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CHAPTER 13
Azrael fell back. *Safe, sleep, Father. * He knew that Drax's soul had been released. The rest, it was just, so, much that he could do little more than struggle to control himself.
*Azrael, * Megel knelt by where Azrael lay. *Are you, okay Father? *
*I am drowning in fire. * Azrael cried out warring with himself for control. He had to get control over the blood, or it would control him. *Help me. *
Megel gathered him to his chest, bending to offer relief in his feeding.
*Gabriel, Shadow, come, * Azrael had not been this drunk on blood ever, not even on the night he released Set. *Cerberus, call your Brood, help me, I am drowning. *
Megel pulled away, reaching for his mate. *Come, baby, feed. *
His shirt tore as mouths and fangs took him. But even after so many had fed, and those who were Sire's to newborns, returned for a second feasting, it still felt like he was drowning in a sea of fire.
*The pain will pass my son. * Osiris's soothing thoughts touched Azrael.
Azrael's eyes snapped open. *Father. * He pushed the feeding Children from him, *but, how? *
'Osiris' his Sire, the man, that had, so many thousands of years ago, given him his Gift. He stood there, was no apparition, he stood there, real and solid.
*My much times great Grand-Sire, Drax. He is the oldest of us, the strongest. It is his power that I am using to be here with you for the time I remain. * He pulled his eldest Childe, his First-Born against his chest. "Hold on, Azrael, that pain will pass." His own fangs pierced the flesh of Azrael's throat. *I have missed you Childe. Your Brood, they miss you as well. *
*The pain I felt at your death, I feel still. Each of my son's, I still bleed for them. * Azrael held his Sire as the man drank. Praying to the fates that the pain would, indeed, pass.
*Come, have the infants feed from you as well, Drax was the strongest of our kind, he could have fed well over fifty of us, and still would have been able to walk away. Hurry Childe. I will help with your control, but not even I can hold on to it for long. *
*But, Father. They are infants, my blood. It would kill them. They are newborns. *
*No, there is no taint. With the taking of his blood, it has burned all impurities from you. You alone can feed any. He has passed his charge of guardianship to you. *
"Go on, Torin, help your Grand-Sire in his plight to help his Childe." Megel pushed Torin forward.
*Oh, damn, * Torin cried out to Megel at the first taste of Azrael's blood . *Oh damn, oh damn. *
"You too, baby. Azrael is in a real bad way right now." Shadow let Thorne go to feed from Azrael as well.
*Well, don't just stand there Hunter, you either Virgo. Go on and help him. * The blood he had taken from his Grand-Sire, it gave him a dizzy lightheaded feeling, like he had drunk too much wine. Yes, it burned within him, but the burn was soothing as well as warming.
"You had best call in the rest of your Covenstead Cerberus. If what my Grand-Sire said is true, There should be enough for almost all of those in your keep." Megel lay a hand on Cerberus's shoulder. "As is, I don't think I'm going to have to feed out of hunger for the next few months."
Cerberus reached out, *Titania, come on girl, bring any that are in my house, Azrael needs our help, like he did back when he killed Set. *
*Vampire, take out, again hu? * Her mental laughter touched him. *So who did he kill this time? *
*Just, come on girl. You will understand soon enough. *
Again, Azrael was trapped in a sea of heat, lust, and hunger as more and more fed. Megel stood with Osiris, watching protectively.
Finally the pain passed. And Azrael was able to pull himself from the feeding Kin. "Enough, children. I have bled enough." He felt an inner calm. One that he hadn't felt since his Sire had died.
"Damn, old man." Cerberus looked around at all the Kin that had fed from him. "Just how much blood did our prodigenator have in him?"
"A vast amount, nephew." Azrael leaned against Osiris, Crystal and Loki with him.
"I always knew the jest of our beginnings. Megel and Azrael, had explained it to me more than once, but I never realized just what that meant, before now." Shadow felt bloated. He didn't think he'd feed for days. If he got hungry in the next week, or more, he would be amazed.
"So, Sire, Father, how long will I be allowed with you?" Azrael had lost his Sire, once. He did not look forward to having to walk away from him again.
