Chapter Twenty-Three
“IT ALL fits.” Orsini’s eyes shone. “Your son is part of the prophecy. The two men who freed him are both his mates. Your gift allows us to confirm the age of these artifacts. And Theron knew.”
“What could he know?” Jake’s head was spinning again.
They are not going to believe this. He wasn’t sure he did, not completely. It was all a bit… mystic?
And what do you call seeing a vision of two brothers who lived a thousand years ago? Hmm?
“You’re aware Theron had Dellan in captivity, forcing him into their breeding program, correct?” Jake nodded, and Orsini tilted his head to one side. “How did that come about?”
“Dellan’s stepbrother, Anson, did a deal with the Gerans. He was to hand over Dellan, in return for the rights to manufacture the drug that forces shifts.”
“Well, supposing Theron knew about the prophecy, he knew the three shifters depicted needed to get together, but there was no way for him to know Dellan was the tiger in the prophecy. When Rael turned up, it set in motion a chain of events that led Theron to learn about the three mates.”
Jake nodded, excitement surging through him like electricity. “Horvan said whoever he spoke with when Anson was murdered, he was very interested to learn they were mates.”
“Exactly. Imagine what must have been passing through Theron’s mind. What if these were the triad from the prophecy? What if it was finally about to come true? That would signal the end for the Gerans.”
“So he hid all knowledge of the prophecy.” Jake scowled. “God forbid you have shifters not living in a climate of fear.”
Orsini sighed. “And now the hard work begins.”
“What do you mean?” Brick frowned. “This is dynamite. We know the Gerans have been lying to us. We know there was no split between the brothers. We know— ”
“And who do you think people are going to believe? Jake, who they don’t know at all, or their leader they’ve been following for years, who’s been telling them of their great and grand destiny?”
Jake goggled. “How can they do otherwise, when they see—”
“See what?” Orsini cut Jake off. He stared at him for a moment, then sighed once more.
“I keep forgetting. You’ve been out of the world for such a long time.
Well, Jake, I hate to be the one to disillusion you, but you speak as if people are logical beings, capable of recognizing the truth when they see it.
And man today is the most illogical creature imaginable, who never sees what is right in front of him. ”
Seth was peering at the drawing. “Guys? What does this say under here?”
Orsini stared at the sheet. “I didn’t read it. I got as far as the painting and my mind unraveled.” He scanned the page, muttering under his breath. Then he dropped it, his breathing rapid, his eyes huge. “We need to share this. We need every shifter to learn the truth.”
“But what does it say ?” Seth whined.
“It reads like a series of events that will happen.” Orsini met Jake’s gaze. “Oh my. This has to be the prophecy.”
“Read it,” Jake croaked.
Orsini took a deep breath.
When he who can see is freed from his shackles
When his sons find him once more
When the tiger is freed by the lion and the bear
Then shall versipelli find the ones who complete them, be they versipelli or humankind.
Three hearts, beating as one.
Three bodies, joined in love.
Three souls fated to be together.
Then all things shall become possible.
Brick made a choking sound. “Holy fuck.”
Seth’s jaw dropped. “That first line… that has to be you, Dad.”
Jake shook his head. “This… this can’t be.”
“‘ When his sons find him once more ’? You mean like me and Jamie and God knows how many other shifters who walked up to you in those camps and said, ‘Hey, I think you’re my dad’? And there’s no mistaking line three, is there? ”
“Vic, the young man who visited the archive… his mates are both human, aren’t they? And Eve, that remarkable fighter—she too has human mates.” Orsini’s eyes glistened. “The prophecy is finally being fulfilled, and I shall live to see it.”
“You were correct, though. We still have to convince people.” Jake had a feeling some Gerans out there would not believe what was right under their noses.
“Then you need to show them. Talk to them.”
“Wait a minute here. Weren’t you the one a few seconds ago telling me people wouldn’t believe me?”
“That was before we found this!” Orsini pointed to the final lines on the paper. “They must believe this. They have to.”
Jake couldn’t tell Orsini what lay on his heart—not a desire to spread the word but a deep longing to find a home with Nicholas. A chance to share love again. To rest. To shut out the world that had thrown so much at him in the last thirty years.
But isn’t that just being selfish? When I could make a difference?
Could he really turn the tide?
Orsini regarded him with affection. “Think about it, that is all I ask. Besides, your first task is to return to Dellan and his mates.” His eyes sparkled. “You have quite the tale to tell.”
“But don’t do a Godwin on them,” Brick murmured. Jake glanced at him, and he flushed. “You know, don’t drag it out like I saw on a reality TV show once.”
Jake blinked. “What’s a reality TV show?”
Brick grinned. “You’re much happier not knowing. But Orsini is right. We should go home.” He bit his lip.
Jake hugged him. “You need your mate, and I need mine.”
“And I need to drag as many scholars as I can find in here,” Orsini added. “We have a lot of work to do.”
“Here’s a thought,” Brick interjected. “Why not invite some Geran scholars onto your team? You know, to get the ball rolling?”
Orsini’s eyes gleamed. “Excellent idea.”
Jake couldn’t wait to see the faces of Dellan’s found family when they heard this.
As long as I only have to tell the story once .
Except deep down he knew this was a story he would be telling for many years to come, and to a great many people.
