There was a lot more people in the small room than we had anticipated.  Ant did the bodyguard thing and pushed away out of the crowd that had joined us in the flight to our home to save my, our family.  I didn’t know most of them, but they waited for the core of us to rush out into the chaos.  Wolves were fighting vampires, and other therians.  Some of them were shouting at others.  

But we had only the flux of power to go with, we all flowed towards the media room where the kids had been watching a movie.

The violence got less as we neared the room.  Until we rounded the corner and the door to the room was shut and barricaded.  I knocked on the door, “Let us in.”  I said.

There was a rush of sounds on the other side of the door as someone made to unlock it.  Matt was pulling back Cass as the door was flung open.  Matt relaxed visibly when he saw me and he let Cass go and was right with her when she wrapped her arms around me.  He didn’t hesitate any with the hug around my shoulders.  Soon followed by everyone except Rider.  “Where is Rider?”  Alex asked.

“Being Alpha.”  Laker said proudly.

“Alright.”  I looked at Ryan and he smiled without even a word he pulled the children inside.

Alec and Valentine followed as did Alex.  I grabbed Alex’s hand before he was out of reach and pulled him against me tight and kissed him hard and long and there were several people clearing their throats but it was Ryan who broke it up, “Get a room.” he quipped.

We both laughed.  Alex smiled, “We got this.  You  help Rider.”

Ant and my body guards followed.  The rest that had come with us had already separated and you could hear more scuffles throughout the place.  I sighed as I pushed more power through the leaking shields.  It wasn’t really leaking but that’s how they felt.  I felt whole and full and my power washed over everyone for the top five floors.  I felt Alex in my head.  _Tell them to sleep._  No innocents should be caught here.  The top five were all locked under Cari’s personal code – mostly vampires seeking her sanctuary.

_What?_

_Focus on everyone who isn’t ours and tell them to sleep._

There was a nod of understanding in my head and I focused on my people, all who were bound to me no matter how big or small.  Everyone down the line was connected to us and anyone who wasn’t when Alex’s mental command went into them and the fighting stopped.

Everything stopped.  Everyone who wasn’t mine was collapsed on the ground.

There was a loud cheer echoing down the halls.  I could hear Rider among them.  I heard him issuing orders as he rounded the corner to and tried not to run as he wrapped his arms around me tightly.  For all his Alphaness, he was still my little brother.  _It’s safe now._ I called to Alex inside the locked room.

“You did good Rider.”

He grinned up at me and smiled, “I learned from the best.  We’ll get them all down in the cells.  Izzy can draw the runes just as easy as you can.  It’s not as cool, but she can do it.  Says she can do it better than you.  I want to see that.” Rider laughed and let me go.  “I’m glad you beat them, and thanks for that.  We have a few injured but no one dead.”

“Bring them into the media room, I’ll help them all heal.”  

He grinned.  “Cass and Hunter should help too.”

I nodded, “I’ll get them to help but I have a different plan.”

I walked back the way I had come and opened the media room door again and everyone was already helping the wounded get comfortable.  “Cass, Hunter, you think you can follow what I do?”

They both looked eagerly at me.  “You know the concept of extraordinary healing I used on Poppi?”

The both gave a nod.  “That’s what we are going to do.  Except not just on one person, the whole room.” I looked at Matt and he was already leaving.

“I’m gonna go help Rider.”  Laker was by his side in a heartbeat, “Me too.”  Fae was on their heels.  Matt knew why he was leaving the other two went because Matt was.  “Thank you three very much for keeping the little ones safe.”

Matt blushed and nodded.  “It was nothing really.”

Alex laughed as he held a shaking Quinn in his arms, “It was everything.”

I pulled all the elements around me and then let them flow into the room.  Cass and Hunter both followed what I did and they let their power go.  It was like watching three different Kaleidoscopes going off at one time.  I wavered and had to close my eyes.  Alex was there with Quinn and I wrapped my arms around both of them.  I didn’t open my eyes, the whole thing was over powering.  

I heard Cass squawk and I risked opening up my eyes to see Ryan pulling my daughter into his lap and covering her eyes with his hand.  And whispering into her ear.  There was a strange shimmering over the two of them, almost like I was seeing a mirage.  I blinked away the images of the two curled up together with a bouncing baby boy in their lap.  

I looked at Hunter and he was curled up with Valentina and burying his face in the vampires blonde curls.  Alec was snickering at it, but my son turned and looked at me and gave me a knowing smile and a simple nod of his head.  I wondered if I had tapped into his power a little in that vision.  Wondered if my daughter was going to fall in love with an 800 year older man who looked sixteen.

_It could be a whole lot worse._

He was right it could be a whole lot worse.  _We need to put an end to all this.  We need to talk to your friend._

Alex smiled.  “I’ll see if I can get a meeting.”

I gave Alex a nod and closed my eyes and buried my face against his neck and took comfort in the man holding me.  Alex was my everything and even as I spent the energy to heal the others, I was hoping that we’d one day have a happy life free of all this shit.

Alex laughed, “You didn’t even need us.”

“I did.”  I said with the stone still in my hand and blood all over the front of me for the second time that day.  As I came near Alex’s eyes grew wider.

“It’s brighter.”  He said.

I handed the stone to Alex and he took it hesitantly, watching it the whole time like it might bite him.  The stone’s glow shifted from the multi colored rainbow of mine to a different one, some colors were brighter and others dimmer.  I laughed, “See, I needed you.”

He handed it to Ant and we watched as the color’s shifted again.  Not the same as mine nor Alex’s.  Alex and I reached togehter to touch the stone in Ant’s hand and the color grew blindingly brighter.  Alec put his hand on my shoulder and it grew even brighter.

Dorian reached into the middle of us and the brightness grew again, but he plucked it from our hands and the light ceased completely. “Nox Sétanta is the new leader. ”  He smiled at me, “Is that them all now?” he joked.

Alex smirked, “The only ones he doesn’t rule is the humans.  I’m sure he’ll get them next.”

Dorian nodded, “Tomorrow is the monthly meeting with the councils human compatriots.  I will add it to your schedule.”

I looked at my former mentor and current friend and family member, “That would be excellent, I actually need to talk to them about some new construction anyway.”

“Dorian.”  I said and he looked at me, “You need to choose a new leader to rule your everyday lives with whom I will use like the others. And I need a common Venatori for that council too.  I think Walker will do.  He has potential.”

Dorian nodded, “Even after he tried to kill you?”

I nodded, “He was only doing what he was told, as was Emilio.  They aren’t strong enough on their own to do what Kai did.”

“Neither am I.”  Dorian frowned.

I smiled, “I’m strong enough for all of them.”  I said.  “No one will come to harm under while I watch over us.”

Alex added, “No more killing without a trial.  Bring them to the Night Life building, we’ll handle it from there.”  He said as if he were me.  

Dorian gave him a nod.  “As you wish it.”

I looked at Alex proudly.  Dorian was staring wide at him.  “What, we have prisoners now, we’ll keep on doing it until there is a trial.  They are well cared for.”  Alex added with confidence.

Dorian looked at me and I nodded, “As you wish.  I will make sure Jin has the information.”

“Jin is no longer with us.”  Ant said.  “You can add your meetings to his schedule as necessary.  For now until we hire someone else to do the job Jin did.”

“No more traitors please.”  Alex said with a smirk.

We’d all had enough of that.  But there was still Poet to deal with.  But right now life was better, and the threat to my life and that of my families was over.  I added one more thing as we started to leave, “And Dorian cancel all contracts on me and my own.”  I sighed, “One more thing, Dorian until you choose a leader you are in charge.”

No one balked.  I was clearly the winner.  I was clearly their leader.  “Bury Mark Green properly.”  I said before we entered the elevator.  

We stopped at each floor, the express elevator had stopped working but no one got on.  The passages outside the elevator were flooded with my people there were even Venatori mixed in the masses.  All wanting to see the winner.  All waiting.

It felt strange feeling so many people tied to my existance.  The world revolving around little old me. It felt like the end of an era.  

“The start of a new one, pretty boy.”  Alex interrupted as he pushed me against the wall and stole my attention with a kiss.

I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against his.  He chuckled, “He’s getting lost in the events.  We have a race to do and wolves to meet.”

“They are going to the pack tonight.”  Ant said.

“We all are.”  Alex added, “Rider suggested we all be part of the pack festivities.  Those of us who don’t change can stay at the camp fire with the rest of the young ones.”

Ant laughed, “A camping trip sounds good.”

“Hot dogs and S’mores.”  Alec agreed.  “All of us?”

Alex shrugged.  “You’ll have to ask Rider.  He’s big boss man now.”

We all laughed as we piled out of the elevator finally.  It was going to be a good night full of family.  The only thing that would make it better would be just me and Alex, but my family was the closest thing to just us.

There was a commotion ahead of us.  One of the vampires I didn’t know came up to me, “He’s been trying to get through for a while now.”

“He’s a wolf.”  I said.  “Let him through.”  The crowd parted as the wolf ran up to me, Adrian was right by my side.  

“What’s wrong Ham?”  Adrian asked.

“There is an attack.  The young Alpha is fighting them off.”

And just like that the mood changed.  And everyone with me looked at Ant and with little coaxing and effort on all our parts we shifted into the shadows and were inside the apartment, the whole floor sounded like a war zone.

The room on the other side of the doors was large room with a oval table in the middle. At the head of the table was an ornate chair, and an balding man with grey hair and a pattern so weak in the elements I almost laughed sat with his fingers steepled in front of him while he waited impatiently for my arrival.  He was ranked a five, but he was on the low end.  Maybe not even a five if you asked me.  Power plays weren’t uncommon in the Venatori.  And the ruling families were always getting their way.

