Chapter 16 Welcome to the family
Dean
I’m finally headed to the library after a long morning.
I’m thinking about my conversation with Elijah last week and accidentally put a little too much force into kicking a stone in my path, like it would kick the frustration out of my system.
The pebble goes flying, but thank fates it doesn’t hurt anyone.
The moment I realized Tiberius was haunting Hazel’s nightmares and hurting her in them, I knew I had to act… and do it fast.
The part that still stings is how she kept it from all of us, even when she was hurting.
It only makes me think what else she might be keeping close to her chest. And the longer I take to bridge the gap between us, the longer Hazel will keep facing Tiberius alone.
That thought makes my stomach twist viciously.
A week before the gathering, I asked Elijah to dig up anything he could find on Tiberius, anything that could help me get rid of him. But even his sources found nothing beyond what I already know about merfolk.
The Eldoris kingdom has done an impressive job of staying hidden in the shadows.
As far as we know, they have no ties to any other realms. But someone came after my mate last year and tried to kill her, which means either it was a coincidence…
or they’ve found a way to move undetected when they come on land.
Elijah assured me the entire army of Hell is at my disposal if Tiberius and his kingdom turn out to be more than the Horsemen can handle, but it does nothing to calm the storm inside me.
I don’t want the finned bastard to catch us off guard while we’re sitting around making sensible plans. I want him buried six feet under before he can make a move, so my mate can relax and breathe without constantly looking over her shoulder.
I stop when the library comes into view, taking a deep breath to force all thoughts of Tiberius out of my head… for now.
When Anxo asked me to meet him here early this morning, he sounded nervous. I don’t want to be distracted when he tells me whatever is troubling him.
Every time I look at the library Harvey built for Grace, it takes my breath away. He literally built her dream. The glass dome glitters under the sun, reflecting shades of gold and amber like a painted sunset. This place looks straight out of a fantasy novel.
This place was supposed to be her sanctuary, a place Grace could escape the world. But my daughter, the kind-hearted Princess, opened the doors to the entire supernatural world so they could experience the magic inside and the love her mate poured into every inch of this place.
Supernaturals from every corner of the universe come here, staying as long as our guards allow. It quickly became so overwhelming that Anxo had to relocate the library to a secluded corner of the realm to protect our residents from the constant influx of visitors.
The new portal we built just outside the library serves as a private entrance, keeping guests out of the Tetrad kingdom while still giving them full access to the library.
Now it’s protected by its own barrier, separate from the kingdom, with at least a dozen warriors stationed around it at all times.
I enter the building expecting the usual buzz of readers, but to my surprise, it’s empty.
There’s no one near the towering shelves packed with books from countless realms with intricate gold detailing on the covers that feels effortlessly luxurious. The ceiling is painted with soft ivory tones, while curved balconies and endless archways lead to different sections of the library.
As I walk in further, I find Anxo standing by a large window, the hellhound dozing in a patch of fading sunlight.
When August ran to Nevaeh with Shadow in his arms, she nearly passed out.
I was expecting her to lose her shit, but her calm composure was somehow more terrifying.
She didn’t let her smile falter, nodding along with August’s excitement, but my head was flooded with a thousand curses for letting her little boy anywhere near that beast.
In the end, she had to give up the fight. Once the pup was in August’s arms, there was no separating them. And when the hellhound growled and snapped at anyone who came close to August, it won her heart.
That’s how the Alarie family gained an overzealous protector overnight.
Just like his name, the hellhound sticks to August like a shadow. He doesn’t care about anyone else as long as his master is safe.
He’s barely the size of a football now, but soon he’ll be bigger than a horse.
Nevaeh was supposed to train the hellhound, but she got fired after Anxo saw how she was only teaching the pup to tear into anyone who came near August.
Now Anxo is training the beast, and honestly, everyone prefers it. Progress has been slow, but at least now, Shadow doesn’t snap at anyone who so much as scolds August.
