The darkness enveloped him as he left his brother's home. He really shouldn't have gone to see Lochlan, but he knew in his heart he couldn't leave things between them the way they were. The angry words they had exchanged the last time they were together had weighed heavily on his mind. This was to be his only chance to make things right with at least one of his brothers.
Acheron had been clear in his instructions. One visit, one brother. One last time. Kieran could have no more contact with his family. To do so would not only bring them pain as they would not understand that he was no longer human, but it would open them up to the threat of Daimons.
His only regret was that he couldn't make the same apologies to his other brothers, Sin, Braden, and Ewan, as well as his mother. He would like to have seen her once more. To tell her he loved her, and ask her forgiveness. He would have liked to have met his brother's wives. To see them happy as he had seen Lochlan.
He was grateful that Sin had been welcomed back to the family in which he belonged. He was proud of his mother for finally accepting that Sin was not to blame for their father's deeds. Welcoming Sin as one of her own sons was a reminder that the mother he knew was still inside her.
He was happy for Braden, finally finding love, and a place to belong. For Ewan to finally have peace without the self doubt and blame that he had carried all these years.
Duncan. The brother he kept secret from the rest of the family. Another of his father's bastards. Honestly, there was no telling how many others were out there. The man certainly never cared where and how far he spread his seed.
He was content that Duncan would survive. It was, after all what Kieran gave his life, and soul for. Duncan was injured, horribly, but he still lived. And that was all that mattered to Kieran. He tried so hard to protect Duncan from the time he discovered him to the moment of his death. Now, it was up to Duncan.
Kieran sighed. His thoughts ran rampant in his mind. He knew he had to go, but he had one more stop to make. Lochlan had not said anything, but knew about his son. Each time his family thought of him, he heard.
When he had first learned of Connor, he had been in the bowels of hell.