Chapter Twelve #2
When he broke the surface, they didn’t have to say shit to him. Michael began swimming through the water, using powerful strokes to get the hell out of there.
When he reached the shore, Graham reached for him, and he locked Michael’s wrist with his fingers to pull him out.
And pull him out, he did.
Both he and Gryphen dragged the man onto the shore near where the bones were lying.
And he laid there catching his breath.
“It got misty,” Graham said.
Michael laughed.
“Yeah, I’m not going back in there.”
Uh-oh.
“What did you see, Laddie?” Finn asked.
When he told them, they all looked horrified.
“The bones were pulled under the sentiment. They literally were sucked down, and away from me. I was holding onto a collar bone, I think, and then I saw it again.”
Ian was curious.
“What was it?”
“A skeleton hand. It was the same one that grabbed my ankles last time, and wouldn’t let me surface. I’m not going back in there. Tony is going to have to deal with the bones I pulled up. This is NOT my fuck around and find out era.”
Everyone agreed there.
No one was making him go back in.
PERIOD.
“Yeah, nope,” Michael said. “I also heard the laughter, and it was sick and twisted. Whatever is down there deserves to be down there. That’s not going to be Ciarán. What’s down there is evil.”
Gabby pointed at the mist.
“It rolled in the second you went under. I think we call this a done mission, and wrap it up. Tony won’t be able to give us sex without the pelvis, but Blue can give us a face. I have my tablet. I’ll scan later, and we’ll transmit to Tony.”
That worked for Michael.
Getting up, he was assaulted by Graham with one hell of a hug.
“Hey, I’m good,” he said.
The man was not amused by all of this.
“I was worried.”
Yeah, honestly, so was he. Only, he wasn’t going to let what was down there scare him so much that they didn’t get at least some of the task completed.
“It’s all good, Baby. I’m here.”
He loosened his grip, but still held the man’s hand. It was clear he was rattled.
They heard a whistle, and it came from…somewhere. Looking around, that’s when they saw them.
At the top of the hill, that was closer to the castle, there stood two figures.
Hooded figures.
It appeared that Duncan and Ciarán were watching over them.
Michael stared up at them, and it wasn’t lost on him that they were holding hands.
Just like him and Graham.
“What do you want?” he shouted, and his voice rang out over the wind.
They pointed behind them.
“I don’t know what they want,” Gabby admitted. “They are pointing toward the castle, barn, and pasture. What the hell are they trying to tell us?”
Michael was curious.
“Are you trying to tell us something?” he asked. “Do you want the curse lifted so you can have peace?”
The bigger figure nodded, and then, they were both gone.
Well, that said it all.
“I guess we definitely need that psychic,” Gabby said. “Hopefully, she can connect to them or at least tell us who the hell is in the lake. I’d hate to be cursed and forced to haunt my own home.”
Yeah, that would suck.
Michael didn’t let go of Graham’s hand.
“I’m going to go shower so we can all go into the village,” he offered.
Gabby was pulling out her phone to take pictures.
“I need to document these so we can get them to Tony. I’ll call him.”
Graham stopped her.
“I actually need to talk to him about something. I’ll make the call while Michael showers and you take pictures.”
Gryphen lifted a brow.
“It’s Michael now, is it?” he asked, noticing that he’d used his Archangel name instead of his birth name.
Graham nodded.
“I’m marrying both men today, but this is a new chapter in my existence, and I’m going to start writing it with Michael, not D’Artangnan. I’ll always love him, but this is a new adventure, and Michael deserves his moment. D’Artangnan had his.”
The big man grinned.
“Thank you, Baby,” he said, kissing him on the lips softly. “I’ll be back.”
Then, and only then, he let his hand go so he could walk away.
Finn followed.
“I’ll drive the groom to the kilt place. We’ll meet you in the village later.”
That worked for all of them.
Gabby began taking pictures, and Ian helped when he placed a measuring stick beside them so Tony would have the measurements.
The whole time, Gryphen watched them, and the lake as Graham made a call.
Pulling out his phone, he called a very familiar number that he’d called a few times over the last four weeks—every Sunday.
When he answered, it was Tony, and there was amusement in his voice.
“Son, you didn’t call yesterday.”
He laughed.
“Yeah, I was going to, but the shit hit the fan.”
Oh, Tony heard.
“Are you okay? Do you need me to come?” he asked. “I can hop a jet.”
Yeah, Gryphen told him not to let that happen. Elizabeth would kill her anthropologist if he stole a jet and made it out of the country.
Apparently, he was trouble.
“No, I’m good. I wanted to check in and talk to you,” he said.
Tony had been updated about what had gone down. Elizabeth had told him last night, and he’d been worried. Not only about Graham, but about Michael and Elizabeth too.
She’d been sad, and he knew the woman well.