When Anxo turns to face me, I do a double-take. August is swaddled and strapped to his chest like a baby, fast asleep on his shoulder, lips parted as he snores softly while Anxo pats his back and sways gently.
“What’s happening?”
Anxo shakes his head with a smile. “He saw me teaching Harvey how to swaddle a newborn.”
That explains it.
August was more than a little shy when he first came here, but now he’s full of endless energy and a desperation for affection that rivals Nevaeh. Like both of them are making up for the years they went without love and warmth.
“So why am I here?”
“I, uh… wanted to ask you something.” Anxo hesitates, his fingers tapping against the pocket on his left thigh.
Everything clicks into place. Oh boy…
Nevaeh has exceptionally good hearing. Even after she learned to tune out distant chatter, she never stopped eavesdropping. That’s how she knows things no one tells her. The girl is nosey.
Now it makes sense why Anxo wanted to do this here.
“Dean… Nevaeh and I… we’re… I mean, I’m going to—”
He looks like he’s about to pass out, so I decide to throw him a lifeline.
“You know, when they were kids, Harvey’s mom was sure Nevaeh and Harvey were mates.”
Anxo blinks at me, clearly lost, but nods anyway, running a hand through August’s hair.
“They were joined at the hip. If you saw one, the other was always nearby.”
Angel smiles, reminding me once again why he’s perfect for my little girl. Instead of dwelling on the idea that Nevaeh could’ve been mated to someone else, he’s amused by the image of two kids running wild and getting into trouble.
“Let me guess, you didn’t agree.”
I laugh, “Everyone thought I was acting like a typical overprotective father, denying the inevitable. But those two? They were chaos together. They fed off each other’s darkness and bonded over trying to control it.”
From the moment Harvey met my little troublemaker, I knew they’d be inseparable. He was four years older than her and a lot grumpier, but it didn’t matter. They needed each other. It wasn’t long before I started thinking of him as my son.
Long before he lost his family, Harvey had already found one with us.
We expected Harvey to be hot-headed. He was the future Horseman of War. But Nevaeh was angry for a different reason. Her Divine was too complex. Any time she stopped fighting it, it nearly consumed her.
“They weren’t right for each other. Harvey and Nevaeh needed someone to ground them. Someone who could reach them when they were too far gone.”
Anxo blinks, his eyes filling with unshed tears.
“That’s why Grace is perfect for Harvey… just like you are perfect for Nevaeh. You don’t need my permission, Anxo. You kept her afloat when she thought she’d drown. You’re the reason she’s here… happy. Fates couldn’t have chosen better for her.”
Anxo clears his throat, breathing shakily. “Thanks, Dean.”
I slap his shoulder before pulling him into a hug, careful not to wake August.
I’ve known him for years. I’ve watched him grow, fight, and survive. The love and respect I have for him isn’t just because of Nevaeh, but it certainly has grown after watching him build a life with her, become the mate she deserves.
Shadow marches ahead of us as we exit the library, the pup’s head snapping at every sound. He’s still too alert, too on edge, but he’ll settle with time.
“You’re confident Nevaeh will like your plans?”
Anxo has everything planned—the flowers, the food, even their outfits. Every detail is handled without anyone lifting a finger. Overachiever.
It feels like he’s been planning this for years.
“A hundred percent.”
Cocky, huh? Let’s see how well my future son-in-law really knows his mate.
“Flowers?”
“Daisies”
“Cake?”
He gives me a deadpan look, muttering under his breath about how easy this is.
“Chocolate.”
“The color of her Dress?”
“Gold. She’s going to look like a goddess.” I ignore the look that flashes across his face for both of our sakes.
“Guests?”
He smirks. “Basically everyone. She wants to show off her husband.”
Who would’ve thought my daughter would willingly invite hundreds of people to her wedding?
“Butterflies?”
Anxo stops and glares at me. “Trick question. Nevaeh would kill me if I brought butterflies to our wedding.”
Smart man. He wants to live.