Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

Jaron sat on the edge of the bed, watching his brothers sleep. He ran a hand through his hair, the exhaustion of the past few days catching up with him. They'd left Ceska, Altair, and the others to deal with the authorities so they could 'go home and rest.'

Right now, 'home' was Keegan's room.

But Keegan had gone to the kitchens to get him something to eat, leaving Jaron alone with his thoughts—and his worries.

He'd talked to the task force's medics and they'd looked at his brothers and told him they were fine, just sleeping, but what if they were not?

He couldn't help but feel responsible for what had happened. He should have noticed something was off with Malkira sooner. Maybe he could have stopped her before she'd taken Casca and Fei.

Maybe if he'd listened to his mother…

No, that was not a thought he would allow himself.

And, speaking of the devil, his phone buzzed again.

Jaron glanced at it. His parents had been trying to reach him since he'd shot them a quick message saying that he had Casca and Fei, that they were fine, and that he would drop by in the evening to talk.

That wasn't enough, of course. They wanted answers, and explanations, and Jaron didn't have the energy to give them.

They'd kept him in the dark about shit for years. They could stand to wait a few hours now.

He turned his phone off.

A soft groan drew his attention, and Jaron's head snapped up. Casca was stirring, his eyes fluttering open. Jaron was at his side in an instant, helping him sit up.

"Hey," Jaron said. "How are you feeling?"

Casca blinked, looking around the unfamiliar room. "Where are we?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"We're at Keegan's place," Jaron explained. "Keegan is my vampire friend. You and Fei are safe now."

Casca's eyes widened as the memories seemed to come flooding back. "Malkira," he whispered, his face paling. "She… she did something to us."

Jaron nodded, his jaw clenching. "I know. But it's over now. She can't hurt you anymore."

Casca looked at Jaron, his eyes filling with tears. "I was so scared," he admitted, his voice breaking. "I thought… I thought we were going to die."

Jaron pulled Casca into a tight hug, holding him close. "I'm so sorry," he murmured, his own eyes stinging. "I should have protected you better."

Casca shook his head, pulling back to look at Jaron. "It's not your fault," he said firmly. "You saved us."

Jaron managed a small smile, ruffling Casca's hair. "Yeah, well, I had some help."

As if on cue, the door opened and Keegan walked in, carrying a tray of food. He smiled when he saw Casca awake, setting the tray down on the bedside table.

"Hey, Casca," he said with a warmth that surprised Jaron. "Glad to see you're up. I brought some food if you're hungry."

Casca looked at the unfamiliar vampire with open curiosity, but then his stomach growled, and he grinned sheepishly. "Food sounds good."

Jaron chuckled, feeling the tension in himself ease. "Well, dig in then," he said, handing Casca a sandwich with bacon and tomato.

As if roused by the smell of food, Fei stirred under the covers. His small nose wrinkled, and he blinked sleepily at the room around him. When his eyes landed on Jaron, he sat up abruptly.

"Jaron!" Fei's voice was small and scared, his eyes wide.

Jaron was beside him in a heartbeat, scooping him into his arms. "Hey, buddy. You're safe now."

Fei buried his face in Jaron's chest, his tiny body trembling. "I had a bad dream," he mumbled against Jaron's shirt.

Jaron hugged him tightly, his heart aching for his youngest brother. "I know, but it's over now."

Fei lifted his head, glancing around at the unfamiliar room and then at Keegan. He eyed the vampire warily before turning back to Jaron. "Who's that?" he whispered.

Jaron smiled reassuringly. "That's Keegan. He's my friend. He helped us find you and Casca."

Keegan gave Fei the same warm smile he'd given Casca and waved a little. "Hi there, Fei. I brought some food if you're hungry."

Fei sniffed the air, clearly tempted by the aroma of bacon and tomato.

"Come on," Jaron said, guiding Fei to sit next to Casca on the bed. "Let's get you something to eat."

Keegan handed Fei a plate with a sandwich identical to Casca's. Fei took it cautiously, glancing up at Keegan before taking a bite. Then he quickly took another.

"This is good!" Fei exclaimed between mouthfuls.

Jaron chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest at the sight of his brothers, alive and well.

Casca finished his sandwich and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "When are we going home?" he asked.

Jaron exchanged a glance with Keegan, feeling a knot form in his stomach. He didn't want to take his brothers back to their parents—not after everything he'd learned about them. He wanted to talk to his mother and father about a few things first—by himself.

"Maybe tomorrow," Jaron said carefully. "You've got to rest up first."

Casca's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he didn't press the issue immediately. Instead, it was Fei who piped up, his small face scrunching in confusion.

"But why can't we go now? I want to see Mom and Dad."

Jaron took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "It's complicated, Fei," he said. "I need to talk to them first."

Fei crossed his arms, looking every bit the stubborn little dragon-shifter he was. "But I want to go now!"

Before Jaron could respond, Casca surprised him by stepping in. "Listen to Jaron," Casca said firmly. "He's right—we need to rest. Tomorrow isn't so far away, right? You can be a big boy and wait."

