Chapter 4
Fionn became silent as Oracle’s words filtered through his mind and he felt uncontrollable anger rising within him. “No matter what happened, my mother and I didn’t deserve to be treated the way he treated us.”
“You are right, Fionn,” Oracle said quietly. “I am in total agreement with you. Your father’s actions toward your mother might be understandable in light of the unwanted pregnancy, but what he did to you…no, you did not deserve that at all.”
“Did he want Alex to have my hoard?”
“No, Alex has no need of a hoard. When Jean-Luc and Alex went to New York, Artur set up a trust fund for Jean-Luc so if anything happened to him, his mate and son would be taken care of. When Jean-Luc died, the trust was transferred to Alex.”
“I’m missing something here,” Hunter said. “How could Artur love Alex so much and Fionn so little? They were both his sons.”
“A combination of several things. As the years passed, Alex became Jean-Luc in Arthur’s mind and he was driven to protect Alex no matter what the cost. At the same time, his mind saw Fionn as the reason he could not be with Alex.
Does it make sense to a sane person? No, of course not, but by the end of his life, Artur was no longer well.
Eideard’s constant threats to expose Alex, the loneliness and overwhelming sadness at the loss of his Fated Mate, the lack of contact with Alex…
all eventually eroded whatever goodness had been within him.
Evil found a foothold in his soul, urging him on to make terrible decisions. ”
“Like when he tried to kill Fionn,” Kieran murmured.
“Yes, by that time, his mind was so twisted, he viewed his ideas and actions as totally justified, and it did not help that Eideard was urging him on.”
“Brian once told Logan and me Artur was sick,” Kieran said.
“It is true…he needed help, but yet, there was no one to give it to him,” said Oracle.
Thinking about his father, Fionn suddenly remembered something his mother told him. “If my father was gay, why did my mother tell me he hated me because I was?”
“During an argument between your parents, in which your mother complained about his treatment of you, Artur used it to justify why he spent so little time with you,” Oracle explained. “It was one of many falsehoods your father told your mother.”
“My mother said there were no gay dragons other than me,” Fionn muttered.
“Pet,” Hunter said, “being gay was a crime when she grew up. No male dragon in his right mind would ever reveal he was gay back then, and since your father never told her about himself, she believed she was telling you the truth.”
“Hunter is correct,” Oracle nodded. “And though the procreation law had been rescinded, your mother was probably not aware of it. Given the homophobic language Eideard used whenever he visited your home, your mother never brought up the subject with your father, believing he felt the same way as his brother. In fact, your father went along with his brother’s rants, just to find some peace that had been so elusive since Jean-Luc died. ”
It was all too much. Leaning his head on Hunter’s shoulder, Fionn was exhausted.
Instead of Oracle making things clearer in his mind, he was more confused than ever.
Suddenly, he felt several bursts of love coming from his mate and Kieran that helped calm him.
Then, remembering something else that was bugging him.
he looked at Oracle. “Why have you told me all this? Why does it matter if I know Alex is my half-brother? Nothing I’ve heard today changes anything about the fact that my father treated me and my mother horribly. ”
Oracle knew Fionn’s reasoning had some merit.
She was silent for a moment, thinking before replying.
“Like you, Alex carries a heavy burden. He is a dual-shifter, as rare as your white dragon.
And while the gods have tasked you with saving the dragons from annihilation, Alex is tasked with saving species of shifters who are on the brink of extinction.
“Your father was wrong to keep Alex hidden away, isolated and alone, without even one parent to give him the love he so desperately wanted and needed. You, on the other hand, had a mother who loved you unconditionally, though no matter how hard she tried, could never change your father’s hatred for you.
“The sad part is that your mother would have welcomed Alex into the family had she only been given the chance. And if that had happened, Artur would not have spent night after night drinking, Eideard would not have learned Alex’s secret and, more importantly, your father’s lapse into mental illness would probably not have occurred.
