Page 100 of Into The Light

Thorne walked across the helicopter pad wearing the same goofy grin he’d had since childhood. Blue eyes situated beneath a mop of soft brown hair lit up with excitement as he approached. They looked just the way they had when he’d run to tell me he’d kissed Addie when we were just twelve years old. My oldest friend, and a brother in every way but blood.

“The prodigal son returns,” he said, pulling me in for a hug. “Holy shit, you do smell human!”

“It comes with the new human territory, I suppose. I missed you, brother.” I returned his hug with one arm but held Emilia’s hand tight. Her sweaty palms tightened around my hand.

“And this must be Emilia.” Thorne pulled back and turned to look her over. “You must be one helluva woman to steal the hardened heart of this son-of-a-bitch.” His pursed lips pulled into a wide grin. “It’s great to meet you, Emilia.”

Emilia and I let out our held breaths in unison.

“You too,” she said after a deep swallow. “I’ve been really excited to meet you. All of you.” She looked at Nella.

“I’m Annella,” my sister said moving in front of her. “It’s so nice to have you here. I can’t wait to get to know you.” Annella pulled her in for a hug.

“Me, too,” Emilia answered, and I heard the surprise in her voice. I’d warned her my family may not be pleased to meet the woman I’d turned human for, but so far things were going better than I had expected. But one family member remained. And that one posed the greatest challenge.

Lothaire.

My gaze stretched across the space between us and fell onto the intimidating posture and intense stare glaring my way from my brother. Grizella, his wife, stood at his side wearing the same stoic expression.

His height, and also the rugged beard he’d worn since before our change, gave him an intimidating appearance... even to me. But it was the intensity in his amber eyes that sent most people scurrying out of his way. The raven-haired beauty beside him with the emerald eyes did just as good of a job shrinking people beneath her gaze. Side by side they were a force to be reckoned with... and right now I tried not to crumble beneath their condemnatory stares.

Thorne and Annella noticed the standoff and stepped out of the way, both turning with expectant eyes to Lothaire. The space between us felt like a bottomless cavern that would send me tumbling into the vast darkness if I stepped forward. I did it anyway, one long stride after another toward the brother I had come to blows with the last time I saw him.

But instead of striding confidently to him, my legs wobbled, and pain seared up through them and enveloped my whole body. While I crashed toward the ground, I wondered if I’d actually plummeted into the abyss. I heard Emilia’s scream, but something stopped me from slamming into the pavement. When I looked up, I saw Lothaire’s face staring down at me and his worry-lined eyes met mine.

My ears screamed with an unyielding ring, my eyes blinking against the impending darkness.

“I’ve got you, brother,” Lothaire said just before it all faded to black.

***

The din of muffled voices stirred me. Blinking my eyes open, I looked around. My family crest above the roaring fireplace drew my eye first. The same familiar antiques and plaid colors that had been here since we’d bought the place a few hundred years ago still hung on the walls and perched on the rich mahogany furniture. It didn’t take but a moment to acclimate myself. My old bedroom.

“Aiden!” Emilia gasped when she saw me awaken. “I’m right here, baby.”

When I glanced down, I saw her fingers interlocked with mine and I wondered how long she’d been sitting here and how long I had been out. Big blue eyes glistening with tears stared down at me. “How long was I out?”

“Only an hour,” she answered, smoothing my hair from my face. “You scared me, Aiden.”

“You scared me as well.” Lothaire’s deep voice pulled my attention to where he stood on the opposite side of my bed. “Don’t do that again,” he warned with an arched brow.

“I’ll try,” I said between pained breaths as I struggled to sit up. “Lothaire, I’m sorry. The last time I saw you I–”

“Don’t.” He stopped me with a raised hand. “Don’t apologize. You were right. I should have said it years ago when I realized it.”

“So, you’ve still got Mom’s stubborn streak?” I attempted a joke.

He smiled, an odd sight considering disapproving scowls and frowns were a more common sight on his face. I didn’t blame him, though. As chieftain, he had to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders and it didn’t allow a lot of time for shenanigans. His brief smile made me miss the time before everything changed; the time where three brothers would share laughs and get into mischief all along the countryside. We were best friends, all of us. And then our brother and our father died, and in that instant all the fun and games came screeching to a halt. Lothaire had to grow up in an instant.

His smile dissipated but the softness remained in his eyes. “What happened is behind us... not worth another thought.” He furrowed his bushy brows. “What needs our attention now is the mess you’ve gotten yourself into.”

His large hand pressed into my shoulder and I cringed beneath it.

“You’re getting worse,” Lothaire said, removing his hand when he realized it caused me pain. “You’re in the final stage.”

“You dumb arse,” Thorne said, appearing beside Lothaire, and shaking his head.

Annella moved to my other side and slid an arm around Emilia’s waist. “What were you thinking, Aiden?”