To Have And To Hold

In Times Of Test, Family Is Best...

Chapter Thirty-Eight: In Times Of Test, Family Is Best...

NICHOLAS

I could feel Auntie beginning to hyperventilate. Strengthening my hold on her, I soothingly murmured while linking Jace to get Talon, “You didn’t fail Horacio or us, Auntie and none of this is your fault. You were delayed by Sahar’s spell, but you still saw him in trouble through your connection at Mystic Fire. Horacio will tell you the same when he wakes up. I need you to believe that. Believe like I do. Horacio will always fight to come back to you. That’s why he’s still breathing, even though you can’t see him in your visions—he breathes for you—he’s fights for you! You have always been his chosen, just as he is yours.”

Talon, Madeline, Jace, and Constance burst through the door, sprinting towards us as I slowly pushed Auntie back and stood up. Her chest was heaving so heavily now that Auntie’s whole tiny body was vibrating from her intense battle for air. Constance brought her hand up to rest on top of Auntie’s head as Jace gingerly placed his hand on her cheek, Auntie’s eyes wildly darting up to look at him, her fingers coming up to shakily lay on Horacio's mark on her neck as she forced out, “J—Jace. I—can’t—see—him. H—Horacio’s—future. Only—the—past. I—don’t—know—what—to—do.”

Jace leaned down to peer deep into her eyes, comfortingly urging, “Mother, I have no doubt that you’ve been in here all afternoon trying to conjure up visions. Why don’t we go out to the garden for a few minutes? Get some fresh air while Talon checks on Horacio? Luna, Nicholas, Madeline, and Anabelle will sit with him. We won’t be gone long.”

“Jace is right, Auntie,” Madeline soothingly encouraged, “Aruna and Anabelle are just outside, ready to come in. We’ll keep an eye on Horacio until you return.”

Talon came up on the other side of me, kindly encouraging her, “I think some fresh air would do you good, Auntie. And I will fix a cup of the tea Anabelle brought for you and add a little something to help calm you. Constance will bring it out to the garden in a few minutes and I will come check on you after I see how Horacio is doing.”

Looking over at Jace after Auntie gave him a jerked nod, Talon picked up the carafe of tea, instructing him as he rushed out the door, “It’s probably best if you carry her out to the garden, Jace. I’ll send Constance out with the tea momentarily.”

Silently nodding, Jace’s dark coffee eyes held a fretful and anxious look in them as he bent down to pick up our highly distressed Auntie. Her chest continuing to violently rise and fall, Auntie weakly wrapped her arms around his neck, her head falling heavily onto his chest as Jace kissed the top of it, lovingly murmuring as he took her from the room, “It’s alright, Mother. I’ve got you. Everything’s going to be okay.”

Taking in a broken breath after he disappeared from the room, Constance tearfully exhaled out, “Beast and Tink are on their way. Mother is blaming herself, isn’t she?”

Running my hand through my hair, I sadly replied, “Yes—for a lot of things.” I then sent out a link to Raven and the aunts, requesting that they get back to the hospital, informing them that our effort was a futile attempt.

Madeline was overcome with grief as she looked at Horacio, “What are we going to do, Nicholas? Auntie is completely falling apart.”

Sitting down beside Horacio, Constance gently took his hand in hers, flatly stating, “Their connection—Mother and Horacio are wholly intertwined in every way—which is why they are both broken right now.”

Mother and Anabelle came in, as well as Beast and Tink, who had a depressed grimace on her face as she came up beside her sister, “We got here as quick as we could. Should we go outside to Auntie?”

Continuing to stare down at Horacio, Constance softly returned, “Give Jace a few minutes with her. You and Beast can go out with me when Talon brings in her tea.”

“Horacio doesn’t look good, does he?” Tink inaudibly mumbled out as Beast placed his arms around her waist, pulling her against him.

Mother came up beside me, leaning forward to brush her fingers across the front of Horacio’s black hair before leaning forward to kiss his forehead, “His body is working hard to heal him, Tink. Like Tati, Horacio just needs a little time, that’s all.”

***************

SPIROS

I had originally just stepped outside for some air but ended up walking up the path towards the main house, stopping at the bottom of the hill to stare at it, distracting myself from Horacio’s heartbreaking situation at the hospital by contemplating Nicholas’ offer...

My whole life was changing in so many ways, so quickly, my head was spinning. But, if I was truthful with myself, the changes were everything I ever wanted, which meant I couldn’t deny it. I did want it—all of it—including being a part of Nicholas’ inner circle...

