Quinn had stopped screaming and Ryan was standing near the door. Alex was in my arms and she stared at us. I held out my hand to her. “You can join us,” I said softly.

Alex started to move but it was just to readjust. “Come sit.” He smirked. “Unlike us, Nox likes to touch, and so does his whole family. His brothers, his twins and the rest of us just kinda get sucked in.”

Quinn came closer and Ryan stood by the door ignoring us, but he was there if we needed him. She looked at him with angst. “Why’s he here?”

Alex and I chuckled softly, I answered, “He’s a bodyguard?”

“What did you do that you need a bodyguard, Dad?”

“Me?” Alex asked.

“He acquired a book he shouldn’t have,” I noted. “And he kidnapped me.”

Quinn was about to sit down with Alex, but she turned to look back at me. “You’re lying.”

“Afraid not kiddo,” Alex said. “Me, and Ant, and his brother’s boyfriend all colluded together to take him from the hospital he was being locked up in because the evil doctors were trying to kill him.”

Ryan snickered.

“You’re all lying,” she said.

Ryan couldn’t help it. “You can read all of us, little one. You know we aren’t.”

She thought hard, but she frowned and sat down with her father and he wrapped his arm around her. I whispered softly to them, “We’ll get through this – together. Like always.”

Alex laughed. “See you always want to fix things.”

I knew he was making light of it but I tensed up at the reminder and Alex froze too. I growled but relaxed my body. “Fine.” I pulled him tight against me. “I’m here. I won’t do anything unless I’m asked to.”

Alex pulled away to look at me and I was fighting back the tears and the anger and he sighed. “Nox, stop, baby.”

“No.” Was all I could say so I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back against me. I’d be there to support him, but I wouldn’t do anything else.

The three of us sat there, Ryan standing guard watching over us like a hawk. We sat until my phone buzzed its alarm. “That’s my call to walk home.”

Ryan said, “Francesco is down stairs waiting for you. Ant doesn’t want you walking home alone, and we don’t have any free day lighters at the moment.”

Alex sighed. “We can walk home with you,” he said.

“You don’t have to Alex. I know you need a break,” I said. “And your daughter is here, you should spend time with her.”

He smiled at me. “No, I think Quinn needs to meet the rest of the kids.” It felt like a blow he didn’t say family. Like he wasn’t part of it.

“Fuck pretty boy,” he groaned. “Come on stop. This is over.”

I shook my head. “No Alex it’s not. We made up. We are okay, but I’m not okay. Everything is going to brush at raw nerves until I can heal again. You’re in my head, I can’t help feeling the way I do. I love that you know what I think, how I feel. But Alex I can’t stop being me.”

Alex growled, “Maybe you’re the one who needs a break.” And then he stopped talking and stared at me. “You do. Don’t you? But you can’t take one. This is your break.”

“You think?” I stepped away from them and picked up my things. “Why do you think I schedule 3 uninterruptible hours with you.”

“Wait! You schedule me in? Fuck you. I’m more than an obligation.” Alex stormed to his room and left Quinn and Ryan staring after him.

I smiled at Quinn. “I’m sorry you had to see all this. If Alex doesn’t come home tonight, I’ll send the boys down here so you can meet the rest of the family. I’m sure Cass can’t wait to meet a new sister.” I looked at Ryan and he nodded. “Thanks, man. You might want to wait outside.”

He nodded. “I’ll give them some privacy. No one will even know I’m here.”

And he was right, soon as we stepped outside he vanished in plain sight, Vampire shadow magic thick around him. I saw him wave and I laughed, “You know I can see that right?”

“Sure do, that’s why I did it,” he said like a ghost on the wind. Francesco was downstairs, and that’s where I went.

I took the stairs and at the bottom I remembered I hadn’t brought food for Joe down. My storming out would get ruined but I went back up stairs. I could have just walked in and taken a plate and left but every piece of me was breaking inside. A little girl was hurting and in pain, her dad too and I’d left. All because Alex wanted to be the hero for once. Yet he was my hero every day. But I guess that didn’t matter.

I knocked on the door. Alex knew it was me, but he didn’t answer it. I knocked again. I heard, “You know he won’t come in unless you answer the door right?” Ryan knew me better than Alex sometimes.

I sighed and knocked again. Alex threw open the door. “What?”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breathe.

“What the fuck do you want Nox?” Alex growled at me. He was seething with anger, at me? At the bastard step father? His ex-wife? I didn’t know but it wasn’t helping. And then like a magic bullet, it hit me; Alex was picking this fight to deal with. I was near to crying again, the slow deep breathes weren’t working with Alex’s anger piercing through my body. “Fuck you Nox,” he growled and slammed the door shut. Or at least he tried to, I stuck my foot in the door jam and it slammed hard on my foot. I winced in pain.

“What the fuck do you want?” Alex growled and threw the door open.

I still didn’t say anything, if I said anything I’d break down. Instead I pushed Alex backwards and he stumbled inside. I closed the door and set my things down in the time it took Alex those few moments to catch himself. I taunted, “Hit me, I know you want to.”

Alex growled, but he didn’t move. “You think you know what I want. Other than maybe you not fucking walking away every single time we fight, how’s this.” And in the next moment I was hit with another mental blast. This time it was guilt, and anger, and confusion. It was all Alex. His emotions and on top of mine I cracked. There were no words, or sounds as I collapsed to my knees. I didn’t press my hands to my head, it wasn’t that kind of pain. I gasped for breath, my heart raced. It was hard to breathe. I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs. It was a forced panic attack like no other. I curled up on the floor. I couldn’t even rock or make it to a wall.

I heard Ryan yell “Shit!” and then he was sitting next to me trying to pull me from my position.

Quinn was screaming in the background. There was a knock on the door, frantic. Ryan was the only one moving. I heard him answer the door. The murmured conversation was not coherent as I tried to calm my self. Five things I can see. I didn’t want to look around. I didn’t want to move. I gasped for air. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I kept muttering in my head. I had wanted Alex to hit me, I hadn’t expected he’d do that. I hadn’t known he could do that.

