Damn. His eyes burned.
“You’re lucky to have a dad like him.”
“He’s yours now, too. You’ll give him a chance to prove it, won’t you?”
That choked him up, and he worked not to show it. “You bet, baby. Say, how are his soldiers?”
She looked sad. “They lost a few, but not as many as they should have, considering how outnumbered they were. There’s something else, though.” She hesitated.
“What is it?”
“Zan was hurt. Remember how I said he couldn’t take another trauma to his head without risk?” Kalen nodded in dread. “He suffered another blow to the skull during the battle, and he was bleeding badly from his ears when we brought him in. When everything was over, he was deaf.”
Kalen stared at her. “He can’t hear? Is it permanent?”
“We don’t know for sure. He’s not human, so there’s a chance that he’ll hear again one day. But for now, nothing.”
“Tell me it wasn’t my fault,” he pleaded. If he’d caused Zan to go deaf with the explosion, he’d never forgive himself.
“I’m not going to lie—we don’t know how much the blow to his head factored in, versus the explosion. He’s not saying much about it.”
“Will he see me?”
“Soon. He needs time to heal and rest, same as you.”
There was no arguing that, so his visit with Zan would have to wait. He needed to get well. He had a mate to care for and a baby to buy lots of cute baby things for, too.
“The baby,” he rasped. “He’s really okay?”
“I wouldn’t lie to you, especially about that.” She smiled at his use of “he” for their child. Taking his free hand, she scooted forward and let his palm rest on her tummy. “The baby’s fine. See?”
Reaching out with a tendril of magic, he searched. And found the tiny life warm and safe in his nest. Tears pricked his eyes. “I don’t know how to be a father. It’s not like I’ve had a great example to follow.”
“Oh, honey.” She stroked his hair. “You’re going be a great daddy, because you’ll want to give him all the love and support you never had from your folks. If anything, I’ll have to worry about you going overboard, doting too much and spoiling him rotten!” Now she’d said “he,” too. Kalen’s enthusiasm was rubbing off.
Grinning tiredly, he nodded. “I’m gonna buy him all kinds of boy stuff. Footballs, toy trucks, trains—”
“What if it’s a girl?” she teased.
“Hmm. Then she’ll be a tomboy. All us guys around here will make sure of that.”
She laughed. “No doubt.”
“I love you, Mac.” He yawned.
“That’s the second time you’ve called me that. Or is it the third?”
“Don’t know, but it’s growing on me. Doesn’t make me think of a trucker anymore.”
She laughed. “Well, that’s flattering. Sleep, Sorcerer.”
He drifted off, thinking he was a lucky man. A guy who’d never had a real family except his grandma, whom he’d lost way too soon, now had a compound full of brothers.
And several real brothers, including his and Sariel’s half siblings, whom he couldn’t wait to get to know better. Though it still wasn’t fair that he had to wait a few thousand years to get his wings.
He guessed you couldn’t have it all. But you could damned sure try.
* * *
Three days after Kalen woke up in the infirmary, the Pack threw him a party in the rec room. Everyone was there, including Sariel and Jarrod Grant. That really got to him. Because in all his life, nobody had ever done that. Just celebrated him being alive and loved. It was every missed, lonely birthday rolled into one.
All of them had trooped through his hospital room constantly, jabbering about this and that. But they’d all avoided any conversation that might be deemed mushy in any way. So now, in true guy form, they let him know how sorry they were and how much they cared.
Nick was the first one to speak to him, beer bottle in hand, loud enough that the whole group could hear him. Well, except for Zander. “These damned visions of mine don’t always show the whole picture. Wish they did, but they don’t. So I’m sorry I gave you such a hard time. And, oh yeah—sorry I shot you.”
Kalen smiled. “Forgiven. Though A.J.’s rifle packs a helluva punch. Just sayin’, so you’ll feel worse.”
“Thanks a bunch.”
Aric took a turn next. “And I’m sorry I was such an asshole to you in the beginning. Mostly.” A few of the guys snickered, and the redhead frowned. “What?”
“So where’s our apology?” Jax goaded. “You’re always an asshole to us.”
“Hey, that’s my mate, fur face,” Rowan said, punching Jax in the arm.
“Ow.”
That pretty much set the tone for the party, light-hearted and everyone poking fun at one another. Pointing out their own faults for Kalen’s benefit, laughing at themselves. They needn’t have bothered, but it was nice. He felt included, and that was a great feeling.
He endured careful hugs, but he didn’t mind much. Especially the gesture from Sariel. His brother. He could hardly believe it as they stood regarding each other, the warmth filling his chest. Kalen cleared his throat. “I’m not used to having family that’s worth a damn, and it’s going to take some getting used to. But I’m glad you’re my brother.”
“So am I, Kalen.” The prince’s golden eyes were suspiciously moist. “One day I’ll get to introduce you to the rest of our brothers, and you’ll love them too.”
The idea made him a little nervous, but he smiled anyway. “I’ll look forward to it.” They shared an embrace that healed one last hole in Kalen’s battered heart. He had a feeling they were going to be close, and he welcomed that joy.
Zan moved from his corner at the fringes of the party and joined Kalen as Sariel released him. They stood awkwardly studying each other until Zan spoke with some difficulty.
“Not your fault,” he said with an odd drawl, gesturing to his ears. “Sluagh knocked the shit out of me.”
When Kalen replied, he made sure to speak slowly and clearly as Mackenzie had instructed him. “Still, I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”