Sebastian’s humored voice broke into my thoughts, “So, you leave your favorite brother hanging, waiting on a link to come see you after the talk you needed to have with Maxim and Anabelle, only to find you here—alone. I don’t think the commendation you will be receiving from The Council will include enough money to build a house like this, no matter how much Alpha Mahan appreciates your heroics today.”

A much-needed laugh expelled out under my breath as he walked up to stand beside me, “Hey, Bas.”

“Little brother,” Sebastian thoughtfully murmured, both our gazes on Nicholas’ massive home, “Proud as hell of you, you know—and I don’t even know all the details yet.”

His hand coming to rest on my shoulder, Sebastian reverently continued, “You deserve every accolade, Spiros. You always have, even if you do hate that sort of thing. I think today proved you were never meant to be a farmer boy.”

“Nothing wrong with being a farmer boy,” I earnestly returned, “What you do is just as admirable as what I did today.”

“Never said it wasn’t—appreciate the kudos, though,” Sebastian quietly replied, “But that has been my dream, Spiros, not yours. What you did today as part of the Crescent Moon army—that has always been your dream—and that, my dear baby brother, is why you shined.”

Turning to look at my brother, the look of pride in his brown eyes was undeniable, just as his overpowering, strong muscular frame that we all inherited from father was indisputable, as well as the thick brown hair and rounded chin—though I was the only one out of the four who inherited our mother’s curls and grandfather’s dimples.

Sebastian would have made for an incredible warrior, his even-keeled temperament and mine so similar. But my brother’s love of the earth and the gifts it provided when treated with love and care is what fulfilled Sebastian—it drove him and fed his soul—and as my closest confidante, he was the one I felt I could confess what I now knew would feed mine...

“Nicholas asked me to be a part of his inner circle, Bas—to move into the main house,” I sighed out, my torn feelings inside making it sound like a question.

His head snapping to the side, Sebastian accusingly returned, “Please tell me you said yes and the reason you’re here is to figure out what room gives you and Anabelle the best view.”

“I told him I needed time to process everything and talk with our family,” I honestly told him, feeling embarrassed afterwards, defeatedly murmuring, “Not to mention, right now, our main focus needs to be on Horacio, who remains in grave danger and supporting Auntie, who is not only devastated, but blaming herself. Plus, I just think—I don’t know—”

“Look, I’m with you about Horacio and Auntie, but what don’t you know, kid? This is what you have always wanted, Spiros, even I know that!” Sebastian steadfastly interrupted, “Not that I don’t love you for it, but when are you finally going to think about yourself for once?”

************

JACE

Sitting down on the bench in front of a beautiful red rose bush, I maneuvered Mother around to sit on the bench, my arm remaining around her, keeping her pressed tightly against me. Her little body molded into my side, I could feel every heave for air she took, each one making my heart ache for her, knowing that the only thing that would fix her was Horacio...

Dropping my head down, I looked at Mother, whose head was buried in my chest, her soft, sparkling platinum curls that always held a mind of their own wildly going every which way and her hand remaining pressed on Horacio's mark. Wearing the same silky short-sleeved lined maroon blouse and black capri pants from earlier, Mother was as lovely on the outside as always, but inside, I knew she was utterly shattered and frail, much like Horacio, as I desperately pleaded, “Tell me what I can do, Mother, other than holding you like this for as long as you need and telling you that I love you to the moon and back, forever and always.”

“I—love—you—too. Just—hold—me—please,” Mother forcibly exhaled out, “It’s—all—my—fault—Jace. I—failed—Horacio.”

Auntie saw a vision of Horacio in the clearing, Jace, Nicholas worriedly linked, She heard his links for help that were blocked by Sahar. She consumed with guilt and is blaming herself for not only that, but again for the battle at Mystic Fire.

Swallowing hard, I sincerely sighed out, “Just as you were not to blame for what happened at Mystic Fire, there is no fault to be had by you in what played out today. While you didn’t know beforehand and Sahar’s spell delayed the knowledge of trouble in the clearing, your connection with Horacio enabled you to get there and stop what was happening before everyone perished. How many times have you said it, Mother? You aren’t perfect—none of us are. And no one expects you to be, even with your Fairy Queen powers—with the exception of you.”

Her chest heftily expanding as she forced in a deep breath of air, Mother pulled back from me slightly, peering up as she choppily exhaled out, “I have—always gotten—to Horacio—saving him—in time, Jace. Keeping him—from harm.”

Taking her hand in mine, I leaned forward, quietly assuring her, “I know you feel differently, but you did get to Horacio—and everyone else—in time today. And while Horacio was seriously injured and things currently look dire, I know him—he will fight for the life you two share.”

