Darkest Risings

by S. K. Yule

  “I forgot. I’ve had other things on my mind,” he answered.

  “I see that.” Alaina glanced over at Wilhemina once again.

  Wilhemina didn’t get the feeling that Alaina was jealous in any way after catching them in a compromising position so she doubted anything serious was going on between the two. Although if she were fortunate enough to look like Alaina, she probably wouldn’t be jealous of anyone. She looked at the pair. They made a striking couple. She couldn’t deny that. But her heart could. She wanted Aldin, no matter if she should or shouldn’t.

  “Nice to meet you, Alaina. I was just leaving. Please don’t let me interfere.”

  Wilhemina hurried past Aldin and Alaina. She made up her mind then and there as she sprinted up the stairs. If she had a chance at Aldin, she was going to take it. He stirred things up inside her she didn’t know existed, and she wanted to find out why he was able to do so when no other man had ignited anything more than a passing interest.

  And his bedroom preferences? She shivered. She had a feeling she’d enjoy anything he did to her in the bedroom. She wanted to learn everything he could teach her.

  * * * *

  Alaina crossed her arms over her middle and tapped her foot.

  “What?” Aldin raised one brow.

  Alaina sighed. “Nothing. I guess that”—she jerked her head toward the stairs Wilhemina had practically run up—”means we are okay?”

  “Don’t start with me, Alaina. Besides, I already told you we were okay.”

  “Yeah. You did, but I’m not sure I believed you at the time. I do now though.” She smiled and patted him on the chest as she made her way toward the gym.

  He grunted. “What made you change your mind?”

  “Oh. Nothing. Nothing at all.” Knowing he couldn’t see her face as she walked away from him, she smiled. “Why don’t you come show me some moves, big boy?”

  “I already worked out.”

  “Something tells me you have some leftover frustration to expel. Or maybe you’re worried a girl will kick your ass?” She turned and made sure he saw her smile this time.

  The thunderous stare he gave her made her want to giggle. Yep. He had it bad for Wilhemina, but he wasn’t going to admit it any time soon. She was glad to have her friend back, happy that nothing detrimental would come from the mistaken feelings he thought he’d had for her.

  “I highly doubt you can kick my ass, especially since I showed you all of your moves.” He swaggered toward her in cocky man fashion.

  “You haven’t shown me all my moves,” she said.

  He would definitely kick her ass, but she’d never admit it to his face. She’d gotten over a lot of her hang ups, dealt with many of her illusions, but stubbornness was not and never would be one of those things. She liked her mulelike tactic toward life and didn’t plan on giving it up any time soon.

  “Let’s go, Beau Jack.” Aldin walked past her and climbed into the boxing ring.

  “Who the hell is Beau Jack?”

  “Spruce up on your boxing trivia and you’ll figure it out.”

  “No, thanks. I’ll let it remain a mystery.” She climbed into the ring, making a mental note to secretly find out who the hell Beau Jack was later.

  Had Aldin finally found his match? She hoped that was the case because he deserved to be happy. He would be a prize to the right woman whether he believed it or not.

  Chapter Ten

  “Should I feel guilty that I’m happy the boys are busy tonight?” Avril said from the couch before taking a bite of cheesy pizza. “Pizza for dinner is heaven.” She took another bite. “That is so good,” she murmured with her mouth full.

  “It’s been awhile since we’ve had another woman in the house to share girls’ night with,” Ebony said before taking a sip of dark burgundy wine. “Not that I don’t love our nights together, Avril, but you have to admit, the more the merrier.”

  “It’s been nice being here.” Wilhemina smiled. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to hang with the girls. I swear all I saw on the East Coast at work was men, men, men. By the time I was done working, there was no time left for girls’ night. The days were long.” She took a bite of her slice of pizza and closed her eyes as she chewed. The thick sauce coated her tongue. It was some of the best she’d had.

  “Did you enjoy your job, Wlhemina?” Ebony asked.

