Responsibility
Rayhan
Ihung up the phone, frowning. We had five kids in the house, plus Delsanra. If anything went down…
I was glad Chris and Ri would be coming soon. It was just a little more security, although our own security was already at the max. Uncle Elijah was here, too. It should be okay, right?
“You know, if you can’t take care of Delsanra, I wouldn’t mind doing it.”
I stopped in my tracks, turning and looking at Dante, who was standing there. His arms were crossed as he smirked smugly in the doorway to the living room.
“Don’t worry. I can handle my kitten,” I replied, giving him a cocky smirk back.
“Hmm, sure.”
“Why are you awake?” I asked, watching as he looked down the hall.
“I want hot chocolate. Shall I make you some?” He asked, surprising me.
“How about I make us both some?” I suggested. He shrugged as I walked past him.
“That’s better.” His cocky reply came.
This kid. You can love him and still get irritated with him.
Entering the kitchen, he got onto the bar stool. I saw the slight struggle it took him to pull himself up. Although he was fairing way better than Delsanra, who was unable to even sit up by herself, he was still struggling but hiding it the best he could. Just the thought squeezed at my chest.
I glanced around, spotting the hot chocolate machine, and took the milk carton from the fridge before I began looking for the hot chocolate sachets.
“Second drawer to your left,” Dante remarked
“You could have spoken earlier.”
“Well, it’s quite fun to see the Alpha of the Black Storm Pack search a kitchen,” came his snarky reply.
“You really are an asshat,” I replied, pouring the milk into the machine.
“I’ll have mine in one of those glass mugs once it’s done,” he stated.
I grabbed two mugs before switching the machine on, leaning against the counter as I waited for it to be ready. He was watching the machine before he turned his red eyes on me.
“Can you get me some chocolate? Why aren’t you asleep?” He asked, glancing at the pantry.
I crossed the kitchen, grabbing a few bars from the huge stash in the pantry and placed them on the counter in front of him. Opening a Caramel Cadbury bar for myself, I looked over at him.
“Mom called, so sleep went out the window.” I shrugged as he picked up a bar of Galaxy chocolate.
“Hmm, what did she say?”
I knew he knew a lot more than he let on, and I wondered if he knew anything more about Mom’s trip. A sudden thought came to me, and I tilted my head.
“She found some answers. They’re on their way back,” I replied, biting a chunk off.
“Oh really? What did she find out?” I smirked.
“You may act like an adult, but you are only eight,” I reminded him.
“Going on nine,” he countered, staring at his chocolate before placing it flat on the counter. He picked at the corner of the wrapper as if not wanting to rip it open.
“You know more than you let on, too. So, want to share exactly what you know about this Djinn and what he wants?” I suggested lightly. He looked up and smirked,
“We both know what he wants.” He shrugged. I frowned slightly; I didn’t know exactly how his ‘gift’ worked.
“Dante, you knew… I know that there must be a reason you don’t say what is inside you. Can I ask what that reason is?” I asked quietly, moving away as the machine beeped, signalling that our hot chocolate was ready.
“I just can’t say it. I know things… but I can’t put them into words…” he muttered quietly, and, for a moment, he looked like the eight-year-old he was. I poured the hot chocolate into two mugs and carried them to the counter, pulling out the stool for myself.
“So, like, it’s in your head, but you can’t speak it?”
“Yes… I also know that if I speak of everything I know or see, it can affect the balance.”
“Who told you that?” I asked. He looked at me as if considering whether he should tell me or not.
“I just know.”
“So you can see the future and stuff, right?” I asked, remembering how he knew Kiara was having twins, among several other things.
“I see outcomes. They constantly change. And I don’t see everything, just bits.” He shrugged, picking up his mug, and for a moment, I wondered how hard that must really be.
“Outcomes… must be rough having to carry all that.” He smirked arrogantly.
“Well, I can obviously handle it.”
“Yeah, you can.” I ruffled his hair, making him frown. “So, this infatuation with my mate. What’s with that?” He gave me a look as if I was dumb.
“Really, Rayhan? If I like someone, it’s because I like them.
It doesn’t have to mean anything. Besides, she’s so pretty, and her eyes are red like mine.
” I frowned. Yeah... we realised long ago that he didn’t see Del in her human form but her demon form.
Could I blame the damn kid? “Tell me, are you scared I’ll grow up and steal your mate? ” He asked smugly.
“No,” I growled. He snickered before sipping his hot chocolate. Fucker indeed.
“Have you ever seen your mate?” I asked curiously. He looked at me, raising an eyebrow as he ate his chocolate.
“I can’t actually see my own future,” he stated so casually as if he was telling me about the weather.
“What?”
“Yes… I’ve seen Kat’s mate… I’ve seen Sienna’s…”
“What?” I narrowed my eyes, but he simply smirked.
“I can’t say more, but I’m just telling you that I can’t see my own. Maybe I don’t have a mate.” He shrugged, then looked me over with a sly smirk. “Maybe I’ll steal yours.”
I knew he was trying to piss me off, and he was almost succeeding, but more than that, the fact that he knew Sienna’s disturbed me. She was my little princess. Fuck, I did not want anyone near her. Dammit.
“Uncle said you advised him to take Kiara with him. Why?” He simply looked at me blankly but didn’t reply. I guess I had asked enough.
“Your hot chocolate is cold,” he smirked before sliding off his stool. “Chris and Raihana are going to be here very soon; they have more news for you.”