"When we go to place him with all those you have brought to me over the years. Then I will seek my rest again." Osiris touched his cheek. "But not until then. I want to see Isis. I would seek both your younger brother's and sister, but it will be hard enough to leave you and my sister again."
"Then you will be with me, for close to half a year. I could feed each Childe every night in that time, and still not be drained enough to release you before then."
Osiris shook his head. "No, Azrael. This body does not hold my soul. I was released. So I can leave it again, at any time. Regardless of the blood in it, but I will not leave you again for a few nights. Drax owes you much, my son. And I will see to it that he rewards you for your assistance."
*He owes me nothing, Osiris. It was his power that enabled you and Thorne to give my son the power to heal and return my husband. Nothing I could ever do for him will ever compare to what he has given me. *
"And what are we supposed to do about that thing?" Megel pointed to the lifeless body against the wall, its blood pooled around it.
"Feed it to the things on the Dark Paths. Tristen's soul has been released to us. There is no need for the body.
"I'll deal with it, Master." Titania offered. "I can't touch Magnus, but that one, I'll deal with."
"He didn't know," Crystal's quiet voice.
"Who didn't know?" Titania looked at her.
"Magnus. He didn't know what that thing was planning. That is how he knew so much, Magnus got in his shit, big time. I have a feeling that he will grow up right this time. I'm pretty sure that if Sharra turned her back on him for just a sec. He would have tracked Tristen down and killed him, himself, to avenge his brother's death."
"How do you know? And who are you anyway?"
"She is my Childe, Titania, and my soulbonded." Azrael spoke softly.
"The girl that drove me into running home to get away from her projective empathy." Cerberus offered as a further explanation.
"Oh." She looked Crystal over again. "Okay, now I know who you are, and what can I say, I'm impressed. But that still doesn't tell me how you know of Magnus's innocents."
"Uh, Titania." Hunter cleared his throat. "Her knowing what was going to happen, was what got her here to begin with. She's Azrael's soulmate has been living with everything he did and knew for the last six years. So trust me, if she says that Magnus didn't know, then, dick or not, he didn't know."
"I just, got, to get her other books." Torin muttered to Megel.
"Well, Azrael, Grand-Sire, I think it is probably for the best, if I took all of those from my home and went to it."
"Horus is disgustingly pleased with himself in his making of you, Childe. For one so young, you have done well for yourself." Osiris reached out to his Grand-Childe. "I would have insisted that my son come with me, to greet your himself. But alas, of my six, he and my youngest were not Magi."
"Will you," Cerberus felt his arms go around him. "Give him my love, when you return, Grand-Sire?"
"Of course. But Childe he knows of it already. He has watched over you even from where he is now." Osiris pulled Cerberus's head to his throat as he sank his fangs into his.
And as the first, swallow, of Osiris blood flowed into Cerberus, he felt his Sire's love and pride. That had always been his one concern. If his Sire would have approved of how he had chose to live. But that worry died as the feeling of his Sire's love and pride filled him. Horus had known and was proud of him and his Brood and Covenstead.
*Before I leave, come and be with me, Childe. Horus would never let me rest if I was here, and did not share my love with you. You are my Grand-Childe. *
Gabriel stood watching as Osiris welcomed his Grand-Childe. Worrying about what Thorne thought of him. His past was nothing to be overly proud of. For near two hundred years, he had lived as little more than an animal. Then Martin, Cindy, and finally Hunter, and the fact that he loved Hunter more than he had loved any other, even, his Sire cut at him.
Osiris pulled back from Cerberus kissing the Childe. "Soon, Childe, I am not allowed to stay in this world for long, so it must be soon." He watched, smiling as Cerberus gathered all of those that were still left of his home and slipped back on the Paths, taking not only his Childe and his lifemate with him, but their three pets as well, much to the very vocal protests from Topaz.
