Page 10 of Thrust into the Light

She pats my cheek and walks into Farlen’s ER room. Well, let’s see how far I can push the trickster dad today.

I head out into the ER lobby and Stephen is standing there without a care in the world, holding a pile of my clothes.

“CONNOR JEREMY FRANKLIN DOUGLAS FITZGERALD THAT IS NOT PUKE!”

Well, if he took the blood that well, he’s going to blow a gasket when he realized the truth. Rubbing the back of my neck, I walk over to him.

“Hey dad, yeah, uh so, that’s not going to be the last shock you have today sadly. Uh, come back with me where it’s less public so we can talk. And please, for the love of all the Gods, don’t tell Mom or my other dads yet.”

He gives me a look that I’ve only ever seen from my other dads. The kind that lets you know you’ve royally messed up and there’ll be hell to pay. We walk back into the ER and I head to the bathroom.

“Let me get changed and I will explain the blood.” More quietly, I add, “and everything else.”

Of course, he doesn’t miss it.

“What else is there, mister? And don’t try to lie to me about it. You’re acting strange. Usually, you only call me if you want to pull a prank on one of your other dads, or have a surprise for your Mom seeing as I’m the only one she can’t get a good enough read on to surprise her.”

“Dad, just give me a few minutes to get changed and cleaned up, and I will explain.”

He gives me my clothes and gives me a pointed look. I take the hint and go into the bathroom to get changed. Using the sink and some paper towels, I clean off as much blood as I can. Sighing to myself, ready to face the music, I head out into the hallway.

“Start talking now, son, or I’m going to call your mother.”

I cringe.

“Okay, okay, I’m a grown adult. I will have you know you can’t threaten me with her forever.”

He doesn’t even crack a smile at that, so I know I’m in deep shit.

“Alright, so when the storm hit, I was on my way back here after taking care of some errands and a tree fell on my car. I’m fine! No need to panic. I had a compound fracture on my leg from the tree pinning my car. They set the bone and healed it. I, uh, also this next part might be easier to just show you.”

I walk him over to Farlen’s door.

“I found my match. Our group is going to be eight. I am the first match she has found. She’s had a rough life, dad, and rough is putting it lightly. I am so proud of you, my other dads, and Mom and I can’t wait for her to meet all of you. But I am afraid that it might scare her. I mean, she has had a really shitty lot in life. I’m going to do everything I can for her, and until she is ready to meet all of you, please keep this from Mom and the others.”

“Oh, come on now, son, it can’t have been that bad of a life. Even at a young age, the girls protected. Maybe you’re misunderstanding her? You don’t really have any track record with girls. You were always more into books or pulling pranks with me than girls. I will behave and try to keep my excitement to a minimum around her for now, though. I understand how hard those feelings of needing to protect and care for her can be.”

Well, I just hope this doesn’t give the old man a heart attack. I open Farlens door.

Stephen barrels past me, searching the room for threats.

“Who the fuck did that to her, Connor?! Why is she covered inscars?”

“Dad, please, I tried to warn you.”

“You said rough life, you should have said fucking tortured! Way to undersell it, son. Fucking Gods, I can see why you want to keep her a secret for now. You know I’m not going to be able to keep this a secret for long. Your Mom will pick up on it eventually, she always does. So you better come up with a plan for when this comes out.”

I nod. I know all of this, but at least it’s a decent thing one of my parents knows.

“I know, Dad, and I know Mom is going to be pissed that I kept this from her. It’s just the only thing I can do to protect her right now. Oh, don’t look at me like that. I know I don’t need to protect her from you guys. She’s so scared of everything. Especially males, and you and my other dads aren’t exactly small men. I need to get her to the academy. A healer there has taken over her care. She’s not supposed to wake up for another ten hours. I will explain everything I know about her so far on the way there.”

He gives me a big hug and nods.

“Alright son, let’s get going.”

I walk over and pick up Farlen bridal style. One day, when our bond is complete and we go through our bond ceremony, I will get to carry her like this again with my six other brothers. With any luck, with a lot more weight to her, though. She feels as if a strong breeze will blow her away. Wrapping her closer to my chest to protect her from the bright lights outside. I look up at Stephen and snag his sunglasses and put them on her. I wish it was smooth, but I struggled to try to do it one-handed.

Stephen laughs at me and leads me to his SUV. I get situated in the back seat, put on my seatbelt, and situate Farlen so she’s laying down with her head in my lap and I stroke her hair.

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