But even as Cesari Mark was only alive because he was so nonthreatening to the dragons.  I was alive by mistake.  There was no competition here at all.

Around the table sat each of the heads of the houses, my brother, Adam, sat in my father’s spot. Kai had left of his own violation otherwise Adam wouldn’t be sitting at the table.  My half brother stood up and glared at me, “What is the meaning of this brother?”

I laughed.  “Now you claim me.”

Adam scowled.  “What are you doing here, Nox?”

“Didn’t you hear?  I yelled pretty loudly.” I quipped back at my eldest brother.  One so unlike my little brothers that he could almost be a stranger.  I’d known Rider and Laker for five or so years, and my brother for all my life, but I knew him less than I knew them.  I didn’t even know his favorite dish.

Adam drew a gun and raised it at me.  “Nox, I won’t hesitate.”

“If you interfere with the challenge issued you forfeit your life.”  Mark Green said.

I shook my head.  “No, let my big brother shoot me.  I dare you.”  I said to Adam.  Alex snorted behind me and I knew Ant was smirking.

Adam stared at me the gun pointed at my chest.  He started to lower it but Matthias Haskins grabbed the gun and pulled the trigger in the span of a second.  Apparently no one paid any attention to the show down stairs.  The bullet topped over the middle of the table.  This time Ant flung it wide with a wave of his hand.  I wasn’t sure if it was my power or his own that he used.  Or if it was all one and the same.

“Anyone else want to try?”  I asked.

“Where do you want to do this Mr. Green?”  I said politely when no one moved.  “Any special rules you want?”  I said as I advanced around the table to where Matthias was.  His son Matthew was a good man, at least so I thought.  I wondered what had turned him.  Why he was working for the blond – for Poet.  I pulled in my mental shields and I heard Alex growl at me.  It’s for the best I thought at him through our bond.  I didn’t want the Venatori to know they had been played by something bigger than them.  They might take it out on my people.  

Alex sent me a mental image and laughed, _you can’t keep me out anymore._

I smiled inside.  _Good.  Don’t let it go to your head.  Either of them._  

I had to fight the images from my head of my own making.  I needed alone time with Alex.  Just me and him.  _Always._

There was very little movement on the councils part as I walked around the table.  The smirk on the old Cesari’s face never slipped he didn’t even really look at me.  “You come with an army. Truly tells us where your loyalties lie.”  He laughed.

“My loyalties lie with the people of New York, human, dragon, therian, vampire, alien, I don’t give a fuck.  But they don’t deserve to be hunted down and killed because you didn’t bother to find out why they did wrong.  The humans just don’t execute, and if a cop kills someone it’s put under investigation.  Murder is murder no matter how you look at it.”

“So noble from a boy who can’t back it up.”  He said and pulled out a file.  “You’ve killed as many as most of us.”

I frowned, “I killed in self defense and only self defense.”

“So the bombmaker was attacking you.”

I nodded, “He was.  He was about to breathe fire on me and my friends.  I wasn’t going to let someone die like that – especially myself.”

“And what about The Dragon?”  He snickered.

“You pull out the only two recent ones?  What about Walker who I saved, or Trix who I caught and now use to help me do what I do best – help people.”

Alex was beside me, “Don’t talk to them, Nox, they aren’t going to listen.  They are waiting for something.”  He added the last in a whisper, but the Venatori still heard it.

“We are waiting for something.”  Mark Green said as a pile of armed Venatori and a rune stone came into the room behind us.  The guards lined the wall, and the council left – except their illustrious leader.  Adam pushed past me roughly, with a whisper, “I’m sorry it came to this.”  My brother didn’t hate me, no matter his pretense, but a show of hatred and threat was all he had.  He wasn’t my father, siding with me could mean his death.  He wasn’t my greatest fan – never had been but he at least didn’t really want me dead.  I took comfort in that.

Dorian stepped into the room, “Sir, you….”  He stood staring at me holding the rune stone close to his chest.  I felt a sort of pull towards the inanimate object he cradled like a baby.  It was like the one he had given me before.  

Mark Green smirked, “I did.  You will witness the death of the student you raised to be like this.”  He waved his hands at me like I was some sort of abomination.

Dorian nodded.  He took the stone to Mark Green in official capacity.  “This is the stone handed down from leader to leader.  It bears the mark of the Venatori, and it keeps the shroud around, only the true leader can use it.”

I recognized the runes etched into the rock.  It was just that until someone gave the rock power.  Alex smirked.  “So only your leader can make it work?”

Mark Green took the stone, and it glowed red and yellow.  “And so the winner of the challenge shall be the next.  So have the ancient laws decreed – the most powerful of us shall make the stone glow in all it’s colors and he shall lead us into the light.”

Dorian looked at me but never brought the stone near as was the custom.  It looked like he was declaring Mark Green winner, but he knew better and so did I.  He knew it had nothing to do with being Cesari or leader of the Venatori.  He’d seen the runes too, the one he’d given me.  

The rune was placed on the table and Dorian with ease shoved it to the side.  “And so shall the challenge begin.  A fight to the death.”

“One question.”  I said.

Dorian looked to me with a smile, “Anything goes?”

Mark Green laughed, “Anything goes.  What do you think to the death means?”

“It means that you will die.”  I said.  Mark’s face went fiery red and he charged me physically.  I laughed as I wrapped the leader of the Venatori in air. Only his head could move freely and he thrashed in the confines of the tomb he was about to die in.

I walked over to the rune stone and picked it up.  It glowed like the book a fiery hot red but it also came alive with other blinding colors, gold, blue, green, orange so bright it felt almost as hot as fire itself.

I smiled at Mark as I brought the bright stone to the former leader of the Venatori.  “What was it that Dorian just said?  ‘Only the true leader can use it’  Wasn’t there a little more too, ‘the most powerful of us shall make the stone glow in all it’s colors’?”  I held the stone up for Mark to see better.  “Seem that your puney red and yellow are nothing.”

“How…how are you doing that.”  Mark Green stammered.

“It is no longer any of your concern.”  I pulled Salvation from my holster at the small of my back and I drew it along the air below Mark’s chin.  Salvation was sharp, meticulous maintained even though I never used the it.  It cut deep and it cut fast. Blood splattered everywhere as the man in front of my tried to talk, but his life force was gone.  

There was no movement.  There were no cheers.  The sound of silence was deafening.  Dorian was the first too move, “And so shall it be from this day to your last day.”  He bent the knee.

A man with blue eyes and tanned skin looked out pointing a gun.  He looked sad and reserved and my heart sank.  I reached forward and took the gun from Emilio Vega’s hand.  He didn’t resist.  “I won’t hurt you.” I said.

He frowned.  “They know that.”  His body reacted and his hand was on my wrist and he wrestled my arm behind my back at an awkward angle and the pain was there but it was mostly so the others didn’t hurt him because I was incapacitated.  “The lot of you stay here.”  He said.

“We won’t.”  Alex argued.  “You know that.”

“Stay here or he’ll die.”  Emilio pulled a blade from his sleeve and pressed it to my stomach pressing into my skin and aimed at my kidney and heart.

“Where are you taking him?” Ant asked through barred teeth.

Emilio sighed, “To the council.  I can’t kill him, but they can.”

“Why are you doing this?”  Alex plead.

I laughed.  “He’s a good little boy – always has been.”

Emilio shook his head, “Your father was once a good little boy too.  Until he met you.  You destroy everything, Nox.  My son, your father, you will destroy the Venatori if you win this.”

“I’m not going to destroy it.”  I said.

“Taking the kill orders from the hunt will destroy us.”

“Then maybe you need to be destroyed.  Like the Aeternus before you.  So stuck in your ways you can’t see that things have changed.”  I said.  “It’s why they died.  It’s why you’ll die.  Why don’t you just kill me now?  No one will stop you.”

The knife dug in further and Alex frowned, “Don’t.” He was talking more to me than to Emilio.  “I won’t watch you die.”

I smiled.  “So turn around Alex.” _Trust me!_

His frown grew deep and he turned around.  I felt him in my head.  _You better know what you are doing._

Ant growled and lunged at us. Alec and Adrian were right there with them, but  Emilio pressed the knife up into my body, lancing my kidney and I felt it pierce my heart.  There was so much pain, and yet even as I collapsed to the ground, Alex and Ant were pulling me inside the elevator.  I couldn’t see what happened to Emilio and I couldn’t say it.  But I hoped they wouldn’t kill him.  Alex shouted, “Don’t kill him!”   But we wouldn’t know till later what happened as we all rode to the top of the AU building.

Alex pulled the knife from my gut and growled. “I hate you.”  He said as he watched my blood run down his fingers.  Through the healing pain I wove the blood away and he looked at me.  

I apologized, “I’m sorry,” then leaned in for a kiss. “It could get worse than that.”

Alex nodded.  “I know.  Heal up.”  Alex sighed, “He’s radioing to the top about your death and your accomplices”

“Good.  They won’t expect me alive.”

“Are you okay?”  He asked.

I lifted my blood soaked t-shirt and showed Alex there was nothing there.  “It only hurts a little.”

“I think we are even now.”  Alex said.  “I’m not sure I’m going to get over seeing you fall like that.”

I was too preoccupied with healing myself that I didn’t notice our upwards movement until just before the doors opened.  There was a mass of Venatori standing outside the elevator.  Alec and Valentine were the first off followed by Ant, myself and Alex, Ryan followed us and the rest stayed at the elevator.  There seemed to be a hidden challenge.  “My Prince, if you could release the elevators we will insure the building is yours.”  Driver said.  

“You hear that Sage?”

There was no acknowledgment but the elevators went down and I assumed my people were going to sit by the elevators on each floor.  They better not hurt anyone.  

Sage whispered, “They won’t.” In my ear.

