Page 44 of Keeper of All

Whatever you are, please let’s be reasonable here, Ekon worked to reason with what was inside him.

“Get your hand off our mate,” Lucas snarled, reaching to rip Ekon’s fingers away, and they curled tighter.

Mao jumped in front of Lucas and snarled right back, “Touch him and you will die.”

Kijina was there by Lucas glaring at Mao. “There will only be one death here today if you so much as lay a finger on him, I will burn you to nothing but ash, know this!”

“Tut, tut, why do alphas feel the need to act like this, hum?” Marvin stepped in the middle of the fray and carefully eased Alexi back to reach Todd and Ekon. “Can’t you see it doesn’t mean any harm. It wants something we took.” Marvin met Ekon’s gaze. “We did take it didn’t we?” Ekon’s head nodded, unconcerned by the scene playing out around him. The fae’s focus was in staying connected to the kraken and the computer. “What was it?”

“The souls. You stole them. I pledged mine to carry the burden of them, and you came and took them.” His nose rose to scent the air, his glowing eyes taking in everyone in the room. “You.” He pointed to Marvin. “You.” He nodded at Ajani. “The scent of others who came, they are here, but they aren’t in the building. They came and took what did not belong to them. Like before, you stole what isn’t yours to take.”

Marvin’s chin wobbled and his eyes glistened. “We did? Oh, I’m so sorry. We didn’t know. We were trying to help the others, stop it happening,” he sobbed. “Can’t you see we mean you no harm.”

“But harm you did. This man now must right the wrong,” the eternal fae stated.

“Christ, is this all to do with the records?” Alexi snapped, his tone glacial.

Mao came closer to Ekon but not touching. “Yes, we believe it is,” he answered stiltedly. “Records that you wanted destroyed. Ben told me that was what your aim was when you hired me. There was someone inside the bunker, a magic being—fae, who took responsibility for the souls that the shifter council and Andromeda killed all in the name of experimentation.”

“You did what, Alexi?” Todd screeched turning on his brother in temper. “Why would you want to destroy them? I sent Ekon there to scan through the files, so we had those atrocities documented. So that we never forget what shifters are capable of. To protect our family, our children. Knowing what’s coming, what’s been, protects us Alexi. I was doing that for all of us. Why didn’t you say something to me?”

“Yeah, Alexi why didn’t you? The being guarding those files, he felt their pain, carried it like it was his own, and now my mate is carrying it.” Mao jabbed a finger toward Ekon. “Look at him, he is a shadow of the man Todd sent to the records. So don’t go acting all high and mighty.”

Lucas was there picking Todd up, effectively forcing Ekon to let go. It was as if he was waking from a dream, and he blinked and staggered back, his hand moving off the computer. His legs crumpled under him, and the world turned black.

“This is an insane idea! You are not taking him to put him in a pool with your kraken. I fucking mean it!” Mao’s snarls penetrated through the haze.

Ekon lifted his arm to press on the side of his throbbing temple. “Why are you shouting?” His voice was barely a whisper.

“It’s for his own good, we need to access the magic inside him to see why it’s draining him. See reason Mao,” Todd cajoled. “I’ve got an idea how everything fits together and how it will help Ekon, but I need to allow my kraken out for this.”

“Please stop shouting,” Ekon tried again, adding as much power to his voice to make it carry as he opened his eyes and was blinded by sunlight. Wasn’t it dark when they arrived? Shit, how long had he been out of it?

Twelve hours.

He found Mao standing at the side of the bed looking like he’d not slept in a week. Dark curls all mashed together like a nest, there were black rings under his eyes and hollowed out cheeks. Fuck, he probably looked no better, because Ekon might have been out of it all night, it sure as hell felt like he’d not slept in weeks with the tiredness back dogging his heels. Seriously?

Yes, Mao answered solemnly.

“Look who’s awake,” Todd murmured softly. He came and sat on the side of the mattress and reached for Ekon’s hand. The second it connected Ekon’s tiredness fled. Todd turned his attention to Mao. “See, he needs this. Needs us. I did some research last night, Ekon, and I believe our krakens hold the key to your magic. I hope you don’t mind I took the liberty of reading the journals you brought with you using a program decipher the language.”

Todd wet his lips a shadow of sadness in his eyes, and Ekon recalled what the fae had written about the kraken magic. “It was your family.” It wasn’t a question, Ekon knew as did what was inside him.

The nod of response was jerky, and Ekon intertwined their fingers and gave a squeeze. “I’m sorry.”

Todd blinked rapidly and squeezed back. “Thank you. I was their last child. I was young when he took them. My memories aren’t the same as my brother's. I can help you. Please let me.”

“I don’t—”

Ekon looked at his mate and gave him a weak smile. “I need to do this… for us.”

Mao’s sigh was long and loud, despite that he nodded and when Todd let go, Mao swept Ekon off the bed. “If we’re doing this, let’s get on with it.”

The energy burst was gone, and he added fake bravado to his voice. “You can always get in the pool with me.” Not that Ekon was a huge fan of swimming, but teasing his mate was fun.

Ekon felt the wince through their bond and chuckled while Todd walked alongside them, directing Mao. Ekon could have insisted on walking.

If we’re doing this then I’m carrying you, so don’t argue.