Chapter Seventeen
Warmund
Warmund held Penny’s hand tightly as he waited. It had only been a few minutes since Thonis had knocked on the door and told him that Indulf was coming to see him. They had quickly dressed, and Penny fussed over the bed, straightening it out, until he took her hand and tugged her to stand next to him.
Nerves churned in his stomach. Despite the fact that he was confident this was the path he wanted to take, that this was where he wanted to be, and he was ready to face the consequences of his actions, he couldn’t help but think of the worst possible outcomes. What if Indulf really did hate him? What if he sneered and said that Warmund was no longer his son?
When the door opened, and his father came in, Warmund froze. He’d never seen his father so light and happy as he was now. It’d been centuries since they last saw each other.
What should he say? Should he drop to his knees and beg for forgiveness? Should he stand tall and wait for Indulf to speak first?
Neither, it turned out. As he wet his lips and opened his mouth to give a formal greeting, Indulf crossed the room in two strides. He wrapped his arms around Warmund and pulled him into a tight embrace. His arms crushed Warmund to his chest, one hand cupping his skull tenderly, the way Penny cupped the babies’ heads while she was comforting them. Warmund couldn’t stop himself from burying into his father’s embrace. A choked sob ripped from his throat as he latched on as tight as he could.
“My boy, my boy,” Indulf whispered. “You’re home. You’re finally home. You don’t have to be afraid anymore. I’m here. I’m here, I’m not going to let you go again. I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry,” Warmund managed to choke back. “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t… If I had…”
Indulf’s arms tightened. “We both made mistakes.”
“I was the one that rebelled against you.” Warmund pulled away from his father, tears streaming down his face. “I was stupid. I listened to the voices who wanted you brought down and I thought it was because I was acting for Wildref. I thought that everything I was doing was for her, but it wasn’t. It was selfish. I was selfish. I wanted what was best for me. I wanted to save her so badly, Father. I wanted so badly…”
Indulf wiped Warmund’s face while tears ran down his own face. “I know. I know how much it hurt you. I wish I could have been a better father so that you didn’t have to carry that pain all by yourself. I was selfish, too. Will you forgive me?”
As if there was any question of that. “Of course.”
“Thank you.” Indulf laughed and kissed his son’s forehead. “I’ve missed you. I worried every day. Things will have to be adjusted for your return, but I’m never sending you away again. Do you understand me? Never.”
“I understand,” Warmund choked, then wrapped his arms around Indulf again. It felt so good, to be held by his father again. To have this trust, to know that he wasn’t alone.
They talked for a long time, with Penny eventually slipping away to go back to Anna to watch after the children. There were a lot of tears, and Warmund knew that he wasn’t going to be simply brought back into the fold as though nothing had happened. There had to be consequences for all his actions. He would face them gladly, though. He was home.
“Would you like to meet your sister?” Indulf asked after some time.
Warmund wiped his face, eyes brightening. “Yes, I would.”
“Then let’s go. It’s time to head to Earth for Friday night Dungeons and Dragons, anyway.”
Warmund’s brow furrowed. “What?”
Indulf laughed. “Anna will explain.”
As they headed away, Warmund contemplated his father. He was happier than Warmund had ever seen him. His smile was quick to appear and, when Anna, Penny and the children joined them, the light and love in his eyes as he kissed his mate and greeted his younger son was so beautiful that, for a moment, Warmund actually lost his breath.
This was what he had almost taken away from his father. This happiness. This light in his eyes.
Penny wrapped an arm around his waist and tugged him close to her as he carried the twins. Alex cooed in her arms. “Have a good talk?”
“Yeah. It was really good.”
Indulf smiled at him, then reached for Alex. “And this little guy is my grandson, eh?”
As Indulf took him, Alex opened his mouth and a projectile of vomit splashed over Indulf’s clothes. Warmund barked out a laugh, unable to stop himself. Indulf looked down at himself, then back up at Alex. The baby grinned a toothless grin and laughed. Indulf chuckled, cuddling him into his arms while Penny apologized over and over again.
“No need.” Indulf waved his hand. “Did you see that range? He’s going to have strong fires when he’s older. He’ll be a strong, brave young prince.”
Warmund’s heart glowed at the praise. He grinned at Indulf. “Like his grandfather.”
“Like this father.”
They soon headed to Earth. All of the others were gathered, along with the redhead that had recently moved into the house. She introduced herself as Hazel, but it was Katrina Warmund was most eager to meet. She rolled her eyes when Penny announced that she and Warmund were going to be married but still grinned at them.
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” she purred at them as she sat down at the table in front of a board game of some sort. “It seems like all you girls here have been kidnapped and come back saying you’re going to marry your kidnappers. Take note, Hazel,” she added, looking seriously at the redhead. “If you want a dragon, then first he has to kidnap you.”
Sylvia snorted and rolled her eyes. “Hendric didn’t kidnap me.”
“Well, you were still kidnapped.”
“I wasn’t,” Anna put in. “That was an accident.”
“Same here,” Penny added. “No kidnapping is needed. But you know what is needed? Drama. Lots of it.” She winked at Hazel, who smiled and laughed. Penny looked back to Warmund and slid her hand into his. “Right?”
Warmund glanced at Katrina. Yeah, she was wearing slightly worn clothing, but her eyes were bright. The smile on her face was genuine, and there was a sense of relaxation and utter contentment about her that couldn’t be faked. She radiated happiness. Devon and Maria had raised her well. Warmth flooded his chest and he squeezed Penny’s hand back.
“Oh, yeah. The drama is what sells it.”
Hazel laughed. “Well, I don’t intend to get a dragon. I’m here as a diplomat, after all. Ambassadors have to keep their minds off romance. Isn’t that right, your Majesty?”
Indulf rolled his eyes, but Anna scowled. “I told you not to call me that. Diplomat or not, don’t think I won’t sic a pack of ravenous werewolves on you. In the game,” she hurriedly added as Hazel’s eyes widened. “Not in real life. Werewolves aren’t real… At least…?”
She turned to Indulf with a question in her eye.
“I never met one.” He shrugged. “But, before we get into everything, I want to formally introduce all of you to my son, Warmund. And yes, this is a formal introduction to even those of you that know him.”
Hendric and Volcant both smiled and offered their hands. Warmund shook them awkwardly, then nodded in greeting to all the others in turn. When it came to Katrina, Indulf’s voice hitched a little on her name. It was so small, Warmund didn’t think that any of the others would have noticed. She smiled brightly, leaning her elbows on the table.
“Good to meet you, Mundie.”
The nickname caught him off guard. Warmund couldn’t help but laugh. “Uh… same to you.”
“You’d better treat my BFF right. ‘Cause prince or no prince, you make her cry and I’ll have to gut you.” Katrina winked at him. “In the game, of course.”
“Don’t worry.” He took Penny’s hand again and squeezed it. “I have spent a good portion of my life selfish and confused. But now, I know who I am, and I know what I want. I’m not going to risk that again.”
Penny grinned at him. And even though there was a slight pressure in his chest, a sadness for all the years that he wasn’t able to see his sister grow up, the greater part was full of hope. He couldn’t wait to get to know who she was now. And he couldn’t wait to watch his children grow up, with his mate at his side. And he had a little brother to look after, too.
This was what he wanted. Home. Family. He squeezed Penny’s hand again and smiled at his father. Love.
*****
THE END