Blood Father (Blood Curse Series) (27 page)

Keitaro visibly wilted. “My son? My loving, happy-go-lucky, compassionate son died in the
sacrificial chamber
?”

Nachari stiffened and raised his jaw. “
Father…
” The word was a mere whisper.

Keitaro held out his hand to silence him. “My son…and
your other half
,” he lamented. He leaned toward Nachari and gestured him forward with the slightest bend of his hand. And in that barren moment, as the two males closed the distance between them, a lifetime of grieving was shared.

Keitaro clung to Nachari like he was the last soul on earth, and together, they mourned a loss too great for words. “Oh, Nachari. My boy…my son…
my son
.”

The wizard wept unabashedly, not caring that the mountains rumbled and the sky opened up, pouring down buckets of rain. When, at last, he regained his composure, he sat back and tried to force a smile. “But there is much to celebrate.” He gestured toward Marquis, Nathaniel, and Kagen. “All of us…we’re mated now. We have
destinies
…and sons of our own.” He inclined his head at Marquis. “And Marquis—he’s married to one of the original princesses.”

“One of the original princesses?” Keitaro echoed, his voice disbelieving. “As in the sisters of Jadon and Jaegar?” He looked positively dumbfounded. “How can that be?”

Nathaniel filled him in on the story, the CliffsNotes version, explaining everything in succinct, sequential order, and Keitaro practically reeled in astonishment. “Where are they now—your
destinies
, your sons?”

“They’re just outside the room,” Kagen said. “We didn’t want to—”

“Nonsense,” Keitaro interrupted. “I want to meet them,
right away
.”

Marquis nodded, and Nathaniel rose to make his way to the door. He opened it, peered into the hall, and said something softly to Jocelyn. Within moments, the women and children were gathered at the door.

They walked in quietly, their arms filled with their precious bundles, and the look on Keitaro’s face was one of pure, unadulterated bliss.

The moment was too precious for words, too priceless to cheapen with casual banter.

It could only be handled with formality.

As the eldest son, Marquis extended his hand to Ciopori first. “Princess, come forward. I would like you to meet my
father
.”

Ciopori positively radiated with love.

“Ancient Master Warrior, honored father, and fellow member of the house of Jadon”—he rolled the words off his tongue with pride—“I present to you my mate, the daughter of Cygnus, the royal offspring of King Sakarias and Queen Jade, the sister of our revered patriarch, Jadon Demir. Father, I present to you my
destiny
: Ciopori Demir-Silivasi.”

The princess placed Nikolai gently in Marquis’s arms in order to free her hands, and then she quickly strolled to the side of Keitaro’s bed, where she curtsied in an old-world gesture. “Beloved Father.” She spoke eloquently, musically. “It is both an honor and a privilege to meet you.” She bent over, kissed him on the forehead, and took both of his hands in her own. “Oh dear goddess.” She hiccupped a sob, losing the stilted formality. “I can’t believe you are finally home.” She embraced him, and he encircled her in his welcoming arms.

Marquis beamed with pride and satisfaction. He waited until the two pulled apart and then he set Nikolai in Ciopori’s arms. The child wriggled restlessly, his face betraying his discomfort, as if he had no idea what all the fuss was about, and Keitaro laughed, openly and heartily. He took Nikolai and held him up in the air. “You are a strong little vampire.” The child bobbed up and down in his arms and gurgled.

Ciopori laughed. “Honored Father, this is your second-born grandson: Nikolai Jadon Silivasi.”

Keitaro declined his head with respect and appreciation. “Nikolai
Jadon
…of course.”

After a few moments of watching them play, watching as Keitaro bounced the happy child up and down, Nathaniel reached out for Jocelyn’s hand, took Storm from her embrace, and hoisted him onto his hip, and then he led her to the side of the bed, where Ciopori quickly retrieved Nikolai and shuffled out of the way. “Father,” he said proudly, his voice literally vibrating with adoration, “this is my mate and the love of my life, Jocelyn Levi-Silivasi. She is the daughter of Cassiopeia, an esteemed warrior in the human culture, and the mother of your firstborn grandchild.”

Keitaro looked up at Jocelyn and smiled, his keen expression filled with love and acceptance. “Jocelyn, daughter; come closer.”

Jocelyn hurried to his side. “Oh hell,” she huffed, “I don’t know how to do this with any measure of finesse. Just give me a hug!” She plopped down on the bed, wrapped her arms around him, and rocked back and forth with exhilaration. “Keitaro!” She buried her head in his shoulder, wiped her nose on the sleeve of his gown, and chuckled apologetically. “Welcome home.”

