Page 17 of Eternally Rare
Greyson snorts and Luca keels over laughing, holding his stomach with every obnoxious snort that escapes him.
Alexander is the only one who keeps his cool, but he’s obviously amused. “Do you really think a quick meet and greet with your beloved will be enough to solve all your problems?”
“No,” I grumble. “It would be a start though.”
“What are you so afraid of, Rarity?” Greyson asks. “That maybe you’ll find happiness outside of the place where you thought you’d spend the rest of your eternal days?”
“Yes,” I answer quickly. “And so many other things when it comes to my family.”
“Aye, don’t be worried about us,” Drayce announces as he opens the front door, an axe thrown over his shoulder. The blade on it seems sharper as it shines against the light. “We won’t be going anywhere. Considering we can’t go into the sunlight, it isn’t like we have many options,” he jokes, but I don’t miss the regretful flinch from Alexander.
“I’m sorry,” my brother says. “Maven is still researching a temporary solution.”
“It isn’t a big deal. I happen to think the night sky is prettier than the daylight. I have no regrets.”
“Says you.”
The sound of my father’s voice coming from the archway has us all turning our heads. I haven’t seen him in a few days. Helives down in the catacombs now. He refuses to leave our brother Atreyu.
I gasp when I see him. He doesn’t even look like the same man. His cheeks are losing their fullness and dark circles shadow under his eyes. He has lost so much weight; his shirt seems to hang on his frame.
“Christ, Severide, you look like shite.” Drayce whistles under his breath. “You might want to drink some blood.”
“I would if the sun could touch me,” he sneers hatefully.
His attitude has changed since we have come back through the portal. It’s been a slow transition, but a noticeable one. He is withering away, mind and body.
“Bullshit,” Luca calls his brother out. “You aren’t thinking clearly. I go hunting at night all the time and have no issues. You are choosing to be like this. You are choosing to starve yourself. You’re blaming Atreyu because you don’t have your son, but it’s more than that. It’s because you don’t have Esmeralda.”
My father blurs to Luca, wrapping his hands around my uncle’s throat. His eyes burn the classic bright red of a vampire who is hungry and has lost all control.
“Don’t you dare speak of her! Don’t you fucking dare.” Spit flies from his mouth, landing on Luca’s chin.
Alexander is on our father, ripping him off our uncle by grabbing his shirt. “Do you think you’re the only one who misses her? She was my mother. Our—” he points to me “—mother.”
Severide smacks against the wall before flashing his fangs and launching himself through the air. Drayce is there, grabbing Father by the leg, then slinging him across the room.
Finnick has to move out of the way as Father lands on the kitchen island.
“I hated to have to do that, old friend, but you’re losing yer fucking mind.” Drayce stands over him and Father groans, too weak to continue. “I’ll take that. Thanks, Fin.”
Drayce snatches the glass of blood from Finnick.
“Hey—”
“Shut it, Finnick. Open another bag.” Drayce glares daggers at the grumpy vampire.
Luca and Greyson run to help Drayce when they notice what he is trying to do. They hold him down and Drayce pries father’s mouth open.
“Apologies, Severide. I am doing this because I care.”
“No,” Father mumbles weakly. “No. Let me die. I want to be with her again. Just let me be with her again.”
Tears prickle my eyes as I hear the desperation in my father’s voice. His weak hand wraps around Drayce’s wrist, showing how slim father’s arm is.
“I can’t do that because you don’t realize what you have here in this house. You’re blinded by grief, and I won’t let it take you from us.” Drayce peers to Luca, then Greyson, then side-eyes Finnick. “Make yourself useful. Hold his mouth open.”
Finnick stands still, not wanting to obey Drayce.