And just as suddenly as all those feelings overwhelmed me they were gone and Alex was at my side. “Jesus, Nox. I’m sorry.” But the damage was done, I had to regain control, but at least I wasn’t fighting his emotions too. I tried to breathe. I tried to calm down. I tried not to need Alex. I tried to find my calm inside myself.

Alex wrapped his arms around me, I’m so sorry. He kept muttering it in my head.

“Alex, let me get him into bed, where he’s safe.” Ryan was yanking Alex away from me and all I kept thinking was I didn’t want to go to Alex’s bed. I didn’t want to need him to feel better. He was going to leave me and I was so broken already he was going to leave and.

Ryan lifted me and I reacted out of instinct and made it impossible for the Chevalier to lift me. The moment of defiance broke the panic enough to think straight and I pulled myself away from everyone like a frightened dog and curled up in the corner.

Alex whispered softly, “He doesn’t want me to help him.”

Ryan looked back at him and I watched through a hazed filled fog of anxiety. “He does. Even if he’s thinking he doesn’t Alex. You just hurt him. He’s rebelling against his instincts because he’s afraid. You two are pair of fucking idiots. I swear the sooner the two of you bind your fucking souls together the better off we’ll be.”

I croaked out, “What do you mean?”

Ryan looked at me as I sat there against the wall my knees pulled up to my chest and my head against the wall looking at them. I looked like I was drunk, and maybe it was sorta. I just let it go. I stopped fighting I stopped fighting with myself when Ryan knew what was wrong. I wanted to be free for Alex to leave. But I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want him to leave. I needed him. I needed him like I needed air.

“He’s scared you’ll leave. You’re scared he’ll leave. And from where I stand you two threaten to leave each other or push each other away all the fucking time. But you aren’t going to leave, you are drawn together as soul mates are. No matter where you go, no matter how far away you get you two are meant to be. So just do it already. Bind your souls together so you can’t ever leave. You can fight, hate each other all you want but being apart for too long would hurt you. That’s what you guys want isn’t it. To feel each other’s pain. To know the one is hurting as much the other being apart. Tony and Cari did it as a reminder of their love and they had to part ways. And they’ve lived centuries like this. I feel her pain everyday, so I know how it feels.”

Alex crawled over to me and kept himself low. “I’m so sorry Nox.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m sorry too.” I pulled him into my lap and I wrapped my arms around for him. “I’m here Alex however you need me to be.” Alex didn’t relax in my arms right away, but he did eventually.

The way the look on Alex’s face got darker and redder I knew the reason she was here wasn’t good. Their conversation was taking a turn and I saw it before Alex growled and got up and started for the door. I rushed in front of him and he blinked at me in surprise.

“Whatever it is Alex we can deal with it.”

Quinn started yelling, “Leave my Daddy alone!” But it was the mental blast that had me on my knees covering my ears and my instincts took over. The room filled with my power, the book on the counter glowed. The piercing pain stopped as Quinn had felt the power around her grow and it took all my effort to rein it in before it unleashed upon the world. It was harder than usual and I glanced down at the remnants of the mark on my hands. That had to go.

Ryan was on top of Quinn, his back to me and Alex stood between us but he wasn’t glaring at me he was concerned. “I’m sorry,” I said.

Alex shook his head. “There is nothing to apologize about, Nox. She attacked you, and I’m thinking had it been anyone other than our family that they wouldn’t have been alive.”

Quinn had broken down in tears. “Please don’t go. Please don’t go,” she kept muttering from the curled up ball on the floor in front of Ryan. The Chevalier knew exactly who to protect, there was no doubt in his mind that we’d be pissed off if something happened to her.

Ryan grinned at me. “I really am going to start to hate this job if I have to protect people from you.”

“I try not to attack my own.” I grinned back at him.

“But your power and that book go on autopilot.”

I nodded. “I know. I’ll figure it out.”

Alex was sitting next to his girl and they were talking in their heads. It was not fun being left out of the loop. “What’s going on Alex?”

Alex stayed bent with his daughter and held up a hand to tell me to wait and I let a growl go before I headed back into the kitchen to finish lunch. We were going to have to make some rules with three fucking telepaths around.

Ryan sat at the bar and watched me like he always did when I cooked, and I always did when he baked. He could cook too, but he hadn’t really done any of that since I’d moved in upstairs, Cari’s herd having found that I made enough for an army because of three growing teenage boys, they slipped up stairs to eat too. So I had six extra mouths to feed, and sometimes seven if Nick decided he wanted to join the land of the living. The empath was a strange man, but he was a reminder that Quinn could be a lot worse with all those voices in her head.

“I’m not bad!” she growled at me now sitting at the bar next to Alex.

“You’ve had a good teacher. I imagine the first time you ran away because your power kicked in and your mother didn’t believe you or ignored you.” She stared at me in disbelief. “I can’t imagine hearing everyone’s thoughts.”

“Then why do you leak so fucking much.” Quinn shouted.

Alex warned, “Quinn, language.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please, Alex, she’s your daughter.”

“What’s that supposed to mean”, he growled at me.

“Really Alex, like father, like daughter. Whatever. I’m going to lock down now, just a petty warning before I do,” I spoke the last so saccharine sweetly that I almost made myself sick but I pulled my shields around me and watched as Alex understood and his eyes went wide when I was gone from his head.

“Nox….” Alex begged.

I shook my head. “You want to take out your anger on me then go for it.”

Alex was feeling bad and I was pushing his buttons on purpose. I was being petty, and childish and I was pissed. So, I had no excuse for any of it.

I made three plates and then I went into Alex’s bedroom and shut the door behind me. I warded the room, including the bathroom and then let my shields go. Nothing in, Nothing out. My powers were contained inside of Alex’s safe space and while a little dusty I could envelop myself in him even though I was pissed.

