Progeny
By: Delilah deSora

Chapter 9

 

Shido shoved the sire off of him and managed enough coordination to rise and escape into their bedroom. He slammed the door shut behind him and leaned against a moment before tripping his way to the bed.

Shido loathed his current state.

True, this time he was in the care of those who weren’t interested in figuring out how he worked. True he slept on a warm bed and fed from his mate’s body rather than on a cold floor and from bags of cold blood. But all that couldn’t make up for his hatred of the lethargy that dragged at him and the feel of something swimming around in his body.

It made him want to throw up every time their child moved and, though Cain and Cayle delighted in feeling the small life push back at their hands from inside of him, he did not like it.

He ran his hands over his distended stomach, glad that the child seemed content to sleep where he was. He did have to admit, though, that a part of him looked forward to the time when the child would live free of his body. He’d loved the feel of a child in his arms, dozing with him before the fire. He loved the way Cain hovered nearby, ready to take Cayle from him when his arms tired or bring him a toy when the baby started to turn colicky.

Shido stretched, his toes pointing as he worked muscles that ached from disuse. The rooms were silent and he wondered where his son had wandered off to. He recalled Este herding the children out but surely they had returned by now. Because of his fatigue he often lost time but, even so far beneath the earth, he could feel the sun getting ready to rise. The older father was usually very careful to herd his charges back inside long before the sun was set to rise.

“Shido?”

He turned his head towards the voice, watching as his mate slipped into the room and came to him, as he did every night. He stood at the bedside and Shido studied him with narrowed eyes.

He watched the desperate hope fade from golden eyes as broad shoulders dipped slightly but when his mate turned to leave him he shifted, pushing himself up onto his forearms.

“Lie with me.”

Cain hesitated, surprised by the words. He turned, glancing back at his mate, admiring the way the firelight painted a golden stripe down the arched back and over the bared curve of his mate’s legs.

“I wish very much to, but I cannot, not in the way you mean.”

Shido scowled. “Why? Do you find you have no need for me now that your job is done? I know it cannot be that you find me repulsive, why would you continue asking to return to our bed?”

Cain blinked in surprise, studying the serious face before him. “You know it is not that. You should know it is neither of those things!”

“Then lie with me!” Shido demanded.

The sire laughed, his deep voice making Shido shudder despite his annoyance with his mate. Cain came forward, placing a knee upon the bed and crawling towards him like some stalking lion. Shido bit back a mewl as Cain crawled over him, dipping his head to capture his lips in a kiss. A tongue teased his fangs and he found he could no longer support himself so he rolled onto his back, burying his hands in the long golden hair.

His mate pulled back as far as Shido would allow, his breath cool against his lips.

“I cannot. You must rest. Besides,” Cains eyes took on a mirthful glint, “I do not wish to have our child get curious about the intruder in his realm and decide it would be fun to play ‘bite the moving stick’.”

Shido blinked a moment before throwing his head back and laughing at the image that danced through his head. Cain let him laugh away his tension and when he was finished his mate brushed away the blood tears that leaked from the corner of his eyes.

Cain dipped his head, licking at the hollow of his mate’s throat. “Believe me, I would ravish you if things were different and I fully plan to once you’re well enough again. But for now we must content ourselves with other things.”

Cain’s tongue traced down his mate’s chest and up over the rise of his stomach. Shido closed his eyes, shuddering as fingers brushed over the stretched skin, working little circles into it that felt heavenly. Cain grinned at the soft moans and focused entirely upon his mate’s swollen navel, brushing fangs and lips over the taunt skin. Before long he felt movement beneath his lips, the small child curious as to what was happening on the outside of his little prison.

He felt his mate shudder and relented, knowing that, for many fathers, feeling the child moving about was not a pleasant sensation. Pressing a final kiss over where their son scratched curiously he moved downwards, taking the limp organ in his mouth. Shido arched as much as he could and cried out softly at the sudden flood of sensation. Cain felt the organ stir but his mate’s body could not spare the blood to fill it and so it remained small and soft but he did not care.

Shido turned his head, burying his face against the pillow as his mate took him in completely, a cool tongue laving the sensitive globes beneath his desire. Cain’s hands brushed up the insides of his thighs, pushing his legs back and apart as far as he could so that he could move lower, his tongue slithering inside of him in an evil parody of sex. Shido cried out aloud as his mate played his body. His hands skimmed over his own chest, sharp nails flicking at his nipples as he panted and peered down. All he could see was the top of his mate’s golden head over his stomach and it was enough.