How he knew I didn’t know, but Alex and Ant seemed to agree so the connection to my will must be strong.  I didn’t know why and right now I didn’t care.

We walked through the crowd of Venatori and I shouted, “Mark Green.  Leader of the Venatori.  The Imperordo.  I challenge you.”

I stopped yelling knowing they could all hear me perfectly fine, the challenge was issued, no one could interfere now.  “You will stop sending assassins after me.  You will stop killing the innocent because you feel they are dangerous.  Yield now, or die.”

I could feel the building filling with my people.  I knew more Venatori were trying to make a stand, but everything was in a holding pattern waiting on the outcome of the event.  I’d just declared war on the Venatori by marching my army right into their stronghold.  I was protecting me and mine, but in doing so the rest of the supernatural community said ‘we’ve had enough!’ And I didn’t blame them one bit.  

But if I didn’t win, their lives would be forfeit.  Not that I intended to lose.

The walk down the corridor to the main hall was uninterrupted.  The large double doors made of solid oak would be heavy to push open, but it was nothing to a weave of air sent at it to open as if by magic at my presence.  It was a display of power – a warning of sorts, but none of the Venatori seemed awed by it.

Outside on the streets of New York City humans didn’t know about the war going on between supernatural races.  They didn’t know about vampires and their bloodlines.  They didn’t know about the various therian packs around the world much less the types of therians there were – bears, lions, wolves and almost every predator known to man.  Maybe even some not known.  They didn’t know that dragons lived among them – as part of them.  They didn’t know about the magic around them – the most fantastical world and they were blinded to it.  

As we walked I thought about how it would be to not see this world.  I looked to Alex who had barely touched on the surface when he’d come here at first, and now, he was one of us.  Part of the bigger whole.  I couldn’t imagine how hard it must be to join this world.  But then again I can’t imagine not living in it my whole life either.  I wondered how life would be different if I hadn’t become Cesari, if I didn’t spark out of fear and violence and I joined this world like a normal hunter’s child.  

I would have had my brothers my whole life.  I might have met Alex sooner.  But there really was no point in thinking about what coulda been.  I wouldn’t be here right now, in this moment if everything hadn’t happened to me in the past.  And I was happy.  Alex was by my side and we had a loving family.  It might not be the type of family most American live for, or even any supernatural family but I was happy with mine.  It had taken years to find it and make it mine.  But it was now – mine.  And I wasn’t going to let it go.

And with each step I felt more pack, more dragons, I felt the vampires below.  We didn’t have to walk far.  Most of the humans were completely oblivious to what was going on.  The doors to the AU building were locked but that was a trivial thing.  The AU building never closed so this was a precedence and it gave us a little hope that maybe there would be no collateral damage.  I sent my magic wide through the building unlocking all the entrance so my people could flood the place.  This was a war, and I wasn’t about to lose.

A man stood standing in front of Atlas and I recognized the back of his head.  I’d worked with him before.  He’d been on my side then.  

“I just wanted to let you know, Nox.  This isn’t personal.” Walker said as he turned around to look.

I laughed.  “Killing me? Isn’t personal?”

“What’s this?”  He nodded to the crowd gathering behind me.  “Can’t fight your own fights?”

“Witnesses.”  I said.  “A display of loyalty.”

“You think this will scare them?”  He asked.

I shook my head, “It’s not meant to.  They are showing me they got my back no matter what.  It’s more than I can say about the Venatori.”

Walker sighed and changed the direction of the conversation.  He didn’t agree with them either. “You won’t make it to the council chamber.”

“I will.”  I said.

“You have to go through me.”  He said and drew a gun that pointed at my head.  I stopped where I stood and frowned.

I really didn’t want to hurt Walker, “I don’t want to hurt you.  But I will if you fire that gun at me.”

Like the word triggered his finger, he pulled and the gun went off. I heard the crowd gasp as the bullet hung in the air.  It hung halfway between the two of us.  Stuck in a pillar of solid air.  I walked up to the bullet and it fell into my hand as the air around it dissolved into the gas that it was.  I sighed, “Walker, didn’t you learn anything working with me?”

He looked at me with a sort of fear and then he turned his gun and fired at Alex.  He knew my weakness.  Ant pushed Alex out of the way and took the bullet in his left shoulder.  He hissed and bared his fangs. There was no point in giving away all our secrets today. The blood dripped from the wound and you could see the bullet working its way out like I had done earlier in the day.

Alex surprised me as I felt his mental blast. It rattled my bones as his emotions and thoughts powered through the Venatori’s shield and Walker flew backwards.

I looked back at Alex with a smile, but his eyes were wide he hadn’t meant to do that.  We all had a little bit of work to do.  Raw power was nothing if you couldn’t reliably use it.  Even I needed help.

Walker had tumbled over the barrier that separated Atlas from the rest of the lobby.  He leaned against the base of the man and stared at us in fear.  He lowered his gun again and fired at Alex.  He was going to take what I most loved.  And that was not going to happen.

But Alex was on it before even Walker tried again.  I felt the command, “Sleep.”  It took everything in my will power to not obey.  But Walker, with his shields already down from Alex’s blast, drifted off to sleep collapsing to the floor with loud clatter heard through out the lobby.  

Several others fell victim to Alex’s attack.  But it had been the right thing to do.  I really hadn’t wanted to kill Walker, there was so much potential there, and the Venatori had banked on that.  Which meant that every step of the way I was going to have to fight someone I didn’t want to hurt.  

I pulled out my phone and called Sage.  He picked up with a tired voice, “Yeah.”

“You still have access to the AU building?”

“Yeah.”  He said.

“I need the Wicked Truth to make all the elevators an express from the bottom to the top only.  No getting on or off until top or bottom.”

“Okay.  That’s not a problem.”  Sage sounded like he was getting out of bed and moved to his computer, which was in his basement which was unusual, but I didn’t ask then.  I’d have to check on my best friend when this was done, “Alright, Nox.  It’s done.  I don’t know what you are doing but be safe.”

“I will do my best.”  I said then hung up.  Ant and Alex were already waiting by the elevator doors.  When I joined them Ant pressed the button and stood in front of us – always the body guard.

Ryan, Adrian, Darwynn, Dom, Alec and Valentina waited to piled into the elevator with the three of us along with a dragon who I didn’t know his name.  He smiled at me, “Driver.  I’m your liason to Reginald and your Dragon advisor from hence forth.”  He laughed softly, “Though it’s really been since you took the Last Phoenix, I never saw reason till today to make myself known.  I apologize.”

I laughed.  “A pleasure Driver.  We’ll have to do introductions when this is over.”  I said as the doors to the elevator opened.

I was finishing my lunch.  Alex was watching me, “You can eat knowing you are going to fight later?”

“I’m hungry.  And since I’m now tied to a plethora of different magics I need to eat.  One of the voices in my head keeps telling to eat and I’m pretty sure I should listen.”

“He talks too much.” Alex laughed, “Eddie reminds me of someone.”  

“Ha ha.”  I smirked.  But I kept eating.  Food was important.

Ryan came back with Ant and the vampire didn’t look very happy.  “Nox, you sure you want to do this?”

I shook my head.  “Not really.  But I don’t know any other way.”

“Alex, are you sure you want to go?”  Ant asked.

Alex shrugged, “No, but Hunter says I have to go.”

“Stay with me, we will work better together.  Better than the last time.”

I smiled, “We all need to stay together.  Eddie says our power is stronger together and there is more control.  And Hunter says we need to go together.”

“When do you want to go?”  Ant asked.

“The sooner the better.” Alex said.  “I’d really like to get on with my happily ever after.”

Ryan laughed.  “Sounds like a wonderful plan.”  The smile faded and Ryan added, “I will stay here with the rest of your family.  Alec, and Adrian, and the Last Phoenix will send more bodies.  No one will get to your family as long as we stand.”

Rider stepped into the room and his alpha power flared, but I was pretty sure he wasn’t trying to do it on purpose.  “All the powers need to go Nox.  I got this.  Adrian will send the rest of the Centurions here to guard the little ones.”

Alex looked at Rider, “Centurions?”

I let out a sigh I’d been holding as Rider had given an order.  “Adrian’s been talking a lot to you.”  I looked at Alex and smiled, “The Centurions are the packs protectors.  Of which I am technically one.”

“But the Lone Wolf doesn’t have a structure like Dom’s right?”  Alex questioned.

Rider smiled, “Yes and No.  It’s a lenient pack, but still a pack, otherwise they’d be subject to Dom’s rule.  Adrian keeps them all in line.”

Alex chuckled, “You mean you keep them all in line.”

Rider grinned, “That’s the running theory now.”

Ant asked, “Have you been challenged yet?”

Rider nodded, “Yes.”

“And?”  I asked urgently.

“We’ll I’m still here aren’t I?”

“Wait one of our sixteen year olds has already had a death threat.  Alex was up out of his seat ready for war.”

Rider just grinned.  “He revoked his challenge with his tail between his legs when Nox was all flowy with his power.  I drew on it.”

Ryan busted out laughing.  “Timing is everything!  Good job Rider.  But we’ll start training first thing after the Full Moon’s done with you.  You need to know how to fight.”

Rider nodded, “At your convenience.”

“I got the fort Nox.  You take your base with you.  Trust me.”  Rider said.

I nodded, “I do, little brother, with my life and the lives of all our family.”  I looked at Alex and asked, “Alex you good?  Do you want need something to feel safer?”

He took my hand.  “I’m good.  I got all I need.  A gun is just going to be wrong.  And we aren’t expecting to have to fight are we until the end?”

I shrugged.  “Dunno but that is the plan.  The Venatori have clairvoyants so it’s possible they’ll see us coming.”