Pausing for a moment, I curiously asked afterwards, “How many times have you saved Horacio from harm over the years?”

Taking in another deep breath, Mother’s voice was a bit stronger as she reluctantly replied, “Eight times. There’s a couple—years ago—that he doesn’t know—about.”

“Wow, I had no idea,” I exhaled out in wonder, falling silent as I gently ran my hand up and down her arm while Mother tried to regain her breath.

After a while, Mother was still struggling slightly, but seemed to be taking in more regulated breath, longingly replying, “Horacio is very—passionate, Jace. He has put his life on the line—often.”

“Two traits you both share,” I astutely returned, reverently adding, “Horacio fell apart when you were brought here not long ago, you know. I believe the thing you are both passionate about most—is one another.”

“And yet—I never heard his links,” Mother reprehensibly whispered, bringing her hand down in front of her, eyeing her sparkling engagement ring as she toyed with it from underneath with her thumb, “Horacio—he was pleading for my help—but somehow—Sahar was able to block our connection.”

Running my other hand down my blonde and auburn beard, I delicately said, “Nicholas told me of your visions. Please stop replaying them in your mind, Mother. It’s only hurting you further. Seems you and I share a penchant of dwelling on the past. Our efforts are better served concentrating on how we can make Horacio well, returning him not only to your visions of the beautiful future you will share with him, but wake him—we all need our King of Fury’s passion in our lives. I’m worried about you and Constance. She’s taking Horacio’s condition very hard as well.”

“Jace?” Mother reluctantly queried in a bated breath, both hands in her sights now as she delicately ran her fingers over the large oval deep blue sapphire ring on her right hand that Horacio gifted her on the same night he proposed, “In my vision—Horacio—he—"

Mother’s body tensed heavily within my hold with the halt of any further words spoken, instantly alerting me and bringing forth renewed great concern that reflecting my tone, “Tell me what you saw in your vision. What did Horacio do?”

Her breath beginning to quicken again, Mother's crushed gaze remained on Horacio's tokens of love, despairingly exhaling out, “Nothing. Take me—back in—so you can—take care—of our Goddess. I’ll—be fine.”

Leaning forward, I murmured against my mother’s forehead before gently pressing my lips against her skin, “Goddess should be here in a moment, so I can take care of you both. Talk to me—release the weight of whatever it is that you saw—please.”

“His last thoughts—Horacio wasn’t thinking—of himself. There was—no fear—for himself—for death,” Mother painfully admitted, erratically spilling out, “He has always—known the risk—accepted it. The only—thing—Horacio feared—his last thoughts—he feared—for me, Jace—leaving me—here—without him.”

My jaw locked hard as I became overcome with heartbreak and devastation that while not as overwhelming as Mother’s, was still a heavy weight to bear. Willing myself to keep a calm cadence in my tone and reply, I softly relayed, “I believe I remember you saying once that true love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own. When you came back, Horacio stepped out of his comfort zone of life-long solitude, except for a very small circle of people he allowed himself to care about. In you, he finally allowed his own heart to fully open and accept that he could love a woman and be loved in return by her—expressing it in Horacio’s typical way—fiercely and passionately.”

Sighing heavily, I earnestly continued, “So, it comes as no surprise to me that you were his last thought—and that it was a fearful one—because not only do you bring Horacio to life, Mother, he brings you to life. While Horacio has thankfully expanded his circle, allowing all of us to see who he truly is inside—to love and embrace him as part of our family—the happiness you bring Horacio is something he desires more than anything to bring you in return. Which is why you are the key to bringing Horacio back—I know things look dire but giving up would truly be failing him, because you are truly what drives him to live.”

Mother was silent for a long moment before lovingly replying, “Thank you—my darling Jace—for that much-needed reminder.”

Leaning down to kiss the top of her head again, I adoringly whispered, “To the moon and back, Mother, I love you—forever and always—and so does Horacio.”

********************

SPIROS

Sebastian had always been my biggest supporter, which is why it came as no shock that he found me standing in front of the main house, searching me out to do what he always did—fight for me...

After I stood silent following his pertinent question, Sebastian reiterated again, only his delivery was harsher in its tone, “Answer me, Spiros! When are you finally going to go after what you want in life?”

“I’d like to know the answer to that myself,” Valentin loudly sang out, Sebastian and I turning to see him and Finn closing in, “Our excuse for allowing you to pigeonhole yourself in border patrol has been our overprotectiveness of you, baby brother—what’s your excuse?”

“Taking care of our family comes above all else,” I fervently stated, “Always has, always will.”

