about you giving me a Blood Line? If he makes you his Childe, then you will finally have a mark to pass on to me. I think for that, I can share you with just one more. *
*Just checking. *
*Well, you going to say yes, or not? Keep in mind that a chance to be Lined Kin isn't offered to our kind often. *
Harris looked back at Azrael, who was watching him patiently. "I just had to check with Doc. Because when I do this. I, won't be able to share the bond with him or Christian for the next year or so."
Azrael nodded. Yes, it would be hard on the two, but. *Childe; I am your Master in the arts. Do you not think I can take care of that problem for you? *
"Really?" Harris was impressed. The fact that he couldn't share his love and connection with either Doc or Christian during the time that he would be locked to Azrael's blood, worried him a bit.
"Yes, really. And I can do the same for your brother. If that is the only thing that is giving you pause, then you have nothing holding you back."
Harris nodded. "No, I don't guess I do. Yes, of course. If you really want to do more than just adopt me. Though I still miss my Sire, he has been dead for almost twenty years. I think he would understand and approve of you. Anything that would see that I was better protected, and through me, Doc as well. He would agree to."
"So, your Sire, he knew of your Husband?"
"No, Father, but Doc is my Childe. I was Cameron's First-Born, Doc is mine."
Azrael shook his head. "Another, First-Born and only Childe. No wonder you took your lover as your lifemate and Childe so soon."
Harris nodded. "It is a Rogues life, Master."
"Well, no more. By the time your go to your sleep at dawn, you will no longer be Rogue. And neither will your Brood."
* * *
Rain and Lerion met as they entered the room. She looked like hell. He could see what this was doing to her. And though he understood his adopted father's desire to keep others from dying in his home, she should have been let go. "Are you okay Rain?"
She looked at him, her light eyes void, of anything but pain. "He summoned me."
He nodded. "Me too."
"Why did he call?"
"That I don't know. But he asked me to come, and as soon as my two could be separated, I did. He said he needed to talk to me, face to face."
She looked to where Azrael still stood talking to Harris. "I wonder what more he can possibly ask of me. I have no life, he won't let me fade, or if I do, he won't let me go to my Sire, She's all I have, and I can't go to her. So what more could he ask of me?"
*Mayhaps, Childe, if you will only listen to what I have to say, you might have a chance, not only to live, but to join my Line. * Azrael led Harris to where they were standing. "Childe, you look wretched."
"What do you mean, Father, a chance to join your Line?" Lerion had caught Azrael's words.
"Though I would have never tried to take any Childe from his or her Sire. Forest is dead. She left an infant behind, and that Childe is pining away. So unless I or one of the others here, do something soon, I will have no other choice than lift my ban of fading, and release her to be with her mother and wife."
Rain looked up at him, a burning hope in her eyes. "You will let me fade? I can be with Forest?"
He nodded. "But only if you do not think that if I let my Grand-Childe remake you as his, that it would help heal your soul. Think Childe. Would Forest have wished you to follow her, if she believed that you had a chance to live again? To be remade, and a Rogue no more, but a Childe of the Lines, my Line." He touched her cheek. "Gabriel has a husband that is his Childe, and First-Born. He was his own Sire's First-Born and only Childe. So he understands what your Sire meant to you. Has offered to help you to find peace again. I would, but I do not think that I am what you need. Besides, I will have five latched to me already. Loki and my two daughters and well as Harris and Lerion." He just chuckled at Lerion's startled gasp. "Yes, Childe, though you are healing much better than I had first feared. I will offer you a chance to be my Childe, but by more than just adoption. Be your Sire by blood, and through you, your First-Born's Grand-Sire. If only you will agree. We shall be one family here."
Lerion looked at him, then to Wolf who stood so close. Could he do that? Could he end his willingness to bond with his Childe? "I don't know, Father. After Wolf doesn't need my blood and continued bond of Sire to Childe so often, then yes, of course. But I have to wait for him to finish healing himself. Then; I said yes, not only because, if I had faded, you would have never let me seek Derrick where he awaits me, but also because, I was Rogue, and no Rogue would have refused the chance to end the loneliness. Derrick would and will understand. I lived, because I am now your Childe, even if it is only by adoption. By blood, yes, gladly, once Wolf is stronger. But please, Father, give me that time for him."
Azrael smiled. "You do your old Sire, and me, proud my son. But you forget. Or perhaps it is because you are not one, but as a Mage, and much older than you, I assure you. I can help to see that, your, Childe does not go without. If you, consent to being my Childe in truth. Then I will see to it that he always knows not only your love, and care, but the bond you have just so recently begun to share with him."
*You mean this, Azrael? * Lerion was too stunned to speak.
*Yes, Childe, I mean this. Now, see to your First-Born while I speak with Rain. Soon enough just give me a little more time to see if I can reach her. And then, I shall be your Sire, in truth, and will brand not only you but Harris as well, with my mark. *
Lerion looked down into Wolf's face. Smiling gently. "So, baby, how does the prospect of carrying a Lined mark, look to you?"
"I don't care, Father, I accepted you, because it was that or death for me. And I did that when I knew I would be Line only by his adoption of you when you took me. Was, willing to go on and live, barely more than a Rogue. So it doesn't matter to me. But, if you become a Fledgling of his, as I am yours, what does that mean for us? Believe me, Davy warned me often enough that a newborn can't drink for any but his Sire for the first year or so. How am I supposed to live, if you can't feed me, because you are living for him?"
"I asked the same question, baby, and he assures me that I can do more than just feed you. But that the bond I now share with you will still, with his help, be possible."