Neither of you deserved the childhood you ended up with but now, as adults, the Fates want to give you and Alex a chance to be brothers…
something you both wished for when you were young. ”
“Does Alex know what my father did to me?” asked Fionn.
“No. All I told him is he has a half-brother,” Oracle said.
Fionn remained silent, unsure about what to say or do next. Did he want to open that door, taking a risk, just to have a brother? Or was it better to pass on the Fates’ offer. After all, he already had a mate who was everything he ever wanted…and more than he ever knew he needed.
“Maybe it would be helpful if you told us more about Alex,” Hunter said, listening to his mate’s thoughts.
Nodding, Oracle said, “Alex was very young when his omega father was killed…his memories of that time are only flashes of images and voices. He was raised by a nanny until he was old enough for boarding school where he remained alone until he graduated. Never allowed to leave for holidays or summer recess, it amounted to a thirteen-year prison sentence. When he graduated, he thought he would finally be free, but Artur once again stepped in. Fearful his son would slip up and reveal his dual animals, he leased an apartment for him where he was kept under the watchful eyes of servants who restricted his movements. Unable to go anywhere without his father’s approval, Alex spent more years virtually alone, feeling unwanted by anyone. ”
“That’s horrible,” exclaimed Quin.
“It would first appear that way to you or me,” agreed Oracle, “but Alex was resilient. While at boarding school, he spent hours in the library, learning about the world he was not allowed to see, made friends with some compassionate teachers, and later, when he was confined to the apartment, spent hours watching movies. But eventually, he reached a point where the restrictions were intolerable and he began to plan his escape.”
“Was he able to do it?” asked Quin.
“No…it was not necessary because after his father died, he was free, and could do whatever he wanted to.” Turning to Fionn, Oracle said, “You were not the only one who benefited from your father’s death.”
“My father did a number on him, too,” mused Fionn.
“In a manner of speaking, but there was one difference,” Oracle said, softly.
“Artur acted out of love, truly believing he was fulfilling his promise to Jean-Luc to keep their son safe which, in the end, caused Alex a lot of pain. He grew up believing his parents had abandoned him. It almost cost Alex a Fated Mate when he first rejected Sawyer, afraid to chance being tossed aside by another person in his life.”
“Is he happy now?” asked Quin.
“Yes, I believe so,” Oracle said.
Frowning, Fionn had heard enough. As hard as he tried to imagine it, surviving his childhood without his mother would have been impossible.
Snorting softly, he knew he’d barely made it after she died—which brought up another question.
“Why didn’t my father save my mother? He certainly had the means to. ”
“When Eideard learned of your mother’s illness, he saw an opportunity to seize her hoard. I do not know if you remember, but your uncle visited when she first became ill.”
“Faintly. My mother asked me to stay in my bedroom while she spoke to him,” Fionn said.
“After his visit, he persuaded your father it would be best if your mother were to die, freeing Artur to remarry a young, healthy, female dragon who would give him an heir who was not sickly, like Fionn, or a freak like Alex. By this time, Artur’s mind had already begun to lose its grip on reality.
“Eideard took advantage of this. He found a young, female dragon who was willing to mate with Artur and, in return, would receive your mother’s hoard when she died. What Artur did not know about was the secret agreement between his brother and the female dragon.”
“Which was?” asked Hunter.
“She would turn over the majority of the hoard to Eideard,” Oracle said.
“Why would she ever agree to that?” asked Fionn.
“Because Eideard told her Artur was dying, so she would be inheriting his hoard quickly, rather than waiting years for it”
“But wait,” Logan said, “that doesn’t make any sense. Fionn would have had first claim to his father’s estate.”
“True…but the female dragon did not know about Fionn. In the meantime, Eideard was giving his brother an ultimatum: Either Artur named him as sole heir or he would tell the Dragon Council about Alex.”
“Oh what a tangled web we weave…” Kieran murmured.
“…when first we practice to deceive,” Logan said, finishing the quote.
“Any guilt I felt about killing Eideard is certainly gone,” growled Hunter. “That fucking asshole was responsible for the death of my mate’s mother and almost killed my mate, not to mention what he did to Alex.”
