20. Cecil

Chapter 20

Ihadn't wanted to involve Warwick. I felt guilty enough that he was working only part days instead of being at the council like he was supposed to be. And next week, he was only working mornings. The week after, as well. Dr. King was certain I'd have the twins by then, and then Warwick would be off from work for the month after, if not longer. I felt terrible because the man used to love to be at work. It was what he lived for. And since meeting me, he'd had more time off and uncertainty than anyone needed inflicted on them.

But I was sitting here on the couch freaking out, and Grandpa Lev didn't know what to do. So he did what he probably should have: he texted my mate.

"Warwick is on his way," Grandpa Lev said just as there was a loud knock on the door. "And there he is."

I sighed in relief but then remembered that it could actually be my parents and siblings. They were here. They had messaged Grandpa and let him know they were here and were waiting to be allowed on the mountaintop. They'd been cleared to be brought up, something that my father found offensive. How dare the created polar bear ban one of his children from being allowed up on the mountaintop? I rolled my eyes at the thought.

"What's wrong?" Warwick asked as he came rushing into the house. Immediately, my vision was filled with my mate. My gorgeous mate.

"Hi, Warwick. I'm fine. Just anxious."

Warwick's hands went to my stomach, where they gently touched the rounded bump there. His hands were so large they easily covered over half of my stomach.

"Are the twins coming? What's going on? I'm not feeling labor pains. Did your omega line open?"

I reached up and touched Warwick's face. He'd trimmed up his beard, and today, his hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. He was sexy no matter what, but I loved it most when his hair was wild first thing in the morning, right after we got out of bed.

"I'm fine. The twins are not coming. But my parents are."

Warwick looked up. "They're here?"

"Vitomir let me know he was meeting them at the transport building. They will all be here shortly."

Warwick nodded before he moved and sat beside me. He took my hands and held them in his. "I thought that might be the case, but when there was nobody here but the two of you, I became concerned."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I just…the last time I saw my parents was right before you found me killing a tree."

Warwick chuckled. "Poor tree." Warwick reached over, slid his hands under me, and pulled me into his lap. "Did you want me to take you home? We can go, and you don't have to see your parents at all. We can put on While You Were Sleeping or maybe The Proposal?"

I loved this man. So much. "So tempting. Gah, why is it that you are all grouchy and intimidating-looking, and yet you love curling up and watching rom-coms with me?"

Warwick kissed my temple. "Because I've seen enough ugly in my lifetime. There is no need to subject myself to fake ugly in movies. Maybe you're in the mood for some superheroes? Tights, action…" Warwick was cut off at the sound of voices entering the house. "Still not too late. I can whisk you home in a blink. All you have to do is say the word."

I was torn. The ability to be carried away before they entered the house was taken from me when they all suddenly started to enter the room. Grandpa Lev was standing not far, and Warwick stood, taking me with him as if I wasn't a burden at all. To him, I probably wasn't.

Warwick carefully placed me on my feet as my parents and siblings entered the room. I noticed their mates weren't with them and had to wonder if they were nearby or if they'd left them at home.

My mother's sudden shriek had everyone looking at her and Warwick and his beast on edge. He pushed me behind him, placing himself between my family and himself.

"My baby!" Mother shouted. She came rushing over toward us as I peeked around Warwick's massive back. I wanted to know which of my brothers she was upset about now. When she continued toward us with her arms outstretched, I grabbed Warwick's sides. His loud growl had everyone in the room freezing and Mother squealing before she jumped and ran back to my father.

"You need to keep Kaija in check, Daniil," Grandpa Lev said. Mother glared at Grandpa, but her face cleared in a blink when Grandfather stepped into view.

"What are you going on about, Kaija? The only reason you are here is for us to talk as a family and to see if Cecil's siblings treated him as the two of you have his entire life. There will be no lying among us, and if I find that any of you are guilty of the abuse that I think you are, there will be consequences. Family or not."

"You can't enforce consequences on us," Father said. "Your reputation wouldn't survive among your precious council."

"Yeah, I'm ready to go now," I told Warwick as I stepped out from behind him to look up at my mate. He was still staring at the others in the room.

"My first priority is you," Warwick said. "But as an enforcer, I have to provide protection to Alpha Vitomir as well." Warwick looked over to Grandpa Lev. "Lev, would you please take Cecil to the other side of the room?"

"Are you serious?" Mother asked. "He's my baby! And he's finally not broken. Look, he's clearly pregnant."

Mother was simply digging her hole deeper.

I took Grandpa Lev's hand and looked up at Warwick. "Please, Warwick? Can you send us home?"

Warwick touched my face, and then his eyes met Grandpa's before I felt my stomach flip. When I looked around seconds later, I was standing in my own living room. Grandpa Lev was still holding my hand.

"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to the difference when hellhounds do it." I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes. "Oh, sweetie, you've done nothing wrong. But your mate is right. He's taken care of you and the alpha mate. Now, his duty is to the alpha."

"What's going to happen?"