"Okay, if he can do that, then yeah, hell yeah. He is Davy's cousin, by blood, so it would, when you brand me, almost be as if I still had something of Davy left."
Azrael was not paying either Lerion or Wolf any mind, he was busy trying to save another. "So, Childe, what say you? Do you wish to live, and go on, or should I be ready to release you when you fade?"
She looked at him, thinking, for a moment. "But Master, the only Childe you have that isn't still locked to your throat, is Topaz, and she is Zephyr's wife. I have never had an interest in men. Forest was a woman, as you know. No, if it is all the same, I just want to fade to join her."
"Rain." Gabriel stepped forward. "I not only have a female pet of my own, but you will have cousins plenty to seek companionship from. I won't go where I am not wanted, past the first night, after I make you my daughter. Come on, little one. Try living again. I happened to have been very close to your mother. And, I really don't think she would want you to follow her, if there was another option."
She looked at him . *You don't understand, Gabriel. I have never been with a man, never had the want to. I was fifteen when she took, and made me hers. I have spent the last six years with her. No, though the offer does your Sire and Grand-Sire up proud, but I don't think I can do what I need to do to go on. *
*I give you my word Rain, on my life and the life of my First-Born, if after I love you, once, in your remaking, you still have no wish for a man. I will never touch you again. And I will see to it that no other man does either. Come on, girl try. You can't tell me that Forest's belief in your, inner strength, was a lie. * Then he softened his touch. *Come on, Childe. Even, if you have never sought a man. Surely you must know me well enough by now to know that I would never hurt you. She fed from me more than once, and we were together, briefly, as lovers. *
Could she do it? The question dared cross her mind. She didn't want to think of going on without Forest, but if her mother and lifemate would want her to go on, did she dare not. *Your word on, your, lifemate. *
*Yes Childe, on Hunter's life. *
She closed her eyes, as she began to weep. *Yes, * she leaned against him as he gathered her into his arms. *Be my Father. *
*I will, but, first. Girl, you are starving, and Hunter will be in the same boat soon enough. Feed, Rain, let me tend to Hunter, swing by the Hall and make sure I am up to strength, and then. Oh yes, sugar, I'll be your, Father. *
Hunter leaned against Jewel. "Looks like I'm getting a baby sister. Go figure, I was an only child in life, and I thought I would be in death, as well. But it does seem that, with Rain, I get a sister."
Jewel watched quietly as Gabriel supported the other vampire against him as she fed. When she had agreed to this, it was all because it was that, or jumping off a building. But since coming here, and being thrust into the life she was now, due to Gabriel's nature, forced to live. It worried her just a bit. Hunter, yeah, she could live with, he was the reason she was saved to begin with. But now, another one, and this one a woman. "So, I'm getting a mistress too, hu?"
"Yeah, don't feel too freaked. It took me a little time too, dealing with one of them, that wasn't the opposite sex." He shrugged. "There for the longest time, if it wasn't Gabriel, I just couldn't deal." He cocked his head to on side and smiled. "I was under the belief, that I had a choice in all of this. And he," the love and absolute trust in Hunter's face was so strong. "He let me believe that. Even made others let me keep that belief. I know now, I didn't have any, real, say in all of it. From the moment I told Cindy, I'd help him on. But he let me believe that I did."
'If only I could find that kind of love' . It made her a little uncomfortable to sit there. Listening to how much Hunter loved him. "Well, it's not like that for me. I knew what I was getting into, and that I didn't have, a, say in how my life was anymore, from the moment he came out of the air, to stop me from killing myself. I knew and know, I really can't say, 'no' , to any of them."
Hunter turned, gently taking her shoulders in his hands. "Jewel," he didn't know if he could make her believe him. Maybe, if he had been older and better suited to make her see. But he was going to try. "You can't think of it like that. Gabriel will never force you, and neither will I. And Rain isn't the kind to do it either. Gabriel and Forest were pretty close. And I just don't see Rain being that way."
She nodded. "Yeah, but the difference between us here is, you really believed you had a say. Me I know he is just trying to make it easier for me to accept that I don't."
*You both are wrong. I would have never forced Hunter, and I will never force you. * Gabriel's mind touched them both lightly, before turning his focus on Jewel. *Yes, now that I am going to take Rain as my Childe, you will be asked to help more. But if you still have problems with it. It's not like it is with the other pets here. She won't push you. But trust me, baby, if she comes away from me, still not willing to deal with men. I'll let you and she, share a bond. I'll let her start feeding you. You know how you are after my blood. It will be the same with her. * His words were very precise. He wanted to make her believe that she still had some kind of control over her life and what was happening. He didn't know what tomorrow would bring, or how she would grow on him. So he didn't want to risk any damage to her inner strength. He was counting on her to help the wounded Kin to live. And he would not take a chance on damaging Jewel's. He silently thanked all the time he had, out of necessity, dominated other mortals. He, had, had to so often in the last twenty-five years or so, that now. She would never know that she was right, and she really didn't have a choice. So, unlike with Hunter, he turned her mind, ever so slightly.
Gabriel reached for Hunter. "Come here, you. I'm going to take Rain, and swing by the Hall, and make sure that I'm covered. Then I'm going to take her to our room, and before long, she will be your sister." He brought Hunter's head to his throat.
*It's okay, Gabriel, I am at peace with the fact that; I didn't really have a say. It has nothing to do with anything you would do to me, but my own heart. When I told Cindy, there, at the end that I would help you. And then the first time you fed from me, I was gone. *
Gabriel had thought, after everything that he had been through with Hunter, that he couldn't be taken back by his husbands emotions. As he fought tears, he realized how wrong he had been.
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