Chapter Twenty Five

It had been a miracle leaving the shooting range unnoticed. But right when Nightmahre kicked the door close, he took Gabrielle right to the bed and they hadn't left it until the shutters opened to reveal the night. Still in bed together, Nightmahre brushed a strand of hair behind Gabrielle's ear as she slept.

He had her back. Nightmahre had his Gabrielle back. Now they just had to get past the wretched vision and look forward. The thought of looking forward with Gabrielle brought another smile to Nightmahre. He couldn't wait that he wished the vision would happen already and prove it wrong.

Gabrielle stirred and her eyes fluttered open. Her hand touched his and she drew it to her lips. Placing a gentle kiss on the back of his hand, she brought her hands up and pulled him close. Kissing him the way she had just done, her lips felt soft under his touch that a low growl radiated from him. Nightmahre could smell his scent all over her and he was glad that his scent was back on her.

Pulling back, Nightmahre rolled onto his side and stared up at the ceiling. Gabrielle snuggled close to him that he placed a protective arm around her.

"Hohnihohkaiyohos?"

Another thing he had missed was the way she called him by the name she gave to him. To answer her, he simply sighed. He knew what she wanted to ask. When they had been like this last time, they told each other about their past. But Nightmahre had only told half of his past. And after what he said hours ago, it was time to tell the rest of his story.

"Sohrrow is a twin."

Nightmahre felt Gabrielle shift under his hold. Her curiosity was back as well that he could feel her doing her best to hold back questions.

"His name was Ahnger. He was born mere seconds after Sohrrow and he's the third oldest of the five."

"I never heard of him. Sohrrow and the others never mentioned him."

"They wouldn't. We haven't talked about our brother or our father for so long." Nightmahre just opened old wounds he and his brothers mended. They had told their shellans about their past just like when Nightmahre told Rhoslyn. Now it was Gabrielle's turn to know about his family's past.

"Our mahmen died giving birth to Phride. She lived long enough to hold him and died with a smile on her face. My father never sought out another female after her death. We didn't mourned her death. In fact, we lived on with her memory. She wouldn't want us to feel sad for her that we simply thought of her death as another way of moving into the next life. She was strong and wasn't afraid to die.

"After her passing, it wasn't long when Sohrrow met Lhyra. Ehnvy had just went through his transition and Phride was only a few years away. The one happiest for Sohrrow was Ahnger. Since they were young, the two had been inseparable. They had trained together, hunted together and went through their transition together. They were, of course, different in ways. Sohrrow always had a fondness for fighting that he tried to be the strongest. Ahnger didn't have to try. He was just a natural fighter. He was so good that when our father wasn't training us, he would be helping Sohrrow."

"They were really close."

"Yeah. Because of that, Sohrrow took it bad."

"What do you mean?"

Nightmahre drew in a steady breath. He then rolled to his side where he was facing Gabrielle.

"A few months before Sohrrow and Lhyra had their bonding ceremony, Ahnger and our father disappeared."

Gabrielle flattened her lips together. She wanted to ask what happened but wanted Nightmahre to go at his own pace. He sighed when she held back. Tracing her face, he continued."

"My father, Mehrcy, and Ahnger had left one night to go hunting. They never returned. When I went to look for them the next day, there was nothing but dried blood. A lot of blood. I thought lessers found them but there was no sign of an attack. The only sign they had been in the area was the blood. It took Sohrrow a couple of days to come to terms with it. We haven't talked about that day since."

Gabrielle hesitated when she asked. "So…do you think they're dead?"

"There hasn't been a day where I've asked myself the same question. But unlike my brother, I think so. Fighting came naturally to Ahnger and our father was the strongest Brother during his time. Only something stronger than them could've caused that much blood. So yes, I think my father and brother are dead."

He waited for Gabrielle to say something. Instead, she curled up against him and rested her head under his chin. Sensing the need for comfort, Nightmahre held Gabrielle and accepted her comfort. It had been so long since he told anyone what happened with his family that he didn't notice he was shaking.

Nightmahre really missed his father and brother. It just had to be him to find the evidence they might never come back home. Ehnvy and Phride were in shock that they didn't know what to do. Sohrrow argued with Nightmahre, refusing to believe that his twin was dead. It was because of Lhyra that Sohrrow didn't end up like Nightmahre when he lost Rhoslyn. But the fact was that they lost two members of their family at the same time. And after that, Nightmahre lost Rhoslyn.

When he stopped shaking, Gabrielle looked up at him.

"You're right. I'm not the only one who's lost people who I cared about. What I fool I was to push you away."

"You weren't a fool. You were just doing what you thought was best to lessen the pain. I numbed myself for decades after losing Rhoslyn. It was the only thing you knew. But next time, I'll bring in a bag for you to punch. I don't think I can take another one of your hits."

Annoyance ran across Gabrielle's face. It seemed that she forgot all about her father until he brought it up. Now that she remembered, it almost looked like she was ready to jump ship and confront her father.

"I promise," she hissed, "I'll have a talk with my dad."

"Why don't I get the feeling it'll be a nice chat?"

"Please. The last time I had a nice chat with him was when I learned how to ride a back. We've been equals ever since. So since he threatened you, it's my turn to do the same."

Nightmahre couldn't help himself. He laughed at the idea. Even though he just talked to Gabrielle's father on the phone, he had a feeling the two were two peas in a pod. It would be interesting if he ever got to meet Christopher Seeing Bird.

When Gabrielle told him to stop laughing, Nightmahre rolled on top of her and kissed her. Her thoughts of revenge vanished and she kissed him back. It would be another hour or two before they decided to go downstairs. Until then, they stayed in bed taking one another.