For Forever #2
Music was blasting loudly in the back garden of the mansion, but it felt like I was just watching it all happen like an outsider looking in.
Kiara’s issue was echoing in my mind, but I was trying to act like nothing was fucking wrong.
Although, aside from Kiara, I didn’t think anyone would notice anyway.
I had my walls up so she didn’t get fucking worried as I smoked a cigarette.
Kiara had invited the fucking Ardens, although I wanted to rip that fucker to shreds after his comment about my girls, but, for the sake of being the fucking king, I was being hospitable.
I wondered if I could get the fuckers face tipped into the barbeque grill.
Might improve his fucking pretty boy looks…
Rayhan, Delsanra, and Dante were sitting on the balcony on the first floor, where Raihana had created an illusion so the fucker and his family couldn’t see them.
I glanced up at him, and I smirked humourlessly.
He was doing the exact fucking thing I was, acting like shit was okay as he showed Dante something on his phone.
We were both worried for our mates yet trying to act fucking normal…
I saw Rayhan take on the same exterior as when Raf died, remaining strong despite the pain inside.
His mate was so weak she could barely sit up alone.
The effect of the curse was making her health deteriorate fast. Obviously, it was probably fucking with him like crazy.
I just needed to break the fucking curse.
It was probably the longest I’d seen him and Dante get on without Dante pissing him the fuck off.
I had heard their conversation that night, and I had to admit the fuckers had their own kind of bond.
I guess all brothers fight, it’s just who we are.
Didn’t mean they didn’t care for each other.
At least I knew if I was gone, he’d have Rayhan.
I looked around the garden, taking a moment to observe everyone. Kiara had tried to get Enrique to join, but he had refused. I wasn’t going to complain; I didn’t need the visiting Alpha Ken-fucking-doll knowing more shit than he already did
His boys were currently talking to Chris whilst Maria was talking to Catherine and Kenneth.
Thank the fucking Goddess for her, or more so to Raf.
She was raised in a wealthy home and was a proper lady, or whatever you wanted to call it.
It fucking showed in the way she was handling the Ardens.
My gaze wandered over to Kiara, who was next to Darien and Serena near the grill, whilst the children played to the side with Raihana watching them, or more like taking selfies of herself while allowing her magic to watch the children.
She stopped the toddlers from venturing too far off.
Sienna was fucking looking confused as always. I swore she was going to fuck up the kids if she kept using her magic and confusing her like that.
If she stopped looking at herself… she sure didn’t get bored of seeing herself. If there was a way to be mated to yourself, it would be fucking perfect for her. She loved herself far too much.
“Jealous of how amazing I look, Uncle?” She asked, flicking her hair.
“Nah, I was just wondering why the fuck you look like the fucking Tin-Man from The Wizard of Oz,” I smirked coldly. Skyla cackled as Raihana pouted.
“Not funny, you little devil,” she said to Skyla before turning to me. “You know, Uncle, let me just give you a facial and fix up those brows and stuff. I swear you would look so much better.”
“You got your mate for that. I’ll pass.”
I watched Kataleya, who was more distracted, looking into the distance towards the bedroom windows on the first floor.
None of the rooms belonged to Enrique, but she knew he was there…
and she wanted to see him again. The thing was, he refused to be around Kat, so even though he came here, he was still happy to stay confined in his room.
I didn’t trust that boy. He was still his father’s blood, and I was sure that Djinn had the fucking power to locate him. Even his father hadn’t bothered to reach out to my message.
How to kill a djinn… that was an answer I still needed.
I crouched down in front of Kataleya.
“Hey, angel. Want to play on the swings?” She shook her head, glancing toward the grilled food.
“Can we take Enrique food?” She whispered.
I didn’t miss Kenneth’s attention perking at what she said, and I cast him a cold glare.
I knew he had probably done his own fucking research on my pack thoroughly.
I couldn’t stand him, and it was obvious he didn’t like me.
I really needed to get Elijah to share the reason he didn’t like this dipshit.
“I’m sure someone will. Your mama won’t forget,” I replied, pinching her cheek lightly.
She looked at me sadly, a small pout on her face.
I thought she needed therapy. Fuck, if Del wasn’t in the state she was in, she would have been the perfect person for Kataleya to talk to, having studied to go into this very field.
The trauma of the events still haunted Kataleya, and it fucking killed me to see her smile was gone.
She had gone from the happiest child around, one who would constantly smile, to the quietest…
Sparks rippled through me, and I looked up, greeted by the view of the underside of Kiara’s breasts. Well, that was one fucking view I loved. She crouched down next to us, a gorgeous smile on her face as she held her arms out to Kat.
“Come, let’s take some food.”
You know he said he doesn’t want to see her; this shit will only hurt her.
I will explain it to her and make her remain in the hallway. She only wants to see him, she replied, turning and gazing into my eyes with those gorgeous ones of hers.
Always got a plan, huh?
Always.
I reached over, gripping the back of her hair as I kissed her hard. Don’t fucking forget me, Amore Mio… I squashed the thought away. Don’t think it, and it won’t happen…
“Will you take the food upstairs to them?” Kiara asked me. I knew she meant the trio on the balcony, and I nodded.
“I never knew I was a fucking waiter. I don’t serve.” Unless of course, it meant her….
“You are everything and more. A tray or two will do no harm,” Kiara replied with a small amused smile, taking hold of Kataleya’s hand, and they both went over to the grill.