Osiris looked up to where Gabriel stood, holding Hunter and Virgo. "You're Sire has gotten almost as bad as Horus in the years since you found your Grand-Sire, and were reunited with your Blood." *He does not begrudge you the love you feel for your Childe. How could he? Though it will not happen for some time. Your Childe is your mate. A soulbonded, lifemate. You are no Renegade; you were never a, true, Rogue. So only a soulbonded mate can ever be loved more than you love your Sire. But you are a Mage, Childe, as he is. He always knew that if you ever found your mate, that you would love him more. *
*But, Osiris, how can that be? The bonding of soul to soul is not supposed to be happening like it is now. *
*Neither is the overwhelming number of lifemate's that are now finding each other. But due to the loss of so many Rogue Kin, those that were Kin for only a few number of years, who were not released. They are returning to us. Though it is by far, no guarantee, that any Childe that will be made, has been Kin before, but there are more and more of them that are appearing. *
Gabriel almost asked him how he knew this, but stopped. His great Grand-Sire was dead, and yet here he stood. At this point, Gabriel would believe almost anything. *Hunter, my lifemate, he is going to share a soul with me? * He had lived through so many tragedy's and triumphs in his short life, that even as wondrous as the knowledge was, he really couldn't see the full splendor of it. All he could do was accept it, and try to go on. Or perhaps the near blind acceptance was his minds way of holding sanity.
Osiris bent and lifted Gabriel into his arms, moving slowly to the bed by the far wall. Thorne had been this Childe's Sire, his Grand-Childe's First-Born. He had taken part in creating his nature. So he was not surprised in the least, as the younger Kin responded to him.
*Come, children, join us. * Osiris began to slowly, undress Gabriel, not pausing as he summoned Hunter and Virgo. He could only remain with his Children for such a short time. Five nights, and no more. But while he was here, he would see that they all know him, and his love for them. From his Childe's youngest to the shyest of his many, great and great, Great Grandchildren here. He would spend his time, while here, with his children. So that when he left again, they would know just how much he loved them all.
"Training is off for a while, children." Azrael looked to his young Mageling's. "While my Sire remains with me. There will be no more lessons."
"Not unless you are planning on beginning our instruction in sex magic." Harris tightened his arms around Doc. "Because as bad as you are, he is your Sire. He's got to be worse."
Azrael watched silently, for a moment, as Osiris bent Gabriel to him. "You do know, Childe, that you have a peculiar way of taking the most beautiful of things and reducing it to basic lust."
"I am a simple man, Sire. The varying degrees of it all, it sort of gets lost on me. But I don't see it as basic lust. Just a very simple way of sharing our feelings. Cameron might have been young, and his power not even holding a candle to yours, but he did teach me that. He loved me, and saw to it, that I never doubted it."
*And your devotion to your Brood, is ever a tribute of your learning of that lesson. *
"Come here, Jewel." Shadow reached out for her. "Gabriel and Hunter are a little busy right now, but you shouldn't have to just sit and be left in the cold." He pulled her slowly to where Thorne sat with Max and Greg. "Yeah, I know you don't know me real good yet, but Megel, is Gabriel's uncle. His Sire's brother, that makes us cousins, and I promise you, I am not about to risk hurting my cousin's pet. First, that's just something, I wouldn't do, and second, because, if Megel didn't chew me up and spit me out, Gabriel would."
Jewel just looked at him, numbly. So much had happened to her in the last few days. She went from trying to kill herself, because she was dying of AIDS, to being with Gabriel and Hunter, now she had Virgo to consider as well, and to top it all off, she was now beginning to feel like she was trapped in someone's wet dream. "Wow," she whispered. "Truth really is stranger than fiction."
Shadow and Thorne laughed at her. "Shocks the hell out of you, don't it?" Shadow hugged her tight.
"You have no idea. First Gabriel, then Hunter, and then Virgo, and now. I can't believe this isn't some really wild acid trip." She moaned at the taste of Shadows blood as he pressed a bloody wrist to her mouth.
*Do like I'm doing, baby. Don't worry about trying to work it all out in your head, just accept it. It's a whole hell of a lot easier that way. I happen to disagree with, only, one thing with my Sire, there really, is, such a thing as 'too much info'. *
*Yeah, * she leaned back against Shadow as she began to open to him, as his mouth drew a response from hers. She knew what this guy wanted, but what the hell, everyone seemed to be fucking everyone here tonight. At least he was a guy. Virgo still bothered her a little.