Grandpa Lev shook his head. "Well, right now, we're going to raid your kitchen and find something to eat and drink. I'm thinking tea, but maybe you would rather coffee?"

I shook my head. I wanted neither but would drink whatever Grandpa Lev gave me. "I want Warwick. I'm not worried about his ability to protect himself. I know he can." I smiled, thinking about my father trying to take on Grandfather, let alone my mate.

"Do you know what's going to happen to them?" I asked again as I followed Grandpa into the kitchen.

He sighed. "The amount of abuse your parents inflicted upon you in your lifetime is enough to have them facing consequences. Alphas who treat their den members such as your parents did you are removed from their positions and are often sentenced to the holding facility in Alpha Sergei's territory."

I raised my eyebrows. "What about Mother? She's human. She won't survive living in the middle of Siberia."

Grandpa Lev snorted. "They aren't sent out to live in the wild, Cecil. There is actually a facility there in the middle of nowhere. The only way out is through magic, or if they're really adventurous, they shift and travel hundreds of miles in the right direction. Only there is a magical fence surrounding the area. Once they reach it, the only way out again is through magic. It's truly inescapable."

I'd not known that. "So are they going? For how long?"

"Your grandfather won't be the one to pass judgment. It would be unfair. Someone else from the council will hear their sides and will put down judgment."

I couldn't help it; I swiped at my eyes. "This is all my fault."

Grandpa Lev's arms encircled me. "No. This is your parents'. I'm not sure where Igor and Mila went wrong with your father. They have been too upset about the news to even think about coming. But they do send their love and are awaiting news about your babies."

I smiled. "I never told anyone, Grandpa. I figured I was to blame."

"That's because you experienced years of abuse. Often, the victims of abuse feel as if they are to blame. It's how it often works. You have done nothing wrong though, and the only ones to blame are your parents. Your mother specifically. Your father for not putting a stop to it. They will have to understand their actions have consequences."

"What about my siblings?" They were all out of the house by the time I was even born. They'd left as fast as they could as well.

"They will be questioned." Grandpa Lev handed me a paper towel. I used it to wipe my eyes and then my nose.

"They didn't really have anything to do with me," I told him. "They were gone. I always knew I was an unwanted mistake. Mother made sure I knew that often enough."

Grandpa gave me a hug. "I wish we had all paid closer attention to you and how your parents were always too happy to keep you away from us. Your grandfather will never forgive himself for allowing one of his own to be treated as you were."

I didn't blame any of them though. I'd kept quiet because it was simply easier. "How long do you think they're going to take?"

"Not too long. Vitomir has a few questions for everyone, and then they will be questioned by someone from the council. Most likely Alpha Dane, I believe. The last I'd heard, he was the one who would be doing the questioning, but I can't be completely certain. Vitomir has asked others at the council what he should do in this situation, and although it was agreed that they wouldn't be ended, your parents will face some amount of time away, at least."

I nodded. I didn't have anything to say. What could I? I couldn't deny that they'd been horrible to me. Mother especially. Father more that he just went along with it. He had the power to stop her, but he chose not to, so he was just as guilty in my eyes.

"I'm going to go sit down," I told Grandpa. I wanted Warwick. I didn't even feel like watching one of my favorite movies, but I wanted his arms wrapped around me. I needed to feel his presence, have him calm me. The more I thought about it, the madder I got. How dare she suddenly think she could just act as if everything was perfectly all right with me? After decades of being so horrible. How?

Just as I lowered myself to our oversized couch, I heard Warwick's voice. I knew I didn't need to call out; he would be able to find me in moments. Sure enough, he came into view, and the waterworks seemed to hit. I reached for my mate, who didn't even blink; he simply scooped me up into his arms and carried me off.

I cried against his shoulder as he carried me up to our bedroom. It was obvious that my parents still had an effect on my emotions, and they probably always would, at least a little. I'd only ever wanted to be accepted and loved. I'd never had that from them, and I knew I never would. It didn't matter, to be honest. Not really. I had Grandpa and Grandfather, as well as Warwick. Especially Warwick. He loved me. He did amazing things for me, like carry me up to our bedroom when I was upset by my parents.

I felt myself being lowered to the bed and then my shoes being pulled off. When the bed dipped behind me moments later, I sighed as Warwick's scent and arms surrounded me.

"Want to talk about it?"

I wiped at my eyes with the paper towel. "I'm not sure. I mean, I honestly don't feel much for my parents at this point. But it hurts. How could she suddenly think that after all of this time, she has a right to our babies?"

"Because she only thinks of herself. She has an image to uphold, and being the doting grandmother is part of that image. I noticed your siblings didn't have much to say in your parents' defense."

"No. Rami is just over thirty years older than me. He had already moved out by the time I was born. I would imagine they all left as soon as they could, but we've never been overly close. I talk to Rami every so often, but maybe once a year, and it's always just a ‘hi, how are things going' message."

"Your siblings will be questioned by the council, but I don't believe any of them will be in any trouble."

