“It’s okay, Mom, I’m fine,” Jordan told her. She pulled back and touched the side of his face. He reached up and wiped away the tears from her cheek. “See, I’m all good.”
Ayumi looked up and her eyes connected with his and confusion registered in her eyes. She looked back at Jordan. “How...how did you get away from the hunters?” she asked the same question Duncan did.
“These guys behind me,” Jordan said pointing behind him without looking away from her.
“Who?” she asked again searching behind Duncan.
“My Lady Ayumi,” one of the men said and stepped around Duncan and stood beside Jordan before going to his knees. “It’s good to be in your presence again, My Lady.”
Ayumi gasped and reached down to touch the man’s head. “It’s good to see you as well, Aoi, and I’m sure your brother will be happy to see you as well.” She looked at Jordan one more time before looking back down to Aoi. “But why are you here?”
“My Lady, it was your father,” Aoi said.
“My father?” she asked, looking back and forth between Jordan and Aoi. “He’s here?”
“Yes, and he’s helping the hunters, Mom,” Jordan told her then turned to Duncan. “He’s also the one poisoning your people.”
“What the fuck?” Ryland blurted out and Duncan couldn’t disagree.
“There’s more,” Jordan said.
“What else could there be?” Duncan asked.
“They are building an army and not just your run of the mill army, crazy bad guys with guns. But an army of super soldiers,” Aoi said standing. “There’s a war coming, and the king is in the center of it.”
“Fuck,” Duncan cursed.
“I agree,” Ayumi said.
“So you’re a what now?” Jordan asked Bronx.
Jordan was shocked beyond words to find out his best friend since childhood was not human in the least. It was a couple hours later, after he had gotten back, and the surprises had not stopped coming. Blayze had patched up his lip and saw to his face that was already healing. It was late in the night, but no one was in bed or had a chance to go home. After telling Duncan and the rest what happened while he was held captive, since they were planning on storming the hunter compound before they had a chance to pack up and leave. Bergstrand was more evil than anyone could have thought. Aoi told them how a couple of years after Ayumi and Laxus ran away, the king wrote a decree banning all nyxians from mating with other sects.
The children that were not born of pure nyxian blood would be executed. Aoi and his friends worked as a part of the secret resistance and helped rescue and ferret as many people as they could. Some were not as lucky to have gotten away. Ayumi and Laxus were making it their job to locate the families and ensure that they were safe. There was a war coming and they would need others to help in the fight. His mother was disappointed to hear that her father’s hate only grew the older he got. His small world was growing. There were things that Jordan didn’t know until Aoi and the rest told the group.
“Yeah, and it's a sanguine, in other words a vampire,” Bronx answered.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Did you know that I was a nyxian? Wait, do you drink blood? Oh my gods, have you drank my blood?” Jordan fired off questions continuously that made Bronx chuckle.
“I tried telling you, hell, I took you to my club with the intention of telling you so many times, but I chickened out. I couldn’t and didn’t want to lose your friendship. And I suspected you were more than just human. I’m sure my parents knew, which was why they tried to force us apart in the beginning. As time goes on and the more you start to learn how things are done, you’ll realize all the sects don’t get along. Hell, I’m sure it’s killing your mate right now to be nice to me,” he finished with a snarky smile. “As for drinking blood, yes, we need it as a life source and would die without it. But we also need to eat regular food. No, I’ve never tasted your blood. I’ve never had the urge to do so either, which is why I knew you weren’t my mate.”
“Did you wish I was?”
Bronx sighed and ran his hands through his hair. “Do you really want the answer to that?”
He wasn’t sure if he did. Maybe he was being selfish asking the question in the first place. “Do you hate me?” Jordan asked his best friend.
Bronx looked at him, then pulled him close and kissed him on the forehead like he’d done a million times. “I could never hate you. You mean more to me than you will ever know.”
“Better not let Duncan hear you say that,” Jordan joked.
Bronx laughed. “You’re right. I’m astonished he’s not staring me down right now. Or prowling around somewhere keeping an eye on us.”
They chuckled at that. Duncan was a bit possessive of Jordan, but he liked that about the man.
“How are you dealing with all of this?”
Jordan pulled out of Bronx’s arms and leaned back on the sofa he was sitting on. “I’m not sure how to answer that question.”