I went into the bathroom and found the make up remover, an odd thing to keep, but there it was with the rest of Alex’s supply of make up. He wasn’t that kinda guy, made me wonder why he had it all and it was used. Probably for whatever con he was running. Which made me growl as I scrubbed at the mark that was left on my hand.

The bedroom door opened and closed and I heard footsteps come to the bathroom door. Alex was breathing slowly. I had let it all down so I could relax and Alex had no warning as he stepped past the barrier into it. “I still can’t believe you lock all of this away all the time. Look…”

I shook my head. “No, Alex. I get you and your daughter have this special connection, the same rules need to apply to you as they do to Cass. If you want a private conversation then you ask nicely and we’ll all leave or you can go into another room.”

“I’m sorry.” Alex stared at me his eyes still burning with anger. “You’re right, and I’ll teach Quinn manners – a lot of them, but can’t you cut us some slack here.”

“Why?” I looked at Alex. “You tell me I don’t ask enough questions. So Alex, why do you get to break the rules with your daughter.”

“She was telling me about her step-father. The things he did to her. All the things her mother knows about him doing to her. She wouldn’t say it out loud. She’s afraid to tell anyone. And then you tried to stop me when I felt like going to kill them. Which I’m grateful for, thank you. But Quinn was an emotional wreck and she reacted without thinking.”

“I’m not mad at her, or you for that.”

“I know. You’re mad because I shouted at you over something stupid.”

I washed my hand of the last of the make up remover and shook my hands as I walked past Alex and flopped down on his bed face first and buried face in his pillow. “Go deal with your daughter, Alex I’m fine.”

“You aren’t fine. You’re seeking sanctuary and I’m the one who’s making you seek it.”

“No you aren’t. It’s just everything piles on top of me and I just need a break.” I laughed into the pillow. “You want a break and I don’t blame you.” I stood up and smiled then pressed a kiss to Alex’s lips and pulled my shields around me but I didn’t block everything or try to keep Alex out. “Deal with your daughter. I’ll go lock myself in a closet someplace I won’t hurt anyone.”

I walked away but Alex caught my arm. “Your kids our our kids, but my kid is my kid?”

“That’s the way you want it isn’t it? Your space, your life, your friends, your job, your new place of business. I ask you about your day you say it was good. No more details. You don’t want to let me into your life and that’s fine Alex. But whatever is mine is yours – forever and always. I just want you with me Alex.” I stood there waiting for him to let me go and Alex nodded. I added, “If you don’t want to be anything more than Alex to my kids, then that’s fine. I won’t ask anything more from you than to accept that they are important to me.”

I pulled my arm from his grip. “Nox…” Alex said with sadness.

I sighed and I took Alex’s face between my hands and I pressed a kiss lightly to his lips. “I love you Alex. And I will take you anyway I can. Don’t worry about it. Take care of your daughter, just don’t go killing any one. I get you are pissed, I am too that someone would do that to a kid, and maybe if you tell me about it I could help. But you don’t want to so I should go so you can deal with it.”

“I didn’t want to bring up bad memories,” Alex said as I reached the door.

“Of what Alex? Garrett? My nightmares. Just because they are gone doesn’t mean I don’t still see them in the dark places. I’m a lot stronger than you give me credit for.”

“It’s not that Nox. She was abused – physically and sexually and…” Alex growled but he couldn’t finish his sentence. “And if I tell you, you’ll fix it like you fix everything else.”

My gut instinct was to stay and to help. “You fix it then,” I said and opened the door dropped the ward around the room and I left. Ryan got up and I shook my head. “Stay with Alex, Brandon and/or Valence might come for him since he had the book last.” I wove a net of air and pulled the book from the counter to me. “I’ll put it back in the vault.” I slipped my shoes back on and I left all before Alex left his room.

I waved to Joe as we walked to the stairs, it wasn’t a far walk and Alex walked the stairs without grumbling. He was brooding over something and I left him to his thoughts. He’d talk to me soon enough I was sure.

He unlocked the door and led me into his dark apartment. It was so quiet in comparison to where we normally lived, but these three hours were ours, like totally ours. Ryan parked himself downstairs with Joe. They had become pretty good friends swapping stories, Joe about his family and Ryan about the girls he was seeing. It was humorous to listen to them living through each other.

I kicked off my shoes by the door then flipped on the lights in the kitchen and started working on our lunch. Alex was watching me move around his kitchen.

“Nah, Baby, it’s your kitchen.” Alex interrupted my thoughts. “And I love that you make yourself at home.”

“You want me to right? This is my home too.”

Alex nodded. “Yeah, baby it is.” He sounded sad.

“Is everything too much. Do you need space?” I asked.

Alex looked at me and frowned. “You think I’m a bad person.”

I laughed. “Fuck, no Alex. But I know family isn’t something you want. We agreed to two places. If you need to stay here I’m sure the kids will understand.”

Alex sighed as he sat down on the stool on the other side of the counter and watched me as I started our lunch. It was far fancier than lunch, but this was our time, and it was always special to me. I prepared lunch and Alex brooded for a good twenty minutes before he sighed again. “I love your family.”

“Our family,” I corrected.

“Our family, but…” I pressed my finger to Alex’s lips and he looked up at me as I slid his plate in front of him.

“Alex, no buts needed. If you need space no one is going to hate you. It’s a fucking shock to me too.”

“So come with me.” Alex grinned and then it faded. “I know you can’t. Ant won’t let you. Hunter needs you. You have training for the kids. Plus all these new things. What the fuck was up with Adrian on his knees.”

“Uh. About that. You know how I killed the Dragon and now have a Dragon Clan following me?”

Alex nodded and his eyes grew narrow and I knew he knew what I was going to say before it came out of my mouth. “Yeah, Adrian yielded the Lone Wolf Pack to me. And Alec before the Council meeting swore fealty – making me a Prince to his Master.”

“What?” Alex asked.

“I now kinda lead a clan of dragons, a pack of wolves and an entire vampire bloodline.”

