Before I had finished preparing dinner Alex was in the kitchen standing in the door eyeing the book that sat on the counter. “You got distracted with the kids – the book came out here why?”

“Oh.” I smiled. “I was going to ask if you had ever heard about inanimate objects being telepathic Rumors, myths you heard as a kid?”

Alex stared at me like I was incomprehensible. “You think I heard things like that? My life didn’t start entangling with magic and supernatural until I met you.”

I shook my head, “That wasn’t what I meant. Someone taught you right, about what you do? The dream walking and the telepathy?”

“Not really. Yes dream walking but I learned how to be a telepath on my own,” Alex said.

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” I added. I didn’t want Alex mad at me.

“Fuck pretty boy stop. I’m not mad at you. We lived worlds apart, that’s all.”

“We still do sometimes, Alex,” I said sadly.

“Why did you ask?”

“The way I read the book, it’s like it’s just in my head, like you. So I was just thinking…” I trailed off letting it go. It wasn’t worth a fight.

“Daddy?” Cass called from the other room.

“Yeah, Cass.” I looked at Alex with a smile, from hitting me to calling me daddy.

“Books can’t be telepathic, they don’t have a head.”

Alex chuckled, “Sounds like a good enough reason to me.”

“And I can’t hear it.”

I walked out into the living room to see Cass sitting on the couch facing me on her knees and her hands on the back of the couch. “I didn’t say it was projecting. But when I look at it, I know what it means. Did your mom tell you any of this?”

She giggled, “No. But you are being silly. Books don’t think or talk or even care if you can’t read it.”

I gave my daughter a smile. “Thanks kiddo.” I went back into the kitchen and whispered to myself, “And books don’t glow read hot all by themselves either.”

“It’s just magic,” Alex said as he stopped me and wrapped me in his arms. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll give it to Ant or sell it if it’s not the book he’s looking for.”

“Sell a book that can start a fire? To someone on the black market?”

Alex frowned, “You are too goody goody sometimes.”

“It’s not my book,” I said and pulled away from Alex. “You can do with it what you want.”

I was aggravated at the situation and finished plating food to serve. Alex caught my mood and probably read the fact that I just wanted to drop it and started setting the table. We were eating as a family. I think I liked that more anyway.

Alex grinned at me, “I figured you might.”

“Thank you.”

Alex called out, “Go wash up, it’s almost time to eat.”

And my living room sounded like a stampede of elephants as all six of the kids headed for the bathroom to wash up. I sighed, “There are three five and under and three sixteen. How’d I manage that? Though Matt’s not really mine, but I’m sure he’ll be here a lot.”

“And not just for Laker,” Alex added.

“I am training him.” I nodded.

“And he’s crushing on you so hard, it’s one reason he and your brother are like bunny rabbits.”

I rolled my eyes, “I hope you know I only have eyes for you.”

“No you don’t.” Alex grinned at me, “You may only touch me but you look. I know you look, I hear you remember.”

“Do you?” I asked as I set dinner on the table. The chicken and vegetables smelled great and the garlic bread and pasta were there for everyone else to indulge in. Though I did take a single slice of toasted garlic bread with cheese and set it on my plate so I got one piece.

Alex was laughing, “Another weakness?”

“Not a weakness. But an indulgence. And I figure I’ll be working off those carbs tonight.”

Alex’s smirk was all knowing. “Maybe I’ll make you lay there and do nothing.”

“Still will be worth it.”

Rider was out first with Hunter in his arms, “You two can stop now, there are kids present.”

Alex sat down next to me with a smirk. “Yeah, I guess embarrassing you is out of the question.”

“I don’t think you can.” Rider challenged him.

Alex laughed. “So then, let’s talk your extracurriculars then. The gym girl, you don’t squat in the bed you sleep in. It gets dirty quickly and Nox can’t do another move cause of you.”

Rider blushed. “I promised I’d not do it again.”

“Stick to girls your own age – or closer anyway.” Alex turned to me. “You won’t be a hypocrite on a few years will you?”

“Rider and Laker can date with in a few years their senior, but not their junior at eighteen. Then they can be charged with statutory rape if their partners parents found out.”

“There are no laws in the Venatori like that,” Matt said.

“The Venatori live by a different set of rules internally, but the moment you venture outside the AU building you have to live by human law. Legal consenting age is eighteen. Legal drinking age is twenty-one.”

“So what is your home?” Matt asked.

“My rules. Which are subject to change. No married partners. No single parents. No underage children.”

Rider added cheerfully, “Wait there is no rule that says I can’t sleep with her.”