“I’m really going to be useless.”  Alex said.

“You aren’t useless.”  Both Ant and I said at the same time, he continued, “I’m better with my Chevalier around and it’s not a power suckng drain thing.  We watch his back so no one stabs it.  And you my friend are a strong telepath and can understand the danger long before they present themselves.  Even in the land of the Ventori they aren’t all as good as Nox is.”

“Just because you can’t fight the big bads,” I grinned at Alex, “Doesn’t make you useless.  We are stronger together. And that isn’t about power sucking either as Ant put it.  It just isn’t. I don’t know how to explain it.”

Alex smirked, “That’s okay pretty boy I understand.  Well I don’t but I understand what you are saying.”

All the kids were back in the media room watching cartoons.  It was one of the few joys they had left even as the boys grew up they still liked their cartoons so they never minded watching with the little ones.  I gave each of them a hug and so did Alex.  Rider gave us knowing looks and smiled but said nothing.  The kids just thought we were going off on some other little mission like before – no danger involved.  I had a feeling they all knew.  But they choose to ignore it and be happy knowing that I couldn’t die.  Which was sad in and of itself, I’d watch them all grow old and die and be alone again.  Well not alone, I’d always have Alex thanks to Ant.  I was eternally grateful for my friend.

Good-byes were said.  Though I wasn’t sure if they understood this could go horribly wrong.  Mark Green was the most powerful man in New York City.  It was why he was in charge of things.  He had connections around the city but he also was Cesari.  It could go horribly wrong if I under estimated my opponent.

So I didn’t under estimate Mark Green.  I took all the tools of my trade.  Before we left I stopped in our room.  Alex followed me with a smirk, “This is no time for a nap or a quicky.”

I girnned at him.  “I’m getting Salvation and Damnation.”

Alex looked at me with a curious look.  I held up a survival knife, the handle wrapped tightly with para cord and inside was more things needed for surviving in the middle of no where.  Or in the city if you went into the ghetto places too often.  “This is Salvation.”  

The gun I held up to show Alex was nothing special just your run of the mill Beretta that Dorian had taught me how to use.  “And this is Damnation.  Together they are what it means to be Venatori.  Killing damns us but surviving will save us.”  

Ant was waiting for us outside and the three of us left, with a trail of others behind us.  The only one missing was Griffin and the embraced vampires who would meet us in the lobby of the AU building when we arrived.  

Adrian and Dom nodded at me as we headed out the night life building.  I felt a lot of wolf energy floating around heading towards my home to protect my family.  I was grateful.

The Night Life was busier than usual.  Crowds of people in the lobby – almost too much going on.  Alex grumbled, “The AU mall is closed.”

“They know I’m coming.”  I said.

“That’s not a good sign.”  Alex said.  “So no surprise element.  What else do we have here.”

I shrugged, “We go to the top, I challenge  the leader and this ends.”

“Sound so simple.”  Ant said dryly.

And just like that we were off to see the man at the top.

Darwynn growled.  I rummaged in a cabinet the kids didn’t usually look, it wasn’t where we kept any of the sugared stuff.  I had some granola, and some dried fruits, which really only Rider ate.  He knew where it was but no one else really cared for it.

I poured a portion of granola and dumped some of the dry fruit in it, added some sugar and handed the were lion the bowl.  He looked at it like it might bite him but he took it tentatively in his large hand.  “Is it any good with milk?”

I nodded, “Rider will eat it like that on occasion.”

Ryan pushed the nearly empty gallon of milk towards Darwynn for his own pouring.  “Why are you here Darwynn?”  I asked again.

He lifted his spoon to his lips and eyes me over the top of it.  I rolled my eyes and turned to my own plate of chicken and roasted vegetables and a side of something mushy.  I looked at Ryan and he grinned at me, “Just eat it.”

“I don’t like mashed potatoes, or anything that looks like someone masticated it already.”

Ryan chuckled, “Big word for saying baby food.”

“What is it?”  I asked.

“Mashed potatoes, cauliflower and parsnips.”  Alex’s head snapped to Ryan and he glared.  

I smiled, “Unless it’s in a pie I’m not a big fan.”  I said.

“So pureed food needs form – gotcha.  Double baked potatoes.”  He grinned at me.

Ryan didn’t hesitate to scope the offending vegetables and starch from my place with a bigger spoon and dropped it on his own.  His was covered in gravy and he just mixed it all in together anyway.  Alex added another helping of the vegetables I would eat.  I leaned over and kissed his cheek with a muttered thank you.

“Only taking care of my babe.”  He said with a smile.

Darwynn was watching the three of us with interest.  “I’d say you ran a tight ship here.  I’m not sure where the lines cross though to who’s family and who’s not.”

I shrugged, “If friends can’t tell then maybe the enemy can’t either.”  I said hoping they’d leave me alone.

Darwynn sighed.  “That’s why I’m here.”

I looked at him over my fork and waited for him to keep going.  “Always to the point?” he asked.

“It’s a Venatori thing.” Ryan said simply.  “They expect you to keep going when you state the obvious – expecting responses like really and go on was never taught.”

I gave Ryan a dirty look.  He smiled and stuck his tongue out at me which made his youth look even more like the sixteen year old boy he truly was.  It would suck to be sixteen forever.

Alex interrupted, “Wait, what?  You’re sixteen?”  Alex looked at Ryan trying to figure things out.

“I was when Cari took me as Chevalier.  In my time, sixteen was adult, my sister was still a child but only barely.”

“Why have I never met your sister?”  Alex asked.

“She doesn’t like people.  She’s in today’s terms autistic, and my parents were unable to marry her off so instead of letting her live with her the rest of their lives the staked her for the wolves and other nightly creatures to feed upon citing she was possessed by the demons.  I begged Cari to save her.  And in return we became her food – forever.  And then a few years later when Tony was banished from her live we became bound by our very lives.”

Alex shook his head, “We’ll talk later.” He looked to Darwynn and smirked, “Sorry, Nox’s thoughts get away from me sometimes.”

“Hey, don’t blame that on me.”  I said.

Alex wrapped his arms around me, “But they do.”  He kissed my neck then sat back down leaving me cold and wanting.  His free hand strayed to my leg and he squeezed comforting me while we ate and listened to Darwynn.

“I’ve been speaking with a lot of your allies since you found me and rescued me.  Most recently I was speaking with your father – Kai Viddens?  Venatori, salt and pepper hair, and honestly looks like you but older now that I see you again.  “

Darwynn laughed, “Anyway, he tells me he left the Venatori, and that you knew that.  But he didn’t tell you why did he?”

I shrugged.  “If you are mentioning it I’m guessing it’s not what he told me then – but something bigger.  Like maybe they wanted him to come kill me.”

Darwynn nodded, “Yeah.  They wanted the best of the best to kill you, but he refused.  And since then they’ve been contacting contract killers like myself.”

“Wait?”  Alex interrupted, “You are a contract killer?”  He looked at me , “We don’t want him around the kids.”

“Everyone here is a contract killer but you in technical terms.”  I said softly.  “Ant is an Enforcer with his mother.  Ryan too.  It’s what I do even if I choose not to kill.  Jae and Seraph where too to some degree.”

Alex sighed, “Alright, but if you bring harm to my family cause of what you do I’ll kill you myself.”  He threatened the were lion.  

Darwynn nodded.  “Absolutely expected, Mr. Kennedy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  But I’m loyal to your man, 100% you can count on it.”

“They are just going to keep sending people after me.” I sighed.  “Unless I do something. How many contracts you think they have against me?”  I asked Darwynn.

“No telling.  But the Venatori bounty is pretty high.”

“How high?” Alex asked.

“I’d rather not say.”  Darwynn said.

“That high.”  Alex whistled.  “So what are you going to do Nox?”

“You could challenge the big cheese.  That’s how it would work in the packs.”

“Vampires too.”  Ryan said.  “Official challenges can be pretty epic.  Ones like you and The Dragon slightly unconventional but works just the same.”

“I’m not Venatori anymore.”

Ryan laughed, “And you aren’t a dragon either are you?”

I sighed.  I looked at Alex and he frowned, “Do whatever you have to do.  They don’t know you can’t die, so as long as they don’t chop off your head we are golden right?”

“Fire doesn’t do much for you either, I don’t think it would even take anymore now that you are what you are.  I mean you are pretty bullet proof now too.”  Ryan added.

“You aren’t going alone.”  Alex said.  “You need to take Ant with you too.”

“And you too Dad.”  Hunter said climbing into Alex’s lap.

“Why do I have to go?”  Alex asked.

Hunter shrugged, “I don’t know, but if you don’t it’ll be bad.”

“You aren’t just human anymore.”  I tried to reassure Alex.

“I’m not a fighter.  I won’t be any use.”

I laughed, “Except you can manipulate my power too.”

Alex looked at me and frowned.  I added, “What if just having you there helps me help myself?  What if that’s part of my control issue.  My power base isn’t present?”

“All of it.”  I said.  “You and Ant together with me and …”

Ryan laughed, “The triumvirate of power.”  He nodded emphatically, “I’ll get Ant.“

Vin spoke to Allison quietly in the hall while he stared on watching us.  He answered the door and ushered the pizza delivery guy in roughly with his voice and he left with a nice tip as Rider came to handle things better.  The older vampire wasn’t a people person obviously.

We continued to discuss our plans for the new building. By the time the big burly bear of a man left I’d been fed and my body was back to normal – as normal as normal got anyway.  I was still having issues letting my powers run free.  But Alex was there and so was Eddie, though I wasn’t exactly sure where the cat was, but he was always a thought away.  If I started to panic because of the elements there was always a calming word.