Cain felt the final shudder and rose, taking the tip of his mate’s sex into his mouth as he came, though no blood seed came forth. Shido’s body trembled and he thrashed, his soft voice harsh in the silence of the room. Finally he collapsed and lay still, his body trembling with fatigue.

Grinning Cain rose above him, kneeling over his mate’s chest as he peeled open his pants and drew his arousal out. Shido stared up at him through sated eyes, licking his dry lips and Cain groaned, stroking himself more firmly. Hands stroked his thighs, and he flexed them, driving himself closer to his mate’s face. Green eyes stared up at him steadily and, with a guttural growl, he pushed himself between his mate’s lips and came, bracing himself against the head boards as his pent up passion was released.

Shido swallowed the first onrush of seed but wasn’t quick enough for the second. He turned his face, his mate’s cock slipping from his lips and spreading a cold trail of seed across his cheek. He felt the bed shift as Cain’s strength waned and he heard his mate’s deep laugh. He opened one eye, staring at his mate through violet lashes as Cain licked his face clean and laughed into the kiss as his mate settled down beside him.

Basyn locked the door behind him and hurried through the room to the young father’s side, taking his smaller form in his arms and burying his face in his hair. He heard Jorian’s soft protest but ignored it, allowing the sensations to wash over him and pretend that it wasn’t just a stolen moment of passion. He felt the father struggle and shook his head.

“Please, don’t take this from me.” He whispered, his heart lifting when Jorian stilled.

Gentle hands came to rest on his arm and, after a moment, the pretty face turned towards his and he captured the pale lips with his own.

Jorian gasped into the kiss, leaning back into the sire’s hold as Basyn’s tongue slipped between his lips and darted into his mouth like a bird searching for a flower’s honey. He loved it, loved the way it made his body tighten and made his muscles tremble. His hands clenched on the sire’s strong arms and he closed his eyes, giving himself over to the sensation.

Only Basyn could make his body sing so.

The sire pulled back slightly and whispered raggedly. “Kiss me back, damnit!”

Flushing the young father obeyed, slipping his tongue between the sire’s lips and hesitantly teasing the strong tongue with his own. He felt sharp fangs press against the sides of his tongue but he trusted Basyn, and he found that trust well placed as the sire submitted to his kiss.

Finally they pulled apart, Basyn resting his forehead against the father’s.

“Please, come with me.” He whispered, as he always did.

And, as he always answered, Jorian shook his head. “My sire would not agree to it.”

Basyn snarled, rising so that he could pace out his anger. “Forget your sire! Come with me, Jorian! We will leave this place.”

“And go where?” Jorian insisted, staring up at the one he longed to choose as his mate. “We belong here, all our people do.”

“Not when our own people seek to make us miserable! You do not wish to mate with Miron any more than I do! He is a weak creature who uses tricks to make himself appear strong! He does not love you!”

Jorian turned away from the sire to hide his tears. “Go away, Basyn. Go back to your post.”

He heard the angry footsteps and the slamming door pierced him as nothing else could, leaving the young father to sit in the growing silence.

Just beyond Renzo turned back, peering at the door partly in worry, partly in annoyance. There was always a nagging worry whenever he didn’t have his mate in sight. It was something he’d come to accept, even been able to ignore for the most part. There was little at the city that spelled danger for any velassi let alone an older adult. He sighed, returning the way he’d come, certain to find his mate just beyond their family’s exit to the world above.

Passing through the outer rooms of the wing he was surprised to find his brother’s mate sitting with his son. He hesitated catching his brother’s attention.

“What is it?” Valerik inquired, rising to join him.

“My mate has not yet returned, I thought to look for him but expected to find him in the company of your mate.” Renzo answered, turning away from his son’s piercing gaze.

Valerik frowned, glancing back at Halian. “Was he with you?” He asked.

Halian shook his head, small braids brushing against his shoulders. “I have been with Wellyn all day.”

Adrian rose and Renzo pushed past his brother to catch up with him. Adrian glanced at him out of the corner of his eye but when his sire said no words to stop him he squared his shoulders. “Cain said Dorian and Cayle wanted to go above to play.”