Keitaro laughed in earnest, and then he reached out for Storm. “And who is this little ball of fire?”

Jocelyn rolled her eyes in an exaggerated parody of angst. “This little ball of
mischief
, fire, and vinegar is your grandson and your namesake: Keitaro Storm Silivasi.”

Keitaro grew instantly quiet. He looked from the child to Jocelyn, then from Jocelyn to Nathaniel, as if for confirmation, and then he let out a deep breath of air. “Keitaro Storm Silivasi?” He repeated the words like a prayer.

Nathaniel’s deep emotion was reflected in his eyes. “Yes, Father. We named him after you.”

Keitaro shook his head in awe, and for the first time, he appeared completely overwhelmed. “Well, hello there, little Keitaro,” he murmured, bouncing the child on his knee.

Kagen took a deep breath: As a healer, he did not want to see Keitaro exert himself—
just
yet
—but to his credit, he held his tongue.

“He is quite the spitfire, is he not?” Keitaro observed, watching as the child flexed his nimble legs, trying to extend and enhance each bounce.

“Oh, you don’t know the half of it,” Nathaniel said, an authentic twinge of angst ringing in his voice.

The entire room laughed, knowing full well the trials and tribulations Storm put Nathaniel and Jocelyn through, with his constant explorations and mischief.

Keitaro was just about to place the child back in his mother’s arms when Storm reached out, grabbed a handful of Keitaro’s freshly washed hair, and tugged for all he was worth. “Papa!” he exclaimed with a squeal. And then he giggled and gave it another tug. “Papa Su-vasi!” He began to tug in earnest, giving Keitaro’s hair three hard yanks in a row, before pausing, and then going after it again.

Nathaniel rushed to Keitaro’s bedside and gently pried his son’s fingers loose from the vampire’s hair, before his scalp began to bleed. “Sorry, Father.” He picked Storm up and handed him back to Jocelyn.

Keitaro laughed. “He reminds me of Shelby at his age,” he said, forgetting to censor his words.

The room grew quiet with painful regret.

At last, Nachari broke the silence. He rose from his perch on the other side of Keitaro’s bed, sauntered to the back of the room, took Sebastian from Deanna, and ushered the exotic beauty forward, leading her gently by the arm. “Father…” He spoke softly. “This is Deanna Dubois-Silivasi, daughter of Perseus, the Victorious Hero, and mother of your third grandchild.”

Keitaro glanced up at Deanna, inhaled sharply, and then slowly let out his breath. Not that all the women weren’t beautiful in their own right—
they were
—but Deanna was particularly stunning, with an exotic set of features that were very hard to place. “Greetings, Deanna,” he said warmly.

Deanna smiled from ear to ear, her breathtaking countenance lighting up the room. She strolled forward and grasped his hands. “Keitaro,” she whispered with unabashed admiration. “
Father
.” She sat down on the bed and cupped his face in her hands; and then she bent over and kissed him on the cheek, first the left, and then the right. “Welcome…welcome…
welcome
.” It was almost as if she were at a loss for words.

Keitaro blushed and playfully stroked his cheeks, touching each spot where her lips had just been, deliberately acting flustered. She paled, and he laughed. “Thank you, Deanna. I am pleased to see my wizard son has found a mate with a soul that shines as bright as his own.” He turned toward Nachari, who was sitting once again on the other side of Keitaro’s bed, and gestured toward the handsome bundle in his arms. “And who might this little guy be?”

Deanna sat up straight, her eyes brimming with love. “This is your youngest grandson: Sebastian Lucas Silivasi.”

Keitaro regarded him fondly. “Sebastian.” He held out his arms, and the child practically leapt from his father’s embrace, trying to get to the ancient vampire.

“Gan-pa!”

Keitaro jolted, startled. “Oh my, you are an eager sort, aren’t you?” The child grinned with pride as if he had done something truly remarkable, and Keitaro laughed aloud. Finally, he passed the baby back to his mother, turned to Kagen, and regarded him squarely. “You are yet to be mated?”

Kagen sighed.
Where to begin
? “I am…
soon
to be mated.”

Keitaro raised his eyebrows and waited. When Kagen didn’t elaborate—in truth, he had no idea what to say next—Keitaro urged him on with his eyes. “Explain, healer.”