"Tell you what, Jewel. The bed is taken, and my room is off limits for now, Megel and Torin have closed themselves up with, their, two. So why don't we go to Gabriel's room, it's, not like he's using it." Shadow looked up at Thorne and the boys. "Come on you guys, let's take her somewhere, and make like bunnies." Max and Greg were probably going to be as iffy about women as Thorne had been originally. But, he was pretty sure that he could get them to try with her. It had only taken Megel once or twice to get Thorne to be more versatile. And true, Lilith and Topaz had been willing to help with him, but now, with as much blood of the ancients he had in him. It shouldn't present any problem. He would only have to do with them like he had done with Jewel and bond with them for this. After that, if they were anywhere near alive, they should forget that she's a woman, and only care about the bond.
* * *
Megel held Sarah close as they watched Torin with Randy. His boy had known this mortal. Had shared, fleeting though it had been, his bedtime with him. "Looks like, for a while anyway, that I'll be keeping you company. It's going to take a little time for the two of them to look past the fact that you are a woman, to see the pleasure to be had in your arms." He kissed her shoulder lightly, trembling at the feelings he now shared with Torin, as Randy went to make love to him. How was he supposed to think with what Torin was doing? He turned her around in his arms, to press her back against the bed. *I am far from hungry, precious, but I don't have to feed to make love to you. * It was either take this girl, or go mad. Torin, his soul, was lost in pleasure, and was dragging him with it.
* * *
Wolf held Vincent still lost in the wonder of his Sire's new Name. Azrael had done this for him; he knew that. Some how, his Grand-Sire had known what would help them both, the most.
'I'm going crazy'. He thought, trying to gather himself. He had to get back on top of things. He was Vincent's Childe, his First-Born. He couldn't fall apart on him now. But all he wanted to do was hide. There was so much happening now. And all he wanted to do was crawl into his Sire's arms and pretend that it was like it used to be. But it would never go back to the calm that he had come to expect here. David was dead. His Sire had given himself and his life to his Grand-Sire, for him. It was a heavy load to carry. He had never asked for anything, save to be David's Childe. He hadn't had to worry about anything. But now, now it was all so messed up. He was alive, because of Vincent, who had agreed to be his Sire, when he wasn't allowed to fade to join Derrick. And that worried Wolf. How was he supposed to help his new Sire? He knew that sooner or later the shock of all that had happened in their house. Would begin to wear off, and his Sire would begin to miss his husband again. He was his Childe, and he didn't know what to do, when that happened. How could he come up with something to say when his Sire finally began to hurt again? Could, being, his Childe, be enough to ease the pain? Wolf didn't know, but he swore, as he held Vincent, that he would make it be enough, he would make him be happy. He had to. If he didn't, then Vincent might very well begin to hurt again. And Wolf couldn't deal with anymore pain.
"Ssshh, it's, okay baby. Derrick is waiting for me. I know that. I won't just abandon you Wolf. You are my Childe, my son. You are my First-Born, and I love you." Vincent tightened the hold he had on Wolf as his Fledgling trembled in his arms. "I will never regret taking you, you are everything I could have wanted in a Childe. I love you; please believe that."
Wolf didn't think. He, just, reacted . *I do, Father. * His fangs sank into Vincent's throat, pulling his to his own.
Vincent realized his mistake, as he swallowed Wolf's blood. *Azrael! * His mind screamed as he pulled away from Wolf, doubling over.
*Father! * Wolf tried to pull Vincent back to him.
Azrael pushed Wolf away. *Let me see. * Azrael was there. Pulling him close. *Look at me. * Azrael just had to know how sick his Childe was. He should have been prepared for something like this with this Childe. Wolf was so, passionate, in his desires.
It didn't make any sense. Azrael couldn't believe what he was seeing. Vincent, his Childe, was now able to stand-alone. *How much of Wolf's blood did you drink? *
*A swallow, no more, * Vincent trembled against him. *Please, Azrael, Sire, don't let me die. Wolf can't stand-alone. *
*A Full swallow? Or just part of one? * Azrael's thoughts were hard.
*I don't know. * Vincent's mind screamed at him.
