Page 32 of Xander
Liv shrugged.“What’s normal for an immortal?This is just as much new territory for him as it was for you when you transitioned.He’s the first baby born to immortal parents and because of this, you two are going to have to learn as you go.But we, all of us, are here to help.”
Liv bent down and kissed Silas on the forehead and they all watched as a smile formed on his face.
“He can communicate with us, and that’s more than most parents could hope for.The rest, we’ll figure out, I promise.”
Frost kissed Xander, smoothing away the creases that appeared on his forehead whenever he was concerned.She lifted Silas into her arms, his head settling comfortably against her shoulder, and he fell asleep.
“I don’t think he liked the diapers.He was fine with the onesie, but I have a feeling that he’ll want to potty train as soon as possible.”
Xander smiled at Frost, who beamed back.He moved in for a fast, but intense kiss.When he pulled back, he slid his fingers through her hair, but before Xander could place another kiss on her lips, Ghost’s phone rang.He didn’t pay much attention to the call, but when Ghost threw the phone against the fireplace, he turned in surprise.Ghost never let anything get to him.
Silas, sensing his uncle’s distress, put up his barrier that everyone could feel in the house as soon as it was created.But instead of protecting only those he could see in the kitchen and living room, he had conjured a barrier that covered the entire house.They could see the faint shimmer right outside the window and they all looked at Silas in awe.
“Ghost?”Kai sounded concerned.
Ghost shook his head and glanced at Frost, who held Silas in her arms.Ghost had melted, along with the rest of them, and now he placed his large hand over Silas’s head, gently.“Anzû wants me to deliver Frost to him.He said, that in exchange, he would give us all we wanted to know about the immortals’ origins.”
Frost scoffed.“That stupid fucking idiot doesn’t know when to quit.Like we couldn’t figure that out for ourselves.”She paused and glanced down at Silas.“Please don’t repeat—well, just to be safe—any of the words that Mommy just said.”
Silas giggled, the first time he’d done so, and Xander found himself smiling down at his son, despite the threat that had come through minutes before.
“You know Frost is the key to our origins, right?”Liv said.
Most of the group looked at Liv with a smile.Xander didn’t.He wanted to know why she thought so and was grateful when she continued.
“I had an inkling when I spotted the distinct pattern in Frost’s eyes and seeing Silas only confirmed my theory.I believe that the first immortals, vampire and shifter alike, were born, not created.And they were most likely born from half-human, half-immortal beings like Frost, those who didn’t know they had shifter genes.She’s an immortal, but her body isn’t in the same stasis that mine is, or Ara’s, Aubrey’s, or Jade’s.”
“But aren’t I in the same stasis that the women are?”
“And there’s where I believe Frost is special.There’s no way to test it, like I ever would, but if a half, or shifter mix as Frost likes to call herself, mated with another immortal mix, they could produce an immortal with powers, such as Silas has.That immortal would be able to turn others with a bite, injecting their venom into the system of humans, turning them immortal.Not all the time, though; most humans die with our venom in their system.
“I believe she was able to free you from your stasis, only for a short time, which is why she hasn’t glowed since your first time.I believe that her body knows when a pregnancy is viable, and that’s how she was able to become pregnant.And because Frost was able to conceive after her transition, I believe that if you chose to, Frost could have more children.But she could only have children with her mate.I can test Silas’s blood when he’s older, but his eyes, the combination of Frost’s curious ones and Xander’s, makes him unique.”
They grew quiet as the group studied Silas, who had gone back to sleep during Liv’s explanation.
“We’re going to have to come up with a plan.Anzû’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants, which is Frost and control of Dark Company.”
So, for the next few hours, they settled in the living room, Silas sleeping in the arms of the immortal who wanted to hold him, as they bandied about a plan to lure Anzû to them, using home advantage when confronting him.Between Kai, Reaper, Ara, Jade, Hunter, Gunnar, Ghost, Ax, Kane, Thomas, Isaac, and himself, they had no idea how to do that without dangling Frost as bait, which Xander had vehemently refused.
They decided in the end that investigation and hunkering down was their best and only option.Jade and Gunnar would do recon on Anzû and identify any associate he had.The rest would add more sensors and cameras to their properties and would review footage in case they caught anyone they didn’t recognize on camera.The sooner they ID’d the men associated with Anzû, the more they could learn about the enemy and use that information to destroy them.
Xander knew exactly where Frost and Silas were at every moment, so when they stood from making their plans, he found her laying on the couch, snuggling Silas on her chest, both sound asleep.
Anger rushed through his limbs and up his chest, before the feeling clogged his throat.He had no idea what would happen if Anzû captured Frost, but Xander would kill him before that happened.He was off his fucking rocker and they would find a way to destroy him.
Not one of the assassins had ever fought another immortal to the death.Most immortals wanted to be left alone, to do as they pleased, and learned not to kill humans and bring a spotlight on their existence.Some of them banded together, like Ghost’s company, but more for companionship than survival.Anzû wasn’t only jeopardizing his own family, but to pick on someone as strong as they were, he had to be crazy.And that would lead to him being destroyed.
Xander felt exhaustion over every inch of his body, so he bid everyone goodnight and lifted Frost in his arms.Her hold of Silas was secure, so he made his way up the stairs.When he reached the room, he laid Frost down first.He tucked Silas into his crib and scanned for anything in his crib that might pose a danger to him, before he kissed his son’s head and joined Frost in bed.
“What are you worried about?”Frost’s sleep-laden voice reached him as he lay down.
“I’ve been extremely lucky these past few months.Lucky to have found you and now we have Silas.But now this one shifter has threatened everything that matters to me.That’s the only reason I’m thinking about ways to kill him, once and for all.”
“But you aren’t alone in the fight.Whatever force he has, I know you guys can defeat him.Ara, alone, is more destructive than any other immortal and you are effectively trained fighters, having an advantage even against immortals.Trust yourself and the others, and everything will be fine.”
He pulled her close and kissed her.“How do you feel?”
“Every time I look at Silas, I feel a wonder that I’ve never experienced before.Physically, I’ve healed completely, but I’m still a little tired and feel like I could sleep for a week.”
“I’ll take care of everything until you feel better.I’ve never loved anyone more than I love both you and Silas.Thank you for being in my life.”
“I think we’re lucky to have found each other.We have a beautiful and powerful son, and no matter what happens, I will never regret a moment of it.Love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, too, Frost.”
Xander watched her fall asleep and smiled at the sound of her deep, even breathing.Soon, he followed her into oblivion.