“The rule goes both ways, you and your partner.”

Rider’s smile grew wider and Alex started shaking his head, “So that means you and Alex can’t sleep together. Cause you are a single parent.”

Alex turned his head to look at me. The young children were too busy plating their food and eating the garlic bread to really pay attention to our rather adult topic of conversation.

“As I said rules are subject to change. The single parent thing is going to have to be on a case by case basis. Meaning unless you want to do the parenting thing then you really shouldn’t date them.”

Rider looked at Alex, “So does that mean you want to do this?” He waved his hands over the family dinner.

“It was my idea to meet his kids. And my idea for dinner, so I think I’m all in.”

Cass added, “And he’s wearing Daddy’s ring too.”

Alex looked down at his left hand and the blue stone ring sat proudly. “That’s a secret.”

Cass looked at Alex with her dark brown eyes, “If it’s a secret then maybe you shouldn’t wear the ring on that finger.”

Rider laughed, “I noticed, but I wouldn’t have thought Nox proposed.”

“He did,” Alex said. He looked at me as I was shovelling chicken and vegetables into my mouth to hide my own slight blush, which made Alex smile brighter. “But none of you can tell anyone. Your dad/brother/whoever he is to you proposed. I said yes, but we aren’t going to do some big wedding or anything so you keep it quiet. And if someone asks you just shrug and say I don’t know.”

Everyone was nodding. Laker and Rider were both up and out of their seats and wrapping their arms around me. “So happy for you.” “I knew it.” And other variations of the sentiment came out of their mouths before the moved on to Alex. Rider didn’t hesitate as he wrapped his arms around Alex and hugged him tight. “You hurt him again and I’ll kick your ass.” He hugged him tighter and added, “Welcome to the family.”

Laker stood next to Alex floundering, he eventually sided with a hand shake.

“What, I don’t get a hug? Do I smell or something.”

Cass chimed in, “He thinks you are handsome and you aren’t his brother, and you don’t look like the touchy feely type.” She paused and cocked her head to the side, “And he says you could beat him up.”

Laker was glaring at Cass and I leaned over the table to look at her sitting next to Drake like nothing happened. “Cass.” She looked down at me and frowned. “Stay out of his head too. Stay out of everyone’s head.”

“But…”

Alex must have interrupted her rant because she was looking at him with fear, not I’m afraid of you fear, more like I don’t want you to take that away from me fear. And I wondered if you could make a telepath tacet too. I wondered if Dorian knew.

I took my time getting dressed because Alex was watching me. I put on boxers and a tank top and a pair of shorts to walk around the house in. If it had just been my brothers I’d have left it at boxers, but with Matt, the twins and Drake here at the moment none of that sounded appropriate. So dressed I was.

Alex wrapped me in his arms, “You sure we can’t play a little longer.”

I looked over at the book then back to Alex, “Until we get that book taken care of I’d prefer not to burn down my apartment, and the building.”

Alex looked at the book that was still a soft shade of pink. “You know that’s your fault right?”

I sighed, “Yeah probably. But if it’s meant for vampires then why is it reacting to my fucked up shit?”

Alex shrugged. “Call your vampire prince, I’m going to see what everyone else is up to.” Alex pressed a kiss to my lips and I moaned deep in my throat and he chuckled as he left my bedroom.

Fee shot out the bedroom door after him. Stupid cat!

I sat down on the bed looking at the stupid book and grabbed my phone from my jeans that I’d folded nicely after my impromptu dressing session. Alex had watched me then too. I think he was laughing at me, me and my neat freakish ways. If he could only see what I saw he’d understand. The pain is only half the battle.

I dialled Ant’s number and Ryan picked up, “Yo. The sleeping one says fuck you.” I laughed. “He says he’ll be there at dusk, whatever it is you want. But whatever fucking magic you are doing needs to stop it literally woke the dead. Not that Ant’s dead mind you, but he sleeps like it you know.”

“Thanks Ry. Tell him to meet me at the AU building alright?”

“Will do. And whatever magic you did, Cari says ‘santo cazzo, è enorme’!” Ryan laughed. “In case you don’t know Italian, she swore, and is impressed by the impression of magic you left.”

“Uh huh, that’s what she said. Some thing’s enormous. And she wouldn’t know anything about that.” And I hung up to Ryan laughing. He was such a child sometimes – it was why I liked him.

The book still shared a hazy glow about it but I picked it up and it was cool to the touch. The lettering still felt off but I could read it. It wasn’t like trying to decipher it. I couldn’t tell you what any given symbol meant, but I knew what it said, like it was implanted in my head, like a thought.

