A Clash of Storms (A Shade of Vampire #50)(75)

“I am so… so proud!” Zerus replied.

“Me too.” Dad winked at me. “Look at my little girl… A few weeks in a hostile environment and she’s already turned into a fierce young fire fae who can see the future. Hah!”

“And found herself quite the specimen for a boyfriend!” Mom added, giving Bijarki a wink.

I glanced at Bijarki, who was literally glowing with emotion, watching us all with a smile. I let Caia have the torch and turned toward him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He instantly responded with an embrace, and I looked up at him and smiled.

“Yeah, I got lucky,” I said. “This one lights up like a Christmas tree when you give him a compliment!”





Aida





Our parents hugged us for what felt like forever, and both Jovi and I would’ve held on for longer. They showered us with kisses, and we all cried, while River, Ben, and the Hawks held Field in a massive group hug. Laughter and cheers erupted around the hall as we relished being reunited with our families after weeks.

It was weird for Mom and Dad, as they’d spent twenty years without us, not even knowing we existed. They were so apologetic, their eyes filled with tears. They were still coming to terms with the fact that their memories had been completely erased. Jovi and I reassured them that it wasn’t their fault, that, in fact, it had been better this way because it saved them the pain of missing us.

“It’s all in the past now, Mom,” I said while Dad held me close and kissed the top of my head. Jovi wrapped his arms around our mother and purred like a kitten. “We’ve come a long way these past few weeks, and, if I do say so myself, we’ve come out as better creatures because of the experience.”

Mom looked at Jovi and me for a few moments, before she exhaled sharply and motioned for a young man to join our little celebration. The Eritopians had taken a few steps back, in the meantime, allowing us to spend time with our families. They watched quietly, with bright smiles on their faces, sharing the overall sense of joy and relief that our Shadians had brought with them.

“Jovi, Aida, there’s someone you need to meet,” Mom said.

The young man stopped in front of us, scratching the back of his head as he awkwardly smiled at us. I could immediately see a strong resemblance between him and Jovi—he was handsome, tall, and wiry, but with plenty of muscles distributed along his frame, curly black hair, and brown-golden eyes that popped thanks to his dark, smoothly trimmed stubble.

“This is Dmitri, your brother,” Dad introduced him.

Jovi and I were stunned, staring at Dmitri for several moments before we could utter any kind of coherent response.

“Well, then.” Jovi was the first to react, with his usual slightly inappropriate manner. “I see you two got busy while we were away.”

We all burst into laughter, and Jovi and I hugged Dmitri, overjoyed to welcome a brother into the fold.

“Welcome to the family, I guess,” I said with a grin.

“Complete family, that is,” Dmitri replied with a boyish smirk.

“Hey, the more the merrier, right?” Field interjected, coming next to me while his family circled around us. He put an arm around my waist and pulled me closer, prompting a look of surprise from Mom and Dad.

“You’re not the only one with news here.” I winked at my parents. “Field and I are together. There, I said it. Out loud.”

I held my breath, wondering whether we should’ve eased them into it a little bit more. But, then again, they’d just introduced us to a new brother. They had totally won the “bombshell news” challenge for the day. I took comfort in Field’s warmth as I examined the expressions around us.

The Hawks looked genuinely surprised, but grins soon emerged on their faces as they quickly adjusted to the change. River smiled at us, making sure to give me an encouraging nod to express her approval, while Mom teared up, hugging us both.

“I don’t know how this came to happen, and I’m sure you’ll tell us all about it later,” she sobbed. “But I’m so happy to see you all alive, strong, and healthy!”

I felt tears welling in my eyes, but I swallowed them back as I glanced around the throne room. Derek and Sofia were speaking to the Daughters, accompanied by Rose, Caleb, and the Shade witches. They occasionally looked at us, their smiles carrying the promise of catching up very soon. Dad, on the other hand, had his attention fixed on Field.

“Dad?” I said tentatively.

“Sorry, honey.” He snapped out of his trance. “I just… didn’t expect this. But if this is what you two want… If you’re both sure, I mean…”

“I love Aida,” Field said, prompting Dad to raise his eyebrows in surprise. “I fell in love with her in the middle of this mess. I would do anything for her.”

“And I love Field, Dad,” I said, leaning into him. “I’ve always had a massive crush on him, and my loudmouth brother decided that, you know, since we were fighting for our lives here, it was as good a time as any to tell Field about it.”

Jovi smirked in return, his arm around Dmitri’s shoulders. Dmitri was watching our exchange with curiosity and amusement flickering in his eyes.

“Oh, come on, Aida, this flying log wouldn’t have made a move if I hadn’t given him a little push.” Jovi winked.