Fei looked between Casca and Jaron, clearly torn. "But?—"

"Trust me on this one," Jaron said. "I wouldn't lie to you, right?"

Fei huffed but finally nodded. Then he looked at Keegan. "You're a vampire?"

"Yep, I'm a vampire," Keegan confirmed. "But don't worry, I won't bite you."

Fei seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding solemnly. "Okay. But you better not bite my brother either."

Jaron was glad he had not taken a sandwich for himself because he would have choked on it.

"I think that's between me and your brother," Keegan said.

"Why?" Fei asked.

"You'll understand when you're older," Keegan said.

Jaron wanted to drag his palm down his face. That was the worst possible thing to say to Fei. He'd never stop asking now.

"I'm already old," Fei said. "I'm nine. That's almost ten, and that's two full hands."

Couldn't fault that logic.

"I'll tell you when you're my age," Keegan promised.

Fei's eyes narrowed. "How old are you?"

"79," Keegan said.

"No way." Fei shook his head. "I'm not waiting seventy years to find out. That's too old," he said with emphasis.

"You're only 79?" Jaron turned to Keegan. "Somehow I thought you were older."

Keegan shrugged. "I'm still old enough to be your daddy."

"Ew," Casca said loudly.

Jaron laughed. "Yeah, no. Let's not go there."

Keegan picked up the empty plate. "I'll get you some more, and this time you'll eat something as well," he said to Jaron. With that he left.

Jaron looked after him a moment. If his brothers hadn't been around, he might have said something about Keegan needing a snack too.

Later.

By the time the sun went down, Fei was sleeping again. Casca was still up, however, watching a movie on Keegan's laptop.

Jaron sat down beside him. "Keegan and I are going to head out for an hour or two. Will you be okay watching Fei for that long?"

He didn't love the idea of leaving his siblings for even a minute after he'd just gotten them back, but he knew the whole coven would keep an eye on them, and besides, this was important.

"Where are you going?" Casca asked.

"I need to talk to Mom and Dad," Jaron admitted.

"I want to come."

"I know." Jaron had expected that. "I promise I'll tell you everything in the morning, just please let me handle this tonight."

It was a lot to ask of a stubborn twelve-year-old dragon shifter.

"Why won't you tell me now?" Casca asked. At least he was keeping his voice low so as not to wake Fei.

"It's a long story," Jaron said. "But if you let me do this, you might not have to go back."

He let that sink in while Casca pretended to look at the movie screen.

Casca nodded.

Jaron squeezed his shoulder and got up. It was time to sort things out with his parents.

Jaron stood in front of the mansion door, heart pounding hard. Keegan squeezed his hand. Jaron glanced at his mate, incredibly grateful that he didn't have to do this by himself.

"Are you ready?" Keegan asked.

Jaron took a deep breath. "I'll never be ready," he admitted. "But I have to do this. There are so many things I need to know."

Keegan nodded, and together they stepped inside. Instantly, Jaron's father thundered down the stairs, his face a mask of fury.

"Where are my sons?" he demanded, ignoring Keegan completely.

Keegan raised an eyebrow. "One of your sons is right here."

But Jaron's father only had eyes for Jaron. "You said they were with you. Where are they?"

Jaron's mother joined them, her expression just as frantic. "Jaron, please. Where are your brothers?"

Jaron steeled himself and stood his ground. He could tell the two of them were genuinely worried, but if he gave in to their demands, they wouldn't listen to him. He'd learn nothing. "I won't tell you anything until you answer a few questions of mine."

His parents stared at him in disbelief.

"How dare you," his father growled. "You have the audacity to keep information from us at a time like this?"

"I think I have every right," Jaron shot back. "Considering what I just learned about our family."

His mother paled. "What are you talking about?"

"Malkira told me some interesting things," Jaron said, fidgeting with a ruby bracelet that went with his ridiculous outfit. "About how Casca and Fei were conceived."

For a moment, neither of his parents spoke. Then his father's face hardened.

"That woman is a liar and a criminal," he spat. "I don't care what she told you. Nothing she says can be trusted."

Next to him, his mother wrung her hands. "Jaron, please. Just tell us where Casca and Fei are."

"They're safe," Jaron said. "But I want to hear the truth from you before I let you see them again."

"Let us?" his father practically roared. "You can't keep us from our children."

Somehow, Jaron kept himself from flinching at his father's tone. "I don't want to do it, but there are things I learned that would make the relevant authorities think twice about letting you have custody. Things that could ruin the reputation of the family business." He stared fixedly at the sparkling gems on his mother's necklace.

Jaron's father's face turned an alarming shade of red. "How dare you threaten me, boy? Who do you think you are?"

Jaron felt all of five years old, faced with his father's wrath, but he kept his voice steady. "I think I'm your son. The one you never wanted to have. The one who was never enough."