Alex just blinked at me. “Okay,” he said stunned for a moment. “But I want you to know they aren’t all coming for dinner.” He smirked. “Then my news is sorta mundane compared to that.”

I smiled and waited for him to continue. He sighed as he knew I wasn’t going to ask. “You remember I told you I’d been married – had a kid?”

I nodded. “You mentioned it.”

“Yeah, my kid is a habitual runaway. Her mother is flighty, her boyfriends are almost always dick heads and none of them ever watch Quinn. I’ve had The Wicked Truth watching my ex and Quinn. That’s her name, my daughter. She’s ten now, she ran away the first time at six and I flew out to find her and take her back to her mother who didn’t even know she was gone. Every since then Sage sorta sends her my way. She’s on her way from the airport – should be here any minute.”

With unbelievably perfect timing there was a knock at the door and then Ryan opened it slowly. “Yo people entering cover up,” he shouted. Not that he ever cared before, for being a straight man he had walked in on me, Alex and on us together countless times and he was never ashamed. He openly watched. Alex hated when he did it, but it was Ryan you got used to it. The hundred year old teenager.

He came into the kitchen with a blonde girl with the tips of her hair dyed pink wearing a jean jacket and ripped jeans and a hello kitty t-shirt. She didn’t look ten.

She glared at Ryan who let go of her backpack. “Wicked called said you were expecting this rapscallion?”

Alex nodded. “This is Quinn, my daughter. Quinn say thank you to Ryan for bringing you up here safely.”

She glared at Alex, then at Ryan and spat out, “Thank you.” She returned her glare back to her father. “That okay, Andy? Or is it Brent? Or Bobby.” She growled, “Dad!”

Alex sighed. “Ry, you might as well stay up here, we won’t be getting any alone time anyway.” Alex tried to hug his daughter but she ducked underneath his arms and walked into the room proper.

Ryan smiled. “Can I eat too?”

Alex shook his head. “No the food’s all mine.” He rolled his eyes. “You know he cooks for you and Joe too.”

Alex pointed to me on the other side of the bar. “Quinn, this is Nox. My boyfriend.”

“Ew. Gross,” she said even before she looked my way.

“Quinn,” Alex growled.

“What?” she spat at him. “My dad kissing someone is gross. Sorry!” She rolled her eyes and focused on something else, before she turned to look at me. “You finally tracked down your monster kid.”

I offered her a freshly towel dried hand with a wide eyed surprise. Alex told his daughter a lot, but then she was probably a telepath.

She took my hand and I leaned over the counter and kissed her little hand and smiled, “A pleasure Ms. Quinn.” The ten year old trouble maker blushed.

Alex groaned, “Jesus, Nox, that’s my daughter you are flirting with.”

I leaned across the bar and kissed Alex softly. When I pulled away licking my lips I added, “Who better to teach your daughter how boys are supposed to treat her than her Dad’s boyfriend?” I smiled and pushed a plate towards Quinn. “Sit darling and eat.”

Ryan complained, “Where’s mine?”

Alex growled, “Make your own lazy bones.”

I passed him a plate too and he smiled happily. I ate on the other side of the bar watching Alex and his daughter have a mental conversation.

The thing was I didn’t want any of that ambition but it kept falling at my feet – quite literally. Alex walked into the kitchen with Benji trailing and Adrian still kneeling on the ground despite my acceptance of his submission to my supposed Alphaness.

Alex looked from me to the surrounding crowd and then smirked. “If I were a lesser man I would think you were having an orgy without me.”

I grinned at Alex and walked towards him and kissed him hard, my hands falling to his waist. It was a show, but Alex took it that much further and laced his fingers behind my neck and held me close with his other hand wrapped around my waist clutching my ass and pressing me hard against him.

I pulled away breathless and kept my eyes on his slightly swollen and moist lips. God I wanted to kiss him again. Alex smirked and then let me go then walked around me to introduce himself. “I’m Alex. I’m sure you’ve heard all about me.”

Alec laughed. “Alec Moretti and yes he never shuts up about you.” In a heavy French accent and his hand to his head in mock distress, “I miss him so…” He gave Alex a toothy grin. “This is the Lovely Valentina. Valentina, my love this is Alex Kennedy, Eidolon.”

“Say what now?” Alex asked before any other introductions could be made.

“Eidolon, the phantom. The lost dream walker.” Francesco answered. Alex looked at the grandfather to our friend, and he blinked. He looked at me for clarification but it was Francesco who cleared it up. “Anthony is my grandson. The family resemblance is uncanny I know. Let me introduce myself.” The vampire was shorter than Alex and I, but he loomed over us in presence, he made you want to slouch or be shorter but Alex stood up taller and smirked – immune to his charms, one of the things I loved about Alex. “Francesco Giovanni – son of The Elder – our Leader. I’m his liaison with the rest of the world.”

Aurora laughed melodically through the kitchen. “Donatello never leaves his home in the mountains. He prefers the daylight to the firelight of Sanctuary and he can’t be bothered with human interests as he puts it.”

“Hush you.” Francesco beamed at the lovely brunette who was his mistress. He was happily married. And Aurora as well, though I wasn’t sure that there was marital bliss between her and Sal since they’d spent the last few centuries across the ocean from one another.

Benji asked, “Why are there so many vampires in your kitchen, Nox?”

“Because the Vampire Council is here seeking asylum. My protection, just like you.”

“Except what are vampires afraid of?” Benji asked confused.

“Other vampires?” I asked him rhetorically.

Alec supplied, “Him of course. Which is why we come here.” Alec approached Benji and I could feel his power washing over me, and thus over Benji. “Who is this pretty morsel?”

I sighed, “Alec, do not play with my friends.”

The power cut off as smoothly as it started. “As my Prince wishes.”

There was no condescension in his voice as I would have expected. He just dropped the power. “But the question remains,” he said simply.

