"Emon? What is happening, what's wrong?" Remnant's strong arms wrapped around me, her voice frantic while I lay slumped in her arms. I was much too heavy for her but my soulmate was strong, fucking stronger than all of us combined.
Then our daughter called out my new favorite name.
Father.
I smiled at that. It took her very little time to adjust to us, a characteristic only a child would have. Such an easy acceptance, an innocent trust that no adult fae would ever have with a newfound family.
My soulmate's beautiful voice was sharp as she rapidly questioned her brother, but I could not focus on her words, only her hands that cradled my face, my eyes closing at the delicate touch.
"Stay awake Emon!"Her voice screamed in my head.
I smiled at her command and forced my eyes open again to peer through the darkness clouding my vision. "Little umbra," I breathed, instead of four of her there were two…maybe two and a half?
Perhaps I could handle two of her but what the fuck did you do with the half?
"That's it shifter. Stay with me now." She leaned over me, her eyes scanning every detail of my face. I could see her mind practically counting my breaths as she waited, cooing at me to stay and then…as quickly as it came the darkness started to dissipate.
Groaning with relief, I nuzzled into her touch. "I could never leave you. Not even in death, Remnant."
She hushed me, her eyes narrowing in anger. "Don't talk that way, Daemon Ash Strider. You just nearly became a glass coffin yourself." Her eyes widened then and her head snapped over to her brother.
I grunted, patting her hand, “let me move, my love, I am crushing you.”
“You should rest, Emon,” she scolded with a sigh before releasing me. Rolling over, I hauled my weakened body into sitting, feeling it heal like before and my vision clearing.
Then Riella was there, her face pale and full of fear, a half sob tearing from her little body.
I grunted as her tiny frame slammed into me and chuckled softly at the surprising strength she held. There was no doubt she was half shifter now. "It's okay, my little cub. I'm okay now." Smoothing back her hair, I kissed the top of her head, feeling guilty that I was the cause of her trembling fear. "Shhh. I am sorry for scaring you, my cub," I purred, rocking her and meeting Remnant's grim expression over her head.
"Are you alright, shifter?"she asked hesitatingly through our bond, her worry now evolving to full panic inside our bond.
"For now, little umbra, breathe for me please."I answered honestly back, my concern now for the way she was shattering in front of me.
Remnant's jaw clenched before she whirled on her brother, hissing. "Start explaining, Kade."
Her brother shook his head, scrubbing his hands over his face. "I cannot, because I don't know. His reaction was like all the others that fell into the soulless sleep but he has been able to stay awake. Only those with god blood should be able to do that."
"For now he will still be awake—but he is no god," boomed the dark voice of Shea, the god of death, as he manifested from the shadows with his mate, my soulmate's mother, on his arm, "he merely carries the essence of one."
Chapter 6
Mybrothersurprisedme,stepping quickly between my little family and our parents, cloaking us in his protective shadows.
The death god arched a dark brow. "A bit dramatic, don't you think my son."
Kade barked out a laugh. "Must be a family trait then…don't you recognize it,father?" he said scornfully.
Our mother sighed, releasing Shea and stepping towards us, touching the shadows that separated us. "Must you do this every day Kade?"
With a simple flourish of her hand, the shadows shattered into hundreds of black blossoms and with another wave, she directed the delicate blooms to each one of the glass tombs to lay peacefully on top of them. Sadness crossed her features as she watched her beautiful control of powerdisplayed.
Turning back to Kade, she folded her hands in front of her, "Just because our people sleep, does not mean you must deny yourself a full happy life. Your scorn and guilt is eating you from the inside out, my little shadow."
Kade's expression softened slightly. "You may have found happiness here in Sheol when the curse broke and your love was returned to you—you deserve it after so many years of suffering and never knowing, but just because you lovehim,only the goddess knows why,” he added sending Shea a glare, “does not mean I have to. What I do love is my court and my sister, and he knew…he knew what would happen to them when they came here and he does notcare. He would do anything to fulfill his selfish desire for you.”
Sadness descended upon all of us as his last words echoed in the hallowed tower and I reactively moved to comfort my brother, at last understanding his anger and the darkness that plagued him.
He blamed himself, just as I did.