*Ssshh, it is a good thing, Childe. When you fed from me after I released Drax. The blood, it must have been powerful enough to end your dependency of me for your continued life. The pain you are feeling, is nothing to be frightened of. It happens with some of us. The first time we drink from one other than our Sire. Give it a few moments Childe, the pain will pass. * It was not unknown for a new, vampire, to suffer like his Childe was now. But none of his other Son's had. And Topaz was without comparison. Was it now, after his son had come away from him, the blood had burned away most of the residual mortality from him and through him Wolf? Or was it simply, an infrequent but all too real, ailment. Was it the shock of the first, or the beginnings of a problem that sometimes, mostly in Rogue Kin, that would have him suffer through any feedings other than from his Sire for the next few months? *Be with me, Vincent. * He pressed Vincent's face and mouth against his throat as he drank.
Wolf watched on, terrified, as Azrael slowly eased Vincent to the floor, holding his Childe to him as he did so. ' Oh, god, he's sick' . He wanted to help him, but didn't know how. ' He's sick, maybe dying, and it's my fault' . What would he do, if Vincent died? He didn't care what happened to him, but what would happen if his Sire died. Would Azrael, finally release him, so that he could seek Derrick? Or would he lose his only chance to see his husband again. And if that happened, it was all, his fault. So he stood there holding Brandon as he watched Azrael with Vincent. "I'm sorry, please, don't die, I'm, so, sorry."
Vincent was torn, between the peace that Azrael was offering him, and the pain in his Childe's voice. His Childe was afraid, that was all he could think of as he tried to push Azrael away. Pain forgotten, nothing mattered other than ending Wolf's fear.
*No, Childe let your boy come and hold you with me. But you will not pull away. * Azrael's, soothing, touch. *After all, how often does a Sire have a chance to celebrate his Childe's first feeding from another but him? *
*It's not your fault, baby, and Derrick is just going to have to wait for me. Come here, and share this with me. * He wouldn't pull away from Azrael, but Wolf needed him. *I'm not dying, never that honey. All that is happening is that, now, I can share a bond with you without my Sire's help. *
Wolf filled his arms, fangs biting. Sobbing against his throat. *You're okay, really? *
*Yeah, really, baby. * Vincent lifted his head again to seek Azrael's throat. Holding his wrist up to him.
'It is just the shock'. Azrael felt himself beginning to give into the joy as the bond he shared with Vincent, was renewed. And with that relief came the knowledge that none of the newborns in his home would have to depend on their sire's for their continued life.
From his taking of Drax's blood, as he released the ancient one. His Line had been returned to the power and purity of their Forefathers. It gave his such joy to know that it would be many generations of Fledglings before any of his Blood would have to suffer as his Brood, and all the new children that lived, had. And the knowledge of how many of the Rogue's that were in his nephews Covenstead that had taken from him, and would pass on that strength to others in their world. He sobbed against the wrist under his mouth as he reached and forced his way into his Childe. Instinctively knowing that as far into the bond as the boy was, he would feel nothing but the pleasure.
* * *
Virgo lay, pressed against Gabriel, shy around Osiris. She had so many questions to ask the Elder, but she had no way to start.
"You stare at me so. What is it, Childe?" Osiris smiled at her, reaching out to stroke her cheek.
She pulled back against Gabriel. "Nothing, Elder, I didn't mean any offense."
"Virgo." Gabriel fussed, trying to break her hold on him. "Osiris is your great, Grand-Sire. You are one of his many Blood Kin here." Gabriel looked up to his great Grand-Sire. "I'm sorry Osiris, but it would seem that my Childe is still a little shy around men, other than Hunter and I."
"It is okay, Gabriel. Her first Sire was a woman after all. I know well enough how most of our sisters that take a woman as their first Childe are." Then to Virgo, "cease your worries, Childe. Your lifemate still not only loves you, but also is very proud of you. You have chosen to live again. Forest had been worried that you would fade. She is like many of the Sire's that have gone on and were released to the Realm of Shadows. She is watching over you. Knew of the choice you were given, and your choice to accept it and love again. Come, and hear it from here own thoughts. You are no longer forced to depend on your Sire for life. With the Blood you took from my Childe. You are full Kin again." *Come, Childe. Share your first Sire's and lifemates love with me. * He opened up to Virgo, using not only his power, but all that was offered to him from Drax's vast store to pull Forest into his bond with her old Childe.
It wasn't hard, Forest had been Rogue, but she was also orphaned Line to him. That was why, when her Childe had released her soul, at her death, she had come to his part of the Shadow Realm. There were only three distinct Realms. Forever connected, but separate.