“Why are you two exactly the same?” I turned, seeing Skyla questioning the Arden twins.
“How so?” One of the fuckers replied.
“Well, you both look exactly the same. Were you cloned?”
“No, and we are not exactly alike,” the other one replied with a small smile.
“Well, I have a twin, and we are both very different, you know,” Skyla remarked.
“I can tell.”
This girl had a fucking reason to talk to anyone.
The two Ken dolls in the fucking making exchanged looks.
Skyla hurried off to play with Sienna, who was currently playing in the ball pit, with Raihana crouching down next to them and talking to her.
She wasn’t the type to be so hands-on usually, but with Delsanra in her current state, I knew she was trying her best to do what she could.
I went over to Darien and Serena, picking up the tongs and flipping the meat patties.
How is she today? Darien asked through the link, and I knew he had opened the link to both Serena and me. I didn’t need to ask who he fucking meant. Serena had been there when Kiara forgot the passcode.
She’s forgotten we’re married, I remarked coldly, doing my fucking all not to let my emotions show. I flipped another patty over, remaining emotionless. Serena’s heart was thudding.
She’ll…. will it… I mean, will she be okay? She asked.
I don’t know, but it makes the incentive to find this fucker fast even more vital. We have Dante and Del being run down with this curse, Kiara’s losing her memory, and the fucker’s son is on our pack grounds, who he doesn’t seem to care for. Time’s running the fuck out, and I need to fix this shit.
We need to fix this. We are a pack, a family, and we do this stuff together, Darien added, looking me in the eye.
I gave a small nod. Yeah, we will… Drake checked the name of the woman Luna Catherine mentioned yesterday.
He said her files are coming up classified.
I think if we want answers, someone’s going to have to fly out there… Darien explained.
I frowned. I couldn’t rely on anyone else to do this… but I also couldn’t leave everyone here alone. Fuck, this was messed up…
I’ll figure some shit out. Pack meeting tonight at ten. I let everyone who I needed to be there know through the pack-link. I took off five of the patties, lost in thought.
“Anything?” I asked Raihana as she entered my home office, her face serious.
They were to leave soon, and she had just checked on Kiara’s memory. Although I hadn’t asked in front of Kiara, I was fucking worried to hear if Raihana managed to find something. She had just told Kiara she wanted to check her over, which wasn’t exactly a lie, and so Kiara hadn’t picked up on it.
“No. I can’t seem to see anything blocking her mind or any sort of spell. This is something I feel totally at a loss with. I was thinking if I did some research, maybe I could find something about djinn and their magic. What if I called on my witch ancestors-”
“Del cut that link you had to them, we all know they are no longer bound to you. If you summon any for answers, it’s going to be a fucking risk, and we are in no way in fucking hell risking Endora to come back in any form. I’ve made it clear I am not risking anyone else.”
“Uncle, this is my family, too. I’m a Rossi. I’m capable of so much more than this.” She came over to the desk, and, for a moment, it was like the sixteen-year-old girl I first began to get to know was before me as she glared down at me, displeased.
“You are doing enough, but I need you at your best and fucking safe.” I frowned. “When we brought Enrique here, how far out do you think he was? Any idea? You were clearly fucking exhausted after.”
“I’ve tried to open a portal across the oceans, and I’m unable to. My limit is 400 miles, give or take, if I go by what I have tried to pinpoint. I think we are looking at some location under 300 miles.” So she had been trying to figure this shit out already…
“Yeah? How can you be so sure?”
“I’ve been trying to figure it out, and don’t worry, I’m being careful,” she added with an eye roll.
“Yeah, good,” I replied coldly.
“Honestly, I’m not a child,” she growled, frowning at me.
“Anyway, I think I opened a portal up north… I wanted to use the piece of fabric to see if I could find anything else, but Kat didn’t want to let me look at it again.
” I frowned. She had that shit? But the fucker was here…
“Hey, don’t tell her you know. She asked for it back and said not to tell you or Kia…
” Raihana replied, looking concerned. “I did mention it to Kia, of course.”
I felt my stomach twist. So my own daughter didn’t want to share shit with me? Fucking great. This was the same girl who would talk to me day in and day fucking out.
“I won’t mention it. I don’t get her fucking infatuation with him, but the kid lost a hand for helping her… do you think there’s any way we could fix that shit?” I asked her. I didn’t think I’d be the one to ask that. She looked defeated and shook her head.
“I don’t think there is, but I will look into it. Once I get back, I’ll look in the grimoires or see if I can find anything about cell regeneration.” I nodded.
“Yeah, let me know if you see anything. I’ve still not heard from his father.”
“Well, shall I just check his mind before we go? See if we can learn anything?” I shook my head.
“As much as I fucking want to, Kiara refused to allow me to use the child like that.”
“We can do it without her knowing,” Raihana offered hesitantly. I sighed. I was tempted. I needed answers… and if that boy had some…
“Give me a little time. I’ll try to question him today. If he doesn’t spill, then we’ll work on something.”
We exchanged looks, and she nodded. I was about to say something when I thought I heard something. I leaned forward, honing in on everything around me. What was that…? Beyond the beating of our hearts… there it was… a tiny beat. I looked up at Raihana sharply. She was watching me curiously.
“Yeah, I was right, you need to take it fucking easy, and this time, I mean for fucking real.”
“What are you going on about?” I sat back, taking a cigarette and my lighter out of my pocket. I glanced up at her as I lit it and took a drag.
“You’re carrying a fucking pup.”