  “Yeah. At least for awhile. After it became apparent I wasn’t going to get anywhere, it turned into more of a chore. I worked hard, but I kept getting passed over for promotions.” She took a drink of her wine. “Don’t believe it when people say that men and women have equal opportunities. There were several men way more inexperienced than I was, but they kept magically getting positions I had applied for.”

  “That’s ridiculous!” Avril said before grabbing another slice of pizza.

  Wilhemina wondered how she kept her slim figure eating like that. Some girls had all the luck, a fast metabolism and a kick ass body.

  “I agree,” Ebony said before opening a delectable-looking box of chocolates.

  “What do you think Marilena needs to talk to the guys about?” Avril said as she took a chocolate from the box after devouring her second slice of pizza.

  “No idea.” Ebony shrugged. “I’m sure it’s nothing. At least I hope it is.”

  “Whatever it is, I’m sure the boys can handle it.”

  Wilhemina frowned. What exactly could be so horrible about a mother meeting with her sons?

  “Um, what do Ashe, Aiston, and Aldin do for a living?”

  Ebony and Avril exchanged a look that gave Wilhemina the impression that she wasn’t going to get a straight answer.

  “They aren’t in the mob are they?” Wilhemina laughed, not sure if she was completely kidding.

  Avril and Ebony giggled.

  “No. Nothing like that. I guess you could say they are in the line of community service. They help people out who are in bad situations.” Ebony sipped at her wine and raised a brow at Avril when she rolled her eyes at her.

  Good grief. Were they involved in organized crime? Were they loan sharks? She couldn’t imagine the Ebony she’d known from high school being agreeable to her husband’s involvement in such a thing. She also found it hard to believe that Ashe, Aiston, or Aldin would be a part of anything illegal.

  True they were all scary—for lack of a better word—in their own ways, but they all seemed to be honest, up-front men. The type that would be loyal to the ones they loved. Still, she’d seen a lot of screwed up things while working as a journalist, and her imagination had a bad way of getting the best of her more often than not.

  She took another bite of pizza and decided to let the subject rest for now. She simply wanted to enjoy a night with her friends and relax.

  “What are we going to watch?” she asked.

  “I’ve got something special. Just for the girls.” Avril giggled as she picked up a large remote from the table beside the couch.

  “Does Alaina ever join you for girls’ night?”

  “Weelll, that’s a long story. I didn’t know you’d met Alaina.” Ebony frowned.

  “Yeah. She showed up earlier in the basement. I had wandered down there and ran into Aldin in the gym.” She wasn’t going to fill them in on the details of what happened in the hallway. “She was arriving as I was leaving. Said she had a lesson with Aldin.”

  “Oh. Yeah. He gives her, um, self-defense lessons,” Avril said. “I don’t know why he bothers with that bitch.”

  “Avril!” Ebony chastised.

  “What? You know I’m right.”

  “No. She’s changed. I know you are only protecting me, but you have to give her another chance.”

  “Pfft. Not after what she did to you.”

  “What did she do to Ebony?” Wilhemina asked.

  “It’s another long story.” Ebony sighed.

  “She tried to steal Ashe from her.”

  “Avril!”

  “Well. I
t’s true.”

  “She did?” Wilhemina frowned and now wondered if there was in fact more between Aldin and Alaina.

  “Like I said, it’s a long story. It’s in the past, and she apologized. I forgave her, and she’s changed,” Ebony said. “Now can we please watch the movie?”

  “I’m sorry, Ebony.” Wilhemina felt terrible for upsetting her friend.

  “No, no. It’s nothing really. It’s simply water under the bridge and it tends to rile Avril up.”

  “Hey. She hurt my best friend. I don’t forgive things like that easily.”

  “I know. I know. And I thank you for being my best friend. Now please start the movie.”

  Wilhemina was curious about all the juicy tidbits now. She wasn’t a gossip, but the journalist in her was always chomping at the bit for information. Too bad, Wilhemina. Let it go. It’s not worth upsetting Ebony and Avril.

