CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX #2
“I thought Isaiah was in here for a minute. What the fuck?” she groaned, rubbing her eyes.
“He was here in the house, but not in the room. We talked,” Alexius said simply.
“We can talk about that later. How’s Declan?”
“He’s waking up tonight. I can tell.”
She jumped out of the bed and ran off to get ready. He could only smile and hope Declan was ready for this new life.
It was three hours later when Declan rose.
“Here,” Alexius said, holding out a robe and a mug of blood. He could tell Declan hadn’t realized what was really going on as he sat up, his eyes red as they locked onto the mug.
“Declan…” Everly’s small voice was hopeful and scared. Declan looked at her sharply, frowned, then back at the robe when Alexius shook it.
“Here. Take these, Declan,” Alexius said, motioning for him to take them.
Declan chose the robe, his eyes going to Everly, who was looking away and wouldn’t come closer until her brother was wearing anything. He took the blood next, chugging it. Alexius was slightly impressed.
Then he went to his sister, and they hugged.
“I’m so sorry!” Everly cried out, holding him. “I failed you, and I—”
“I love you, sis. Don’t do that. Don’t say that.
I was conscious with Henry until the end.
He was the one to blame. Actually… why am I here?
No. Where am I?” Declan pulled away, frowning.
Alexius saw the reality crash into Declan.
It was nice to see Declan’s first need had been to check on his younger sister.
She was the older vampire. He was the older brother. It was quite the interesting situation.
“My Savannah home,” Alexius answered. “Everly and I live here with my staff.”
“Oh. Wait—”
“Lexi wants you to call her once you feel up to it. She isn’t going to let you ghost her, and she doesn’t care that you’re a vampire now,” Everly said quickly.
“But what about Henry?” Declan asked, looking between Alexius and Everly.
Alexius saw Everly look away.
“No longer our problem.”
“Is he dead?” Declan asked, his mouth pressing firm into a line.
“Yes. He just hasn’t been buried yet,” Everly said softly. “I was waiting on you.”
Alexius tilted his head, hearing that. He hadn’t realized she never put the ashes in the garden.
“I need to see,” Declan said. “He… Everly, he said vile things about you and what he wanted you to do or stop doing. I need to know he’s never going to come near you again.”
Alexius wanted to revive Henry just to skin him alive and make it rain with his blood.
“Near me? He made you a vampire!”
“He…” Declan shook his head quickly. “I won’t repeat it. In the end, he said he was going to make me understand, even though our father didn’t. And…”
“This is very nice, but perhaps we can get out of this room. Declan, this will be your room while you’re here. Many of your things are on the way. Until then, we’ll get you whatever you need.”
“Oh, thanks,” Declan said, finally looking at him again. “So, Henry’s body?”
Alexius just followed as Everly grabbed Declan’s hand and dragged him along. He watched as she showed her brother the jar of ashes. Declan stared at it, then nodded slowly.
“Okay. Where do we bury it?”
Everly looked at Alexius, silent.
He knew what she wanted, even though she didn’t need it.
“You can take him. You can tell him,” Alexius confirmed, then followed them to the garden, watching from a respectful distance as the siblings buried their uncle, using his worthless, disturbed life to fuel new life in the garden.
And now, when they stood there, they would know the evil that had hidden in their family would never haunt them again.
Declan sat there for longer than Everly, and he knew the young man was coming to terms with it all, silently grieving the uncle he thought he knew and the life he thought he would have.
She came back to Alexius, who did not resist the urge to pull her close and leaned down to give her the news he didn’t earlier.
“Isaiah wants us to help find out what our enemies’ plans are. They haven’t moved against him or anyone we know of since New York, but we know they are still out there.”
“So long as Declan can stay here as long as he wants without being harassed by Isaiah’s political machinations. And Declan will be able to choose whatever nest he wants if he wants to leave.”
“I thought you would say that. It’s been discussed and agreed upon.”
They were both looking at Declan, who finally stood up, wiping off his hands.
“Can I get a phone to call Lexi?” he asked.
“Absolutely. Yours is charged in your room,” Everly answered, smiling.
“Thanks, sis. Do you think it’s crazy if I propose to her right now?”
Declan didn’t wait for an answer.
“I think he’s going to handle this fine,” Alexius said, glad his worries were for naught. He had been so concerned about the young man’s mental state when he rose.
“Yeah, I hope so,” Everly agreed, leaning into him. “So, you were saying…”
“Isaiah has promised that Declan will not be caught up by him, nor will he make any attempts to sway him. In his eyes, Declan is more yours than a full Orphan since you are closely related and close in general.”
“I can’t wait to get back to real work.” Everly’s smile was bloodthirsty, and Alexius couldn’t tear his eyes away from it.
He would follow her into any battle.
“Then we begin tomorrow.”