Alex on the other hand had drug me off into the media room with the rest of the family.  He pulled me down on the sofa and put on a movie he was pretty sure I’d like.  It wasn’t my normal type movie.  More one Sage would make me watch and had in prior years, Alex hadn’t seen it yet, and I was happy to curl up in his lap and watch the hilarity of flying through space with a half god, a genetically altered raccoon and a tree that sacrificed himself in the last movie.  

The whole family sat and watched the movie.  Lake and Matt were curled up in a shared bean bag on the floor.  Rider was stretched up with his feet kicking up in the air.  Drake sat on his back and was paying pony or may be he was riding the wolf.  Rider was very good with kids.  I loved watching him taking care of everyone.

Ant and Izzy were sitting together, holding hands and Ant had his arm around her protectively as they watched from another couch.  Ryan was lounging in on the floor between the two couches where Alex and I were and Ant and Izzy were.  Almost like he couldn’t make up his mind who he had to protect so he did both.  I guess that was his job.

Faelen was curled up in a corner of the couch with Ant and Izzy.  Quinn sat next to him.  Her hand rested on his hip and his hand curled around hers.  They weren’t exactly touching each other but I suspected Faelen was holding back.  He was a wolf, touch was primary to his functioning and as omega he needed it more so than most.    Cass sat in front of them holding Fae’s hand and leaning against Quinn’s les.  She knew how needed the most help in feeling like part of the family and she was doing her best to make them both feel like the siblings they were becoming.

Hunter had been sitting with Rider, but when we joined them he cralwed up on top of me.  But it didn’t take long before Alex and I had readusted and he was lying on his side leaning against the back of the couch and half on top of me.  I wasn’t sure if he’d moved for my benefit or his own, but I felt better because of the full body contact.  Hunter lay on my chest and Alex’s arm draped over him and under my shirt to caress the skin of my rib cage.  

I don’t think I saw much of the movie, I’d have to watch it again when I was less needy.  I was so wrapped up in the warmth of my family that I fell asleep even though it was relatively early and I hadn’t slept much the night before.

The darkness turned to images.   Happiness filled with family and my blue eyed boy.  Then without warning the scene grew dark.  Thunder sounded in the distance and rain fell on our happy little scene.  Everyone scattered except me and Alex we stood with each other in the rain.  Alex ran his fingers down my jaw line but it wasn’t his hand.  It was dark and twisted.  His blue eyes were dark and stormy and glowing.  Sharp teeth showed in his mouth when he smiled at me.  

I started awake, alone in a dark room, cold and afraid.  Where was Alex?  My heart was racing from the dream and now the panic.  Twice the evil things in my world took Alex’s form.  Twice had my life been upended by things my love did not do.  I was shaking by the time Alex came into the media room.

“What happened?”

I shook my head.  and replayed the images in my head.  Alex sat down and wrapped me up into his arms.  “Just a nightmare.”  He chuckled, “A normal regular nightmare.  You’ve had a rough day.”

“I’m sorry.”

Alex pulled me tighter against him, “Nothing to be sorry for.  But I was coming to wake you.  Darywnn is here.”

“What time is it?”  I asked.

“After lunch, we let you sleep.  Eddie said that your body was learning in your sleep and that we should let you.”

“I didn’t dream of anything but the nightmare.”

Alex frowned.  “You can talk to him later about it.  Right now you’ve a pacing lion prowling our kitchen impatiently.”

“I …”

“I’ll be with you the whole time.”  Alex said.  “Ryan made food.  Let’s go eat and talk with your new friend.”

I let Alex pull me off the couch and readjust my shirt that had crumbled in my sleep.  There was a wet spot where my son had drooled on me, obviously he hadn’t been gone long before I woke up from my nightmare.  Alex ran his fingers through my hair and the pads of his thumbs under my eyes.

“Why do I need to be presentable?”

“Because you are Nox fucking Sétanta and he rules this floor with a painted fist.”  Alex smirked as he took my hand and lead me to the kitchen.  I wasn’t sure why he was prettying me up but I wasn’t going to complain too much for all the attention.

“Darwynn.”  I said as the lion slammed a cupboard shut.  “Can I help you find something?”

He frowned as he turned to look at me, “There is not a single box of cereal in this house.”

“What you don’t like what Ryan made?”

Ryan glowered but he made a bright smile.  “He is in the mood for sweet and crunchy – none of which I made.”

“I’ll remember that in the future, but I can’t guarantee there will be any left with three, no four,  teenage boys, and four children ten and under in this house.”

Ryan laughed, “Don’t forget Alex, or myself.”

I waved my hand in front of them, “And there you have it.  I’m sure there was cereal at some point.”  I sighed, “What can I do for you?“

We took the elevator up stairs, I pressed myself against Alex and Alec politely ignored us.  Not that we didn’t behave, but we were both in that state of need where we really should be alone for a while just to make sure we were both alright.  Alex whispered, “I’m alright if you are pretty boy.”

The memories of killing a version of Alex flooded my head.  “You knew baby.”  He said sharply in my ear.  “I came as fast as I could.  I’m sorry I was doing my thing.”

I sighed and pulled away from Alex to look him dead in the eye, “You can always take care of yourself.  I lived without you for a very long time, and I don’t want to do it again.  Your health, mental or physical needs to be a priority, too.”

Alex pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me.  I buried my face against his neck.  “I think we need another vacation.”

I sighed with a soft laugh, “We have to deal with the Venatori threat.  They aren’t going to leave us alone.”

The door dinged and Vin was standing there tapping pacing.  “Without Jin we have no one to greet people.”

I sighed, “Find someone Vin.”

“That’s not my job.”  He rolled his eyes.  “I’ll see if Allison can help.”  Vin pointed in the direction of the kitchen, “The architect is here.”

Vin started to walk away, “You and Alec are on me while Griffin is down on cell duty for three days.”

Vin stopped and turned to look at me and frowned.  I gave him a reassuring grin, “You can do both while you protect me.”

He sighed and nodded, “I’ll call Allison and then join you in the kitchen.”

Alec added, “There is a competition tonight for all Nox’s bodyguards.”  He winked at Vin and the other man just kept walking.  “I don’t think he beleives me.”

“I’m sure Griffin will tell everyone.”  Alex said.  He wrapped his arm around my waist and we headed into the kitchen.

The man I’d called in was standing in the kitchen looking at the counter top.  Alex cleared his throat and the man jumped.  I could feel his power – he was a were bear.  A piece inside me shivered.  Memories were a bitch.

He smiled at me.  “Nox Sétanta, the boy who could.”

Alex laughed, “Does everyone call him a boy?”

“He’s been a boy since before most of us were here, so yes.  But it’s not meant in a bad way,” the man said.  “Name’s Ged.  I run the crew that built this place.  I don’t think I’ve been in the building since we finished it.”

“This is Alex Kennedy.”  I introduced.   “This is a nice place.  How much of your crew is supernatural?” I asked.

“The whole crew.  And I can hire more.  What are you thinking?”  The bear asked.  And he looked like a right bear.  He was huge.  Could break me in half.  Alex growled under his breath and I knew what he thought I couldn’t help but smile at his possessiveness showing even when I wasn’t thinking anything of the sort.  I wrapped my arm around Alex and curled closer to him while we talked.

“I want a location on a lay line.  And I want to spell the metal and build it in a very specific shape.”

Ged groaned, “And I’m sure you want to make it with the special glass.”

I nodded, “Yes.  It will be the safest place in all New York city for the supernatural.”

“That’ll be an impressive feat.”  He sat down and smiled, “Tell me more.”

Alex sat down next to him and I stood next to Alex on the far side away from Ged so Alex didn’t think I was making moves or anything.  But really it was so I could look at them both and still touch Alex.  I needed that.  I needed to feel his warmth against my body.  I was being clingy and needy and I was going to drive Alex nuts with it if it kept up too long.

_Not a fucking chance pretty boy._  He pressed a kiss to my check, _I love that you need me so badly._

The discussion was pretty much just me telling Ged what i wanted.  I drew the run I wanted to build.  told him, I wanted a third of the building to be open to the public.  another third to be easily construct able habitats for human use.  And the remaining third to be studio apartments with runes to make them the size the occupant needed.  And a basement of course.  I asked about how far we could go.  I needed one or two levels of studio size apartments for vampires with the runes, and the remainder could be closet size cells meant to hold the criminally magicked brethren of our society.

The last bit made his eyes go wide.  “You intend to imprison instead of kill?”

“Isn’t that more me?” I grinned. “Besides I already have one in a cell and I need to make sure she stays that way for the foreseeable future.”

He nodded.  “Of course. But that could be dangerous.”

“Trust me.”  I said.  I don’t think he did, but he nodded and we continued our discussion.

Jin didn’t try to escape, not that she could anyway I dragged her along bound in air.  We took the stairs.  Even Griffin didn’t mind the 55 plus flights of stairs going down.  I’d never subject that to a human.

As if Griffin would read my mind, “You should make Alex does these with you now that he’s, what do you call it… Chevalier?”

“I don’t think Alex will ever want to or need to run fifty-five flights of stairs.”

Griffin chuckled, “He might if he wants to keep up with you?  How many times do you do these stairs?  I know you take the elevator when I’m around, but Jae and Seraph both bitch about it when I’m not.”

I grinned, “A dragon and a therian have better speed, agility and strength than I do, they should be able to handle it.”

I think we need to put that to the test.  “Any body guard who can’t keep up with you gets kid duty.”

“Are you willing to be the first one?”  I looked at Griffin.

He gave me a mad grin, “First thing tomorrow morning we’ll all do it.”

“How about first thing tonight, so you can get the vampires too?”

Griffin nodded, “8pm, bottom of the cells.”

The door to the landing opened and Alex stepped in, “This thing is pretty accurate.”  He said releasing the new tattoo on his arm.  “I felt exactly where you were, and I could also read your mind so I guess that helped too.”  He smirked.