I shrugged. "It doesn't matter. That might sound cold, and it probably is, but they weren't there for me. They knew I existed but never came home to check on me. I don't hate them; I'm simply indifferent toward them." Maybe that's why I'd always longed for a large family of my own. I'd never had a family growing up. My parents had kept me fairly isolated simply because they had to hide the fact that they weren't aging. They weren't in the den because if they were, then someone would notice how Mother treated me.

"Would you want a relationship with your siblings if they asked?"

I thought about it for a minute before shaking my head. "I don't think so. I know that some of them are mated, but I've only ever met Rami's mate. She seems nice, but again, they have their own lives, and they never really seemed interested in mine. Why do I need to make an effort?"

Warwick's arms gave me a squeeze. "You don't. I was simply asking. I'll support you either way, and if you ever change your mind, nobody is going to be upset."

Would I? I couldn't say. There was simply too much going on in my life in the last month to even think about adding a relationship with my siblings to it. It simply wasn't going to happen.

"How was work? Did you find out all the interesting and fascinating things about the assignment in Venice?"

Warwick kissed the back of my head. "No. The council has the main bad guy somewhere, but two are missing. And they're bad."

"Bad-bad? Or just bad? There are different levels of bad out there."

"Bad-bad. These two show no remorse for anything, nor do they seem to have any limits as to what they are willing to do in the name of the coven and getting things accomplished."

I shivered. I couldn't verify it, but I would bet my life that I'd encountered more than one person like that in my lifetime. They just had a certain look in their eyes that said they had little to no moral compass.

I felt Warwick's thoughts creeping in. "No, don't," I said. "Don't think you're like them."

"Am I not though? I used to do absolutely vile things."

"Only because your master ordered you to. But think about it. You're here why?" I didn't let him answer. "Because you fought back. Why did you fight back? Because you knew it was wrong and chose to. That there makes you not like them. That makes all of you not like them. You didn't have a choice. Now you do. And you choose to be here, helping others." Would he be satisfied with my response? I wasn't sure, but it was how I felt about him. "I love you, Warwick. More than anything else in this world." I rolled over. It took some effort since my stomach now got in the way, but I got there, and when I did, I felt the stress of seeing my parents simply float away. I wasn't sure how he could do that, but he did. "You are amazing. And you're going to be a wonderful father when we have our babies. Don't think otherwise."

Warwick leaned in and kissed my forehead. "I love you too. I don't know what I ever did to get chosen for a mate because I certainly don't deserve you or our twins. But I'm going to do everything I can to be the person that you all can be proud of."

I shook my head before I leaned closer. "I already am. You might not get it or understand, but I'm already proud of you. You are so wonderful. You don't see it though, and that's sad at times, but you are worthy of love, Warwick."

I didn't know how else to tell him. I'd said these words more than once, but like me, he needed to hear them over and over. I would never get tired of saying or hearing those words. They meant a lot, and the fact that Warwick was so free with them when it came to me was reassuring.

"Let's talk about something else," Warwick said.

"All right. Are you going to go to Venice?"

"No. I'm not on field duty until after I come back after the twins are born."

I moved away enough to look up at him. "Really?"

Warwick nodded. "I thought I already mentioned that?"

I tried to remember if he had or not. I shrugged but couldn't recall him saying that. "You mentioned shorter days this week, half days next week and the week after or until I go into labor. I don't remember you mentioned that you were pulled from field duty." That was one of Warwick's favorite things. "Are you going to be all right with not being able to go out and do things? I know how much you love being in the field."

Warwick pulled me close again, his arm wrapping around the back of my head. "I'm fine. I want to be here with you. Sure, I can be home in a blink, but the council is providing the same benefits for me that they have for all previously mated couples. Sebastian just came back recently. Drew gave birth a little over a month ago, so he's not back to full days yet. But he's working on the assignment same as me. It's how the council works. They make sure everyone has time to be with their families."

I, of course, knew this. And I knew Drew and Sebastian and could still recall Sebastian's first call to the clinic. He was so worried, and rightly so. Drew had terrible morning sickness. Thankfully, that was something I didn't have to worry about.

"They need more help," I said absently.

"The council does. That was talked about briefly today. Master Edison is going to reach out and talk to the fates to see if there are any fae that are willing to come join the enforcers. We need more people with magical powers. Fae fit that, and according to Benjamin, when talking to his brother-in-law, there are several fae that aren't happy where they are. I would imagine the possibility of coming here without the guarantee of finding your mate could be enticing to some."

"You did," I said.

"I was banished. Big difference."

I shrugged. "Yes, but you were still here without a mate for a long time." I yawned.

"Yes, I was. But now, that's changed." Warwick kissed my forehead again. "Close your eyes, Cecil. Take a nap, and we'll talk more later."

He always knew what I was feeling. He knew I was tired and fighting it. I sighed and did exactly that. "I love you," I told him as I snuggled closer. This was my absolute favorite place to be. Safe in Warwick's arms.