h4Chapter 358: The Parents/h4

strongVincent/Vaelthor~/strong

I stood there in the moonlit clearing, the cool night air clinging to my skin like a shroud, my shadows whispering at the edges of my senses. Kat’s hand was still in mine, warm and grounding, but my mind was a storm of calctions. I’d just surrendered—agreed to go with her, to face whatever waited at her home—because the alternative was unthinkable. The pain of separation had nearly broken me, a demonic agony that wed at my chest like iron hooks. But now, as she pulled back slightly, her blue eyes shimmering with a mix of relief and nerves, I felt the weight of what wasing next.

"I did it," Kat said, her voice breathy and a little unsteady, like she’d just run a marathon. She nced around at all of us—me, Winter, Nick—her reddish-blonde hair catching the faint glow of the stars. "I called my dad through the mind link. He’s on his way. Him and Mom—they’reing to get us."

Nick nodded, his arm still wrapped protectively around Winter, who leaned into him like he was her only support in a raging sea. "Good call, Kat. Safer than your teleporting roulette."

Winter lifted her head from Nick’s chest, her enigmatic eyes narrowing slightly, still rimmed with the remnants of her tears. She only let that vulnerability show around me, but tonight, with Nick, it was spilling out unchecked. "How long?" she asked softly, her voice like a fragile echo in the darkness.

"Not long," Kat replied, squeezing my hand tighter. "He sounded... worried. But he’sing."

I forced a charming smile, the one that usually disarmed people before they realized the danger lurking beneath. But inside, my heart hammered like drums. Nervous? That was an understatement. No one had ever liked us—Winter and me. In the demon realm, we were shadows in the truest sense, despised and trodden upon. Children of thete demon queen Kalmia and the god of darkness, Shadow. What did heritage matter when the demons saw us as threats or tools? They’d treated us like foot mats, kicking us aside, starving us of any warmth, forcing us to scrape and scheme just to survive. Laughter? Affection? Those were myths from the human world we’d glimpsed in stolen dreams. And now, facing the parents of a girl like Kat—beautiful, powerful, with her bright light and werewolf fire—who was I to them? Even in this human disguise, my dark hair tousled just so, my features sharpened to an alluring edge, I was still a demon. A maniptor of shadows and fears. They’d see through it, surely. Hate me on sight.

I was ready for the worst. My muscles coiled beneath my skin, demonic strength humming like a live wire. If they tried to tear me from her, I’d fight. Mother help me, I’d unleash every illusion, every tendril of darkness I had. Because leaving Kat? The thought alone sent a phantom ache ripping through my chest, worse than any de. It was like my soul was tethered to hers, and pulling away would shred it to pieces. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—endure that again.

"Vincent?" Kat’s voice pulled me back, her brow furrowing as she studied my face. "You okay? You look... tense."

I shed that dangerous smile again, pulling her closer. "Just thinking about meeting your parents, Kat. First impressions and all."

Sheughed, a light, nervous sound that cut through the tension like a beam of her eternal magic. "They’re not that bad. Dad’s protective, but he’s fair. Mom... she’ll love you."

Winter shot me a nce, her cold facadepletely gone, revealing the fear she hid from everyone else. "Brother, what if—" she tried saying through our mind link.

"Shh," I murmured, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder. "We’ve faced worse. Demons, remember? These are just... parents." I answered through the link as well.

Nick chuckled, his cocky grin returning as he ruffled Winter’s hair gently. "You look scared Winter, don’t be. We will be fine. Just keep holding my hand like you’re doing now."

But before she could respond, the air shimmered. It was like the night itself rippled, a portal tearing open with a soft whoosh. Five minutes—that’s all it had taken. Figures materialized out of thin air, two of them striding forward with an urgency that made my shadows instinctively bristle. Teleportation. So that’s where Kat got her power from. But from what I’d seen earlier—her botched attempt that dumped her in some forsaken alley—and Nick’s quick veto, it was clear she wasn’t a master at it yet. Her parents, though? They moved like pros.

"Katrina!" The woman’s voice—Kat’s mother cracked with emotion as she rushed forward, her arms enveloping Kat in a fierce hug. She was radiant, even in the dim light, with an aura of celestial warmth that made my skin prickle. Kat’s father was right behind her, his massive frame towering, he had this strong aura, a type of presence rolling off him like thunder.

"Mom! Dad!" Kat eximed, her voice muffled against her mother’s shoulder as they pulled her into their arms. Her father’s hands roamed over her back and arms, checking for injuries, his eyes scanning her from head to toe with a father’s frantic precision.