“We are taking Jin to the cells, Griffin decided that all body guards have to keep up with me on the stairs.  I think it’s just to prove he isn’t just human.”

“He’ll cheat you know.”  Alex said.

“How can a telekenetic cheat in a race of physical body endurance and strength.   Cause it’s not about who is first, it’s about if you can keep up with me.”

Alex chuckled as we headed down the stairs, “So Ryan and Ant will, ” He looked to Alec who was trailing behind Jin.  Alex was about to open his mouth when the door to another landing opened.  An unknown blonde stood gawking at us.  Her green eyes bright and shimmering.  I had a vague sense I should know her.  Griffin and Alec were in front of me in a moment.

Alex laughed, “Hey, I didn’t get a chance to thank you.”  He elbowed me, “This is the girl I was telling you about.”

“The one who saved your ass?”  Griffin quipped.

“I wouldn’t say saved.”  She smiled and the world seemed to brighten., “Just helped a guy out.”  She held out her hand, “I’m Lucy.”

“Nox.” I took her hand, “Thank you for helping Alex out.”  There was a strange feeling as I withdrew my hand from her grasp like a flux in my power returning.  I hoped she didn’t take offense at my abrupt  gesture.

“Was my pleasure.”  She crooned and I felt like nothing else mattered.

“We got to go.”  Alec said.  As he guided us all of us down the stairs.  The further we got from her the more things got weird.  

Griffin kept looking back. “I know her.”

“I feel the same way.”  I said.

Alec shook his head, “Vampire magic.”  He said.  “She was wearing a siren’s collar.”

“A what?” Alex asked.

I sighed, “It is auspex magic.  Mind control imbued in an object.  Ryan has one I suspect to manipulate the shadows like he does.  I don’t know what it’s called though.”

Alec nodded, “It is a cestus.  Though he just uses the cords of the gauntlet now as a necklace, once upon a time he wore it like the glove it was supposed to be.”

“And only primeval vampires can make them right?”

“And Il Cane as Keeper of Secrets.”  Alec added, “The Son should as well.”

“So I could have one of those shadow things?” Alex asked.

“Yes.”  Alec nodded, “Her master is powerful.  I don’t sense any new or strange vampiric energy nearby.  The tie that binds is really old, and/or reall strong to not be close and to over power not one but three supernaturals.”

“But not you?” Alex asked.

“I felt the draw, but I’m not Domination master for nothing, plus the love of my undead life is Auspex, I’ve learned a few tricks to keep unwanted advances from my mind.”

“So someone else is at play here.  I wonder who else is trying to have me killed?”  I said as we dragged Jin behind us into the lowest levels of the Night Life building.

It was dark and dreary and the weather was slightly colder than the other floors.  There were no cells here, but it was the basement and no one would hear her scream as I left her in a magic proof box.

I found the farthest corner and started etching runes into the walls and floor and ceiling.  No sound, magical power, no energy of any sort would leave these walls.

I cut a box out of the door and warded it from any vampiric entrance escape.  It was funny how I just knew how to do these things, like the book was speaking to me much easier and without proximity.  My magic flowed around the room looking for any escape route and I plugged it with the same warding.  Jin would not escape even if I left the door wide open.

I pushed her through and she howled in searing pain as she passed over the ward.  “That’ll happen each and every time you try to pass.”  I wove an additional weave, “And now it also has the uncanny effect of burning you alive as well.”  I pulled her arm through with a weave of air and let her know I wasn’t making it up.  I stepped through into the room with her and let the bonds of magic go save for the hold on her neck I had.  “You can desiccate down here until you tell me who sent you and why. And then after than you’ll be happy to know these four walls will be all you’ll ever see the rest of your life.”

I left and she growled at me.  Once safely on the other side I released the bonds of air and she rushed forward just short of the barrier to the open door.

I looked at Griffin and he shut the door.  Only a small hand sized hole looked into the room at head height.  “See ya round Jin.”

I looked at Alec, “No vampire should cross tend to her.”

He nodded.  “I will inform the others.  And will set a guard at this level.”  He looked to Griffin, “Another torturous body guarding event – watching the empty rooms save one.”

Griffin nodded, “That’s for those who fail to protect our charge.” He grinned at me, “I will take first watch, Three days, one for each loss.”

“Fair is fair.”  I nodded, “Alec will assure my safety in your stead.”

Griffin nodded again.  “I’d like Vin on you too.”

“They are almost off for the night.”

“Non Mon Ami, Vin and I draw upon your power.  Daylight means nothing except burning.  Valentina was the first to notice our afternoon leisures.”

Alex covered his ears and starting singing, “I don’t want to hear that.”  He gave Alec a look and they both smiled.  At least their tension was lessening.

“Alec isn’t a threat, pretty boy.  I trust him probably more than I trust Griffin when it comes to making sure you are safe.  We’ve had some pretty interesting talks to help.”

I gasped in mock shock, “You talked to someone about your issues?”

He rolled his eyes, “I have this boy, and he has this philopshy that talking helps.  It just took me a while to figure out he’s right.  But don’t tell him I said that.”  Alex wrapped his arm around me and the three of us ascended the stairs to the lobby and bought a cup of coffee on our way to the elevator.

I curled up around Alex’s pillow and tried to gather my senses as I stared at the ceiling. It was getting late and time was worrying me.  But I had other things to deal with at the moment.

The elements shifted and scattered around me.  The sounds around me numbed my skull.  At least the smells weren’t making my stomach churn.  Not that there was anything left to empty.

I didn’t really feel any better except for not sicking up.  I felt small.  Lost in a world so large.  I wasn’t myself.

The door opened and Alec came in.  He smirked at me, “A sandwich?”

I shrugged as I slowly sat up.  “It’s food.”  I laughed softly, “I really don’t want to eat.”

Alec nodded, “I know my Prince, but eat.  Your cat says to eat.  I’d listen.”

“Since when do I listen to my cat?”  If it had been Fee she’d have tossed her tail up but Eddie just sat there and pushed his head against my hand.  A loving cat instead of the distant one I had before.

I scratched at the stiff fur at the back of his head, and ate the peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich Alec had made me.  “Hunter’s favorite.”  I said.

Alec grinned, “He made it.”

“You asked my son to make me a sandwich?”

“No, I was in the kitchen staring at the things in your fridge when he tapped me on the shoulder and he handed it to me.  Seeing the future has it’s advantages.”

I rolled my eyes.  Alex pushed into the room hurriedly as I was licking my fingers of the goop that had been left of the last bite of my sandwich.  

There was no bag of food but several bruises on his face and hands.  “Forget something?”  I asked.

He looked at me like there was something wrong and, “Oh, the food, it’s in the kitchen.  Jin took it from me.”

“And you rushed in here.”  Alec said.  “He needs to eat.” The vampire growled.  

The hair on the cat I was petting was standing on edge and he was tense. I stood up setting the cat in Alec’s lap and moved to Alex.  I frowned as I moved closer and his eyes didn’t light up like they did when I had only eyes for him.  Alex wasn’t here.  Where was **my** Alex?  

It took only a moment for the surprise to register on the imposter’s face when I stabbed an elemental blade below his rib cage and up into his vital organs.  The gorgeous blue eyes slowly shifted to a muddy dying brown and the room around me erupted into chaos around me.

The door burst open as I let the slowly fading illusioned body fall to the ground.  I looked up to see Alex’s blue eyes staring back at me, at the body on the ground that still looked mostly like him but was slowly changing back to the Venatori who had tried to kill me.

Alex stared at me a bag of food in his hand.  I looked at him over the dead body and I lost what little control I had on my self and collapsed to my knees in the pool of blood gathering at my feet.

Alex shoved the bag of food into Alec’s hand, “Make sure the kids don’t come in here.”  And then he was at my side.  “Jesus, Nox.  It’s not me.  Baby it’s not me.  I’m right here.”

I blinked at him as he pulled me into his arms and lifted me up and carried me into our bathroom.

Griffin was following not two feet away from us.  Alex glared at him, “Griff, I get you want to protect him, but he already did that.  I need to take care of him.  You can’t help with that.”

The man didn’t nod, didn’t do anything except follow us into the bathroom where he shut the door and stood on the inside.  “I will not fail a third time.”  He said.

Alex rolled his eyes.  “Fine.  Just stay out of the way.”  And then he was back to me pulling my shirt and jeans from my body and running hot water in a bath.  “Baby, it’s okay.  Why is all your power everywhere?”

Griffin answered for me, “The cat told him to let the power go.  He  needs to eat.  So says the cat.”

There was a soft scratch at the door and Alex turned to look at it.  He growled, “Since when does the cat talk?”

“Since two hours ago.” Griffin said.  “Very loud and very bossy.”

I turned to look at him and frowned, “I’ve not been awake that long.”

Griffin nodded, “Still two hours of a bossy cat.  The children all said their good nights and were sad until the new cat came into our heads.”

“Why are the kids still up?”  I demanded, and then I looked at Alex, “Where have you been?  You okay?”  I reached up and found a bruise and looked at his hands, “I… The… Are you okay?”

Alex grinned at me, “I’m better now that I’m back with you.  There was a commotion outside in the alley and I thought I saw you.  But it wasn’t and when I stepped in to help you they turned on me.  One of them left, and the other two kept me away from you.  I had other things to say about that.”

I growled, “Jin let him in!”  And just like that the power inside me flared and the blood was gone from my person.  I stalked out of my room but Alex was in front of me with a shit eating grin on his face.  

“As much as you look hot angry, you need clothes on.”  He chuckled.