*Mother! * Virgo cried out with the first touch of Osiris's blood, and she could feel Forest again. *I'm sorry, Sweety, please, I'm sorry. * She had let her connection with her Sire die when she had taken Gabriel's offered to live. Never knowing that she would ever have to try to explain why, before her meeting with her wife, many years from now.
And like he had done with Gabriel, Osiris lent his power to Forest to allow the Fledgling Sire to reach her Childe. *Rain! * Forest fussed, laughing. *Or Virgo as it is now. What are you sorry for? Do you really think I am that insecure? You are my Childe, my First-Born and wife. No, honey; go on, live. Gabriel will just have to come to terms that he and I are going to share more than a moment of love with each other, now. I won't ever really leave you. Go on and live girl. * Then her voice became soft. *I love you, I love Gabriel, of all those that could have offered you this chance. I'm most glad that it was he. Go on, Virgo, live and give me many Grandchildren. I love you. * And the connection between them faded.
* Forest! * Virgo's mind screamed out into the void as she felt the connection between them fade. Not just ending, but easing away gently.
*Ssshh, Childe, she is waiting for you. One day, you will be with her again. * He pressed her back against Gabriel, going to share in her love.
"I'm going to have to go out and hunt down another pet or two. Jewel is going to be hard pressed to hold up under my needs, much less the two of you." Gabriel kissed first Hunter, and then Virgo as they lay there quiet, in the peace of the love that they had shared.
"You mean, I don't have to wake up at the setting of the sun anymore?" Hunter commented, pressing against him.
Osiris laughed softly. "No Childe, you are not quiet that lucky. You can now feed off any, but you are still just an infant. The hunger will wake you for some time to come."
"And you had best still reserve your feeding to only me when you are like you are when you wake, for now. If not me, then perhaps Virgo, but not any of the mortals I take from Jewel on down to any others I collect. You have no control yet, Childe. I will not run the risk of you hurting any of those in our keep." Gabriel couldn't believe his good fortune. Hunter was going to, one day, be his mate. And now, he knew they would have time. Hunter was no longer dependent on him to live. So, if fate turned on him, one more time, and he was taken from his Childe, if Hunter was strong enough to try to continue living, he would have that chance. Because until they matted their, souls, were still separate.
*My lifemate brand is on your chest, Gabriel. I have yours on mine. I'm sorry, but if you ever left me, I would follow. * Then as Hunter sank his fangs into the chest that he was pressed against. *I know all about what you are hoping, but, I love you, if you die, I would too. You are all I have left to live for. No matter what, comes tomorrow, or how many I love, without you, I don't have a life. *
"If my Sire dies, and I am left alone, I only hope that I will be released to follow them. Forest is waiting for me there." Virgo whispered into Osiris's hair as they both watched the two. "I was strong enough to try to live without her once. But I don't think I could ever survive a second time. I'm not Christian."
"Then you might be waiting for quite some time then, Childe. My Son's mate has assured us that your Sire and his will be around for quite few millennia to come." Osiris whispered against her cheek.
Hunter's body moved down Gabriel's. Loving his husband was the only thought he had on his mind. He loved him, loved him in a way that hurt. And one day, they would join the other soulbonded's in their home. Be together forever.
Gabriel moaned, stroking Hunter hair as he felt his man begin to love him with his mouth. Even after all the time that they had been together, and as far as his Childe had come from what he had been. He still was a little shy when it came to oral love. The depth of his love was pouring from him with such strength, that he had forgotten his shyness, completely. Hunter was submitting totally to him. Giving his whole self to the one man he had ever fully loved. His life, his love, his Sire, and more important, one day, his soul.
Osiris laughed to Virgo softly. "Those two keep this up, their mating will happen much sooner than was first thought. That boy of Gabriel's is quite dangerous when it comes to what he feels for my great Grand-Childe." Osiris watched on, visibly amused at Hunter's blind desire to drive his younger Kin mad.
"You should try being trapped between the two of them sometime." Virgo agreed, giggling. "I was once today, and I didn't know what I wanted to do first, cum, or be nauseous at the utter sweetness of their love for each other." She caught her breath as Osiris moved against her, reminding her that they were, still, very much together.
