“I know jokes are how you guys deal with the shit you deal with on a day-to-day basis,” Daniel said, his eyes moving around the room, “but I warned you after we got Amara out of the Demon Realm that it was only going to get worse. I wondered if Golden Blood would only help the Warriors survive silver, but it seems there is more to it than that. Looks like you have some major research to do, Doc.”
“So, you had a feeling this could happen?” Slade asked, still looking a little shell-shocked.
“I had a feeling there could be more, but this? No. I didn’t even come close to thinking vampires could start reproducing.” Daniel’s gaze shifted to Becky, the hard edge in his expression softening. “I’m sorry this happened to you. Having your eggs stolen and implanted inside you without your consent is horrifying. No one should have that choice taken from them. Unfortunately, this is how they’re trying to recreate someone like me, and adding Warrior blood into it makes it a hell of a lot more possible.”
“But Becky isn’t a Warrior,” Adam said, sounding as confused as he looked. “Angelina isn’t a Warrior, so why would they come after her?”
“If she has taken your blood, which I’m sure she has, then she would be a prime candidate because she has a Warrior’s blood running through her veins,” Daniel answered, then sighed. “But even if she hadn’t, that still wouldn’t stop them from using her if her circumstances were similar to Becky’s.” His eyes went briefly to Becky. “But that’s Becky’s story to tell. Not mine.”
Sloan watched Daniel closely and saw the guilt on his face as he talked. He was blaming himself, and that didn’t fly with Sloan. “Daniel, this isn’t on you.” Sloan pulled Becky closer against him. “We’ll find whoever is responsible and bring them to justice. Our justice.”
“If only it were that easy.” Daniel’s sad smile held nothing weak. “There isn’t just one. There are many. You find one, there are hundreds more with the same agenda. Demons outnumber us at least fifty to one. I am the prophecy meant to level the playing field, and they don’t like it. I tried to walk away so I wouldn’t bring any of this down on you or your loved ones, but it doesn’t matter. They will go to any lengths to defeat me, and they will use anyone to see it done.”
Sloan felt Becky shift, her eyes on the floor. Leaning down he saw the serious look on her face. “What is it?” He whispered making her jump then look at him.
She stared at him for a long minute, then glanced at Daniel. “How long have you known about me?” She asked, her voice slightly shaking.
Daniel nodded as if he expected the question. “I have tried to explain to everyone how things work for me, but I’ve failed every time because honestly, I’m still learning and understanding how I know what I know and when I know it. Usually, it’s after it’s happened when the pieces start falling into place for me. And my thoughts are more cluttered up here in the Human Realm. When I took Nix to the Demon Realm to question him everything started to fall into place. I wish I could explain it better, but I can’t. You either have to trust me, or you don’t.”
Becky let go of Sloan’s hand and walked up to Daniel. Reaching out she hugged him tightly. “I trust you,” Shewhispered, but Sloan heard her words. “Thank you for giving me the information I needed because I really didn’t know what happened to me. I can never repay you for that, Daniel.”
Daniel hugged her back. “No payment necessary.” He let her go and looked around the room at everyone. “You all are my family. I know this is some messed-up stuff, but that’s pretty much what we deal with on the daily. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to talk to Slade, Sloan, and Becky.”
Everyone nodded, still looking a little shell-shocked at the information they had just been given. As they filed out, they shook Sloan’s hand and hugged Becky, who had tears in her eyes.
Sloan watched Steve approach, staring at him with a weird look on his face. “Shit,” Sloan cursed, knowing something crazy was about to come out of his mouth. “I thought you were supposed to be leaving with Mira and Drew.”
“Oh, I am,” Steve said, still giving Sloan that strange look. “But Duncan sent the message for everyone to be here with a threat added, and I figured I wanted to live, so we postponed leaving.”
Nodding, Sloan looked away, hoping Steve would continue on his way out the door with the rest of the Warriors, but he remained there, staring at Sloan.
“What, Steve?” Sloan sighed, turning back to him.
“I just want to say I think you’ll make a great father.” Steve reached out his hand. “Wish I could’ve had a dad like you. The kid is lucky.”
Sloan glanced at Steve’s hand, then took it in a firm shake. “Thanks, Steve.”
Steve nodded, then hugged Becky before disappearing out the door.
Once everyone was gone, Becky sat back down, but Sloan remained standing next to her, needing to be close. He didn’t know what else Daniel had to say, and honestly, he still hadn’t processed what he had just learned. Never in a million fucking years would he have thought he would be a father. He didn’t know how he felt about that. Not fully. Not yet.
His eyes moved to Daniel, who was watching him closely.
Could he be wrong?
“I’m not wrong,” Daniel answered his unspoken question. “And no, I’m not reading you. I see it on your face.”
Pam bent down and hugged Becky, then straightened to leave, but Daniel stopped her. “I want you and Dad to stay.”
Duncan, who had been waiting by the door for Pam, walked toward her and wrapped his massive arm around her shoulders.
“We need to find a doctor who can be trusted for the women,” Daniel said, looking at Slade. “And until further notice, I think she should do all the examinations or whatever needs done here. Do you have someone in mind?”
“I do,” Slade replied, then looked at Sloan. “But my office isn’t set up for a gynecologist. There’s an empty room across the hallway. I can get it ready.”
“Do it,” Sloan ordered without hesitation. “Whatever the doctor needs, make it happen.”
“Good.” Daniel glanced at his mom. “Can you talk to all the women, then make sure Lacey or Jinx locks down their medical histories? Pull them off anything searchable. No outside access.”