"Are you hurt? Any scratches? Bruises?" Her father growled, his voice deep andmanding, butced with raw worry. He lifted her chin gently, inspecting her face, then her mud-caked clothes.

"I’m fine, Dad, really," Kat insisted, pulling back a little but not breaking the embrace. "Just dirty. Nothing broken."

Her mother wasn’t convinced. She cupped Kat’s face, her blue eyes that looked exactly like Kat’s—glowing faintly with some kind of divine light—searching deeper. "You scared us half to death, sweetheart. Your bed empty, no note... We thought the worst." She kissed Kat’s forehead, then stepped back to let Kat’s father continue his inspection.

They turned to Nick next, who stood there with his brooding stance, ck hair tousled, dark eyes meeting theirs without flinching. "Nichs," Kat’s father said, pping a hand on his shoulder like an old friend. "You too? What were you thinking?"

Nick shrugged, but there was respect in his tone. "Hey, Uncle Zane. Aunt Nat. I’m good—no injuries. Just... got pulled into this mess."

Kat’s mother hugged him quickly, checking him over just as thoroughly. "No bites? No weird magic lingering?"

"None," Nick assured, his maic charm peeking through. "Promise. Kat’s the one who dragged me out here."

Once they were satisfied—Kat and Nick deemed unscathed—the scolding began. Kat’s father growl rumbled low, his eyes shing with that werewolf intensity. "Sneaking out? Without a word? Do you have any idea what could have happened? Enemies everywhere, Katrina—rogue demons, rebellious packs. You could have been ambushed!"

"Dad, I know," Kat said, her voice small but defiant, that impulsive streak shining through. "But something pulled me out here. I had to—"

"And you, Nick," Kat’s mother interjected, her voice stern but emotional, tears glistening. "We trust you to look after her, not join in the recklessness. Sebastian will hear about this."

Nick winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, yeah. But Aunt Nat, it wasn’t just a joyride. Something big happened."

The anger simmered down as quickly as it red, their concern winning out. Kat’s father exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Alright. We’re just d you’re safe. Now, let’s get you home—"

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That’s when their gazes shifted,nding on Winter and me. We stood a little apart, shadows clinging to us like old friends. Kat’s father’s curiosity piqued, his werewolf senses sharpening as he sized us up. "And who are these two? Friends of yours?"

I stepped forward, my voice steady, charming despite the knot in my gut. "I’m Vincent. This is my sister, Winter."

Winter nodded silently, her eyes guarded, but she stayed close to Nick, drawing strength from him.

Kat’s father tilted his head, his expression neutral but probing. "Vincent and Winter. What are you doing out here? Waiting for your parents too? We can give you a lift if needed."

Those words hit like a dagger, unintentional but piercing. Parents? Ours were gone—Mother in by the Lycan royals, or so the whispers said, and Father imprisoned in eternal darkness. No one to call, no warm embrace waiting. The hurt twisted in my chest, but I masked it with that calcting poise. "Actually, sir—"

"Vincent’s my mate!" Kat blurted out, her cheeks flushing crimson, nerves making her voice pitch high. She grabbed my arm, pulling me closer as if to shield me.

Nick jumped in, his cocky toneced with pride. "And Winter’s mine. Surprise?"

The reaction was explosive. Kat’s father’s eyes widened, shock morphing into a boomingugh that echoed through the trees. "Mates? Both of you?" He pped his hands together, his unnatural strength making the sound like thunder. "By the gods! My love, did you hear that?"

Kat’s mother gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, her pretty eyes sparkling with joy. "Oh, Katrina! Nichs! This is... this is wonderful!" She rushed forward, pulling Kat into another hug before turning to us.

Kat’s father was already bear-hugging me, his grip like iron but warm, shocking me to my core. "Wee to the family, son! Ha! I can’t wait till Seb hears this—his boy’s got a mate too. We’ll have a feast!"

Laughter bubbled up around us, infectious and surreal. Kat’s mother embraced Winter gently, whispering, "You’re beautiful, dear. We’re so happy for you." Winter stiffened at first, unused to such kindness, but then melted a fraction, her guarded facade cracking with a small smile.

Then it was my turn. Kat’s mother hugged me, her warmth enveloping me like sunlight on shadows. At first, it was justfort—unexpected, disarming. But then I heard it: a subtle sniff, her nose brushing my neck. Innocuous, maybe checking for injuries like she had with Kat. But she froze. Pulled back sharply.

Her eyes widened in shock, staring at me as if she’d seen a ghost—or worse, a demon.

My heart sank to my stomach, plummeting like a stone into abyss. The joy shattered in that instant, the air thickening with unspoken dread.

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