Page 170 of Rose and Shadows
“I think it’s a you-being-my-son thing.”
I started. “What? I thought you were… that it wasn’t a part of your life.”
“Well, given that for the last quarter of a century that part of my life has only been shared with one particular person, and I haven’t been able to be with said love of mine, there hasn’t been much activity where that’s concerned.”
“Mom. Hold on… I thought you both agreed to live your lives because that was the case? She even married Jason Strickland.”
“For political purposes. There was no physicality. And for me, over the centuries, I had laid with countless sexual partners. However, after becoming drawn to her, I ceased said exploits. It lost its luster—except with her.”
“So twenty-odd years and you’ve… there’s been nothing?”
“Not nothing. Given the turn of events recently, there have been a couple of… interactions.”
Urgh.I held up my hand. “All right. Good. I mean… I get it.”
“Should you wish to discuss this further, please feel free. It doesn’t have to concern your mother. We could focus on the time before her if you need advice on the voracious sexual appetite of a vampire and, for you, the wolf also. I have extensive knowledge on the wolf aspect regarding sex drives due to my relationship with Rhyza.”
“Oh fuck, no. No. We’re… we’re good. Definitely on the wolf aspect. Never tell me about that… with that factored in.” I took a moment to shove that down and push past the uncomfortableness, and tossed Sylas a look as I heard him chuckling.
“You ask and you shall receive,” he commented, far too amused by it.
I told my dad, “Maybe the vampire aspect, though. Down the road a bit.”
“As you wish.”
Sylas stumbled in his step, then slapped his fingers to his temple, his brow furrowing.
“What? What is it?” I asked.
“Cassius just mind-linked me.”
Mind-linking wasn’t something we’d gotten into as a foursome. Nyx and his loves went down that road, but we were fine with making use of our phones. Especially the Group Chat. My dad had mind-linked with me a few times, but beyond that, I liked the way our foursome already did things.
Sylas looked between me and my dad. “Cassius had to leave the battlefield and essentially switch places with Ariana due to Cornelius taking a hit.”
“Velra is there alone?” I barked.
“Not alone, but still.”
“I will see to it,” my dad said, before he was then doing the temple thing, eyes narrowing in concentration. After a few moments, he informed me, “I’ve reached out to your mother. She’s with Jaxon and Mia. They will head there immediately and your mom will function as Velra’s battle shadow.”
“While Jaxon and Mia will definitely bring additional firepower to reduce the danger anyway,” Sylas spoke. “Good. Very good.”
I sucked in a breath and he and I exchanged a look of relief.
I knew Velra could handle herself—hell, better than most beings alive. But hearing that… it just brought the stakes of everything slamming into me again.
I forced myself to push it down as we were just a few feet out from the portal entrance according to the very specific directions that we had.
All of a sudden, Sylas pulled up short.
“Oh fuck, what’s happened now?” I asked.
“It was hidden from a distance…” he uttered, trailing off. Very unlike him. “His attempt to contain it has failed… it’s leaking out and becoming detectable at this range.”
“Morien?” I asked.
Sylas’ eyes narrowed as he gave a grim nod. “He’s already here. I just felt his magic.”