Renzo glanced upwards, his lips curling downwards in a deep frown. He followed his son upwards, only catching his arm at the last minute so that he could push past him. The home they entered was empty though it did appear that someone had made an effort to make it livable. Within the month some of their people would start to move to the surface and the city above would come to life.

Renzo pushed open the door, his gaze immediately drawn to the lightening horizon.

“We must hurry.” Valerik murmured.

Renzo nodded. “He would not have gone far.” He stepped out into the world, his feet sinking in the snow. His voice echoed over the landscape as he called his mate’s name, following soon after by his son calling for his child.

The skyline was turning orange when a sound caught Renzo’s attention. He followed it, stalking the small sounds until he came across the others. There was no thought as he launched himself at the creatures, tearing into the collection of breed with a fury he had not thought he possessed. There were vampires among them but his mate’s distress chained him to the spot, forcing him to abandon his chase before he could even begin it.

With hateful eyes he watched the pair of men flee, the snow covering their retreat almost the moment they stepped away from the small clearing. Gathering his mate’s torn form to him he turned back towards the city, his chest swelling with air.

“Valerik!” He shouted, his voice harsh in the wintry dawn.

 

Adrian clung to his mate, staring at the broad chest. Sleep eluded him, even though the sun brightening the ground above weighed heavily upon him. His hands were clenched in his mate’s shirt and beneath them he could feel the occasional tremor, telling him his mate was unable to sleep either. There were no words between them, there did not need to be. Both worried, wondering if their son had finally seen the sun that had fascinated him so, seen it and then realized the death it brought to their kind.

He shuddered, burying his face against his mate’s chest. A strong hand clasped the back of his neck, squeezing gently before releasing him so that it could stroke through his hair. He felt Alexandru’s cheek press against the crown of his head and he finally lost control, sobbing wretchedly.

There were no words to calm him for, in truth, there were none that could be spoken that would soothe the pain in their hearts.

 

Renzo stood silently in the corner, his arms folded across his chest as he watched his half brother and his nephew work on his wounded mate. Halian sat with Este’s head cradled in his lap, stroking his hair as the two velassi licked at his wounds and tried to heal them. Renzo recognized the most serious as defensive wounds, ones gained as he fought to protect the children. The other wounds, however, told another story. They were light and made for pain rather than to disable him.

He’d fought to protect the children but he’d been overcome and afterwards the attackers had made sport of him.

Renzo growled under his breath and looked away, unable to stand the image of his gentle mate wounded so.

Finally Valerik rose, brushing his hands against his robes absently. “He’ll survive the day and will heal up well enough.”

Renzo nodded stiffly to his brother who urged his son up and took his mate’s hand, leading them from the room. At the door Valerik paused, meeting his brother’s gaze. “I’ll go to the council tomorrow to report this.”

“I will accompany you.”

Valerik shook his head. “You should stay with your mate.”

Renzo turned cold eyes on his brother. “I will do as I said.”

The sires stared at each other for a long moment before Valerik threw his head back and laughed. “So stubborn, like sire.”

That alone brought a very small smile to Renzo’s face. “Aye.”

Valerik waved his hand at his brother, leaving him alone with his wounded mate. Stripping off his shirt Renzo climbed into the bed, drawing Este against him and holding him tightly as he awaited the end of the day.

 

The head elder scowled down at the father standing before him. “Your mate should be in bed.” He scolded, turning his attention to the golden haired sire.

The sire had the balls to actually snarl at him in answer, making him raise an eyebrow for it had been a long time since someone had done that to him.

Valerik, generally not a troublesome sire, came forward catching his attention. “My lords,” the sire stated, “that is not something that we need to discuss. Would you expect any father to stay abed while his son was in danger?”

Mardus very much wanted to argue that but two seats down from him Takhi was scowling at him so he kept his mouth shut. It wasn’t important and he had plans that involved the stubborn father and he didn’t want them dismissed out of hand just because the older father was feeling annoyed with him.

So he turned back to the matter hand.

“This is disturbing and we have already dispatched others to go find these vampires. I too am eager to discover how they found their way to this place.” He frowned, mentally considering what he’d have done to the fool to lead the lesser races to their people’s doorstep.

“Your mate has not regained his senses yet?”

Renzo frowned at the choice of words but shook his head anyway. “No, he still sleeps to heal his wounds.”

