Crooking his arm, Kieran said, “May I escort you, milady?”
Laying her hand on Kieran’s forearm, Lizzie replied, “Certainly,” and walked with him out of the room, giggling all the way.
Zane closed the door and sat down at his bank of computer screens. Kieran gave him just what he needed this afternoon—a break from his fruitless searches. He was now at a dead-end—with both of Jackson’s requests. Whoever owned the companies who paid Pablo to kidnap Colton when he was in Mexico were so well shielded that neither his specifically written program geared to ferreting out the smallest bread crumb nor his friends on the dark web could find anything about the owners. As for the enforcers who worked for Silver Point at the time of the massacre—well, maybe; he still had some hope there—though, so far, he’d found very little. Sighing in frustration, Zane leaned back and closed his eyes, entering his special space where his mind could work without any hindrance from real world problems.
Chapter 9
Seeing Theo in the kitchen with Dakota, Kieran told him the good news about Miss L and then crossed the great room to the hallway leading to Cody and Dylon’s suite. He’d asked for this meeting after he found out about the guilt Cody carried about Arald’s treatment of him and his friends. It was a big risk but to do nothing wasn’t an option. Cody saved them, and he would never forget that. So many others wouldn’t have taken the risk, but Cody did and, for that, Kieran was now bound to him and that meant he had to help.
Reaching Cody’s bedroom, Kieran knocked softly. After a brief pause, Dylon opened the door and invited Kieran in. “If you head through that door, Cody is waiting for you in the sitting room.”
Following Dylon’s instructions, Kieran walked into the sitting room where he found Cody standing by the window looking out. “Hi,” he said softly, “how are you?”
Turning around, Cody gave Kieran a sweet smile. “I’m fine. Dylon said you wanted to speak to me.” Turning to his mate, he said, “Babe, would you check on Jake and Jessica for me? I’m worried about them.”
“Sure,” said Dylon. Turning to Kieran he asked, “Is it okay if I go or do you want to talk to me too?”
“No, go, I just want to speak with Cody.”
“Okay,” Dylon said. “Ma moité,call me if you need me.” Then he wrapped his arms around his mate and lowered his lips and gently brushed them against Cody’s before giving him a gentle kiss.
Kieran could see the love flowing between the two of them and knew the Fates picked the perfect parents for Jake and Jessica. After he heard the bedroom door close,he said to Cody, “When Dylon told us you blame yourself for not rescuing us sooner, I had to see you…to assure you we don’t blame you for Arald and our parents’ actions. We’re happy and we want you to be happy too, not dwelling on what happened in the past. This is the time for you to enjoy the twins and watch them grow up, knowing you saved them from a fate far worse than what was happening to us.”
Cody sighed, taking a minute to gather his thoughts. “I do understand all that, Kieran, but it’s not easy. Tell me truthfully, have you forgotten everything that happened to you?”
“No, of course not,” Kieran replied. He could see the heavy guilt surrounding Cody. Knowing what he had to do, he walked over to Cody and wrapped his arms around his waist, laying the flat of his hands on Cody’s back. As they stood there, Kieran felt Cody’s arms grab his shoulders as Cody felt the first inkling of the warmth from Kieran’s hands penetrate his body. Kieran increased the heat and as he did, he sucked all the guilt from Cody’s mind and body. Kieran could feel the exchange taking place and he smiled as his head pressed against Cody’s chest, happy he was able to help. Then as quickly as his hands had heated up they cooled when Cody’s guilt was gone, setting Cody free.
Cody was stunned. When Kieran walked over to hug him, he thought it was a gesture of comfort. And it was, but it was also so much more. He could feel all the guilt being pulled from his body and into Kieran’s. Soothing warmth enveloped him until Cody could no longer feel any of the guilt he’d been burdened these long months. That’s when he understood?the vision he had long ago that had been forgotten?the vision that had revealed to him what Kieran was and why it was important for him to be saved. Cody pulled back and grasped Kieran’supper arms, holding him still as he searched Kieran’s face, looking for any sign that Kieran knew—and found it.
“How did you figure it out?” Kieran whispered.
“The Fates told me in a vision long ago, but I had forgotten it when my visions grew more violent and I was trying to escape the pain. I never made the connection until now.”
“No one can know.”
“No one will but Dylon. He is tied to me heart, mind, body and soul. What I know, he knows. The Fates did it to protect me. But I promise you, he won’t tell anyone.”
Kieran nodded. “Okay.”
“Does Oracle know?” asked Cody.
“Yes, she does, but she cannot say anything, not even to Jackson. Only I have that right.”
“Do you know why the Fates wanted you to come to the Blackwood Pack?”
“No, at least, not yet. And I don’t know why they want me to go to Scotland, but I must.”
“I understand.”
Kieran smiled impishly at Cody. “Frank gave Lizzie permission to go with me, Theo and Norman.”
Cody laughed softly, “Why am I not surprised by that?”
“Are you okay now?”
Cody searched his mind for the guilt that had been his constant companion and found it gone. Looking at his aura and his life thread, he smiled. “I feel wonderful and it’s amazing.” Then looking at Kieran’s aura, Cody saw the darkness Kieran had taken from him slowlydisappearing. “Ki, when I was invisible in the dungeon, I saw you touching every shifter after you gave them their food. Why?”
“I gave them hope…every time I touched them I gave them some light in a bleak existence. My spirit told me someone would save me, but I was worried about my friends and the rest of the prisoners. I made up my mind I wasn’t going until my savior also agreed to take everyone.”