“This is Benji, Alex’s best friend, he’s my family. He’s not food. You are to make your people aware of this. All of them. Anyone touches my friends and family and I will not hesitate to lob off heads.”

Valentina laughed. “But what if they want us to.”

“Stay out of their heads Valentina.”

“You are not my master, Mors Praetor.”

“Do we need that lesson again, Valentina?” I asked pleasantly. I let a trickle of my power go and it slowly filled the room.

She shook her head. “No. It is as you wish, Nox.” This time that note of condescension was there.

Alex wrapped his arm around me. “Benji wanted to see if you had lunch ready.”

“For everyone else,” I said. Not for you. I thought at Alex.

Benji helped himself to the lunch I’d prepared for the rest of the family. “We are still on right?” I asked Alex out loud.

“Of course. Unless your plans have changed.”

I shook my head. “Nope I’m good. If you want you can watch me cook.”

Alex laughed and nodded. “Oh I suppose.”

I grabbed the book. “I’ll be back later,” I said and only Ryan followed me and Alex as we headed for the elevator.

Alex’s phone range and he picked it up immediately. I didn’t recognize the ring tone, “Dude.” But I recognized the voice, Sage was calling him.

“What do you want Wicked?” Alex asked as he turned around to face me while we rode down the elevator It was a thing we did even here when in the elevator, he stood in front of me impossibly close so I could lean against the wall and press my face into his chest and take in him and nothing else.

“Q’s on the move,” I heard Sage say over the phone.

Alex tensed up as he asked, “Where is she?”

“She’s on a plane to New York.”

“Why is she coming here?” he asked.

Sage sighed. “I figured if she was going to run away again, at least she’d run towards you instead of running some random place hoping you’d find her. It was just a suggestion I planted everywhere.”

Alex sighed. “When does she land?”

“In ten minutes,” Sage said coyly.

“Why the fuck are you just telling me now?” Alex growled as we started to head for the lobby of the Night Life building with Ryan in tow.

“Uh, I tried calling you but you wouldn’t pick up. I sent you emails but you don’t read them. So it’s not my fault you are so involved with your boy toy that you ignore my warnings.”

Alex growled, then took a deep breath. “I was in the middle of a business meeting, I’m sorry. Arrange for a car and send her to my apartment.”

“Already done. I’ll change the final destination.”

“Thank you Sage,” Alex said as he hung up and looked at me. “I’ll tell you when we get home.” He was upset so I just nodded and knew we’d talk later.

We all stared at the book, Ant was the first to speak. “The Umbra is all magic, right?”

I nodded. “The Order of the Umbra.”

Alec shook his head. “Not the Chaos and Order make up the Umbra. Order comma of the Umbra.”

“A person?” I asked.

“An entity anyway. My sire used to speak of the game of souls. Order likes to sit back and watch while Chaos sticks his fingers everywhere. But every once in a while Order makes his own champion.” Alec spoke as if he were just telling the kids a bed time story.

“The Ascendants, Aeryn and Prometheus,” Ant said.

Alec nodded, “So says the lore.”

“So Master of Domination, what else are you good for?” I grinned at him.

“Not much you’d be interested in lover boy. I don’t have those blue eyes you love,” Alec added with a sly smile and a wink.

“I think Alex will appreciate that.” I led the two vampires into the kitchen area. Everyone else was doing their thing. Cass, Hunter and Drake were with Rosie who was taking care of Nickey in the mornings for Carla, so Mrs. Morgan had offered to take the three little ones off my hands until we could figure out what to do with them. Home school sounded like a better option for them, than sending them to public school. Not that I was worried about their education, I was worried about their powers. Until Hunter could control his, Cass didn’t read everyone’s head, and Drake didn’t have to hide his eyes all day it was going to be a difficult journey for them.

Matt fit right in with the twins and while he was Laker’s mate he felt more like one of their brothers, maybe that was because I thought of him that way, and so did Rider. I wish I’d known they were pack so I could have told them to be careful in their situations. I think Rider is careful but even I don’t know how you form the forever bond with a mate.

I came out of my head to Alec laughing. “He always do that?”

I grinned and started making lunch for everyone. They’d eat at their own leisure so it was something easily pulled out and fixed – sandwiches usually worked best. Today’s was left overs from the previous nights dinner – a few shredded steak sliders.

Ant nodded. “He does that all the time.”

“Same with the talking fast thing?” Alec asked.

“I’m right here,” I said. “And yes Alec that’s normal too. I will try to slow down for your foreign ears.”

The new vampire shook his head. “Not at all, I’m just making sure I know what’s normal. I promised your body guard I would watch you.”

“For some reason I don’t think you’d make a good bodyguard.”

“I won’t fight your battles, but if there is a threat I can be quite persuasive.” Alec nodded.

The book sat closed on the counter top while I cooked. Alec kept looking at it like it was a snake about to jump out and get him. “It’s not going to bite.”

The beautiful blond vampire walked in followed by Francesco and Aurora – hand in hand. Valentine soon wrapped her slender arms around the French vampire and pressed a cold kiss to his cheek. She looked soft and innocent and like she was born to be a model. She gave me a wide smile. “Nox?”

I nodded. “Yes, Ms. Valentina, what can I do for you.”

“My dearest has sworn fealty to you?”

I nodded. “I guess so.”

“And you control the book. This book.” She looked down at it and reached out to touch the cover but it grew bright red and hot and she pulled her hand away.

Alec pulled his lovely vampire girlfriend closer to him and away from the book. “But it might.”

“It won’t hurt you,” I said. “It doesn’t trust Valentina because I don’t trust her.”

Ant reached for the book and flipped the cover to add to my point he understood me, so understood that it wouldn’t hurt him. “How did you know?”

“Because you two can read it and she can’t.”

Jin came walking into the room. “Nox you have impromptu visitor.”

“Okay.” Jin started to go back the way she’d come. “Jin, can you make the arrangements to get the supernaturals in a meeting someplace neutral at night so all the vampires can come. Maybe reserve one of the park locations.”