Mardus nodded, rising. “You will come to me when he wakes. Until then there is little we can do but search and hope we find them. I suggest you go out and call your children. Perhaps they will find their own way home.”

He turned his back on the angry sires, sighing heavily. He truly wished to do more but in truth there was little he could do and he couldn’t risk a panic.

Renzo watched the elders leave, his hands fisting at his sides. Valerik touched his arm and he turned, herding his own family from the chamber and out into the moonlight world where they could turn their energies to the search.

 

“Jorian?”

The young father turned, brushing at the tears in his eyes as Basyn peered around the door.

“Yes, what is it?” He asked.

Basyn scowled, seeing the tears he tried to hide. He closed the door firmly behind him, going to the father’s side and taking his hand. On the pale skin he saw bites and he growled softly, turning to glare at the child huddled in the corner and staring at him with hateful golden eyes. He lifted Jorian’s hand to his lips and licked the bites until the blood slowed and finally stopped.

The father spared him a weary smile.

“Where’s the other one?” He asked.

Jorian shrugged. “Miron took him.” His voice dropped and Basyn frowned as he leaned in as though to tell him a secret, “Miron says the other child is his!”

Basyn straightened, glancing at the closed door. “But then he would have a mate.”

“I know.” Jorian trembled though whether it was from excitement or fear Basyn could not say.

The child in the corner suddenly made a dash for the door and Jorian let out a dismayed cry as the child clawed at the door. But it was locked and Basyn caught the hellion by the back of his torn shirt and flung him gently back in the corner. The child snarled and snapped at him and he shook him sharply.

“Quiet it you!” He hissed.

The child fell silent, staring up at him angrily.

“Let me go!” He demanded, child’s claws racking along Basyn’s arm and making him drop the boy.

Though Basyn scowled he had to admire the child’s gumption.

He turned his back on the scowling blond and returned to Jorian’s side. “Can’t you see this is wrong, Jorian? Even if the other is his this child is not! He needs to be returned to his rightful parents!”

Jorian bit his lip, looking away from him. “Miron said he would be . . . soon.”

Basyn snorted. “Surely you don’t believe that.”

Jorian’s shoulders slumped as he sat on the edge of the bed.

“Jorian, we must go to your sire with this!”

The young father remained silent.

 

The little brat had some fight in him.

Miron grinned as the dark haired child snarled at the sire who tried to pick him up. He leaned back in his chair, enjoying the way his son fought off the sires that teased him. He didn’t much care for children but he was finding them good for some amusement anyway.

Absently he wondered how Jorian was doing with his little nephew.

Probably not well.

Miron shrugged to himself, taking the offered tankard and sipping at the still warm blood as he studied Adrian’s child. He was pretty enough, taking after his father in his looks. Miron scowled. No child of his would grow up to be a father. He would have to work on schooling the child into a sire’s mold.

A frightened father approached him, urged along by the toothy grins of the sires lounging about around him and he smirked, reaching up to draw the father down to his level. He whispered his request into the father’s ear, making it seem more intimate than it truly was. When the father pulled back from him he smirked.

“You know who I speak of?” He asked.

The father nodded.

“Good, get it right.”

The father turned and fled.

Rising, Miron went to his son, picking the child up and holding him at arm’s length so that he could again study the fine features. Satisfied, he let the child down, taking the smaller hand in his firmly and leading him away. At the door to his room Basyn bowed to him and stepped aside. As he drifted past the sire he paused, sniffing the air. He met the other sire’s green eyes suspiciously.

The younger sire paled slightly and tore his gaze away from his. “The child hurt him.” He murmured in a weak attempt at explaining why he smelled of Jorian’s blood.

Blue eyes still narrowed Miron continued on, a new suspicion suddenly swimming in his mind.

 

Adrian stared at the retreating father, a frown pulling at his lips. The message was appropriately vague but he suspected it was more to keep the messenger from understanding the real meaning than to confuse him. He turned, glancing back at his mate who stood on the rise, golden hair pale in the moonlight as he called for their son.

Shaking his head slightly he turned away, slipping back down into the safety of their city.

From the shadows of another building Shido watched the dark haired father follow the other’s path back downwards. Pushing himself away from the sanctuary where Cain had sworn him to stay he followed, knowing the end of the path would lead to his son.