Downs, Jana - Ravyn's Heart [Ravyn Warriors 2] (Siren Publishing Allure ManLove) Read Free Page A

whole space look sterile and professional. Not exactly the room he wanted to have a heart-to-heart with his missing child after six years, but Damian wasn’t ready to go into the softer part of the house yet. The bedrooms were too close to the living room and he didn’t want to explain the shrine he’d made to his son in that space. Not until he knew this man’s heart.
    Like most grieving parents, he’d sectioned off a part of his penthouse just to Kal’s memory. Kal’s bedroom was untouched, everything exactly as he had left it. Vampire businessman extraordinaire he may be, but Damian wasn’t willing to chance this new Kalel saying something unkind about the way he’d allowed the house to turn into a tomb. It hurt too much to think about.
    “You look different. When you were eighteen, you looked more like a child, but now…you’re all man,” Damian replied to Kal’s earlier words, sipping his teacup of Earl Grey. He was British, and he didn’t care how long he lived around the whole lot of French and Italian vampires, he wasn’t giving up his tea. The mere thought of coffee made him want to sniff in disdain.
    “You were supposed to come home weeks ago.” Kal’s green-and-gold eyes were filled with deep longing, but Damian didn’t know for what. “I wanted to see you.”
    “I was busy doing some work and arranging a lineup of acts for the vampire Council’s entertainment in France this winter,” he lied smoothly. He wasn’t lying about the work he’d done. He was just lying about the reason he’d stayed away. He’d been hiding in New York.
    At first, Kalel’s return had made him want to race to his adopted son’s side, but there had been so much drama surrounding him and Alex the first few days he’d been back in this realm, and then Damian’s insecurities had bubbled to the surface. What if Kal blamed him for the kidnapping? What if he didn’t care about Damian anymore? What if he’d only returned to be with Alex and still wanted Damian out of his life? When Maddy, his and Alex’s Maker, had suggested that he go to New York until things were settled and do some much-needed field work there, he’d jumped at the opportunity.
    “It was very important work,” Damian added at the stunned look on Kal’s face. The warrior looked like he’d been slapped.
    “More important than me?” That softly spoken question was Damian’s undoing. The words were choked. The tears that shimmered in his adopted son’s eyes broke his heart.
    He set his cup down and stood, reaching for his son across the small glass coffee table that separated them. He pulled him into the circle of his arms and into the first hug they’d shared in six years.
    “Nothing is more important than you.” Damian’s deep voice cracked, and he was forced to clear it. He kissed Kal’s forehead as his son squeezed him so tightly that his sides groaned from the pressure. His son had definitely grown strong in their time apart.
    They stayed that way for countless minutes, comforting and getting comforted from the presence of the other. After another moment they gradually eased their grips. Both had tears in their eyes when they at last pulled apart. Damian lightly stroked Kal’s chocolate and auburn hair.
    “I’ve missed you, father,” Kal whispered.
    “Missed you, too, son,” Damian replied, tightly. He pulled back fully. “Now, let me look at the warrior you’ve become.”
    “I’m still dancing,” Kal corrected. “I’m a dancer and a warrior.”
    And he was. The first performance of Alex’s new play with Kal in the role of Amadeo had been a smash hit, and it was only the second month of performances. Damian had always known he had a raw talent for the art. Alex had honed that raw talent to a performance of movement that was almost an erotic religious experience. Speaking of Alex…
    “Are you still planning on being with my cradle-robbing brother?” he asked before he could stop himself.
    Kal’s eyes sparkled with