Read Online CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Alex J. Cavanaugh
Ads: Link
it for a man he truly admired.”
Ernx sniffed and the message ended. Byron stared at the black screen. The tablet trembled in his hands. His friend had just lost his only son, and yet he still found it in his heart to send Byron such a moving message. Byron allowed his chin to fall to his chest.
I’m sorry your son had to die under my charge, he thought. I wish I’d known him better. I had no idea he admired me so much.
A touch on Byron’s shoulders startled him and he looked up. Bassan jumped, the tips of his fingers still touching his father. Byron stared at his son, surprised by the empathy in the boy’s thoughts. Steel blue eyes gazed back at him, but they were not cold or unfeeling. Instead, they mirrored an angst Byron had not seen since he gazed at his own childhood reflection.
“Bassan,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry, father,” his son said, removing his hand. “You just, sounded so sad, like you just lost a friend.”
Those words shot through Byron’s heart. Setting down the tablet, he reached for Bassan’s hand and pulled the boy close. Without hesitation, his son wrapped his arms around Byron’s neck. His thoughts were unshielded and Byron marveled at the love and adoration. Here Byron was lamenting not spending time with a friend’s son when he didn’t spend enough with his own. What if he’d lost Bassan today?
Byron?
Athee’s gentle voice entered his mind. If Bassan had caught Byron’s agonizing thoughts, then it was no surprise his mate heard as well.
I’m all right , Byron thought, still holding his son. He allowed her to glimpse the message and refrained from shielding his feelings regarding Menernx and Bassan.
I’m sorry, thought Athee in a whisper that caressed his mind. Your son adores you, though.
I know. He’s here with me now.
Then I will allow you two a moment together.
Her presence faded. Byron released his son and held Bassan at arm’s length. He noted the short, dark hair falling across his son’s forehead, a hint of wave in the locks. It complimented the darker skin; a trait inherited from his mother. Bassan’s thin frame held very still in Byron’s grasp, waiting obediently for his father to speak first.
Byron smiled and brushed aside the hair on Bassan’s forehead. “I think you’re going to grow up to be very handsome,” he said.
“Really?” Bassan said. “Mother said I would grow up to look like you. She told me that’s good, because you’re handsome.”
“Did she now?” said Byron, both amused and flattered his mate would say that to their son.
Bassan nodded. He licked his lips and drew back his shoulders. “Father, why were you so sad?”
Byron rubbed his son’s arms, contemplating his answer. “We lost some quality men today. One was the son of a very good friend of mine.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So am I. He was a superb pilot.”
Fear surfaced in Bassan’s thoughts. Byron sensed a combination of concern for Athee’s uncle and anxiety due to the part Bassan’s parents played in today’s battle. He gave his son a little shake.
“Hey, your mother and I are fine, and your uncle will recover. No need to worry.” With those words, the last trace of energy seeped from Byron’s body. “Why don’t we go to bed?”
His son nodded and Byron rose to his feet, every muscle protesting the movement. Before he could take a step, Bassan grabbed his hand.
“I don’t want to sleep alone in my bed,” he said, his voice cracking.
The request surprised Byron. He couldn’t recall the last time Bassan had been too frightened to sleep by himself. Glancing around the main room, Byron decided a change of scenery might be good for both of them.
“I’ll grab some blankets and we’ll sleep out here,” he offered. “Why don’t you go get ready for bed?”
Byron settled his son on the smaller couch before collapsing on the larger one. He pulled the covers to his chin and let his arms drop to his sides, ready to enjoy the lack of motion.
Ernx sniffed and the message ended. Byron stared at the black screen. The tablet trembled in his hands. His friend had just lost his only son, and yet he still found it in his heart to send Byron such a moving message. Byron allowed his chin to fall to his chest.
I’m sorry your son had to die under my charge, he thought. I wish I’d known him better. I had no idea he admired me so much.
A touch on Byron’s shoulders startled him and he looked up. Bassan jumped, the tips of his fingers still touching his father. Byron stared at his son, surprised by the empathy in the boy’s thoughts. Steel blue eyes gazed back at him, but they were not cold or unfeeling. Instead, they mirrored an angst Byron had not seen since he gazed at his own childhood reflection.
“Bassan,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry, father,” his son said, removing his hand. “You just, sounded so sad, like you just lost a friend.”
Those words shot through Byron’s heart. Setting down the tablet, he reached for Bassan’s hand and pulled the boy close. Without hesitation, his son wrapped his arms around Byron’s neck. His thoughts were unshielded and Byron marveled at the love and adoration. Here Byron was lamenting not spending time with a friend’s son when he didn’t spend enough with his own. What if he’d lost Bassan today?
Byron?
Athee’s gentle voice entered his mind. If Bassan had caught Byron’s agonizing thoughts, then it was no surprise his mate heard as well.
I’m all right , Byron thought, still holding his son. He allowed her to glimpse the message and refrained from shielding his feelings regarding Menernx and Bassan.
I’m sorry, thought Athee in a whisper that caressed his mind. Your son adores you, though.
I know. He’s here with me now.
Then I will allow you two a moment together.
Her presence faded. Byron released his son and held Bassan at arm’s length. He noted the short, dark hair falling across his son’s forehead, a hint of wave in the locks. It complimented the darker skin; a trait inherited from his mother. Bassan’s thin frame held very still in Byron’s grasp, waiting obediently for his father to speak first.
Byron smiled and brushed aside the hair on Bassan’s forehead. “I think you’re going to grow up to be very handsome,” he said.
“Really?” Bassan said. “Mother said I would grow up to look like you. She told me that’s good, because you’re handsome.”
“Did she now?” said Byron, both amused and flattered his mate would say that to their son.
Bassan nodded. He licked his lips and drew back his shoulders. “Father, why were you so sad?”
Byron rubbed his son’s arms, contemplating his answer. “We lost some quality men today. One was the son of a very good friend of mine.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So am I. He was a superb pilot.”
Fear surfaced in Bassan’s thoughts. Byron sensed a combination of concern for Athee’s uncle and anxiety due to the part Bassan’s parents played in today’s battle. He gave his son a little shake.
“Hey, your mother and I are fine, and your uncle will recover. No need to worry.” With those words, the last trace of energy seeped from Byron’s body. “Why don’t we go to bed?”
His son nodded and Byron rose to his feet, every muscle protesting the movement. Before he could take a step, Bassan grabbed his hand.
“I don’t want to sleep alone in my bed,” he said, his voice cracking.
The request surprised Byron. He couldn’t recall the last time Bassan had been too frightened to sleep by himself. Glancing around the main room, Byron decided a change of scenery might be good for both of them.
“I’ll grab some blankets and we’ll sleep out here,” he offered. “Why don’t you go get ready for bed?”
Byron settled his son on the smaller couch before collapsing on the larger one. He pulled the covers to his chin and let his arms drop to his sides, ready to enjoy the lack of motion.
Similar Books
