Are you expecting someone? he asked the small dog at his feet and smiled when Scrappy, who had stopped by for a visit, barked and took off running for the front door.
Michael followed the little canine and couldnt help but chuckle softly when he saw the dog jumping up and down in front of the door excitedly. His expression softened when he felt the warmth that only Auroras nearness could cause and his blood heated as he thought of a way to distract himself from his momentary demon obsession.
He opened the door hoping for the urgent seduction that normally sidetracked them before they could even greet each other but his eyes widened when he saw Kane standing there with Aurora and Skye. Kane suddenly smirked and threw his arms out wide making Michael take a step back.
HONEY, IM HOME! Kane shouted just before jumping through the door and wrapping himself around Michael like a slinky.
Kane, Michael complained and tried to disengage himself from his brothers death grip. This wasnt exactly the contact he had in mind not to mention the wrong person had their legs wrapped around him.
I just missed you sooooooo much, Kane said with a fake sob. You never call or write.
All expression left Michaels face while Skye and Aurora looked on with amused smirks. Its barely been twenty-four hours.
Kane buried his face in Michaels neck, I know too long right?
Michael sighed and motioned the Fallen inside, Welcome to my home, please make yourselves comfortable while I manage a new growth thats sprung up. He pushed at Kane trying to dislodge him but was again unsuccessful.
Aurora frowned not getting the joke, A new growth?
Skye shook his head and steered Aurora inside, Pay them no mind. Some siblings are just that way. They tease one another just to be lovingly annoying.
Oh, Auroras expression brightened and she wiggled her eyebrows. Just like I used to beg you for piggy-back rides whenever you decided to flirt with a woman?
Yes, Skye said with a grin and poked her forehead, Like I said siblings.
Aurora looked down when she heard a bark and her eyes began to glitter when she saw a small puppy dancing around her feet. Oh how sweet. Is this your puppy Michael?
Kane quickly lifted his head from Michaels neck, Scrappy, so this is where youve been hiding out.
Scrappy gave a half growl as if to say where else would I be and started to hop around Auroras legs again. Giving in, Aurora stooped down to pick up the loveable puppy. Scrappy immediately began to wiggle around trying to lick Auroras face while sneaking quick peeks at Skye.
Skye reached out and ran his hand down the puppys back admiring the softness of its fur. I think he likes you, he winked.
Hes adorable, Aurora cooed. You said his name is Scrappy?
Kane pouted at Michael when he finally lost the hug fight they had been having. He nodded at Aurora, Yeah, Scrappy has been with me for a while now but for some reason hes felt the need to stay with Michael as of late. Probably because this house is so big that Michael would get lost in it without him. He made the joke due to Auroras thoughts on Michaels loneliness.
I would not, Michael said with an outraged tone in his voice. Hanging around Kane when his brother was in a goofy mood sometimes annoyingly rubbed off on him. Ill have you know that I have more hidey-holes in this place than you would ever find. And yes, unlike your inability to remember womens names I do remember where they all are.
What about the time you got lost on your way to the bathroom and opened the closet? Kane asked with a smirk.
I was drunk, Michael answered glowering at him.
Kane looked over at Scrappy accusingly, You seriously need to stop cheating on me with such a moody grouch. He reached out to lift the puppy from Auroras arms but paused almost swearing he was being glared at by his normally adoring pet.
Scrappy looked at Kane and growled to show he disagreed with the suggestion of staying away from Michael and his masters intent of taking him from the pretty girls well rounded bosom.
Skye stopped petting Scrappy and jerked his hand away when he saw the puppys eyes turn blood red. He quickly stepped back from the Yorkie with a startled expression.
Is he a demon? Skye asked in confusion.
Kane smiled fondly, No, I happened to have found him during a very dark period in my life and changed him accidentally. As far as I can tell, Scrappy will never grow old and never die though he does seem quite happy with the arrangement.
So hes a Sun Gods familiar? Aurora asked curiously having seen demons take on animals in much the same way.
Kane and Michael looked at each other with thoughtful expressions.