I looked down and frowned and confusion washed over my face as I remembered the moments before.  I was moving in so many directions, the emotions going from one extreme to the next.  “I need to eat.”  I said sinking down to the floor and pulling my knees to my chest.

Alex waved for the bag of food and Alec brought it over.  “I will fetch some coffee.”  

Alec squeezed out the door and was off before anyone else could agree or disagree.  Alex pulled me away from the door and into his lap then he opened the covered Styrofoam plate.  It smelled great even though it was cold.  And it tasted even better.

I stabbed a piece of lemon garlic asparagus and chomped on it.

Alex sighed, “Are you mad?”

“Why would I be mad? Are you okay?”  I asked.

“I’m okay, pretty boy.” Eddie came over and started butting his head against my arm and I reached down to pet the furry thing with my free hand.  “There was something going on in the alley.  I thought I saw you.  I went to go help.”  Eddie moved from butting my hand to pushing against Alex’s leg as he talked.  “It wasn’t you, but by then they’d turned and jumped me.  I had no choice but to fight back.  It felt good to fight back.  But this girl showed up, helped me.  Blond, felt familiar, but when the fight was over I was in a rush to get back to you here, figured something was up.”  He nodded towards the dead body lying on the floor.  “And I was right.”  Eddie became more aggressive in his attempt to get Alex to pet him, “What’s with the cat?”

“The cat is Eddie.”  I said letting Alex change the subject without hesitation.  “He’s part of the umbra.  A spirit, a manifestation.  I don’t know but he said I’m poorly lacking in training, and that the dreams won’t work because you block him from entering my dreams.  And the nightmare before you.  So this is his alternative method.  Fee got to go back to the universe and he gets a body to be loved on.”

“So this is going to be a thing?”  He nudge the cat with his hand. “All this touchy feely – is not going to go away.”

I laughed, “It’s so me.  Don’t ya think?”

Alex rolled his eyes.  “Yes.  So what exactly is he helping you with.  Why is Eddie telling you to let your power run wild.”

“Not run wild, but not trapped.  It’s been fighting me by doing shit I don’t want because I keep it locked up.  Is that right Eddie?

_Sorta._

“Holy fuck! I don’t think I’ll get used to that.”

I grinned.  “Telepathic connection.  And that bothers you?”

“It’s a cat.”

“The umbra is magic.  Where your power comes from, where mine comes from, it powers vampires, and cursed the therians.  This cat is host to only a tiny fraction of the umbra.”

“You are feeling better.”  Alex laughed.  “All talkative again.”

“Sorry.”

He grinned at me, “Don’t be.” It didn’t surprise either of us when there was a knock on the door.

“I have the information Nox wanted.” Doc said, “On how they died, and who they are.”  

Doc opened the door and looked at us sitting beside it then at the dead body still lying on the floor.  “Do I?”

I shook my head, “No.  I killed him with a blade of elements.”  The whole thing played out in my head and again and Alex pulled me close.

“It’s not me.  It never ways.  You knew it wasn’t me.  Fuck baby you knew!”

“What if it was you?”

Alex chuckled in my ear, “I’m Chevalier now, I can’t die.”  Alex was reassuring me.  He looked up at Doc, “Tell him what you found so he thinks of something else.”

Doc complied, “They drowned, buried alive, and there are signs of smoke inhalation.  I don’t know what killed them short of the fact that they were suffocated.”

“That’s pretty much what I thought.  Alex didn’t know what to do so it did everything.”

“They were Venatori.”  Doc went on.

“I know.”  I answered.  I knew exactly who they were and how they were getting in.  

The world felt so much smaller than it did ten minutes ago.  Eddie sat in front of me purring while Alec scratched behind his ears.  “Nox.”

I looked up at Alec, “Wasn’t this a girl before?”

I nodded.

“How do cats spontaneously change sex?”

I took a deep breath and steady myself as I sat up.  “Umbra.”  I spoke slowly.  “He’s.  of. umbra.”

“What do you mean?”

I shrugged.  “Third. Ascendent. Order’s Champion.”

“You are really articulate right now.”  I glared at Alec and flipped him off.  Which only made Alec laugh.  “Mon Ami, if only.”  His French accent was back full force.  “You think you are well enough to move to a different room?”

I nodded.  “Slowly.”

“Gotcha.”  Alec said as he lifted me.  “I could carry you.”

“You do.  You die.”  I said.

Alec raised his hands and backed away.  “I like my undead life.  Mon ami.”  His smile was genuine and he moved to help me stand.  “I wouldn’t have anyway.  Not my position.  I’m not the son.”

“Ant.”  I said.

“Titles are important.”  Alec said.

“Not to me.”

“Mors Praetor is a humble man.  Mors Praetor keeps his word.  And Mors Praetor is not one of us.”  Alec sounded like he was reciting something.  Before we were out of the bathroom Eddie leaped on to my shoulder and balanced easily like he was some scabby parrot.  Alec laughed as he pushed the door open and we were in a clean room.  “Your room?”

I nodded. Alec nodded, “You will need to bar the windows.” Alec and I walked slowly back to our room.

I took another slow breath and tried not to think about it because the panic might set in and until the hangover like symptoms were gone I wasn’t doing anything.   “When I feel better.”

Alec nodded, “Yeah, I know.  What exactly are you doing anyway?  Your power is intoxicating.”

My room smelled like Alex – **my Alex.** I really needed him right now, but he needed to right himself first.  I understood that.  Self care was important.

Alec sat me down on the edge of my bed.  “I’m letting go, Alec.”  I said with pain.  “And everything is harder.  I see everything.  I hear everything.  Every smell rolls my stomach.”

Alec chuckled.  “Much like becoming a vampire then.”  He said and sat down his memories pulling the French accent out more.  “It wasn’t like yesterday, but I remember it still.  When Felix found me and took me as his human lover I was a soldier in the Roman Empire.  I followed my orders, and I did as I was told.  Until the day I was sent into to a village and saw it was nothing but women and children we were meant to slaughter.  I refused, and my commander ran his spear through my gut.  I made my way to Felix before I thought was my dying last breath.  And that was when he made me.”  He paused and looked fondly out into space, “I loved him once.  I killed him to take my throne. Vincent was my brother in arms and then in undeath.”  Alec paused his story and looked at me.  “When I awoke vampire the world was new and bright and I could see farther than I had ever when I was human and it was a moonless night in the darkest of dungeons where I awoke.  Yet I saw as if the sun were so bright.”

He laughed softly, “I don’t imagine my new sight compares to what you see, Nathaniel used to speak of colors that moved and shifted with the world.  He could barely see them, but you see them in full blown color.  I do understand the empty stomach.  My ears picked up the sound of dripping water three rooms over and it sounded louder than a drum beside my head.  And the hunger…”

“Unfathomable hunger raged in my body.  Felix was there and offered me a tender young lass and I nearly killed her, but Felix was a good teacher and told me how to stop and when I let my lust take over he stopped it physically if he had to.”

“And now you swear your allegiance to me?”

“I have had many masters in my long long life and this is the first time I have willingly followed.”

“You joined the Roman army?”

“I was conscripted more than joined.  It was that or die.”  Alec said.

“I’m sorry.”

“Do not be.  It lead me here – to where I was supposed to be.”

“You believe in fate?”

Alec shrugged.  “I don’t know if it is written.  Or if it’s just someone one’s funny attempt at bringing up words that we interpret as prophecy.  Skipping the parts that don’t fit.  Or losing the bits that didn’t matter.  I don’t know.  But I know everything I have gone through in my life has brought me to you.  One lead to another, lead to another and so on until I am here.  Without one I might not have found this path.  Changed something simple and I’d be long since dead.”

“How did you get through it?”

“With much help.  My first feeding was a god send.  It helped tremendously.”

“Eddie said I must eat.”

“Maybe it is more like an embrace for you.  You do call to the vampires.  I imagine it is much the same for the therians not born to their curse.” Alec said.  “Alex should be here soon, but I will grab something to eat while you wait.”  He stood up and headed for the door.  “Rest, find peace in knowing, no one will hurt you here.”

“That’s what I thought before with the Venatori.”

Alec snickered.  “Mon ami, the Venatori have always hated you.  Here, you are loved.  And Vin is finding all those who do not.  At first I thought he was a fool for doubting us, but his reason are valid and you gave him the job.”

I laughed.  “Only because he was going to investigate Sage.  I trust Sage with my life, so if he felt Sage was a threat – everyone must be a threat.”

Alec nodded.  “Rest.  I will be back with food.  Everyone is here to protect you.  Jae and Seraph are outside, one will come inside while I’m away.”

I shrugged as I laid down.  I didn’t really care, I was getting used to all their presences now anyway.  But it was Griffin who came out of the wood work.  He stood in front of the curtained window and waited arms crossed and just waited.  I had a feeling the man was pissed off he wasn’t with me when it happened.  Failing is duty.  But there it was, an immovable man and I doubt he was going to leave me alone any time soon.

Alex winked out of my dream and left me alone with the building fury.  But alone won out and I fell into darkness and the world around me reflected that with a rumble of thunder in the distance.  I was a reflection of the landscape, darkening and threatening rain…

A throat cleared above me sitting on a limb, before it came down and I scrambled away from it, or tried to scramble up the tree whence it came but all I managed to do was stand up in a hurry while I stared down at a figment of my imagination.  A red cartoon dragon with yellow spines and talons stared up at me with a smirk.  

“Don’t you recognize me?”  The voice said in what was clearly Eddie Murphy’s rendition of Mushu from Mulan.  My favorite dragon, my best friend, my everything until Alex.  And then Alex was Mushu – my best friend, my everything.  I even had a tattoo at the back of my neck that was **my** Mushu.  I reached up to where it used to be and frowned.  

“Of course I do.  But you’re a cartoon character.”