Jin nodded. “Yes. I can. I have already done as you asked actually tonight at midnight, if you can pull yourself away from the pile of family.”

My impromptu visitor was Adrian Sheridan, one of the people I wished to have Jin call.

He was staring at the four vampires he didn’t know and the book they were all testing. “Adrian,” I said and walked around the counter and wrapped him in a hug. “What brings you here?”

“Rumors,” he said. “That look to be truths. Why is the vampire council here?”

“They seek asylum,” I said.

Adrian laughed. “So now you own the vampires?”

Alec joined Adrian’s laughter. “Not all of us, just my line.”

Adrian’s face went stoic. “You are saying that he’s your Prince? As a Master vampire you took a non-vampire as your leader.”

Alec nodded. “He is Ascendant as Il Cane knew, the book speaks to him.”

Adrian sighed. “I knew this day would come.” Adrian dropped to his hands and knees and he bowed his head.

“What are you doing, Adrian?”

He looked at the floor as he explained, “Do you remember why I dismissed you?”

“You said I had nothing left to learn.”

Adrian shook his head. “No. The older you got, the more power you had. Each time you gave in to the commands that power grew. Every time we put you through your paces I felt weaker and weaker. It wasn’t that I was changing, it took me a while to figure out that even as a bottom you were Alpha. But you were born Omega, Nox.”

“I don’t understand.”

Adrian started to explain but I interrupted, “Sit up stand up don’t talk to the floor, please.”

“I cannot until you accept that I yield. It is your right to keep me prostrated and below you. It is your right as my Alpha to do as you wish with my mind, body and soul.”

“Fine, you yield. Now get up and tell me what the fuck you mean. I can’t be both Omega and Alpha.”

“But you are Nox.”

Alec laughed. “That would explain it all. He was born a piece of trash but his power pushed him to a golden piece of trash.” He grinned at me. “No offense, my prince.”

“None taken but don’t let Alex hear you talk about me that way. You won’t like him when he gets angry,” I said.

“Noted, and I do jest. I refrain from the truth only so as not to assume peculiarities are your thing,” Alec added.

“Peculiarities as you put them were my thing because I knew no better way to cope with what I am. Adrian taught me the merits of self respect and with the help of my dream boy, I found a way through life that doesn’t require my abuse at the hands of men.”

Alec nodded. “I would never hurt a beautiful boy like you. But I digress… You now have a full werewolf pack, a vampire blood line and a dragon clan at your beck and call. New York is next? I do like your ambition.”

Ant interrupted, “Aurora, mother believes in prophecy but Nox does not. Speaking of it is only going to make him rebel against it. It is best just to know it, and let it play out.”

Aurora laughed. “You worry, darling. It has already happened as prophecy foresaw.”

“So you are saying my life is written. That there is nothing I can do to change what is destined,” I said quickly as I stood up. “Destiny is bullshit. I was not destined to be beaten my entire life. I was not destined to live alone. There is not a living being who would wish that or will that on someone. So no, you and your destiny can go to hell.” I walked to the door quickly, Alec was standing and waiting for me to exit, Ant following only feet behind me. “We will find Valence and stop him from whatever he plans. But right now I can’t be here.”

Ant followed me out the door and stopped. “Mother told you what not to do and none of you choose to listen.”

Alec had followed me out and was trailing behind me unsure of what to do. “You are the third Ascendant,” he spoke. “You don’t want to hear it, I understand. But the book only responds to an Ascendant.”

I laughed. “I might be, but that doesn’t mean my life is written.”

He nodded. “So you won’t refute the facts, just that you aren’t doing things because they are written?”

“I know enough about reading the future, it’s a possibility. A probability. My father can go through glimpses of the future a few minutes at a time, he sees the outcomes and chooses the best possible one. I see the probability in things, the pattern, the effect little changes have on the world So my future isn’t written.”

Ant was walking beside me. “Why did you submit Alec?”

“I told them why I did what I did. I knew he wasn’t a monster, I knew the power wasn’t corrupting him and if he had a choice he’d give it all up to spend forever with his loves. But it was the way he fought my power that clinched it for me, I saw into his soul, saw he would be so easily dominated, that if I pushed, and Anthony I did push, I could control him. He didn’t fight me, he didn’t show me power, he let me in, and I passed right through him because of a promise. His word is binding. He is a true Ascendant and one like we’ve not seen at all. I’m sure your grandfather can tell you of his sister. And we’ve all heard the stories of Prometheus.” Alec said with a smile. “I am yours. My line is yours.”

I laughed as I walked to the stair well. “So now lets see. I have a whole dragon clan and a whole bloodline that follow me through supernatural ties.”

Alec followed beside me as we went upstairs speaking quickly. “My prince, if you were a vampire, you would be king. Even Francesco would have no power over you.”

Ant chuckled. “You think my grandfather would yield to a boy?”

Alec looked at the younger vampire and nodded. “I think your grandfather is more afraid that Nox is not as benevolent as Il Cane says he is. That this power will one day come and swallow us whole.”

“It already has, Alec. You swore fealty to him.”

“I do that out of personal interest.”

I stopped halfway up the stairs and turned around pushing past both vampires that looked at me confused. “The book is mine, right?”

Ant nodded. “Yes?”

“So I can read it or use it as I need. What if I tell it to reveal all its secrets to me?”

Alec’s eyebrow rose and he followed as we headed for the vault. Ant was with me but Vin had met us at the vault entrance. “Don’t you sleep?”

Vin laughed. “You will leave shortly and I will have all the rest of the day to sleep with the dead.”

I sighed. “I’m fine inside.”

Alec looked at Vin and smiled. “If I take your place will you do as your Master commands?”

“He’s not commanding, but if Ant says it’s okay,” Vin said. “I’m just following orders. And Ant’s my boss.”

“And his boss told you to sleep.”

“Actually I asked him if he did. He’s free to do what he wants, if he wants to be a zombie that’s his call. Ant we really need more trusted guards.”