  She sighed and got comfortable after snagging a chocolate from the box. She took a bite and groaned. It, along with the pizza, were so going right to her ass.

  * * * *

  Marilena sat across from her sons in the study. Ashe lounged behind the ornate desk in the middle of the room, Aiston sat on the black leather couch, and Aldin leaned against the bar with his long legs crossed at the ankle in front of him.

  How in the world was she going to explain to them what she’d done? And even more impossible? How would they ever forgive her? They wouldn’t.

  “What’s going on, Mom?” Ashe asked.

  She took a deep breath in resignation of what she must do.

  “I want all three of you to give me your word to not leave this room until I am completely finished telling you what I need to say. Promise me that no matter what I say, you will hear me out.”

  “You’re starting to creep me out. What’s going on?” Aiston leaned forward and rested his hands on his knees. “You know that’s no easy feat.”

  “Give me your word. All of you.” She waited until all three nodded before she continued. If she knew one thing about her sons, none of them would break their word.

  “First of all, I have someone I want here while I explain things to you.” She called out telepathically. “Ragnor, it’s time.”

  A second later, Ragnor shimmered into the room.

  Ashe, Aldin, and Aiston all tensed at the unexpected visitor.

  “It’s okay,” Marilena murmured.

  “How could you give someone permission to shimmer in our home after what happened to Ebony, Mother?” Ashe asked through clenched teeth.

  “I don’t need permission. I can shimmer where I please whenever I please,” Ragnor answered in a deep voice.

  The pain inside Marilena’s heart was near crippling. Her sons favored their father, but she never realized just how much until she saw them all, as grown men, in the same room together.

  “That’s a lie and you know it. No vampire can shimmer into another vampire’s home without permission.” Aldin straightened to his full, impressive height with his fists clenched at his sides.

  “I assure you that I can.”

  “Please. Just listen to me. We can sort through the details later,” Marilena pleaded with her sons.

  “Fine,” they all murmured in near unison.

  “I have made some horrible choices over the years, and I’m afraid that after you hear what I have to say, you will never speak to me again. Perhaps you will even hate me.”

  “Mother—”

  “Hush. I need you to listen now. All of you. And try to have an open mind. While I don’t expect you to forgive me, I expect you to at least try to understand why I have taken the measures I have. Everything I’ve done was truly done out of desperation and love. I was trying to protect all of you because you are my life.”

  She twisted her fingers together in her lap and Ragnor placed his hand on her shoulder as if to comfort and encourage at the same time.

  “Go on, Marilena. I’m here for you now, and I’ll be here for you after.”

  Ragnor’s voice in her mind was like a soothing salve on the ever-widening gaping wound in her heart.

  “The uprising of the drifters that is happening was prophesized many years ago…by Ragnor, King of Vampyre.” She tried hard not to look into the puzzled faces of her sons.

  “I knew about it from the start, and I have gone to great lengths to stop it. The prophecy will not come to pass until all of the Aleksandrov offspring find their mates. Once that occurs, the wheels will be set into motion. But there is so much more.” She took a deep breath and continued, thanking the gods that they remained quiet. “I thought if I could keep one of you from finding your mate, it would stop the prophecy.”

  “Doesn’t make sense. How in the world could you keep any of us from finding our destined mate? If it’s going to happen, you have no control over it. And why does a prophecy revolve around us?” Ashe sat rigid behind the desk.

  “No, I may not be able to keep any of you from finding your mates, but I could keep your brother from finding his by keeping him prisoner. And to answer your other question, the reason the prophecy revolves around the Aleksandrovs is because you are the only true bloods left. Ragnor, the Vampyre King, the last of the true bloods, not only foretold the prophecy, but he is also your father.”

  “Do you hear what the hell you are saying? It’s crazy. Are you trying to pull a prank on us or something? Did Aiston put you up to this?” Aldin glared at Aiston.