Keegan inched closer. Jaron brushed his fingertips against Keegan's, drawing strength from the touch. He would be okay. He'd accepted long ago that he'd never live up to his family's expectations. He'd just never known the far-reaching consequences that sentiment had for his parents.

His mother swallowed hard, eyes darting between Jaron and his father. She didn't deny anything. "You have to understand," she said. "We only wanted another chance."

Another chance at a capable heir. She didn't say it, but Jaron knew that was what she meant.

"You injected yourselves with a terrible virus for that chance," Jaron accused. "How many laws did you break in the process? Did you even care what might happen if that virus escaped?"

"Fei and Casca were miracles," his mother insisted.

Jaron shook his head. His brothers hadn't been brought about by miracles but by mad experiments. He didn't love them less for it, but he needed his parents to see that what they'd done was insane.

Jaron took a deep breath, trying to keep his anger in check. "The virus lived on in Casca and Fei," he explained. "That's why Malkira took them. She was trying to fix the mistakes she'd made."

His mother's eyes widened. "Casca and Fei are not mistakes," she insisted, her voice rising.

Jaron couldn't hold back any longer. "The virus inside them could have brought on the end of the world!" he snapped, his hands clenching into fists.

His parents exchanged a glance. "But it's gone, isn't it?" his mother asked.

Jaron stared at them, realization dawning. They must have felt it when Keegan purged the virus. It must be gone from their bodies too. Everything Malkira had told him had been true.

"She came to us a few years ago," his mother admitted, surprising Jaron. "She tried to tell me there was something wrong with my children." She shook her head. "I thought she was just trying to scare me into giving her more money. We paid her a small fortune to get the job done. She used it to buy that house." Jaron's mother looked disgusted. "She should have been satisfied."

"It wasn't about the money," Jaron spat. "You always think everything's about money."

"Usually it is," his father said. "Now where are my sons? Don't tell me that witch still has them."

"That witch," Keegan said, "is dead, while you are allowed to live on in ignorant arrogance."

"Get out of my house," Mr. Tymera bellowed. "You can't come in here and insult me."

"If Keegan is leaving," Jaron said, "so am I."

"You're not going anywhere before you tell me?—"

"I'll bring your sons by tomorrow," Jaron cut the older dragon off. "But I won't force either of them to stay here. If they choose to live with me and you won't let them, I promise you I'll do exactly what you were always scared I'll do. I'll ruin this family."

"How could you?" Mr. Tymera demanded.

"I'd do it out of love," Jaron said. "I don't expect you to understand."

He turned to leave, but before he went for the door, he turned to the potted plant that sat to the side of it. It had deep green leaves and it was almost as tall as Jaron was. His father called himself a gardener sometimes, but he never even watered the plants inside the house. Everything that grew inside and out of their home was all their staff's work.

"What are you doing?" his mother asked.

Jaron smiled at her, turned to the plant, and set it on fire with one breath.

Both of his parents' faces were ashen when he left.

"You handled that well," Keegan said, following Jaron out of the house.

Jaron stopped a few feet away from the door, looking back. "Are they ever going to change?" he wondered out loud.

He hadn't meant for Keegan to look into it for him, but the vampire did anyway. His gaze went distant, and Jaron knew he was seeing something other than what was right in front of them.

After a minute, he snapped out of it.

"They might surprise you," he said.

"In what ways?"

"You might never have the relationship with them you desired as a child." Keegan rested a hand on Jaron's shoulder. "But they'll be better parents to Casca and Fei because of you. They'll know you're watching." Keegan paused. "In all likelihood, Fei will choose to live with them. Casca can go either way. There's a chance he'll spend a few more years at this house to make sure Fei is okay." Keegan's lips curved. "He takes after you in that regard."

"I don't want him to take on that role."

"You should leave it up to him," Keegan advised. "Just let him know our home will always be open to him."

"Our home," Jaron mouthed. "Where will that be?"

"Do you want me to spoil every surprise the future holds in store?"

Jaron thought about it.

"I'll give you one hint," Keegan said before he could answer. "You'll receive a letter a week from now."

"A week from now?" Jaron's eyebrows rose. "You want me to wait that long to figure out what that cryptic hint means?"

Keegan grinned. "I could tell you now, but where would be the fun in that?"

"Fine," Jaron said, realizing what Keegan was doing. The vampire was trying to take his thoughts off his messed-up family situation. It was working too. "But this surprise had better be a good one."

"I don't know about that," Keegan said. "I think you'll appreciate the gesture eventually."

Jaron was definitely intrigued now.

Sadly, his mate was not dispensing any more information.

"Let's go," the smug bastard said. "Casca's looking at inappropriate things on your phone while we're gone."

"What? You're joking, right?"

Keegan shrugged. "It's one of many possible things he could be doing."

"You can't see the present. Only the future."

"You don't know when I looked."

Jaron groaned.

Keegan drew him close. "You've got a lifetime of this to look forward to. I hope you don't regret that you've brought me back."

"A lifetime of this, huh?" Jaron gazed into Keegan's eyes and smiled. "Sign me up."