Alexi hesitated to enter the hall where he knew everyone including Jettermane’s newly mated fathers waited to greet their king and his mate/s. It was at times like this he wished he didn’t have the abilities he had, because in the room before him he could hear both positive and negative thoughts it would just take time to work through who was thinking what. Someone – well a few people in the near vicinity was not happy with the Faeo joining their ranks, while others were ecstatic at the chance to get to know them and hopefully find their mates.
None of the anger and negative thoughts seemed to be aimed at him specifically more at Blayze and his leadership, some felt like he abandoned them when he went into hiding with Jettermane. In truth Alexi could see why they felt this way, but he also understood that most people didn’t realise Blayze meant to return yet found himself trapped. They needed to know yet he knew it wasn’t his place to tell them.
A hand rested against the small of his back and Jettermane nudged him to get him moving “They aren’t going to eat you, Alexi.”
“You don’t know that,” Alexi retorted with a smile. “You can’t remember them so how do you know what they are capable of.”
Soft laughter fell from his mate’s lips. “Okay, you may have a point there. I just don’t see the big guy letting anyone harm either one of us, Do you?”
“You, he has already mated. Me I have nothing; no bond holding us together.”
Shock registered on Blayze’s face as he turned to them. “Is that why you’re all jumpy.” Pulling a knife from the holder strapped to his leg and sliced open his palms and then did the same for Alexi and Jettermane. The moment their blood combined Alexi could feel their life lines intertwining until they were locked together forever, by the time their palms separated their wounds were nothing but a thin red line.
“There now you are bound to us. From this day forward the is no doubting who you belong to.”
“Blayze, he has belonged to us from the moment we first met.” Jettermane said with a grin as he patted their mates arm.
Alexi winced because now that his own fears were quelled somewhat he could feel those of Blayze and Jettermane that much stronger than they had been a few minutes ago. Blayze was worried about how much work lay ahead of them because of them being gone for so long and his people being left behind and Jettermane was terrified he would come off looking stupid because he wouldn’t be able to recognise anyone. And now all Alexi had to worry about is if any of the Clandyke coven was in residence today; would he have his arse handed to him? Because, it would be bad if he finally got claimed only to get killed the very same day.
Getting killed was something he planned on not happening at all.
**~*~**
Jettermane could feel the nausea rising in him as it slowly burned its way up his throat. As brave as he pretended he was he so did not want to enter the room ahead of them. He did not want to look into all those faces that knew him and not recognise a single one of them. What if he made a fool of himself? Or worse, what if he embarrassed Blayze and Alexi? This was actually the thing he feared the most.
His fears eased some when he felt two hands come to rest on his back as if they could both sense the turmoil running through him.
Gees, he hoped not – how embarrassing would that be?
Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes and took the first step and after that it didn’t seem so bad. Holding his head up high he pasted a smile on his face and waltzed into the hall like he owned it… well technically as the Xerx he did own it, or co-own it with Blayze and now Alexi. As his gaze fell on the raised dais where they were headed he saw three chairs, and images fleetingly skittered through his mind of their only having been two before – someone must have informed them of Alexi’s arrival for them to be this prepared.
The gazes of their people bore into them all as they made their way through the crowd. Somewhere of to the right he saw movement in his peripheral vision and stopped dead as he turned and stared at the two men. One was holding the other back and somewhere inside Jettermane screamed home as he physically launched himself through the crowd and into the first man’s arms. Shivers ran through him as he pressed his face into the burly man’s chest and breathed him in.
“Father.” How he knew it he didn’t know but in his heart he knew he was correct and as the second man wrapped his arms around them both it felt so much better. “Gods how I have missed you.” He looked over his father’s shoulder at the other man. “I have missed you both so much.”
A booming laugh filled the space behind them as Blayze and Alexi came to a standstill. “You can’t remember our mating, but you remember Arion and Maskel?”
Turning slightly he poked his tongue out at Blayze. “Not exactly but I know they belong to me as I belong to them… they called to me.”
“It’s okay, Jetter, I am glad you have finally remembered something on your own without being prompted.”
In that moment Jettermane realised Alexi had stepped behind the broad body of their mate as if hiding from the two men he stood with. A smile came to his lips when Blayze yanked him around to the forefront; panic was clearly evident in his eyes.
“Alexi, you remember my father’s, don’t you?” he said impishly as he watched Alexi squirm in Blayze’s arms.
