Thinking about his mother’s tears, Steel choked up, unable to give voice to his deepest fears—that his brother would die. Shaking his head, Steel could only return Jackson’s hug, holding his mate tight to him, burying his nose in Jackson’s hair, wanting?no, needing his mate’s scent to calm him down, to give him hope his brother and Dakota would make it.
When Jackson felt some of the tension ebb from Steel, he drew his head back and, looking his mate squarely in the eye, said, “You listen to me, babe. Slate and Dakota will be all right. I know this…I can feel it…so I don’t care what your mother said because Slate and Dakota will be coming home. You hear me?”
Nodding, Steel felt his mate’s Alpha power surrounding him, infiltrating his heart, fortifying his soul and filling him with certainty that Jackson was right. Letting out the breath he’d been holding, he whispered words of love in his mate’s ear.
~/~/~/~/~
The door to Oracle’s suite was open when Dylon arrived with Cody. Giving a few raps with his knuckles against the door frame first, he called out, “Hello, Oracle? You wanted to see us?”
Maximus stepped out of the sitting room and said, “Go on in, Oracle is waiting for you in there. If you’ll excuse me, I have to make a call.”
Taking Dylon’s hand, Cody led them into the sitting room and found Oracle standing, gazing out the window. She turned around and looked at them. “Oracle,” asked Cody quietly, “what can you tell us about what’s happening to Slate and Dakota?”
“You must useeveryresource you have available to save my son and Dakota,” she implored. “Unfortunately, I can say nothing else.”
Cody let go of Dylon’s hand and walked over to Oracle. Her face was etched in pain at the thought of losing her youngest son. Cody reached out to embrace her, pulling her to him, hugging her, offering his support as one parent to another, acknowledging the burden she carried and her helplessness in this situation. Finally, knowing he had to go, he stepped back and said, “I promise you, I will do everything possible to bring your son and my brother home alive.”
Reaching up and cupping Cody’s cheek, Oracle said, “And I promise you that I will take care of your children as if they are my own. May the gods and the Fates be on your side.”
“Thank you,” Cody said, as he and his mate left Oracle alone with her unsettling thoughts.
When Cody and Dylon entered the great room, they found Carson and Zane, each holding one of their pups, Steel trying to hold on to a wiggling Daniel, who was struggling to get down on the floor, and Jackson, trying valiantly to hold back his tears.
Carson came up to them holding Jessica, “Bro, don’t you worry about your daughter cause she and I have lots of things planned.”
“That goes for me and Jake, too. I designed a computer game for infants and he agreed to be my beta tester,” he laughed, walking over with Cody’s son in his arms.
“So you’re turning my son into a computer geek like you,” Dylon said as he held Jake one more time.
“If the shoe fits…” Zane said, chuckling.
“And what are you planning to do with my daughter?” asked Cody.
“She and I are going to have a tea party. You know it’s never too early to learn how to conduct yourself in a business meeting. Someday, she may have to drink tea in order to make a deal,” Carson said.
“Why don’t you have a coffee party instead?” asked Zane, “Seems like that would be a lot more fun.”
“More people drink tea in the world than coffee,” smirked Carson, “which you would know if you ever did anything other than sticking your head inside a computer.”
“A tea party sounds perfect,” Cody said, giving each brother a hug while whispering thanks for their help.
Cody moved over to Steel, and reached for Daniel. Cuddling him close, he whispered in his ear and received a big smile in return. Then giving his nephew a kiss on his tummy, he handed him back to his father. “Thanks for your help, Steel...take care of my brothers for me, please.”
“I will. Have a safe trip,” Steel said.
Jackson opened the front door; the helicopter had landed. Cody reached over to give Jackson a hug and together they stood, holding each other tightly. Moving apart, they both knew it was time to go. Giving Jackson one last look, Cody walked outside with Dylon.
Chapter 38
It was raining again in Edinburgh and Logan decided to call it an early night. The stress of the last couple of days had taken its toll on him and all he wanted was some uninterrupted cuddle time with his mate without worrying about what Fionn’s father was going to do next. After checking with Groose and making sure the security plan was in place for the night, Logan closed the door of their bedroom and headed to Kieran who was waiting naked in bed for him. Kicking off his shoes, Logan removed the rest of his clothes and crawled into bed.
“Macushla,” Kieran said as he laid his head on Logan’s chest, “Fionn will be okay.”
“I hope so,” Logan answered. “If something happened to him what the hell would I say to Theo and Norman or to Cody who placed him in my care. My brother trusts me to protect him.”
“And you have. Right now he, Theo and Norman are in their suite having a good old fashion gayfest.”
“Gayfest?” asked Logan.
