Page 72 of Heart of the High King
Noirin’s hand landed on Aleksander’s back, and she rubbed as he grappled on the verge of having a panic attack. Closing his eyes to block away the truth of his mate, Aleksander forced himself to breathe deeply and push away the emotions that wanted to strangle him.
“Can you sit?” she whispered.
Nodding, he forced himself to take the three steps he needed so he could take a spot on the sofa. This was nothing like the fear that took hold of him when he was out of doors, so Aleksander pushed hard against it, and found himself able to lessen the pervasive anxiety.
“You okay, Aleksander?” Drystan asked.
Releasing another breath and lifting his lashes, Aleksander wanted to reassure him with a smile, but it was impossible. “I’m fine, thanks.”
The Reverent Knight didn’t look like he was buying it, but he didn’t press Aleksander, which he appreciated. “We weren’t sure if you would recognize him or not. I understand the curls are new, but Dermot is actually the former Duke Rafferty Kestledraconis.”
“We’re glad you’re back, Rafferty,” Dra’Kaedan said softly.
“I prefer Rafe, and thank you,” he commented. His voice was raspier than Aleksander remembered, but it still turned him inside out.
It was once the name that Aleksander had called him, and it hurt that he’d so blithely changed to thinking of him as Rafferty. Stuck in his turmoil, Aleksander had needed distance from him, and guilt swept him. Especially since he could not stop gawking at the skinny man petting the wolf across the room. Their gazes were no longer locked, Rafe had stopped glancing in Aleksander’s direction purposefully or because he was orienting himself with all the people staring at him.
“Rafe, we’d like to introduce you to the newest member of our family. He wasn’t here when you visited last,” Renny remarked, ushering the raccoon toward Rafe. “This is Kitchi D’Vaireaehsepan.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Kitchi commented and held out his hand.
Rafe lifted one of his, which Aleksander noticed was even more scarred than his face. “Nice to meet you, too.”
“What happened to you?” Kendrick blurted out.
“I was attacked,” Rafe answered, clearly understating what he’d gone through if the scars were anything to go by.
“No one at Court Kestle told me that,” Kendrick remarked. “Although it’s been a while since I texted with Sullivan. We lost touch months ago.”
“He never mentioned to you that Rafe was missing?” Drystan asked.
“No. I guess he wasn’t missing then,” Kendrick commented.
Drystan and Conley exchanged a look Aleksander couldn’t interpret. “You mind talking with us privately about your relationship with Duke Sullivan and the rest of your family?”
“The D’Vaires are my family, not them, but sure.”
Aleksander wondered why Rafe hadn’t gone to Court Kestle after he was attacked, but it hardly mattered. Rafe was here now, and somehow Aleksander was going to have to deal with it. Not only had he survived what horrors Aleksander could only guess at, but they’d already been told he was dying. The beast inside him roared mightily at the loss of their other half, and Aleksander had no choice but to shift at the first opportunity.
His dragon was strong, and there were times when he had to give in no matter his feelings on the subject. Meanwhile, he couldn’t even find words to speak to Rafe. Rarely did he find himself with absolutely no idea what to say or what action to take, but his normal assertiveness deserted him, and Aleksander went from nearly passing out from a panic attack to feeling so numb it overwhelmed him.
“Rafe, would you like to put your stuff in your room? We were able to get a large doggy bed for Mortis. Hopefully it’s comfortable,” Noirin chatted with him as he maneuvered into his wheelchair. The moment he was out of sight, Aleksander walked out of the house without a word. Without bothering to remove his clothes, he simply shoved off his shoes and embraced his beast. Seconds later, his wings were spread wide and he was heading for the sky—his only means of escape.
