“That’s enough, brothers. It’s time to get serious. The lives of our Nexus and her family are in danger. We need to find out who did this to the Hawthorne home and if any other Aurathions in this world have been attacked.” Oren frowned at Zane and Nathan, speaking in his instructor’s voice.
“I hate to agree with a Storm, but he’s right.” Grumpy looked at the two troublemakers with disapproval. “Sly, would you like to continue? Then we’ll update you on what happened here.”
Nala, a large grey wolf who had been a constant presence in my life, approached from her resting spot and nestled at my feet. When Nathan reached down to pet her, she growled and displayed her sharp teeth as a warning, then lowered her head to her paws and closed her eyes. It wasn’t personal; she allowed only my immediate family to touch her.
Even though many animals chose to make their home here, they remained wild. Some only allowed Grumpy to pet them, while others adopted all of us. In the end, it was always their choice, and I had been raised to respect that.
Pantar and Mira both chuffed in laughter and continued eating their meal. Copper, our mongoose, chose that moment to run up Mira’s leg and climb to the top of her head, chattering at Nathan and Zane in disapproval. After he finished his tirade, he brushed his tiny paws together like that was that and ran back out of the barn.
We all busted out laughing at his antics. When our laughter died, Dad awkwardly cleared his throat and glanced at Damien.
“I’d like to take it from here if that’s okay with everyone.” Damien continued after he received nods from Mom and my fathers.
“There are some things that Hayes…Sly would like to discuss in private with his Nexus.” Mom smiled gently at Dad in sadness and what looked like guilt, then leaned up to kiss him. “No, Adelaide, wipe that look off your face. Nothing that happened is your fault. I’m the one that left to find Rue, so all of it’s on me.” He bowed his head.
Mom put her hand under his chin and lifted his head to look into his eyes. “You left to save your Faction brother. We have never resented your decision. I’ve just always regretted that we didn’t stay behind with you.”
“Never regret that! I wouldn’t have survived knowing the enemy had you. Neither Rue nor I would have wanted that. You did what you should have done, safeguarding our precious daughter.” He spoke gruffly to her before sending me a look of love and adoration that brought tears to my eyes.
Damien cleared his throat and began speaking again, “We were assigned to the coliseum in Bellona.” He looked at my parents, “You know it as Paradisio.”
Mom gasped, “They renamed the capital city.”
“Yes. After the Brummond took over the coliseum, he renamed the city after his first Faction member." Damien explained.
“I’m sorry we keep interrupting, but are you talking about Charles Brummond?” Grumpy asked.
“Yes.” Dad surprised us by answering.
“He was always such a brutal bastard. I can’t imagine him in charge of anything.” Pop shook his head in disbelief.
“It was nothing you could imagine unless you were there to experience it,” Dad mumbled, then buried his face in Mom’s hair.
Nathan pulled me away from Oren and sat back down, holding me tighter than was comfortable. Neither Oren nor I said anything about his actions.
Damien stared at my dad with sympathy, then continued, “We were made to fight, and Nathan was supposed to have his debut performance the day we escaped.”
Now, it was me holding Nathan tighter than what was comfortable. As soon as we got a moment alone, I’d talk to him about what he’d seen and gone through. He was the kind of guy that could be in a shit situation and come out smelling like a rose. That didn’t mean he wasn’t affected; I knew this even without our connection.
“A guard and close friend told us where they were keeping Fellats captive and helped us break in. We had no idea that Mira was there or even still alive.” Damien blew out a breath.
Mira raised her head at his words.
“I had been waiting for you.”She pointed a tentacle at Dad.“I had felt your presence almost from the beginning and knew you would find me. Those weak bastards would never have captured me if I wasn’t betrayed by one of my kind.”
Those of us who could hear her gasped at this. A Fellat betraying their own kind was stunning. I quickly let everyone in on what Mira had revealed.
“I have a bone to pick with you later, naughty Nexi. You didn’t tell me that I could communicate with your Fellat.” Nathan smirked.
“We can discuss that later.” I winked at him.
“What the fuck?” Grumpy growled.
I stared at him in shock because he rarely used that language.
Mom stood up from Dad’s lap, and he reluctantly let her go. She walked over to Grumpy and took his hand.
“The Fellat that betrayed me had no choice in the matter, I forgave her immediately after it happened. They had taken her cub.”Mira spoke to Grumpy in a soothing voice.