“Okay, so talk to me. We miss you,” he offered, being that surrogate father to him. “I am getting ready to head into work. Sam and Jack are sleeping, so they can’t say hello.”
What Graham never expected to happen was for him to fall in love with the two kids.
And Jaxon.
He’d found a family, and that was what bought him time for Michael to come back.
Fate hadn’t been a bitch, but she’d given him the tools he needed to survive.
“I’ll call later in the week. This is just to tell you that I’m getting married today. D’Artangnan came back,” he offered, since the man knew what had happened.
“Ah, yes, I heard about that. How crazy is it that the universe made Michael Graves appear when you needed him most, and that they were one in the same? And getting married? You guys move fast!”
Yeah, it was still wild, and Graham knew it was divine intervention.
It had to be.
“We decided to pick up where we left off, and since I was going to propose the night we broke up…”
Tony was happy for him.
“Good for you both. I’m happy that you’re good now, Graham. I was about to lose my shit yesterday and hijack a plane.”
He laughed.
“Don’t do that.”
Tony was amused too.
“Maybe in my youth, but I’m getting too old to get yelled at by my sister from another mister. Elizabeth is more prone to getting punchy.”
Graham was quiet.
“What’s going on in your head? Are you regretting something?” he asked, assuming it was because they were moving fast. “You don’t have to get married quickly. It’s not like you’re pregnant.”
Graham told him.
As he stood off from the other people, he shared what had him upset.
“I wish you could be here.”
That surprised Tony, and gave him so much joy. This man was like a son to him, and he’d adopted him into his world like Charlie had done for him years ago.
“I’ll be there. I can’t do it physically, but call me and I’ll watch from the phone. I wouldn’t miss this day for the life of me, and when we get there for Gryphen and Ian’s wedding, we’ll go have a pint and dance on a bar or three.”
It was clear Jaxon was right there.
She protested.
“That is NOT happening, Anthony Magnus,” she said. “Your bar top discos are over. You can keep that sexy ass of yours in a chair.”
Graham laughed.
How could he not?
There was a twinkle of mischievousness in Tony’s eyes, and he knew that look.
It was definitely happening.
Bet.
On.
It.
“Good plan, Mom,” he said, as Jaxon popped onto the screen with a cup of coffee for her and Tony.
She winked at him.
“Congrats on getting married today,” Jaxon offered, smiling at the man.
She could tell he was in a much better place. Her husband had been worried last night.
In fact, it took all she had to keep him from flying out to get to Graham. Tony meant what he’d said about Graham being his now.
Her husband loved him some children, even if they were in their thirties.
“Thank you. I wish you could be here. If you want, I can postpone…”
That was all Tony and Jaxon had to hear.
“NO!” they both said, laughing.
Graham found them both amusing.
“Uh, that was a little crazy,” he joked.
Tony was honest.
“Marry the man. You deserve that, and we’ll be there. We can video call in and see the whole thing. I do need you to do me a favor.”
He lifted a brow.
“What?”
Tony was to the point.
“It’s actually two things. Be happy and never forget that you deserve this.”
Graham smiled.
“Thanks, Dad.”
Tony beamed.
“You’re going to make a good husband,” he admitted. “I’m proud of you, Son.”
Tears filled Graham’s eyes.
No one had ever told him that other than D’Artangnan all those years ago. He’d waited a long time to have someone give him those words.
“We love you.”
And those words, too.
It always astounded him how genuine and easy it was for Tony and Jaxon to give him that. Their younger children were going to grow up in love and feel it their whole lives.
He was glad they would.
“Oh, and a third thing,” Tony admitted.
“What?”
He was to the point.
“Tell Michael to call his mother. She’s heartbroken, and Elizabeth did all of this with nothing but the best intentions.”
Oh, he was aware.
“I’ll tell him. He’s showering because he got you some bones.”
That made Tony smile even more.
“Was he safe?” he asked, after he remembered what happened when he was there.
“Yeah, but he’s not going back in. It got weird, and he nearly died this morning in the water.”
Well, they didn’t want that.
“Have Gabby send the pics, and scan the skull when she can.”
He’d do that.
“Call me when you’re about ready to get hitched. I’ll be there with bells on, Graham. We love you.”
His heart skipped.
“Thanks, Mom and Dad. I knew you would be.”
And for the first time in his life, he did. His chosen parents would always have his back.
“We’ll see you at Christmas, and don’t forget, the following year, we’ll spend it together either here or there.”
How could he forget?
“Kiss Jack and Sam for me. I love you all.”
They blew him kisses, and Graham hung up the phone. His heart was light and airy, and he felt damn good.
Not only was he getting married today, and his past didn’t ruin his life, but his chosen family would see it happen.
Graham was in the light after it had been a long-ass tunnel.
And he knew one thing.
He was going to have an amazing life.