I practically break down the front door, the wood splintering as the frame bursts, then I'm charging up the stairs.
"Kasimir!" I scream through the second floor. "Kasimir, you son of a bitch, show yourself!"
Halfway up the second staircase I hear Henrich and Milos emerge from their chambers; I hear Andrej enter the foyer, pulling his jeans on as he runs after me.
"Havok?" Henrich calls out, quickly followed by Milos. "Shit. Fucking hell."
"Kasimir!" I kick in the doors of his wing, both flying back and exploding into the walls on either side.
Then he appears in the hall, eyes flickering white as I invade his personal space, Posey close on his heels.
"You son of a bitch!" I charge him, moving faster than he can even try to evade, and have him pinned to the wall by his throat, my forearm cutting off his air. "You knew!" I scream in his face. "You knew she came back to me! Knew my light had returned and you withheld it!"
Kai struggles but only a little, his face reddening, his stare unwavering.
"You bastard!" I yell in his face. I can hear Posey yelling, feel Andrej and Henrich try to pull me off their king, their brother—my brother. "You fucking bastard, you knew! You knew she had returned and..." My screams turn into sobs, my hold loosens and Andrej pulls me back to the other side of the hall with so much force we go down to the floor hard. "You knew… my light… you knew..."
Andrej wraps his arms around me, pulls me tight against his chest, hugs me hard as I fall apart, my tears of blood streaming down my face.
I look up and meet Kai's eyes; no anger, only pain and regret. His remorse is clear, and though Posey is staring daggers at me, even her eyes hold some sort of warmth.
"What the fuck is going on?" Karel’s voice booms through the hall.
I look around and see that the entire house heard my tantrum and joined us in the king's quarters.
Hank and Janet are standing next to Posey; Karel next to Kai.
Allie is clutching sweet baby Daisy to her chest, Grace and Casey on either side of her while Milos and Henrich stand protectively in front of them.
And my dearest friend, my best friend in all the world, just holds me while I sob; holds me tight and rests his forehead against the back of my head.
Kai crouches down in front of me, places his hands on my shins and squeezes. "I knew, brother, and I am sorry I kept it from you."
Posey steps next to him, looks between us then places a hand on her mate's shoulder. "What the hell is going on, Vok? Why did you come barreling in here ready to kill Kai?"
I just shake my head.
I can't even form the words.
My sobs just wrack my body; continue to shake me to my very core.
"His mate has returned," Kai speaks softly. "After two hundred and seventy-five years, Havok's mate has finally returned to him."
Silence falls on the group and after a few beats, I take a deep breath and meet his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Then the bastard smirks. "For fear of this very reaction. Though you may not have tried to kill me if I had."
"Not likely."
"No, not likely." He grins but it's a little sad. "She did not recognize me, not in any way that makes sense and—"
"Wait," Henrich says as he steps closer. "Wait, are you saying that—" He looks at me and swallows hard. "Are you saying the little one is here? Here in Ashland?"
I nod. So does Kai and Milos.
"Then that means..." I can practically see Henrich's mind start racing. "That means there has to be some truth to the legend! If she's here, reincarnated in the flesh, then there has to be some validity to the myths surrounding vampire lore!" He starts to pace. "Are you sure it's her? Positive this is C—this is the little one?"
I nod but Kai speaks. "It is her. No room for doubt. Her scent alone confirms it, but her appearance supports it as well. It is the little one and she is in fact here."
