Page 58 of Beyond Fate

Raidh held out his hands. Damon hesitated then placed his hand in the fae’s smaller one. So did Kalen. Then Jaytee’s mate closed his eyes and began to chant. Raidh’s hand squeezed Damon’s tighter.

He sucked in deeply when he felt Kalen’s emotions, felt the pain of watching Damon hurt, helpless to do anything to take away his son’s suffering. His torment when he’d had to fight Damon in the forest when his thirst had become too much. How his dad had cried some nights while he lay in bed, praying that Damon would find peace.

But he also felt how strongly his dad loved him. It radiated like a hundred blinding suns. How happy he was that he was going to be a grandfather, though frightened about the birth.

He wasn’t the only one. Damon still didn’t know how he was going to deliver his pup.

Raidh released their hands. “Sometimes words aren’t needed.”

Kalen gazed at Damon. “You’re really at peace with who you are now?” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Pull a stunt like that again and you won’t have to worry about Christian ending you. I’ll take you out back and beat some sense into you, boy.”

Damon glanced at Raidh. “Did you have to let him see that?”

Raidh shrugged. “I can’t control the flow. I can only open the channel.”

He was straight-up lying. The little fairy had wanted Kalen to find out the bone-headed move Damon had made.

Raidh smiled sweetly at him. “Don’t be upset, Rick Blaine.”

“Yes,” Damon said to his dad while still glaring at Raidh. “I’m at peace with what I’ve become. I’m getting a beautiful pup out of it.”

“And you love those wings.” Kalen chuckled before he sobered. “I have to get out there and help. You two stay behind the counter and out of sight. I don’t need your wings ripped,” he said to Raidh then turned to Damon, “or my grandchild to be in danger.”

Damon watched as his dad walked around the counter, and then he got to his knees and peeked at the glass window.

Jesus. There was a war zone in the parking lot. Kalen unlocked the door then furrowed his brows. Damon already knew what the problem was. He pushed to his feet and crossed the dining area. “I’ll lock it as soon as you leave.”

With a single nod, Kalen shifted into his wolf, and then Damon let him out before he closed and locked the door.

Damon stood rooted to the spot, his eyes transfixed on the fierce battle between Casimir and Elouan. For a moment, all else faded away as Casimir gracefully dodged and struck, swords clashing and sparking. It was almost as if he was performing a delicate dance. Each move was calculated and executed with the skill of a seasoned warrior.

Damon couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride and admiration. Casimir was truly a force to be reckoned with.

* * * *

As Kalen trotted out the door, he knew he owed Raidh a debt of gratitude.

When Damon had first come out of that sleep, Kalen had viewed his son as a monster. It was in the way Damon had looked after he’d opened his eyes, the way he’d gone after Casimir for blood, and the aggression that had possessed him.

Kalen had just been in shock.

Thank god Raidh had shielded Damon from finding this out, because if his son knew his father had briefly felt that way, it would have destroyed their relationship.

He wasn’t trying to be deceitful. Kalen believed in honesty, but some things were better left dead and buried. What good could come from Damon knowing the truth? It wasn’t how Kalen felt now.

All three of his sons were his entire world, and Raidh had just spared him from losing Damon forever.

* * * *

Elvine came to a sudden stop, causing Jax to shift and frantically scan their surroundings, searching for any sign of their missing mate. “Where is he? I don’t see him, sprite.”

She gracefully landed on her feet and sprinted toward a large, sturdy tree. Then she dropped to her knees in front of a pile of leaves that seemed to have been purposely gathered.

The sight caused Jax’s heart to drop into his stomach.

Elvine didn’t try to clear away the leaves. Instead she just knelt there with her arms wrapped tightly around herself, trembling uncontrollably.

With fearful steps, Jax approached her. “Is he buried under these leaves, Elvine?”

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