The Demon Who Fed on a Shark (13 page)

Just as they were reaching for each other, the voice of Morgan’s

dad intervened. “Not so fast,” Skylar said. “If we agree to this, there are conditions.”

“Conditions?” Rhys repeated. “What conditions?”

“First of all, I will require tangible proof that what you’re saying

is true. Then, if we do proceed with this arrangement, the child should be raised by us,” Skylar said coolly. “I don’t trust any of you with my grandson or granddaughter. Since he or she will have incubus blood,

we will provide education regarding incubi from a third party elected by me and Byron.”

Alexis backed away from Morgan and looked like he was going to

faint. “What? You…You can’t mean that. ”

Morgan gaped at his dad in shock. He’d never expected Skylar to

go quite so far with this. “Dad…”

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“No, Morgan. Please, be silent. This is for your own good. I can’t

allow you to be enslaved by an incubus forever. I will love and accept any child of yours, but that love cannot extend to a person who made

you suffer so much.”

“Dad’s right, Morgan,” Layton said. “What are you going to do,

be at his disposal forever? You need to rebuild your life with someone deserving. You need to find your true mate. You can’t do that with

this filth dragging you down.”

Morgan opened his mouth to explain that Alexis was his mate,

that he didn’t need anyone else, that he was convinced everything

could be solved if they only just tried. But he didn’t get the chance to say anything. A small, cold answer tore into his heart and his soul.

“Okay,” Alexis replied. “You win. You can have Morgan’s child.”

* * * *

Even as he spoke, Alexis felt the tremors of self-loathing and

despair course through him. He already loved his unborn child so

much it hurt. This morning, Rhys had taken him to see a doctor, and

for the first time, the situation had really struck home. He’d realized his future and responsibility. It had been a light in the darkness of his life, a hope that he could regain something from what he’d lost. A

small part of him had even dared to dream that he could rebuild his

relationship with Morgan.

But having Morgan’s family here, hearing them speaking, hearing

Morgan and seeing his dismayed expression put things in perspective.

Layton was right. Alexis couldn’t expect Morgan to forever cater to

his need to feed. At the same time, though, Alexis didn’t fool himself.

He knew he could never accept another’s touch now that he’d known

Morgan’s. This only meant one thing—that after the birth of his child, he would die.

He felt a strange sense of calm settling over him at the realization.

Knowing his future and acknowledging what he was fighting for gave

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him the strength to agree to the terrible trade. In the end, his own

existence didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that his

baby would receive the best of care. Of that, he had no doubt. Even if the Cunninghams hated him, they were a warm, loving family and

would care for his child, simply because he or she was Morgan’s.

But Skylar wasn’t done, not by a long shot. “And if you’re going

to do this, it’s going to be on our terms, in our house, under our

supervision, where we can make sure you won’t hurt Morgan again.”

Alexis suppressed a shudder at the thought of returning to the

Cunningham mansion. It would be so degrading and so taxing. He

knew how it would go. He’d be assigned a room and locked inside for

the remainder of his pregnancy. If he did go out, it would be only to take a few breaths of fresh air, for his health and that of the child.

For a few moments, he was struck by the injustice of it all. When

had his life gone astray? Why had he gotten to this point, where he

found himself forced to accept every demand and humiliation? Did he

truly deserve all this loathing? God, he didn’t know, and it was too

late for regrets. He’d made his choices. Whether or not they’d been

the right ones, it would probably remain a mystery. Looking back, he

couldn’t imagine what he should have done differently. Even before

he’d seduced Layton, the Cunninghams hadn’t wanted him there. His

love for Morgan was impossible.

But he couldn’t say either of those things, so instead, he nodded.

“All right.”

“Great.” Morgan’s voice was cold as ice. “Go pack your bags.

We’re leaving.”

Morgan’s emotions assaulted Alexis, full, deep, and familiar, a

mix of anger, shock, and a different emotion Alexis couldn’t quite

grasp. Alexis didn’t dare to look at the shark again. For a few

moments, he’d thought that Morgan was on his side, but obviously

not.

Rhys grabbed Alexis’s arm again. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to

speak to my brother in my private.

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Morgan waved them off. “Just make it quick. We don’t have all

day.”

It was so odd and heartbreaking to be dismissed by Morgan like

that. Alexis allowed his brother to drag him off into a side room and collapsed on a couch as soon as the door closed.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Rhys snarled. “You’re not in

any state to travel, and the way those people will treat you will just hurt you further.”

“They wouldn’t risk harming the baby,” Alexis argued.

“Do you really believe that, or do you just want to believe it?”

Rhys glowered at him. “You heard them. They hate you. And for

what? For being an incubus? They already knew that when they

received you into their home. They’re the ones who made the mistake,

not you.”

Rhys cupped his cheek gently. “I wish you’d stop punishing

yourself for something that isn’t your fault.” His fingers trailed

Alexis’s scar, making Alexis want to shy away. “This doesn’t mean

you don’t deserve to be loved, or that Morgan never loved you. Why

are you so stubborn?”

“What do you expect me to do?” Alexis hated the weakness of his

own voice. “I can’t turn back time. I can’t be Morgan’s mate. We

already tried that, and it didn’t work.”

“So find out why it didn’t. At least make the attempt. Whatever

the Cunninghams say, that child in your womb needs both parents, not

just one.”

Alexis wanted to believe that. He desperately yearned to be his

baby’s father, to see his son grow up, start talking and walking. But could he do it? Did he deserve it?

“And whatever you’re thinking,” Rhys continued, “you’re wrong.

You are this child’s parent. Nothing can ever change that. And the

only thing that could render you incapable of caring for your baby is if you didn’t love him or her, which I know isn’t true. Think, Alexis.