“SO WHAT’S the hotel like?” Aric asked. “And why can’t you catch a flight tonight?”
“You’re flying back to Chicago tomorrow, right?” Seth confirmed.
“Yeah. Horvan says there’ll be a plane waiting for us at the airstrip where we landed.” He huffed. “Great. We get to leave here at the crack of dawn to get into a flying tank, while you get to have breakfast in your room, and a commercial flight—”
“That’ll take more than ten hours. We land at two thirty tomorrow afternoon. By that time, you’ll already be home, waiting for us.” He smiled. “Have you missed us as much as we’ve missed you?”
“You know it. And you still haven’t told me what your room is like.”
Seth glanced at his surroundings. “It’s okay.
” Except La Residenza Dell’Angelo was way more than okay.
He’d been blown away from the moment Jake led them into the hotel lobby.
There was marble everywhere, and oh my God , that bed looked comfortable.
They were staying across the river from the archive.
Seth could see it from their window. Night had fallen, and the Castel Sant’Angelo was lit by golden lights, brilliant against the dark sky.
The hotel was a blend of the old and the new.
Their room’s furnishings were modern, but there was the cutest little old-fashioned elevator, rising in a wire cage up the middle of the winding staircase, and it had required two separate trips to get the three of them to their floor: Brick had to make the journey solo.
Speaking of Brick, he seemed to be taking his time in the shower.
“You’re very quiet,” Aric observed.
“Yeah.”
“Would that have something to do with whatever you guys found in those caskets?”
“It would. Only… don’t ask me to talk about it now, okay?” He was wiped out.
And if I’m tired, Dad has to be exhausted.
“But you will tell me?”
Seth managed a smile. “Tomorrow. When we’ve had some sleep and a bit more time to process it all.” He heard the water shut off. “Wanna say good night to our bear?”
Aric snorted. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Seth held out his phone to Brick as he emerged from the steam-filled bathroom in nothing but a towel. “There’s a kitty waiting to talk to you.”
“Hey, baby. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
Anything you want from Rome?” Brick laughed.
“I think I can manage to find some chocolate. Now get some sleep. … Yes, I know what time it is. We’re only an hour ahead of you, remember?
And you’re up early in the morning.” Brick sighed.
“Love you.” He handed the phone back to Seth.
“And I love you too.” Seth blew him a kiss. “See you tomorrow.” He hung up.
Brick sat on the edge of the king-size bed. “I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Seth didn’t have to ask what “it” was. “I know. It’s all so much to take in.” He pulled back the sheets and climbed into bed. “I’m hoping a good night’s sleep will help me get my head around it.”
That was if he could sleep.
He watched Brick towel off the remaining drops of water. “Does it make you view them differently?” He’d thought of little else ever since he’d seen that painting, and read the lines beneath it.
Could it really be talking about Horvan, Dellan, and Rael?
Brick got into bed. “Part of me thinks we’ve gotten it all wrong and it’s talking about three other shifters.”
“And the other part?”
Brick shivered. “Is asking me what the hell is going on.”
JAKE STOOD at the open window, listening to the noise of the traffic below. The hotel had to have triple glazing, because the room had been quiet until that point. He stared at the castle.
I wonder if Orsini feels like sleeping?
He wasn’t sure he could turn off his brain.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand, and he went to investigate. He smiled when he saw Nicholas’s name. “Hey, you.”
“You okay to talk? ”
“Sure, as long as we stick to the weather, what I had for dinner, how noisy Rome is…. Anything more than that and I might blow a fuse in my head.”
There was silence for a moment.
“Nicholas?”
“I already know what the weather’s doing because I checked, I hope whatever you ate was suitably delicious, and yes, I am jealous as hell because you’re in Rome, and I freaking adore pasta. And as for the traffic, I packed you a set of earplugs.” He paused. “So is that all I get?”
“It’s all I can give you right now. To be honest, this is one story I need to tell only once. You’ll understand tomorrow.”
“Wow.”
Jake chuckled. “Yeah, that about covers it. I’m glad you called, though. Have you ever been here?”
“I attended a conference there once, decades ago. I’d like to see it through the eyes of a tourist. I’d liked to stand beside you at the Trevi Fountain, toss in a quarter, and make a wish.”
“And what would you wish for?”
Nicholas sighed. “That might surprise you.”
“Try me.”
“How about ‘Peace on Earth, and good will to all men,’ shifters included?”
Right then Jake really liked the peace part. As for the good will….
He sighed. “I’ve got a lot of work to do when I get home.” Orsini was right. He needed to tell as many shifters as would listen.
“I figured that might be the case. As long as you know I’m here for you, okay?”
“I know. And I wish you were here.”
“You missing my hugs?”
Jake said nothing for a moment. “And the rest.”
“Jake?”
“When I get back… let’s move things to the next level.”
“Are you sure? It was you, less than two weeks ago, saying you wanted to take things slow?”
“Yeah, but a lot’s happened since then.” Jake smiled. “I think I’ve waited long enough. Now go to sleep and dream of me.”
“I’ve been dreaming of you for years. Don’t see any reason to change the habit of a lifetime. Love you. ”
“Love you too. And yeah, I can’t wait for my next Nicholas hug.” He hung up, then placed the phone back on the nightstand. He walked over to the window and gazed at the castle.
Your secrets won’t be secret for much longer.