The tiny red dragon put his hands on his hips and glared at me, “And that’s supposed to mean?”

“You aren’t real.”  I said simply.

“This is a dream.”  The little dragon laughed.  “You didn’t take kindly to the last visage – this is someone you trust.”

I laughed.  “When I was five!”

The small cartoon looked thoughtful, I literally saw gears turning in a cartoon bubble.  What the fuck!  He looked up at me, “Is there something better?  Someone you trust, I can’t help you if you don’t trust me.”

“Help me?”  I asked.  

“This place is meant to teach you.  You are severely lacking in knowledge.  The demon and nightmare kept me away at first, and when your boy is around now he keeps me out.”  The tiny dragon frowned.

“I don’t mind the dragon, but can you not be like a cartoon, I can’t take you seriously.”

“I don’t understand.”  The figment of my imagination said.  

“Be a real dragon.  Lizard like, real, scales, not drawn.”

“As opposed to something unreal you’d rather have the impossible?”

I shrugged, “Dragons are real.  They take human and dragon form.  You can keep the same form, and name and size, and talk, but I just want to giggle and be five.”

The specter shimmered into a fog and when he coalesced he was a bright red and gold Chinese dragon come to life.  I reached out and ran my fingers over the side of his head and to his shoulders scratching him softly.  “That’s better.”

“That feels good.”

I nodded and grabbed the small dragon and pulled him into my lap and I scratched his belly and the dragon’s tongue lolled from his mouth in enjoyment.

“I could take form in the real world.  Teach you, it will be more difficult.”

“Like a ghost? Possess someone.  No I can’t let you do that.”

The dragon laughed.  “No, I am energy, I can make myself real.  We choose not to interfere.  But you have been missing for 20 years.”

“You couldn’t find me?”

The dragon shook his head, “No.  You were hidden from the world.  You and your boy did a job no one else could have done.”

I sighed, “So it’s really Alex’s fault?”

The dragon shook his head, “He made you forget yes, but you made it worse, but there would not have been a need at all if there were not external chaotic forces at play.  But I can help you in the real world.”

“You’ll be what a talking dragon? Someone will notice that.”

The dragon thought again and I was grateful I didn’t see the cartoon bubble, though it had been amusing.  The tiny dragon snapped his front golden claws, “I could release the drowned girl and take her place.”

I laughed, almost hysterically.  I nodded.  “Yes.  Release her.  Free her from her curse and her bonds and let her go back.”

The little dragon smiled at me.  “It will be done.  But first lesson, the magic you possess does not want to be bound and tied, it will resent you – hate you even if you keep it inside you.  Ascendant’s have only ever been vampire for this reason – their magic is what keeps them alive so can’t be shut down so easily.  You have to learn to be free.”

“But control is all I’ve ever known.”  

He nodded, “The elements will need to be relearned – the proper way.”

The little dragon looked up at me and his eyes were wide with hopefulness.  “If you promise to continue these affections, I will help the child with the sight.”

“I would appreciate you helping Hunter, but not because you owe me anything.  The affection is true, I love Ophelia.”

The little dragon quirked his head, “I don’t like the name of the feline.”

“What do you want me to call you?”

“The name of this red dragon is fine.”

“You want me to call the cat Mushu.”  I giggled.  I couldn’t help it.  “No, that sounds like you would be a Chinese main course then.  Human inside joke.”  It really wasn’t inside, but to a magical energy being it was easier than saying people thought the Chinese used cat as a main dish.  “Fee, is what I call Ophelia for short.  Does that sound better?”

The look the dragon gave me said he still didn’t like it.  “How about Eddie?”

“Why?”

I laughed.  “No reason, you need to know.”

“It will suffice.”  The dragon said.  “Wake now, your boy will be back soon, eat and be free.  It is important.”

I nodded even though I knew I was going to go into a panic attack as soon as I let it all go with no intention of reeling it in.  The little dragon winked out of my dream and left me alone again.  I was happy.  Fee was finding peace – finally.  At least something good came from it the whole thing.

I drifted into sleep and woke to the strange sky with stars and sun leaning against the tree that shifted and changed as you looked at it.  I was alone.  Alex was gone, he probably felt me in my dream.  _I’m okay._ I thought to myself, but more for Alex.  If he were listening I was okay.  Asleep I could think straight, my body wasn’t at the control of the fear and panic.  I wasn’t sure how it worked really, maybe Alex did.

I stared up at the sky, the stars shifted and moved forming things in my mind that I sort of understood. I sighed.  It was trying to tell me something.  Show me something, but I was keeping it from helping me.  But again I didn’t know how.  I closed my eyes and let myself go.  Let the power go, all my forced and in grained control go.  I felt it ebb and flow away from me.  I felt it shift and change and it cascaded into a symphony of colors and sounds even as my eyes were closed I knew it was doing whatever it was supposed to do.

Was my control the problem?

I opened my eyes and watched the power flood the dreamscape.  It felt strange and also comforting.  There was a shift in the world and I smiled cause Alex had joined me but he wasn’t by the tree.  He didn’t always find me right away in my new dream scape.  The stars seemed to speak to me.  I still didn’t know what they said, but it didn’t matter.  I felt Alex behind me, watching me.

“In here, I can see the magic.  Not just through your eyes, like really seeing it.”  Alex said as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.

“Where you are?”  I asked.

“I’m on the train back from Marco’s.”  

“Thank you for coming.”

Alex smiled against my neck.  “Baby, I had to think.”

“Running away.” I grinned back at him over my shoulder. “But not too far.”  

He stuck his tongue out at me, “I didn’t run away.”

“Sure you did.  I don’t mind Alex.  We all need to think. You are coming home right?”

Alex nodded.  “Yeah… Maybe I won’t.”

My heart shuttered a little at the thought of Alex not coming back.  But I gave him a small smile.  “I’m sorry.”

Alex pulled me closer to him.  “It’s okay Baby.  I’m sorry too.  I killed people.”

“I know.  It’s difficult the first time.”

“You’ve never had a hard time of it.”

I laughed and pulled away from Alex and paced around the tree.  “My first was a little girl.  She attacked me with a knife.”  I ran my finger down the place where the scar on my cheek used to be. “She sliced me here before I had to kill her.  I burnt down the place because she’d killed inside.  She was a girl possessed by a ghost of a girl who had been abused and murdered.”

Alex frowned.  “Do you remember every kill?”

“Like it was yesterday.”  I said as I stopped and slumped against the trunk of my tree.  “Every case, every kill, every person I’ve helped.  I remember it all.”

The rough grain of the bark rubbed my back raw – or would have if I didn’t heal fast now.  That was the other kicker to this whole situation, not only had Alex used my power, but now I was healing  gun shot wounds like a vampire.  I was still me, wasn’t I?

Alex looked at me and sighed as he sat down.  “How’d you deal with your first?”

I looked at Alex and frowned.  “I was with Michaela.  She liked to fuck after a good kill.”

Alex didn’t look at me but I knew he didn’t like it.  But we all had pasts.  He understood that.  “Alright, so how did you deal with the first on solo?”

I grinned.  “You won’t like that either.”  I said.  “I went to Ant’s and let him kick the shit out of me until I was too sore to care about the life I’d taken.”

“So it’s either get fucked or get fucked up.”  Alex smirked.

“Do you want to talk about it?”  I asked Alex.

He looked at me with a wild gleam, “When I get home, I have other plans, but talking while I wait to get to you is fine.  But I don’t need to talk about it.  You said something was wrong?  Do you want to talk about it?”

I sighed.  Alex knew the answer to the question but I kept quiet.  I stared at the sky and wished I knew what to do.  “Letting go is hard.”

“What are you letting go of?” Alex asked, he was getting better and prompting me to get the answers he wanted – or that I wanted.  I didn’t really know anymore.

“Everything.  But specifically the power.  This new magic is erratic, I think, because it’s bound inside, instead of free. It’s not like the elements where I have to control everything.  It’s hard being specific.  And I’m afraid to let it all out – to let the magic be the guide of magic.”

“Can you do that?”  He asked, this time I knew where it was coming from or why he asked.  Shielding hurt, so in theory letting it all go should be pain free.  I’d be less likely to hurt myself and for Alex that was his number one goal in our relationship – to keep me safe – to protect me.

“I could.  I could see everything, hear everything, just let the magic go.  But for a Venatori that’s a big bulls-eye.  Come kill me, I’m giving you everything you need to know about my power.”

“You mean the others feel it?”

I nodded.  “Yeah.  Venatori could feel the other races if they wanted to but they don’t.  Humans aren’t as sensitive to it, which is why you are only now starting to sense it around you.”

“So I’m not exactly human anymore.”

I laughed, “You are Chevalier.  As days pass  you’ll feel more and more magic because it’s your job as Chevalier to protect your vampire master from the things in the day time that would kill him.  So you’ll know when a therian is around, you’ll be able to taste the flavors of their magic.  Human and vampire too. And we are tied together now by a unique bond I know nothing about.  You and I already noticed changes.  If I let my magic out, it might flow down our bonds and change you more.”

“Nox if it helps you I’m okay with it.”

“I’m not Alex.”  I frowned, “I don’t want to force things on you, or anyone because it’s my will.”

Alex laughed, “You know, sometimes you are too nice Nox.  Why should you care what happens to other people because you are taking care of yourself?”

“So binding Ant because I didn’t know what I was doing was alright?”

“He was already bound to you.  I don’t think you did anything wrong, you two were drawn together by things outside our control and you just reacted to it.”

“So you are all on board with prophecy running my life.”

Alex frowned.  “Fucking hell of a time for the train to get where I’m going. I have to go.  But know this Nox, I’m always with **you**.  No matter what.  You do what you need to do and the world will adjust.”