Kagen flashed a faint smile. “I met my
destiny
in Mhier. We brought her back to Dark Moon Vale.” He gestured thoughtfully with his hands. “Once I am sure you are out of the woods, I will go to her, and see to…the conclusion of my Blood Moon.”

Keitaro frowned. He glanced around the room, eyeing each of his sons in turn, as if he could garner further information from their eyes. When no one spoke, he cleared his throat. “
Well
, who is she? Have I heard of her?”

Kagen smiled broadly then. “Yes, I believe you have. The daughter of Auriga is also the daughter of your heart, Arielle Nightsong.”

If someone could actually jump out of their skin, Keitaro would have done it. His surprise and delight were exuberant and unrestrained.
“Rielle?”
He glanced around the room, his eyes darting wildly back and forth between spectators, as if he could somehow pick her out of the crowd, as if he had overlooked her presence before. “Where is she?” he demanded, his voice thick with impatience.

“She is in my private residence,” Kagen said candidly. “She didn’t want to be here while we were still working to…
revive you
. It is all too overwhelming…too new and confusing. There was too much to process at once.”

Keitaro considered Kagen’s words. “Of course; she must feel like a fish out of water.”

Kagen nodded. “She does.”

“Then why aren’t you with her?”

Kagen drew back in surprise, feeling immediately defensive. “Because I’m with you.”

Keitaro frowned, and the paternal flash of disapproval on his face was unmistakable. It was as if his eyes were saying,
What
the hell are you doing, boy!?

“Father, I…I—”

“Belong with your
destiny
right now,” Keitaro interrupted.

“Of course, but you were in pretty serious need of a healer.”

Keitaro tilted his head from side to side as if weighing the healer’s words. “And now, I’m fine.”

“Well—”

Keitaro’s stern glance cut him off abruptly. “You do have a nurse, do you not? An acolyte…a healer in training?”

“Of course,” Kagen said. “Katia Durgala and Navarro Dabronksi, but I would like to see to your care, at least for a couple more hours, make sure you don’t regress or take a turn for the worse. And I’d like to write up clear orders before I hand over your chart to an
acolyte
.”

Keitaro shrugged with indifference. “Nonsense. I’m a vampire. Once we heal, we heal. What do you think is going to happen, cardiac arrest? I’m not that old, son.”

Kagen shrank back, his ire rising in spite of himself. “You
are
that old, Father. But that is not the point. As you say, you are Vampyr, so age is of no consequence. I would just like to be sure that all is well before I turn my attention to other matters—it’s taken a lot of years to get you home.”

“I understand that, son. Believe me,
I do
.
” Keitaro spoke respectfully, and then he simply pulled rank and dismissed Kagen’s concerns offhand. “Yet as your father,
I have spoken
, and we will not revisit this again: You will go to your
destiny
; you will see to her needs; and the
two
of you will not come to see me until your bond is cemented…until it is unbreakable. Do you understand?”

Kagen’s mouth dropped open, and the room fell silent.

And then Storm offered his two cents: “Unka Kagen go to time-out?”

Nathaniel burst out in laughter, and Kagen shot him a sidelong glare. He opened his mouth to speak and then closed it, feeling like a complete idiot. Had his father—and his nephew—just put him in his place? And in front of the entire family?
Gods in heaven
, they had to know there was nowhere he would rather be than with Arielle, but Keitaro had nearly died.

Realizing that Arielle would want to see Keitaro immediately, he decided not to argue with his father but to seek clarification instead: Clearing his throat, he ventured forward: “By
c
emented
, you mean what?”

“Once she is soundly in love with you,” Keitaro said firmly.

“Mmm,” Kagen said. “Small order,
that
.”

Keitaro chuckled. “Perhaps not, but an
order
nonetheless.”

Kagen winced.

Wow
…

So this was what it was going to be like, having Keitaro back home…

He swallowed his pride and considered his next words carefully. “I know how much Arielle means to you,
how much you mean to her
, and I will try to be delicate, to honor that bond.”

Keitaro laughed heartily then, catching Kagen off guard. “Rielle is as free-spirited as a wild stallion, as beautiful as the prairie on a summer’s day, and as independent as a lioness, accustomed to hunting for her pride. As your father—as
her
father—I wish you to be gentle and kind with each other’s feelings. As a male of honor, I wish you to take all the time that you need. As a man who is also a vampire, who understands the Curse, I simply wish you luck. You’re going to need it.” He chuckled then, and Kagen’s brothers joined in.