“Alec is not a fighter.”

“Does he need to be?” I asked. “What’s a fighter going to do against a jet of fire from a dragon.”

“Point taken.” Ant looked at Vin. “Sleep, we will find others I can trust with the lives of the ones I love.”

I opened the vault and we stepped inside. I ran my fingers over the bindings and took it from the stand. “Not here.”

We took it to the top floor and it wanted the sun, the floor in the middle of this level was made of the same glass that made up the rest of the windows. It was three meters thick and the sun shown through. Alec stared up at sun. “I’ve never been this close and not burnt. Your mother’s team is wondrous.”

“It’s nice isn’t it,” Ant said.

I stared out at the middle of the floor, it was perfectly safe to walk across people did it all day, but I always walked around it. I took a deep breath and I took a step onto the glass and I moved to the middle of the square of glass that shone down above the guests below. My shadow would be huge at this height. I didn’t think about it as I sat down and opened the book. It glowed with power, I breathed slow and deep. My fears were getting the better of me as I asked the book to show me its secrets all of them.

I saw the brightness from behind my closed eyes and I felt the warmth envelope me. I felt whole and broken to a billion pieces at the same time. The world was both order and chaos. I knew that the energy was living and that I could command it. And just like that the cold world surrounded me again and the light died down and Ant and Alec were pulling me to my feet. “You okay?” They asked in unison.

I only nodded my head. I couldn’t speak even if I wanted to as Ant pulled me towards solid ground. And when I opened my eyes, they were staring at the book. I looked down and the page was open. “Welcome, Third Ascendant. I am Order of the Umbra.”

The rest of the vampires behaved themselves. Sal tried to shove Alec out of the seat at the head of the table without actually touching him. But the vampire, my vampire didn’t move, he sat with a smirk his feet still on the table until Sal relented. The big black man who had tried to intimidate me was Virgil Salazar, he was the dream walker master and he sat down with a growl.

Desmond offered me a coy smile, he was here with out his better half and it was strange to see him without Marshal, the two were inseparable for not being lovers. Though I think after all these years there was some of that too. Desmond was the Empathic Master, which meant nothing really he was weak and the CCB was the only reason he hadn’t been disposed of.

Dimitri Moriarty was covered in furs and I was surprised he was here. He preferred the Mountains to the city. I gave him a nod, we’d met once five years ago though at the time he hadn’t introduced himself to myself or Michaela, he had only offered up a location of the were-bear we had been hunting.

Nathaniel, I actually forgot his last name, was the Elemental master, he was a weaselly looking fellow and I didn’t like the looks of him as he sat down next to Sal and with a big frown on his face.

Evangelina was a Necromancer, I had nothing to fear from her, but she looked at me with daggers and red ruby lips. Beautiful was not the word I’d use for her beauty and grace as she sat down, but she did not belong in this time. Maybe the roaring twenties, but that was a vampire’s life for you.

Valentina was a pretty blonde, she sat down next to Alec with a shared personal smile and he sat upright with eyes that said he was in love with the Master of Auspex – mind control. Which wasn’t domination, more like what Alex did.

I avoided Damian Vallejo, despite his shared name was no relation to Desmond. He was the Incubus – a lust filled vampire. He could feed on sex and love and lust from a distance. He looked at me like I was food. He smiled at me as I assessed things. “You radiate sex my friend,” he whispered in my ear as he shook my hand and headed to his own seat.

But what surprised me most was the man who stood in the doorway waiting for me to look in his direction. I smiled and knew exactly who the man was, son like father, like grandfather, Francesco Giovanni. While he wasn’t the leader of the Primeval Vampires he was one of the oldest vampires known to live. He gave me a nod as he sat down with Aurora at his side.

Alec stood up and waved for me to sit where he’d taken up residence. I sat down and he moved to an empty chair at the other end of the table. Ant took up space behind me and I knew he probably looked as menacing as he felt behind me.

I sighed, “You called me here, I don’t know why I’m running this meeting.”

Alec chuckled. “It is deference Mors Praetor. Il Cane’s advisement was not to treat you like Venatori, but as the kid you were.”

Aurora finished for him, “But you’ve shown that you are our betters.”

Nathanial laughed. “They just fear fire. The one thing that could kill them all.” He flicked his hand and fire flickered on his hand.

I reached across the table and snuffed it out. “And yet, you haven’t taken over.”

Ant and Alec were both smirking and Aurora’s smile was hidden behind her hand gracefully, the rest all remained stoic in their resolve.

“So tell me why I’m here.”

The eldest vampire spoke. “It is troubling times, Nox? Right, that’s what I should address you as.” I nodded and Francesco continued with a bright smile. “The Council is in hiding. What better place than within the confines of our Enforcer’s fortress.”

“Not your Enforcer. You may be her sire, but she is not your enforcer, I believe that is your son’s job.”

“Knowledge is power, Master Nox.” Francesco bowed his head. “Yes, But we fight the same enemy and Sanctuary is hardly the place for the embraced.”

“Understood, what are you hiding from?” I asked.

“From each of our own. Valence has joined the New World Order. He and the New World Order have been rooting out all of our safe houses in Europe and now that we are here he and the New World Order are coming to New York. Their leader was in Las Vegas, my brother,” Francesco continued, “was looking for a book he thought could help him. Your telepathic dreamwalker.”

“He has a name,” I growled. “And I do not own him as you are implying.”

Ant smirked behind me. Francesco frowned. “My apologies it was not meant as possession, but your boyfriend, has his own powerful enemies now. You would do best not to let him leave this building.”

Ant snorted in laughter and then stood up clearly reading me. “I will send Ryan to him immediately.” I wanted to ask how he knew where Alex was but then I remembered the chip in my watch, he had an identical one, as did Benji. And my bodyguard was taking advantage of that.

Francesco sighed. “I do not think Il Cane will like the use of her resources in such a manner.”

“Ant sends him with us in the daylight all the time.”

“The Chevalier is no match for Brandon.”