I took the book with me when I stood up and walked out of my bedroom. There was a loud gasp from Alex as he saw me round the corner into the living room. “It’s not hot anymore,” I said. “Ant’s sleeping, he’ll meet us at the AU building at dusk, and we’ll go talk to Garrett and about the book. Apparently whatever magic it was they felt over there.”

“Over there?” Alex asked.

“It woke the dead so to speak,” I said.

Cass was looking at me, “You mean vampires. I can hear it in your head.”

Alex looked at me and frowned, “Sorry forgot.”

I shrugged, “It’s okay. I’ll keep the veil up around the room so she can’t listen in there, but she needs to learn to stay out of my head, and I need to learn how better to handle a telepath. We both just need your help okay?”

Alex nodded with a smile. “I can do that.”

Hunter was sitting in his lap, and Cass was sitting in Rider’s. Laker and Matt were still at the dining room table talking. “Where is Drake?”

Rider pointed. “He’s in the bedroom playing with the massive amount of cars Dorian left him. There was a note for the other two – toys to come. He said he didn’t know what they liked and they sat down with a big book of toys and started circling things. It might take a while for them to decide.”

I rolled my eyes. “Between him and my father I swear.”

Laker laughed from across the room. “They are both their grand kids, what did you expect. Dorian isn’t going to have any kids you know that right? You are all he has.”

I nodded. “I know. And my father feels guilty for not being a father to me. So they both over compensate on my kids and my brothers.”

Rider laughed, “I love it! Your dad loves me and Lake. He’s like Gramps back home, always with the candy and sweets except he’s like so what fun thing do you want to do today. And he’ll take us paintballing or rock climbing. It’s epic.”

“If he ever pushes you too far let me know. He’s Venatori and he forgets you two are just human.”

“He always apologizes. But we’ll let you know,” Laker said.

“So I’m going to go cook dinner, does anyone else have any allergies I need to know about?” I specifically looked at Cass and Hunter? They were shaking their heads. But they were Venatori, so that chance was slim. Allergies were a human thing And they were only one quarter human.

With no known allergies I’d go with whatever. But I honestly didn’t know what was in the kitchen since my brothers were the ones doing the grocery shopping, but I’d figure it all out.

Rider was watching TV and Laker was with Matt in the dining room talking. The boys looked up and jumped to their feet when they saw the children. Rider smiled, “I know Drake, who are these cuties?”

I smiled at my brother. “These are our kids.”

Rider laughed, “You two have been busy.”

Alex smirked. “This is Cass. And that’s Hunter.” He nodded towards the boy in my arms. “Cass, Hunter, these are your Dad’s brothers. Uncle Rider is on the couch, and Uncle Laker.”

Cass giggled, “He’s thinking about the other boy’s eyes.” Laker blushed.

“Cass it’s not nice to pry into someone’s head,” Alex said.

I turned to look at Cass. “We need to start setting some rules.”

Alex smiled. “We’ll set some rules. I’ll reiterate etiquette.”

“Thank you.” I smiled. “You three want to see your room?” I was hoping that Dorian did what Dorian always did and supplied my house with what it needed.

I opened the door and sure enough the room was decorated and there were three beds all stacked a top each other. Cass was already climbing into the top bunk. Drake was pouting. “You can have the second one.” Hunter said, “I don’t like getting too high.”

Alex smirked and put his arm around my waist. “Not only does he look like you, he has so many of your problems.”

I sighed, “Hopefully we can help him so he doesn’t end up like me.”

Alex took my hand and we left the kids to explore their room and their toys. He lead me to my… our room.

“It’s not our room, yet.”

“I missed you in my head,” I said as I started unpacking all the things Alex had bought me. “Feel free to put your things anywhere you like. In the closet, or drawers, or in your bag, but you need to find a place to keep it, so I don’t go crazy.”

Alex laughed, “Anywhere I want huh?”

“Except on the bed.” I grinned over my shoulder at him.

Alex started to unpack his bag. “Huh. I didn’t think I did that.” Alex was unfolding a hoodie and there was a book – the book that called to me.

“What happened to the nice fluffy white towel you had around it?” I said wrapping my arms around Alex’s waist.

“Oh, I left them. A little birdie told me that someone might get in trouble for my actions.”

I laughed and pressed a kiss to his neck. “I wasn’t upset you were taking them, only that you didn’t compensate those wronged by your actions.”