“What about my cousin, Niall?” asked Fionn. “Did he know what his father was doing?”
“My guess is yes, pet,” Hunter murmured.
“Unfortunately, that is correct,” Oracle said. “Your uncle promised his son Artur’s businesses.”
“They were truly evil,” Logan murmured.
Fionn agreed, but it didn’t help him figure out what to do about his brother.
If anything, it only made him more wary of letting anyone get close to him again, other than his mate and friends, all of whom had proven they could be trusted.
His brother, on the other hand, was an unknown entity.
He looked at Oracle. “I appreciate knowing what happened but it doesn’t change my feelings about my father.
I can’t just suddenly forgive and forget his treatment of me, especially after his multiple attempts on my life.
And that leads me to wonder how Alex can fit into my life, now.
” Fionn shrugged, before saying. “I honestly don’t know, except it’s not fair to blame him for the actions of my father…
actions Alex had no knowledge of or say in. ”
Hunter knew his mate was overwhelmed by the agonizing choice facing him. “Pet,” he murmured, “no decision has to be made now. You have a lot to process, so give it some time.”
“Hunt’s right,” said Logan. “No one expects you to decide about Alex today.”
“May I make a suggestion?” asked Quin.
“Please,” Fionn said, “I need all the help I can get.”
“Instead of thinking of it as an all-or-nothing decision, approach it by taking tiny steps.”
“That’s a great idea, Q,” Kieran said.
Frowning, Fionn asked, “What do you mean?”
“Well,” Quin said, “maybe first think about how it would be to have a brother and whether you want one. I can tell you from experience, I’m very glad I have five of them, but that’s just me.”
Seizing upon Quin’s line of thought, Kieran said, “Q is right. Once you determine whether you want a brother, then the next step becomes easier.”
“Right, if you don’t, then your decision has been made, pet,” Hunter said, “and if you do, then you can take the next step toward a solution.”
“That is a very good idea, Fionn,” said Oracle, softly.
“But I would add something to it…before making your final judgment regarding Alex, I think both of you would benefit if you met each other. He is your brother and nothing will ever change that…but right now, you don’t know who he is as a person.
And that lack of knowledge is leading to you imaging the worst.” Holding up her hand to stop Fionn from interrupting, she continued.
“Your experience in life has caused you to be wary of people…including this newly discovered sibling. Trust is hard to give when adults in your life, other than your mother, have deceived you.”
“Does he want to meet me?” asked Fionn.
“Yes, but that is up to you. If you choose not to, I will convey your decision to Alex,” Oracle said, softly.
“Thank you,” Fionn murmured, grateful he’d be spared a confrontation with his brother if he decided not to meet him.
~/~/~/~/~
Lying down under the old oak tree, he panted, trying to catch his breath—something he thought a vampire could never lose.
But then, there was a lot Valerian hadn’t taught him about being one.
All he knew was that displeasing his master meant blood was withheld from him, making him weak and dizzy.
And that’s what was happening to him now.
The source of nourishment he desperately thirsted for was gone and none other than Valerian’s blood would do.
It had been too long since life-affirming blood filled him and if he didn’t make it to the place that called to him soon, it would be too late.
His pale, pink eyes focused on the clouds in the deep blue sky above and he smiled at the different shapes he saw.
It reminded him of a game he played when he was young to help him escape during his childhood.
But now he needed to continue his journey if he wanted to live; he searched within himself for what little strength might be left.
Mentally bracing himself against the pain, he sat up, forcing his mind to find the will to stand.
He didn’t know how much further it was, but he could tell he was getting closer.
Groaning, he rose, cursing his loss of ability to translocate which would have whisked him to his destination in just seconds.
But, as he’d discovered, much to his dismay, without Valerian’s blood, it was impossible.
Turning west, he started walking again, each painful step eliciting a small moan from him. By his calculations, it would take a miracle for him to get to where he needed to be in time to prevent his death.