Page 55 of Omission: Part 2 of Elena M. Reyes

The werewolf ruler’s second child is with me, and the little princess might be attached to her Aunt Aya. Since the day she was born, Thalia’s sought me out whenever we’d visit or they’d come here, and that’s every week.

Because no matter what’s happening or where we are, Sunday dinners have become a human tradition we’ve adopted. We take turns hosting, making sure to have enough to feed the beast that is Xadiel, his wolf can out-eat our entire coven. We do the same for Theodore and Gabriella, their blood is harvested from ethically-sourced donors for the most part.

No judgment from me whatsoever.

Vampires cannot change their nature any more than I can. No more than a werewolf needs to hunt for his meat or I crave pixie-berry tarts or a flower petal salad. No more than Isabella craves her coffee, her newest obsession as of the last year.

She has the latest machines, flavored syrups, and frother. An entire section of her kitchen is now dedicated and stocked with anything you could think of to brew the intricate concoctions.

“We have visitors,” Isabella says then and reaches over for her daughter. The little sprite wiggles and then crawls across the tabletop for her Maman, and that’s when I realize she’s pushed plates out of the way. At my raised brow, she merely taps her head and I don’t argue, just like the rest of the table. The men, who’d been discussing a recent rugby match between Xadiel and Theo’s guards a few weeks back, also stop. Silence ensues, just a fraction of a second before three men stand at the end of my dining table.

They appeared out of nowhere.

Tall. Imposing. Powerful.

I won’t deny a shiver of fear passing through me, the man on the right killed Larue without exerting any force, and Leo rushes to my side. He hands me Tanix, his stance protective, and all the men do the same.

“Why are you here, Father?” Theo says and my head snaps in his direction.

What the…? Leo?

My male’s warm hand lifts to the back of my neck and cups it, slowly sliding his thumb up and down my pulse point. Relax, precious one. He’s Thanatos’s son, but the relationship is a bit strained; Theo hasn’t forgiven him completely yet.

Because of what happened to Gabby?

Yes. He blames the God of Death for making him wait.

“I’ve come to see my grandchildren, my son. Gabriella invited me.” Theo’s eyes flick down to his bride and finds her smiling at him, before crooking a finger. A silent request he adheres to, bending at the waist until he’s at the right distance for her to lean over and kiss his cheek before nuzzling his jaw. Gabriella doesn’t stop until he relaxes. “Did we miss dinner?”

“Why are the other two here?” My brother-in-law’s tone isn’t the most welcoming but is resigned to making his mate happy. And the way she looks at him, that hint of mischief in her reddish eyes after a feed, almost makes me laugh.

I hold it in, but then Xadiel snorts and I can’t help the giggle that slips through. The vampire king is a complete softie for his family. To the world, he might be a monster, but for his wife and children, the word no just doesn’t exist.

“They’ve come for other reasons.” Beloved decides at that moment she’s done with her harvest stew made with fresh blood, and with her eyes on Thanatos, the little hybrid lifts her hands in the universal carry me sign. And the God of Death melts. A proud Grand-Père if I ever saw one, it’s adorable to watch her pat his cheeks and babble while he nods as if it were the most amazing thing he’s ever heard.

“Queen Anaya,” A dark, yet velvet voice speaks and my head turns to the man who killed my father. I hold no ill intentions toward him, not at all, but I find this God intimidating. “Do you know who I am, little one?”

I nod. “Ares.”

“Correct.” Leo takes a step closer, but Ares smiles at him. It’s small and looks unnatural on him, but that simple action completely puts me at ease. “I mean no harm, King Moore. Not to her, or any member of the family here present. None of us do.”

A gift appears in his hand and as he walks over to our end of the table, I catch sight of the same gifts appearing in the hands of the two Gods who came with Ares. I don’t know the third one, but he’s now taken a protective stance beside Isabella and hands her a wrapped package. Same with Thanatos to Gabriella, and another for Beloved.

Intricately wrapped, the golden paper shimmers in the room’s lighting. They are small, palm-sized, but heavy at the same time.

I shake mine a bit. “Thank you.”

“Open it, Anaya. I’ll explain after.” I try to hand over Tanix to his father and open the gift, but my son surprises me and jumps toward the God of War. Ares catches him without a problem, holding my son with care, and allows him to pull on his hair without so much as grimacing. “Go on, little one. I must leave soon, but?—”

“Oh my…” That comes from Isa and she’s looking at the third God with confusion. “Lord Hades, how did I not see this? I don’t understand.”

“Because I made it so.” His voice is deep, yet low. An admonishing whisper. “You need to learn that surprises can be fun, little seer. Nothing wrong with them.”

“But what does this mean?” At her question, one by one, the men drop to one knee while maneuvering the children a little higher. With one hand, they keep them secure, and the other goes over their chest. “You three hold favor with the Gods. I pledge my protection and loyalty to you, Isabella.”

“And I to you, Gabriella,” Thanatos says, kissing the side of Beloved’s head. “No harm will ever come to you, or your offspring.”

“What about your son?”

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