Guardian Of The Betas Heir

15 - Deep breath

Michael

“Wow,” Mark sighs while running his hand through his hair. “That’s a lot.”

I nod because he’s right.

I arrived home with Elenor and Sylva in tow last night. Sylva was asleep when Elenor and I collected her. She slept on the trip home, and she slept through the night.

I showed Elenor to her room, which was nothing fancy but enough for what a young woman would need. She thanked me and began unpacking her belongings.

I left her to it and contacted my parents to let them know I was home. Mom was shocked when I told her that I had brought Sylva home with me for good. She wanted to come over right away, but I shot that down. Sylva was in bed, and it had been one of the longest days of my life. I just wanted to sleep.

But I was woken in the early hours by my daughter. She had awoken, crying and calling out for Elenor, confused about where she was.

I reached Sylva’s room before Elenor, scooped up my daughter, and calmed her fears. It felt right to hold my little girl. I have denied how much I loved her for too long, and I will never deny Sylva another day in my life.

Sylva clung to me as I rocked her gently, telling her I loved her and everything was okay. I noticed Elenor watching us from the doorway. She smiled at the two of us, tipped her head, knowing I had things covered and left.

I woke this morning to find Elenor and Sylva eating breakfast in the kitchen. Elenor had made bacon and eggs for me, and I was grateful.

I could see the confusion in Elenor’s eyes, even though she was trying to act like she wasn’t bothered by anything. I reassured her that everything would be okay, and she smiled slightly.

I explained that I had to meet with my family to discuss a few things. I would be back for Sylva a little later, so I needed Elenor to get my daughter ready for the day. It’s time I introduced my child to the rest of her family.

I arrived at the castle to find my family waiting for me in the drawing room. I just got done explaining what happened yesterday. It was a lot, but they needed to be aware of who Elenor was and what might happen in the coming weeks and months. I could not keep something so important from them.

Everyone listened carefully, and, of course, Mom pointed out that she would have no choice but to tell Xale. I expected nothing less. I should have told him everything before I left, but I didn’t have the energy.

I’m a little concerned about what Xale will say, and I hope he doesn’t demand Elenor return to Dragon Country for trial. Lying to the Dragon King is a no-no.

However, I do not believe Elenor and Edmund lied for any other reason than to protect themselves. I promised Von I would look out for Elenor, and that is what I’ll do. I won’t let Xale harm Elenor or force her to return to Blue Fire. Besides, Sylva needs Elenor more than she needs anyone right now. I will not have my little girl upset, not for anything. Elenor not being here would upset Sylva, and I cannot have that.

Von and Edmund have their work cut out for them, trying to find their father and Elenor’s mate. It won’t be easy, but I have every faith they will find one or both of them.

How will they know who Elenor’s mate is when they’ve never met him?

Demons will always find the person they’re looking for, especially if that person mated with them or a member of their family. The guy has no hope of hiding from Von because the Demon within is as powerful as a full-blooded Demon. His desire to protect his sister is fierce, and I’ll wager Edmund’s is twice as strong.

The only way Elenor’s mate will escape Von is if he’s dead. He isn’t because Elenor would have felt it. However, I’m not sure the man will live long once he rejects Elenor. Whatever his reasons for using Elenor and then running away, he won’t live to tell the tale.

“If this girl is going to stay,” Thane stares at me. “Then I need to meet her and make sure she’s not going to cause trouble.”

As Thane is the Lycan King, I don’t have much choice but to abide by his rules. Elenor is an outsider. She’s not a Lycan, and in order for her to stay here, she must pass Thane’s tests, whatever they will be.

I’m not worried about that because I know Elenor will pass. I get a good feeling from the girl. She loves my daughter, and I know she would never intentionally cause problems.

I nod at Thane. “That won’t be a problem. However, I'm not sure what will happen once Von finds Elenor’s mate and brings him here.”

Thane narrows his eyes. “As long as whatever needs to be done is done privately, we won’t have an issue.”

I tip my head. I can make sure of that.

“So,” Lyric smiles. “When do we get to meet Sylva?”

“I really wish you hadn’t called your daughter that.” My father sighs.

I scrub my hands over my face. I should never have given my little girl such a name. But what’s done is done. Changing her name now would be confusing for Sylva.

“Of all the things,” Luke, my brother, one year younger than me, huffs. Luke is just as big as I am, and some say we could pass for twins, though he’s not as stubborn as me or Mark.

Not all my siblings are here today. Most of them are mated and away with their other halves. Ava, of course, lives under the ocean in Atlantis with her mate Triton. She’s coming to visit at the end of the week, and I can’t wait to see her. It’s been almost a year since the last time Ava was here.

We had words about my daughter. Ava couldn’t understand why I would push my child away. Until I explained my guilt, of course. However, she suggested that I get help from a professional and bring Sylva home. It took me a while, but I did it.

“I know, Luke. I’m not proud of what I did or the name I gave my little girl. But I’ve pulled my head out of my ass, and my baby is home.” I smile because I can’t help myself.

“What are you smiling at?” Matthew, my brother, who is a year younger than Luke, asks.

“He’s realizing how much he loves his daughter.” I look at my grandfather, James, my dad’s father. “Aren’t you?”

I nod. “Yeah. I’ve lost almost three years of time with Sylva. I won’t lose anymore. I love her so much, and I’m so sorry to all of you for what I put you through after Audrey died. I shouldn’t have forced you away from Sylva. It was despicable of me. I can never take back what I did, but I will ask that you try to forgive me. No matter how long it takes.”

Mom gets out of her seat and walks over to me. I look down at her and smile. Damn, she’s small. I never stopped Mom and Dad from seeing Sylva but made sure it was only once every fortnight. Mom would come home and tell me how Sylva was doing. I would listen because I was interested. But then I would shake away whatever feeling was trying to push its way into my heart. I was stupid, there is no other word for what I was.

She reaches up and touches my face. “I am so proud of you, Michael. I never doubted that you loved Sylva. It just took some time for you to come around. Sylva is such a special little girl because she’s part of you.”

I hug my mother. She thinks too much of me when she really ought to have slapped the shi.t out of me more than once. Mom has tried for so long to get me to understand how much Sylva needed me. She never gave up trying, and I wish I had listened sooner. But what’s done is done, there is no going back.

“Thank you for everything,” I whisper in her ear. “I love you, Mom. I only wish you knew how much.”

“I love you, too, baby boy.”

I playfully roll my eyes when she pulls away from me. I’m thirty-one years old, and she still calls me her baby boy. Then again, Mark is thirty-five, and she still refers to him as her baby boy.

“Can we meet Sylva already?” Sophie, Mark’s mate, looks at me in excitement, and I can’t help chuckling.

“Fine, I’ll go and get her.”

“And bring the Nanny,” Thane tells me. “May as well get it all over at once.”

“Fine.” I breathe deeply.

Whatever Thane wants to say to Elenor is nothing to do with me, though I will give her a heads-up. I wouldn’t want her to walk in unprepared.

“Can you make sure everyone who wants to meet Sylva today is here?” My dad nods. “And please, for the love of the Goddess, try not to all talk at once. This is all new to Sylva, and I don’t want her too overwhelmed.”

I look at Mark. He’s dying to tell me it’s all my fault that Sylva isn’t used to this. He doesn’t need to say anything; I know him inside and out. It is my fault, but I’m trying to make things right. I only hope I don’t mess up my little girl any further than I already have.

‘Have a little faith in yourself, my friend.’ My Lycan tells me.

‘I’m trying, buddy.’

Deep breath. What could possibly go wrong?