With that, he walked out of the room, and I glanced down at the chocolate wrapper he had folded neatly into a square. I was sure he was going to have a mate, but I wondered what kind of mate he would be blessed with. Dante was no ordinary alpha; we all knew that.
I shook my head, glancing at my watch. He wasn’t wrong. Chris and Raihana would be there soon.
A short while later, Raihana had just gone to put Tatum into bed. Serena, Claire, and Clara were keeping an eye on all the kids, apart from Si, who was with Del.
“What’s up, man?” I asked Chris. He had seemed a tad quieter than normal, and I could see from Raihana’s neck that they had obviously had fun before coming, so I wasn’t sure what his problem was.
“Nothing really,” he replied, but I knew him better than that. He and Lola were my best friends, and I knew when either of them was upset or had something on their minds.
“I know you better than that.”
“Yeah? Then you should know that having Raihana constantly risking herself is really fucking me over,” he said quietly, taking me by surprise.
“I get you. Trust me, I know how it feels, knowing that Delsanra is in the state she is because she was trying to help. It kills... but we love Ri-”
“You love Del, too, and she’s still on her deathbed.”
“She’s not dying.” My eyes flashed, my anger flaring up, but he just shook his head.
“No, but she’s fucking close. I love Del, I hate seeing her like that. Now with her unable to do more, it’s all on Ri, isn’t it? Even you called her just in case something happened.”
I frowned, looking down at my hands. I did, but I never ever considered putting her in danger. She was my sister. I love her.
“Raihana is-”
“A Rossi, the first Rossi princess, and I am no less than anyone else risking their life for our loved ones. I will do the same as all you men do for us, but I will be careful. Relax, boys.” Raihana walked in, her heels ticking against the marble before she straddled Chris, locking her arms around his neck and kissing his lips passionately. Those two never really cared about PDA.
I glanced away, letting them have their moment before Raihana sighed and adjusted herself so she was sitting sideways on his lap, facing me.
“Chris is just concerned because I’m pregnant,” she explained airily, placing her hand on her stomach, surprising me.
“Obviously, I’m going to be concerned.” Chris placed his hand over hers, kissing her shoulder as I stood up, unable to keep the smile from my face.
“Wow, so I get to be an uncle to another little angel?” I asked, making Raihana smile as she stood up, and I hugged her tightly.
Despite how hard times were, this was a ray of happiness.
“Wow, no, he totally has a reason to be concerned. You should have told me before I made you guys come all the way over here.” I kissed her forehead as she tossed her hair, looking at Chris, who was smirking slightly now.
“See? My family cares for me, too.”
“Yeah, how can they not? But it still messes me up.”
“Congratulations to you, too,” I added to Chris before smiling down at Raihana. “Del is going to be super excited.”
“She is. I told her before I came downstairs. Do you think I’d tell you before her?”
“Ouch,” I replied, grimacing.
“She’s choosing my baby’s name, too,” she stated before returning to her mate’s lap.
“Nice plan,” Chris smirked, kissing her neck. The news was still fresh, and it took me a moment to let it actually settle in.
“Wow… you need to be careful then,” I said quietly, running my hand through my hair. That was another one off the list. Knowing she was pregnant, there was no way I wanted her to risk herself.
“She does.”
“Uncle knows, and he said the same thing, just my baby here still feels I do too much when I don’t,” Raihana replied, running her finger along Chris’ lips.
“You do, and I don’t like you getting hurt. I need you safe.”
“Always,” Raihana replied. I massaged my jaw thoughtfully.
“I know you have reasons to worry, but we’ve learned from what happened with Del.
I can assure you both Uncle and I will not let anything happen to her.
Just the way we won’t let anything happen to you or anyone else.
” Dad came to my mind, accompanied by a pang of pain. We had already lost far too many.
“So, you have nothing to worry about,” Raihana was saying, kissing him softly.
“I will still worry when it comes to you, ma chérie.” They began kissing, and I shook my head, standing up.
“Alright, I’ll leave you two to it. I’m off to bed.”
They didn’t reply, and I headed upstairs.
Entering the bedroom, my eyes fell on the slender form of Delsanra, who was lying on the bed with her eyes half-open.
When she saw me, a flicker of light returned to them.
I smiled at her, closing the door and removing my shirt before I slipped in beside her.
Lifting her head gently, I kissed her neck.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you more.”
Placing my hand on her tiny waist, I inhaled her scent, letting it calm me. On her other side was Sienna, her mouth hanging open as she slept without a care in the world, with Del’s hand resting on top of her tiny little belly. My beautiful girls.
“Raihana’s pregnant,” Del whispered, smiling up at me, making me press my lips to hers.
“Yeah, I wonder if it’ll be a girl or boy,” I replied, brushing my fingers over her hips.
“Either way, I cannot wait,” she replied softly. I hugged her tightly, pulling her against me, and she smiled when I throbbed against her ass.
“And I can’t wait for you to get better so I can do a lot more to you than just hold you.” I smiled teasingly, kissing her jaw. “We are finally getting answers, and I’m sure Uncle will find something out, too.” I just wanted her to be healthy and herself once again.
She nodded, and we fell silent. I was sure Uncle would, and then with that knowledge combined with what Mom learned, we could work on a plan to find this Crimson King and kill him.
I had organised a regime for a special group, with the help of other trusted alphas, to gather the blood we needed.
We currently had the blood of one hundred and two virgins.
We still had a way to go, but we had sent some men to go to the human areas of the country and were attaining blood from humans as well.
I just hoped we had the six hundred and sixty-six soon because it was high time this Djinn was sent back to hell.