"I trust, you came." He moved against her slowly, beginning to make love to her again.
*Several times, * she welcomed him to her, returning the love that he was sharing with her.
* * *
Azrael held Crystal between him and Loki as Vincent and Wolf went to finish what was building in them. 'Yes, my Childe is a fine Sire'. Both of his new sons were. But he expected such loyalty from Harris with his two. Vincent wasn't like his other brother's who were Sire's. He was no Mage. Yet he had come much farther, much sooner, than Azrael had believed possible for one as, young, as his Childe was. "Wolf will be good for my boy, I do think."
"Yeah, lucky for them both, they're dead already." Crystal snickered. "Cus, if they weren't, by now they would be. The sweetness between them, would kill them of diabetic sugar shock." She turned into his arms. "What is it about all of the new ones in our house? You and me, I get hell I even can understand Megel and Torin, or Gabriel and Hunter, but the rest? Shadow is going to end up with his Childe as his lifemate. Harris and Doc are going to give Christian someone to hold on to until such time as he ends up with his own lover one day. I won't even go into Vincent and Wolf, I mean, look at them. The only thing that could make them any closer would be if they wed. But that is the one thing that they will never share. Derrick is dead. Vincent's other half of his heart with him. He is just lucky that Wolf seems to have taken what was left."
*Wait daughter. You might know many things. But not all, you did not see Drax and all that has happened since his coming. Give Vincent time, I am sure that with as often as my Sire is sharing his heart and power with all his Blood Kin, there is still much undecided. *
*But, Derrick and Vincent are lifemate's. It was that and only that, that gave Vincent the strength to go on and live again, the knowledge, that his husband was waiting for him. *
*Yes, well, wait Crystal. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? *
Crystal looked up at him, trying to understand what Azrael meant. "Do you mean, you think Derrick is going to release him from his commitment?" She whispered looking at Vincent and Wolf in a whole new light.
*I meant nothing Childe. Only offering another choice that is still undecided. If he does, that will enable my Childe to cleave to his First-Born. If not, then Wolf is still his First-Born. And short of being both, it is as close as he will ever get to what he shared with Derrick. Trust me, my love, I love you, you are my soul, but Loki is my husband and he is my heart. *
*As Topaz would say, I know that Daddy. I've always known how much you've loved him. Hell, I love him near as much. And I don't need Osiris to help me to know how you both feel about me. * She trembled against them as they both turned to her. *You're both alive. I feel it just fine. * And as they both joined with her, she lost all rational thought.
* * *
Much later, as the sun was beginning to rise and the children had long since slipped into slumber. Osiris moved to return to Azrael. "You are going to have to have one of your pets clean up the mess Tristen left with his death." He gathered his Childe, his own First-Born to him. "And you and I are going to have to see to the body of our First Sire. I won't leave you for a few more nights, but he can't be left in the floor where he is."
"Mark is my first pet now. By the time we rise at dusk, the mess will be taken care of. I would take the Elder and put him where I put all those I have released, but to do that, I will have to walk away from you again. So for now, I will see to it that his body is placed in a safe place within my home." Azrael watched as, Mark moved to slowly gather both Melanie and Brandon to see to them for their Sire's
"I know, Azrael. I am no more in a hurry to leave you than you are to see me gone."
Azrael rested against him. "Father, I did not know what I was getting into when I released Drax. But now, so many are forever changed. Of the three original Lines, mine is the only one that the new beginning has started in. And before I am finished seeing to my duty to my Kin, Any and all that come here, will be part of my Line. Perhaps not by birth, but my blood will alter all who feed from me, and the pain that we all face with our Chosen's rebirth will end."
*I am so proud of you my son. Of all those that have come before and after you to the Realm and world I now exist in, you are the finest. Perhaps not the greatest Mage of us, but certainly the finest. Both you and your Childe share the soul of one of the first three. Drax had been willing to wait only until he knew Kiv's soul had found its way back to us. *
*I know. I do believe that the soul of the ancient that I now share with my Childe, was the only thing that enabled me to live through what I had gone through so far this night. * He sighed softly as he pulled away from Osiris. Reaching to lift Drax's body in his arms. He would see to it that his Line father would rest comfortably for now. Soon enough he would see him put with all the rest, but not now.