Do you really believe your child won’t need both his fathers?”

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Of course he didn’t believe that. As a half-breed, the baby would

have a difficult time adjusting. Alexis couldn’t allow his child to be alone. He needed to face the consequences of his own actions, not

give up like a coward. He wasn’t ready to die, not yet, not when he

still had so much to live for.

He couldn’t help a small smile. “Who knew you were so smart?

What happened to being afraid of Father finding out?”

Rhys shrugged. “He probably will, but whatever. I’ve never been

close to a brother before, so being here, feeling your emotions…I just don’t want you to hurt anymore, okay?”

Alexis nodded and licked his lips. He shouldn’t be so hasty to give

up hope. His child deserved better. Perhaps Alexis and Morgan

couldn’t be mates, but they could at least get along, for the baby’s

benefit. And the Cunninghams were wrong. Alexis had as much right

over the child as Morgan did. He was the one who felt him or her

growing inside. As the baby developed, Alexis would even sense its

incipient emotions. From what he’d heard, it was a very special thing.

Unfortunately, most demon couples didn’t fully appreciate it beyond

the first years of the baby’s life since they were lost in other feelings, other sensations. But Alexis wouldn’t make that mistake. Alexis

would cling to this bond. He owed it to himself, to Morgan and his

baby.

The first step was facing the Cunninghams and communicating his

decision. They would protest, of course, but they’d agree in the end.

Alexis would go with them, but he would no longer accept their

harassment. What was done was done. He’d made his mistakes, but

no one out there was guilt free. So let them throw the first stone if they believed themselves innocent of all wrong doing. Alexis knew

better.

He’d use this opportunity to reconnect with the people who’d

been his friends. He didn’t know what Angel and Clark believed of

him now, but Angel had been Alexis’s first real friend, and Alexis

missed him. He wanted to have Angel there during his pregnancy, and

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of course Rhys. Rhys had helped him a lot, and even if they hadn’t

been very close in the beginning, Alexis couldn’t imagine what he’d

have done without his brother.

He took a few deep breaths and gathered his wits. “Okay. Thanks.

I’m ready.”

They stepped out of the room and returned to their guests. The

Cunninghams hadn’t moved from where they’d been left, and Alexis

straightened his back and gestured them to a receiving room. “Please, come in. We have more to discuss. I’m afraid I’ve been hasty, and it

would be better if we understood each other from the very

beginning.” His gaze fell on Morgan. “And I would much rather if I

could talk to you alone, Morgan. In the end, this child is ours, and the responsibility falls on us, not on our parents and brothers.”

Alexis could feel the anger spike in the room, but Morgan didn’t

allow his family to speak again. “You’re right. We need to talk

alone.”

Before either of them could say another word, Morgan stalked to

Alexis’s side, his entire being radiating a wide array of emotions

Alexis couldn’t even begin to keep track of. For that reason, he and, in his opinion, everyone else were surprised when Morgan took

Alexis in his arms and rushed out of the hallway.

He stalked up the stairs, heading straight toward Alexis’s room. It

was somewhat surprising since Morgan couldn’t have known where

Alexis’s chambers were located. But then again, in his time with

Morgan, Alexis had learned not to underestimate the shark. Morgan

often knew things he shouldn’t, simply because of his advanced

senses.

Morgan nudged the door open and stepped toward the bed. His

eyes took in everything in the room, as if he were trying to find clues regarding Alexis’s stay and what he’d done while here. Alexis didn’t

dare feel offended. Morgan’s arms around him felt too good, and he

felt too warm inside to question a few technicalities. And then

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Morgan placed him on the bed. The warmth disappeared, and Alexis

was left with no choice but to face Morgan’s scrutinizing gaze.

“Tell me, Alexis. From the beginning. Why did you leave? Why

are you doing this?”

“Do you not know?” Alexis replied in a small voice.

“Don’t answer a question with a question.” Morgan sat on the

edge of the mattress, and somehow, the way the bed dipped when the

shark moved comforted Alexis in its familiarity. “You wanted to

speak, so speak. Why are you pregnant in the first place?”

Alexis decided to address that question first. “I saw a doctor this

morning. He seems to believe that my relationship with you hastened

my maturing process. It’s not all the way complete, though, and the

doctor is concerned.”

Morgan’s lips were a straight line. “Concerned. Why?”

“He fears that I might have trouble carrying the pregnancy to

term, especially with…with the other parent away.” Alexis licked his

dry lips. “I know this is a lot to ask for, Morgan, but I truly need you to get through this.”

For a few moments, Morgan didn’t speak. Then, bringing their

bodies close, Morgan hugged him tight. “Why didn’t you call me

sooner, baby?” he asked. “Why did you do this to yourself? Do you

have any idea how frightening it is for me to see you like this?”

Now that he was paying attention, Alexis could indeed feel

Morgan’s fear. A part of him taunted him with the idea that it was just the concern for their child, not Alexis himself, but still, even if that was the case, it meant progress of a kind.

Slowly, hesitantly, Alexis hugged Morgan back. “I just didn’t

know how to approach you. You saw how your family acted earlier.”

Morgan broke away from their embrace. “Do you blame them?”

Alexis tensed and took a deep breath. He couldn’t really expect

Morgan to just forget about what had happened. He still owed

Morgan an explanation, along with many other things.

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To his surprise, Morgan grabbed his chin and forced their eyes to

meet. “Never mind. Let’s leave it at that for today. You need me, and I need you.”

Alexis opened his mouth to protest, but Morgan’s lips landed on

his own, and he forgot about everything else except his lover. His

hunger roared through him, more intense than ever, and he clung to