  “Stop! I’m telling you the truth. You have a brother that you’ve never met. His name is Uriah. I concealed my pregnancy from you all. After he was born, I hid him away. I locked him up and have kept him a prisoner since his birth. I thought if I kept him from the world, he’d never be able to find his viata amant. I thought by doing this, I could save all of you. Instead, by interfering with Fate, I am probably the reason your sister is dead.” Marilena sobbed and Ragnor tightened his grip on her shoulder.

  “This is absolutely insane,” Aiston said after standing.

  “It is the truth,” Ragnor said.

  “And exactly who are you?” Ashe asked.

  “I’m Ragnor. Your father.”

  The whole room became deathly quiet for several minutes.

  “Our father was burned by vampire hunters hundreds of years ago.” Aldin spoke.

  “Marcus, the father you knew, yes. But I assure you that I am the one who sired you. All of you, including your brother Uriah. The one you have never met. The one who only found out he had brothers yesterday.”

  “Ragnor is only a legend,” Ashe whispered.

  “Why? Because no one has seen me? I didn’t want anyone to see me. After your mother left me, I wanted nothing else to do with anyone. She took everything I loved away. I allowed her to do it because she was scared, and I loved her enough to let her do what made her feel safe. I now realize I was a fool for doing so. I missed out on too much.”

  * * * *

  Aldin’s head reeled with the aftershocks of the bomb his mother had just dropped on him and his brothers. And the man standing beside her? Was he Ragnor? Was he his father? He took a closer look at the man. While he appeared to be in his fifties—which was a great illusion if he was the Vampyre King—the only thing that made him look that old was the sprinkle of salt in his dark coppery-brown hair and fine lines around his eyes.

  Any doubt Aldin had about his mother telling the truth was squashed as soon as he looked into the man’s eyes. While it was true that Marilena, too, had turquoise eyes, no one could mistake the even stranger, almost beguiling, turquoise color of Ragnor’s eyes. They seemed to shimmer with hints of green, blue, and gray in perfect accord with one another.

  “How is all of this possible? We have another brother? We are true bloods? We are the sons of the Vampyre King? We are the key to the uprising involving the drifters? Why?” He muttered more to himself in disbelief than to anyone else.

  “It is a lot to wrap one’s head around, but it is true, and you—you all—must come to terms with this
information quickly for time is paramount. The emotional aspect of this situation must be dealt with later. Right now, you must focus on the problem at hand. I did not make my existence known on a whim. You must find a way to embrace this information, embrace your brother, Uriah, when he comes tomorrow, and devise a plan to squash this uprising before it claims you all.”

  “If you are the legendary Ragnor, why don’t you simply take care of Trinidad and let us be done with all of this bullshit?” Ashe asked.

  “I do not know who or what Trinidad is. I cannot risk being injured or worse because I am the only one who can bring all of you into your true blood powers when the time comes. After that happens, I will be weak and vulnerable for several days. I will be drained.”

  Anger hit Aldin’s veins with a force that made his vision blur red. “You have never been a part of our lives. You’ve never bothered all of these years to let us know you were alive, and now you expect us to follow your orders?” Aldin practically spit the words at the man.

  He walked toward him, surprised that Ragnor met him halfway with no fear in his eyes. Aldin hadn’t met many who didn’t at least give his anger pause.

  “Aldin.” Ashe rose from behind the desk.

  “No!” Ragnor flung his hand toward Ashe. “We will settle any words that must be said now.”

  “You left us.”

  “Actually, I did not. Marilena took you all away. But yes, I am at fault for allowing her to do so. I loved her enough to let her make that choice. I cannot tell you how many times I have regretted it.”

  “You stand before me as Ragnor, the supposed legend, and yet you blame this on Marilena?” His fists clenched at his sides. He wanted to hurt Ragnor, wanted to cause him as much pain as he was creating for him and his brothers at this moment.

  “No. I blame nothing on Marilena. Although her choices were poor ones, I understand that she thought she was doing the right thing. She was trying to protect her children. I was not going to force her to stay with me if she did not want to. There are some things worse than losing your viata amant. One of those things is watching the hatred in her eyes grow for you with each passing day.”