It would make sense, Kane said with a shrug of his shoulders. Hes just always been Scrappy Ive never thought of it that way.
Would either of you care for something to drink? Michael asked but his eyes were on Aurora.
Kane raised his hand and wiggled his fingers, Ill take some of the best alcohol in the house. He grabbed his ribs where Michael elbowed him and wheezed, Never mind I can wait.
Aurora shook her head at their playfulness. Not right now but Id really like to see your library.
Michael smiled at the obvious glint in her eyes and gave her a slight bow, Right this way my dear.
When Aurora took Michaels offered hand Kane leaned in close to him from the other side.
Laying it on a little heavy arent we? Kane asked in a stage whisper.
You are just jealous because you didnt think to try kindness as a way to woo Tabatha, Michael shot back with a wicked grin.
That was different, Kane whined chasing after Michael and Aurora with Skye bringing up with rear laughing quietly at him.
How was it different? Michael asked with playful curiosity.
Tabatha is my boss. Kane stated with authority. I had no choice but to fall for her charms and stalk her to the ends of the earth. He paused for a moment and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, Then again she is my soul mate so I guess an eternity of servitude to the loveliest sexiest woman in the world is worth it.
Touché, Michael muttered deciding Kanes nonsense sometimes made perfect sense.
Auroras eyes widened again when Michael escorted her into the huge library. The room was circular with high windows all around and there were bookshelves filled from floor to ceiling with nothing but books of all shapes and sizes. Comfortable overstuffed chairs and loveseats were placed around the room accompanied by small elegantly carved tables.
Oh wow, Skye whispered and wandered over to one of the shelves. He ran his fingers over the bindings as he skimmed the titles. All of the ones in this section seemed to pertain to the laws of physics with everything from Plato to Albert Einstein and even more recent works from Nassim Haramein.
Is something wrong? Michael asked when he saw the overwhelmed expression on Auroras face.
Aurora let her gaze drift around the room trying not to feel intimidated. Where where would I even start? she said and suddenly smiled remembering that Skye had said the more she read the less childish her reactions to things would be. Shed argued that she wasnt a child but secretly, she knew Skye was right. She lifted her chin not wanting Michael to think she was childish.
Is something wrong? Michael asked when he saw the overwhelmed expression on Auroras face.
Aurora let her gaze drift around the room trying not to feel intimidated. Where where would I even start? she said and suddenly smiled remembering that Skye had said the more she read the less childish her reactions to things would be. Shed argued that she wasnt a child but secretly, she knew Skye was right. She lifted her chin not wanting Michael to think she was childish.
I actually picked out some of the fairytales for Skye to start you out with since thats what most humans read when they first learn how, Michael said and leaned closer as if sharing a secret, its the magic of fairytales that make most people fall in love with reading. Im not sure what his teaching method is, but if he was able to learn how to read in such a short span of time then Im guessing it will work the same way with you.
Skye, Aurora called him over hoping Michael was right about how quickly she could learn to do this. Can we start with these?
Skye moved away from the shelf he was looking at and approached the stacks of books Aurora indicated. These are good ones to start out with, Skye agreed seeing some he had really enjoyed and a couple he had yet to read.
Oh goody, Kane said and rubbed his palms together. I get to play with Michael while Aurora has her reading lessons. He grabbed Michael by the arm and dragged him out of the library leaving the door open in case Aurora or Skye needed them.
He smirked at the slowness of Michaels steps and the way he cast a longing glance back down the hall. Come on lover-boy, you will only distract her from her studies. You want her to make straight As dont you?
Michael turned his head and gave Kane a mock glare, I know how to behave.
So says the man that has sex in subway tunnels, Kane shot back with a grin having read Michaels wishful thoughts of bare skin before hed even opened the door.
Back in the library, Skye shook his head when Aurora started flipping through the pages of one of the books, her eyes bright with curiosity. He sat down on the floor beside the stack of books Michael had set out and pointed at the spot in front of him, Right here bright eyes and bring the book.
