Songs of Nightmares and Snow

12- Family Drama

I'm so sorry it's taken so long my lovelies! But writers block has been a pain in the ass. I hope you can forgive me! 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
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Astrea

I stare at him in absolute shock, my thoughts still reeling at the sight of him.

Danté...

My baby brother...

"Oh Goddess...it's been so long ReRe!"

I barely have time to process his words before I'm being pulled into a hug, my once tiny brother now dwarfing me in height. I can hear Thane's soft growl as he stiffens in response, but I'm too preoccupied to really do anything outside of embrace my brother, returning his hug fiercely with my one good arm.

"I've missed you too, little brother..." I murmur into his chest, his shirt absorbing the tears welling in my eyes.

The silence that echoes in the room is deafening, and after a moment of hugging him as if my life depended on it, we finally pull away.

"It's been so long sis! I thought I'd never see you again!" Danté says with teary eyes, his smile just as bright as I remember. He's changed so much since the last time I saw him, so it's good to see that hasn't changed in that way.

"Me neither...what are you doing here?"

"I live here with my Beloved and our two kids! She works as a nurse in the hospital on the territory, and I help train the warriors here on how to fight vampires." He explains, and my eyes widen.

"You have a beloved? And kids?" I murmur.

"Yeah! Oh Goddess, you've got to meet them! They'd be happy to have Auntie Astrea dote on them! And you'll definitely love my mate Nina, she's amazing!"

I chuckle at his enthusiasm, that bubbling energy still the same too.

"I'd...I'd love too..."

"Awesome! Oh right, what have you been up to since the last time we saw each other?"

I hesitate, running a hand over the back of my neck, noticing that my hair is starting to grow out a little.

"I...I joined the cadet program for ICE, and became a tracker."

He pauses, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Just like Dad..." He whispers.

"Yeah..."

"Your father's a tracker Astrea?" Thane's mother asks, and I freeze at the question, my chest clenching painfully.

"He...he was...he died in the line of duty when I was a baby and Astrea was a toddler." Danté answers, and I can feel the room shrink around me a little...my body temperature dropping.

"Snowdrop...are you okay?" I hear Thane whisper, his large hand resting on my shoulder, and I mentally grasp the offered comfort, not wanting to sink back down that abyss again.

"I'm...fine...." I answer quietly.

"Sorry ReRe...you remember it more than I do..." Danté murmurs, and I shake my head.

"It's okay..." I reply, it sounding weak to my own ears. He quickly shakes his head.

"I'm so happy see you again! When mom told me how you went missing, and couldn't find you, we assumed the worst."