Shaking his head, Finn lightly chastised, “You, my dear Spiros, always put all our worlds on your shoulders. An admirable caregiving nature that you inherited from Mom that’s not a bad trait, but it’s past time for you to stop worrying about what we need to be happy and content and do the same for yourself. You have waited so long for Anabelle and this opportunity we’ve just learned about, thanks to Sebastian’s quick link. And just like all the accolades and praise you’ve earned today, which by the way I know you well enough to know you hated, you deserve to have both!”

Sebastian’s hand flew up to grab my shoulder, forcibly turning me to face him, his gaze determined as he harshly asked, “Is living here at the main house with Anabelle and being part of Nicholas’ inner circle what you want, Spiros? Is that what will bring you happiness?”

“Yes,” I wholeheartedly exhaled out, “But—”

“Those were yes or no questions, and your immediate response was yes,” Valentin broke in, turning me to face him as he reached us, ardently stating, “That’s your answer, Spiros. And it’s the right one. So, do us all a favor. Stop wasting the vast talent you inherited from Dad—talent Finn and I both wish we had been gifted with!”

“What are you talking about, Valentin?” I harshly defended, “You and Finn have shown more talent in our army than I ever have! You have both mirrored Dad in your strength and leadership!”

“If today proved anything, Spiros, it has shown that is only the case because you chose not to mirror Dad until now,” Valentin wholeheartedly stated, “Everything you did today—every instinct, every move made with unbelievable selflessness, strength, and tenacity, every ounce of modesty shown afterwards—you made it perfectly clear, baby brother—you belong in Nicholas’ inner circle, just like Dad belonged in Aldric’s.”

Finn backed him up, sincerely chiming in, “Spiros, we have all been fortunate in the incredible traits we have inherited from Dad, but you—you have inherited talents from him that truly make you our father's greatest legacy, but only if you choose to utilize what he instilled inside you. Take great pride in those gifts, Spiros—just as we take great pride in it and what we have always taken great pride in—you.”

Yanking me into a hard embrace, Valentin enthusiastically boasted, “You have always been the perfect combination of our parents—Mom’s kind, giving heart and Dad’s intelligence, strength, intuitiveness, and tenacity. But I have never been prouder of you or for you than I am today, Spiros. You did one hell of a job out there! And on your first mission post-border patrol, you jerk!”

“Now that my heartfelt speech is out of the way, I will second that—you damn show off!” Finn chuckled, pulling Valentin back to bring me into his powerful arms, “Nicely done out there today, Spiros! Figures you would inherit all of Dad’s talents and Mom’s heart. But word to the wise, if you don’t accept Nicholas’ offer, all three of your brothers are going kick your ass. And as our Alpha doesn’t like to get in the middle of family squabbles, we’ll get away with it!”

“And before you try using Mom and Dad as an excuse, another word to the wise,” Sebastian lightly warned, “Dad just linked us. He pressed Nicholas hard for every detail of today’s events—left him no choice but to confess the offer that’s been made. He and Mom want this for you more than we do—as does our sweet Belles who he informed just now—not to mention we can all share the responsibility of making sure Mom and Dad are well cared for while you outshine these two chumps.”

Valentin wrapped his arm around Sebastian’s shoulder, chortling, “And despite that last comment, we will all chip in to help farmer boy here keep the ol’ homestead going. If our Spiros can finally figure out how to share that is. Mostly talking about attention, of course. And don’t go thinking we are going to let the accolades go to your head, either. Big ego is my thing—you can’t take it away from me too.”

“Thanks for everything, especially your support,” I sincerely replied, “But I still need to talk to Anabelle—and Mom and Dad.”

“Suit yourself, but they’re just going to tell you the same thing—you’re an i***t if you don’t say yes,” Valentin mockingly sighed out.

“Mom and Dad are at the hospital,” Finn soberly informed me, “Auntie is really struggling—Belles said she had a breakdown right after you left. Aunt Persephone, Aunt Reina, Raven, and Ursula just got back. They’re all out in the garden with her now.”

“And before you go into your protective mode, Anabelle didn’t link to tell you because we asked her not to,” Valentin knowingly said, “It might sound a little selfish considering the circumstances, but we decided that we needed to talk about this with you now before you had time to talk yourself out of it.”

“This could have waited,” I despairingly shot back, taking off towards the hospital, “I shouldn’t have stayed gone so long. I promised I was coming right back. We need to get back to Auntie.”

“As always, you are selfless to a fault, mama’s boy,” Finn admiringly called after me, “One of the many ways you are different from the three of us—and one of the many reasons we love, adore, and admire our baby brother more than he will ever know!”