Aurora giggled at Skyes choice of words and sat down facing him to where their knees were touching. She held the book out to Skye anxious to get started and wondering how he was going to teach her. However, instead of taking it from her, he gently pushed her hands down until the book was lying on the floor in the little circle between them.
The first thing I want you to do is touch the book with your fingertips, Skye instructed and smiled at her when she instantly obeyed. Now, remember what we used to do when Id go hunting or exploring with the boys from the tribe and you had to stay behind with the girls?
Yeah, Aurora said with a conspiratorial nod. She leaned toward him and lowered her voice as if it were still their little secret. You used to show me your memories when you got back. The memories were so vivid that I always felt like Id been with you sometimes I could even feel the rain on my face or smell the flowers.
Skye nodded, Thats right, and thats exactly how Im going to teach you to read. Im going to give you my memories of learning how. Clear your mind and come into me.
He smiled when he saw that shed already closed her eyes. Reaching out, Skye laid his hands over hers and let his mind drift back into the past more specifically to when hed first found the storage room under the library. He felt Auroras hands flinch when she felt his loneliness but he couldn't hide it from her.
He was lying on the old dusty sofa that had been stored in the basement of the building and out of boredom started flipping through pages of one of the many books that had pictures in it. His eyes snapped up when he heard the door above him slam followed by footsteps. Skye had promptly hid in the darkness on top of one of the high bookshelves as an elderly man came downstairs with a stack of books.
He listened as the old man muttered to himself, complaining about the wonderful classics being hidden away like something obscene and set his load of books down on one of the many boxes, coughing when a small cloud of dust rose from the impact. The man stood there a moment before lifting the top book from the pile and reading some of it out loud.
Skye was mesmerized by the spoken words enough to let his aura stretch out and touch the mans mind while he read. Hearing the words and learning to navigate the letters using the intellect of the old man, Skye realized hed opened a whole new world of vast information and contentment.
After the old man left the large storage area, Skye approached the stack of books and began to look through them more closely this time. It was no longer the pictures he was interested in. Hed spent the following days teaching himself to merely understand the contents of the books word for word just by letting his aura reach for the books the same way hed reached for the mans mind.
The words flew through his mind like a breeze of knowledge. The more he did it the faster he became until he could read an encyclopedia within the span of a few minutes and then topped it off with a work of fiction to stimulate his imagination.
Oh wow, Aurora breathed as she absorbed Skyes knowledge through their link.
Skye left the past behind him and opened his eyes, Now I want you to try it.
He smiled again when Aurora tilted her head to the side and turned her attention to the book under her fingers. He quickly came into her mind and shared the experience as the first words shed ever read began to drift through her mind and into his.
Chapter 4
Needing something to do, the boys had made their way to the kitchen where Michael poured both of them a glass of red wine.
Michael inhaled deeply, still feeling a slight rush of power from the demon hunting hed done earlier in the day. He smirked in satisfaction knowing he could give that rush a boost as soon as he got the chance to get back out there among the demons. He glanced up and caught Kane watching him closely then frowned when the blonde quickly lowered his eyes to the drink and picked it up.
So, Michael picked his own glass up becoming suspicious, how is it that you showed up at the same time that Aurora and Skye were coming to visit?
Kane shrugged, Kriss and Dean invited Tabatha and I over for dinner and they showed up so we turned it into a dinner party. They mentioned they were headed over here and I figured since I havent really had a chance to talk to you I just wanted to check in.
Michael frowned, You werent getting smokes this time?
Not this time, Kane answered with a grin but his humor abruptly vanished. Since Michael was already becoming paranoid he might as well do a little fishing. Not one to beat around the bush he opted for the truth. Dean told me he saw you earlier today.
Yeah, he did, Michael said evasively, already not liking the direction the conversation appeared to be heading.
He also said you were drinking from a demon, Kane said bluntly and set his glass down. When did you start doing that?
Michael didnt miss a beat with the lie, When the thing decided to bite me first.
Kanes lips parted to say something but what could he say to that? Picking his glass back up, he took another drink while he thought about that one.