"It's time that the two of you cut those women loose. Now that they are aware of everything, they should be able to handle it."
I knew this would come sooner or later. Vastava is not the sharing type, especially when it comes to his chosen mates.
"I agree." His face takes on a light all its own. "I've been itching to get rid of that woman for centuries."
"Yea, and now that David knows…it's been very awkward even inside the manor."
"Hahhaahhaaa…. that son of ours is so blunt!"
"Mmm…."
"Okay. I think the others will agree. It's way past the time for them to find new pairs. They were only temporary mates to begin with."
"Um…I'm not so sure that they are aware of that." He puts his hand up like a student in class.
I look over at him and go over his words in my head. Lucian smooths his hair and gazes at him like a teenager in love.
"Even so, I will not tolerate them being around my mates in that capacity any longer." Vastava's says.
I know that look and tone and have learned that it's best to do as he says. Tadanya and Ahriman will have to comply. It's what Lucian and Damarcio both want. Maybe I should tell David, that way he will make a case out of it should they disagree.
****
"It feels like ages since I've…. seen…them."
He goes still like a tree. His eyes like steel pikes piercing through Jamier. I feel myself start to tremble and the small pools forming in my eyes.
"Why…is his…hair that color?"
"If…if…" I catch my breath finding it harder to breathe with each breath that I take. "…. You can…destroy him…. mm..if…you want."
Lukshar is holding him from behind. They were both looking at him as if he was grime underneath their feet that they couldn't get off. When they look up at me, both of them soften their gaze and look back down at him.
He speaks in the softest and most quiet tone that I've ever heard come from him, "It's not his fault…" He blinks the way that he does when he looks at Patheos, "…. Haaaa…He's my first grandson. I wouldn't ask something like that of you Jakartha…no matter what he did to me."
"Besides…how do we know that he didn't get the hair from me?" Lukshar smiles, moving to caress Jamier's hair and cheek as he sleeps next to his brother in their crib.
I start to breath again only realizing just now that I was holding my breath, my body is still trembling. I close my eyes as those horrible memories from Lucian II start resurfacing…. replaying in my mind. Tears are threatening to fall but I won't let them.
It was very laborious giving birth to the twins. I think I saw Scott faint a few times. What was surprising was just how strong Lucian II is without a piece of his fur being attached. It was close to him though. Maybe that's why he got through it so well. I was in and out of consciousness but I saw enough. Vastava or Lukshar rather, was there helping me along.
The Pairing Ritual between him and Martheos was beautiful. They said that since I've given Lucian II children, I will become his second permanent mate. I can't wait!
But my nerves are still standing on ends since Jamier has blonde hair. Lukshar is right though. The hair and even the eyes could be from his genes and not so much his dropnutem.
****
After seeing that luminous color dripping from Jamier's scalp the nightmares have started to resurface. The memories that I accidentally leaked into my children after they were transferred into my tail have become an unspoken taboo amongst us. It's like a festering pus that is passed from one generation to the next. Father thinks it's a good thing, so that my children and descendants will know what not to do and how they should behave if or when we come into contact with that maniac again. I woke up to a wet bed. Damn, if this continues I might revert back to that aimless state I was in back on Zathira.
"Here. I've ran you a cool bath." My arm falls limp over his shoulders. My feet and legs feel numb as he carries me by the waist to the bathroom.
"I'll…be…fine." I gasp.
"No, you aren't."
"Don..'t…let…the..m…"
"I won't. Patheos and Martheos are at the pack house with boys."
I look up at him and form a little smile as I settle down into the dry ice bath. I moan soaking in the chill, my muscles relaxing as the tension slowly fades away. We sit there in the midst of navy and ivory marble tiles staring at each other. He presses our foreheads together and mumbles "I'm sorry" again and again. It's not his fault. It's both our fault for trusting him and letting down our guard around our own family, but given the wild entanglements of our crazy family why did we think that Marklar was any different from The Serene One? Maybe it was a false hope that because Vastava is a bit different from The Serene One that the kindness and sincerity residing in him comes from Marklar. I scream inside whenever I think of this. It doesn't matter how long it's been, these are scars that time can never heal.
I start to laugh like a crazy person. "It just dawned on me." My voice is a bit raspy. I guess I was screaming in my sleep again. "You are like them. Both of them. What you did to Cisla's brother…"
He chuckles darkly. "Ah, well…" His face becomes as hard as stone. "...I won't apologize for that. Cisla is an even crueler fiend, you know this. And his brother doesn't exactly get a peace award." There is so much venom in his voice when he speaks about them. I know that they didn't always get along, I'm not stupid enough to believe that my father is golden. Does he really think that I don't know his secrets? I'm not naive or stupid. But I love him all the same.