I shrugged. “And who is if you the king all fucking vampires are running and hiding behind the big bad scary Venatori. Because don’t get me wrong, I know you trust Cari to defend your lives, but you’re here cause I’m here and if she’s afraid of me then I must be worth something.”

Alec snickered, “I told you he was not the play thing of The Hound. He wants you to think that, so you underestimate his true power.”

“And how did you know this Alec, are you all seeing now,” Evangenlina asked with a seductively smooth voice.

He grinned at her. “That is my secret. But I knew before meeting him, I said as much. He calls The Hound by her nick name, not even her given name, you and I do not. He walks the streets of New York asking permission but yet they fear his wrath. Why I ask does a boy of twenty five scare the monsters?”

“Because he is one?” I asked – almost afraid to hear his answer.

Alec looked at me hard. He must have seen the fear on my face. “No, my Prince, precisely the opposite. Because he is not one A man who hides his potential at the risk of his own life is not a monster. As much as we like to think our flaunting power is great, it is that which makes us monsters. You lock it up. And when you drank from me I knew your pain. I know it now.”

I looked back at Ant and he nodded. I really didn’t know what to say so I changed the subject. “My world doesn’t want me here, so I won’t be here to protect you. I expect that when I call New York into session that they will request relocation.”

Aurora smiled brightly at me. “So we make you a new fortress under which you protect all living things. And I imagine, your book, the one I so carefully guarded for centuries and our dearest let slip through her fingers.” Aurora chuckled.

Sal growled, “You think Il Cane let it go.”

Aurora laughed. “I think she gave it to Alistair knowing he’d be careless and someone would steal it. And as prophecy foretells find its way to its rightful owner.”

Alex held me until I was right which could have been forever because I was never right, but I felt better and Alex had agreed and we both had things to do. Alex left to go meet Benji at the location that they were looking to lease for their Vegas meets New York show. They wouldn’t tell me anything more about it and that was alright. I’d find out more when they were ready. Show girls and Vegas were all I knew.

Vin had been replaced by Ant, something about a show of force for the Vampire council. Vin was good but to have Ant at my back was better, and I did trust him more than I trusted Vin. But Ant trusted him so I was good with that.

We were meeting down in the conference room two floors down. The same one I’m told Alex had the supernatural world in when he went to rescue me from the Venatori. It didn’t look like any place you’d stage a coup, but Alex had pulled in all my allies and broke about a dozen laws the Venatori hold in place. And there had been no retaliation from the Venatori – short of exiling me.

I was early. Totally expected but there was a man lounging at the table his feet kicked up and he was leaning back. He wore all black except for the red frilled shirt that stuck out from the overcoat. His smile showed off his fangs and he wore thick eye liner. The bearing around the man was one that spoke of domination. I stopped well away from him and I could feel his presence washing over me like a glove. He was trying to manipulate me and if I wasn’t the man I was today, he would have won. But I loved Alex, and I promised him no one would ever control me again like that. The bracelet was only one added protection, the rest was sheer will.

I took a deep ragged breath and closed my eyes as I spoke, “You must be Alec Moretti.”

He laughed, and it filled the room with mirth and joy and the domination fled like Moses parting the red sea. I was myself and I smiled at him. “Thank you.”

He stood up and he was a few inches taller than myself but he bowed graciously, his voice thick with a french accent, “My pleasure, Monseiur Nox.”

Ant interrupted, “Alec you can quit the theatrics, Nox is not going to be swayed by this either.”

The vampire stood up tall and pouted. He gave Ant a look that said you ruin all my fun.

I laughed. “I wouldn’t mind a little ass kissing,” I corrected Ant.

“I promised Alex you would be safe.”

“I’m not worried about Mr. Moretti. He’s just trying to find his place in the hierarchy I think. How did you fare?” I grinned at the Master Vampire.

“You command the Prince, the Son of Il Cane, and I’m but a peasant in comparison.”

I laughed. “You are a Master vampire. How you fall in line with the others is up to them isn’t it?”

Alec laughed. “I don’t care how I fall in line with them. They are nothing in America. Il Cane rules here. Sal may think he does, but it is not who the little American vampires fear. From my understanding the little vampires only fear one other person more – and the whole fucking city I’m sitting in comes to call when he beckons. So I curry favor where there is the most power.”

“I’m not looking for power.”

“I know,” Alec Moretti said as he bent on one knee and bit his wrist and held it high above his head. “That is why I offer.”

I looked at Ant and he stared straight ahead but gave me a slight nod. It would offend the vampire if I didn’t take his allegiance but it was more than that, he was calling me his Master. Above Il Cane, above, all others. I took his hand and licked the dripping blood and wrapped my lips around his wrist and drank as much as I could tolerate before feeling like I would sick up.

The door opened as Alec lowered his hand and the rest of the council saw him bent before me, his blood still on my lips. Alec was proud of himself as he walked to the seat he’d vacated earlier and when I looked back at Ant there was a smirk on his face.

A cute brunette was the only one who approached me. She offered me a hand. “After this, if your schedule allows, I would very much like to meet for dinner.”

I nodded. “Of course Ms. DeJesus.”

Her smile widened. “You know us?”

I nodded. “I have been studying for a good long time.”

A man with a dark suit and an evil look – almost like the devil, laughed. “Why would a bloody Venatori want to study vampire hierarchy.”

“Why would any man learn about things?”

“So you are either learning to kill us, or what?” he asked.

“You must be Salvatore Einor, fear-monger master. I learned about Vampire hierarchy and customs so that I wouldn’t offend you.” I smiled. “Now you wanted to see me. I assume that you have questions and are not here for a power exchange.”

A big black man towered over me and he pushed his power at me and I let my shields down just a little, and then a little bit more until he backed up. “I’m getting really tired of power plays.” I dropped my shields and flexed my power, the elements swirled around the room and I heard a gasp. “Now if you’ll just stop playing games, sit down and tell me what’s going on.”