“Well I can buy better ones so it didn’t matter.” Alex turned in my arms. “I thought I was supposed to be putting my things away.”

I grinned at him and pushed his bag out of the way. “I think it can wait, lover.” I pushed Alex backwards and he fell back against the bed. “I think we need to christen my room, let me squirm underneath you like you wanted before.” I crawled over top of him, a knee on either side of his waist, and I whispered, “My home is your home,” then pressed a kiss to his lips.

Alex smirked up at me, “This isn’t under me though.”

“I can be.” I winked and bit his bottom lip. “But you like it with me here too.”

Alex nodded then said, “You talk too much.” He leaned up and captured my lips with his and we were one. The rest didn’t matter. Who was on top? Who controlled what. It didn’t matter because it was right and we were happy.

I managed to throw a veil around the room so that our noise – more me than Alex – didn’t escape and alert the younger ones to our actions. Last thing we needed was to answer. Why was Alex hurting you Daddy?

Shut up pretty boy and fuck me.

A strange light started to glow at the other end of the bed. It wasn’t dark so as it grew brighter it grew warmer. And when Alex lifted his arms above his head when I ran my fingers under his arms and pushed them up he jerked his hand away. “What the fuck?”

His hand and arm were red and I immediately put ice on it and we both were a wee bit concerned when we saw the book glowing red hot but nothing was catching fire. “What the fuck?” Alex said again pushing me up and we both scrambled off the bed – naked.

“Where did you say you got that book?” I asked Alex.

“I won it in a poker game before you showed up. There were two vampires vying pretty hard to win it. But they forgot about me.” Alex sounded proud of himself. “Couldn’t you read it before, it makes no sense to me.”

“I didn’t do this,” I declared loudly. “Wait you said vampires want this book? Did the guy you win it from have a name?” Alex shrugged as he stared at the glowing book, but it was dimming quickly. “It wouldn’t be Deacon LeClair would it?”

Alex nodded, “Yeah, that’s it. But how do you know that name?”

I sighed and grabbed our clothes from the pile on the floor. “Get dressed, our sexy fun time is over for now.”

Alex pouted but he was getting dressed before I had finished. “You’re calling Ant aren’t you?”

I nodded. “Ant asked me to look into a guy who stole a book from Cari. He needed to find it before Cari found out it was missing. The guy who Deacon stole it from doesn’t want Cari to find out cause they already don’t get along, and this would be a big hit to her trust in him.”

“Deacon was very braggy about the club he stole it from. How it was full of security and weirdness.”

“He stole it from a vampire night club called Frozen. Johnny Rose owns it. He’s Cari’s only childe, the only vampire she’s ever sired. And she only sired him to save his life from mobsters who wanted him dead. He had a falling out with Cari, but Ant and Ryan still keep tabs on him. Cari moves the book around, and she was entrusting it with Johnny and he fucked up so now he’ll probably get axed or something. I dunno. But maybe Cari hasn’t found out yet.”

Alex was fully dressed and I was still standing holding my boxers. Alex was staring at me with a grin, “You talk too much.”

“I’ve heard that a time or two.”

So we ate ice-cream and Alex gave Cass a lesson in mental etiquette. Hunter was grinning but he made me sit next to him. Drake was more than happy to walk holding on to mine or Alex’s hand. Cass and Alex talked about telepathy the whole walk home, which left me really alone with Hunter. His arms wrapped around my neck. He whispered in my ear, “It always hurts.”

“I know.” I sighed, “We’ll talk with my Dad about it. Is that what you dream?”

“It scares me,” he said simply.

“Me too. We’ll deal with it alright?” He had nodded against my neck but we hadn’t said anything else. His visions just weren’t in the dream world. He saw more than the rest of us. Michaela might have known, or she might not have understood. The dreams were Hunters way of interpreting things in ways he could understand. I had never really talked to my Dad about the specifics, but we were going to have to have a sit down – the three of us. And Dorian. Probably Alex too, to make sure Hunter got the training he needed.

Why do I need to be there? Alex asked in my head.

Because you can read Hunter and see what’s going through his head. You may not be able to understand it, but you should be able to understand it better than he can at 5.

Alex nodded. “So I’m Hunter’s advocate?”

I smiled. “I think we need to work together to help Hunter. He’s only 5. Most of the precogs in the Venatori go insane. My Dad’s gift was unique in that he only gets glimpses of the future, small snapshots of what a few moments in time – and how they could play out.”

“So like Nicholas Cage?” Alex joked.

“Yes. Exactly like that except he can do it for longer or shorter periods of time. It’s why he’s the greatest hunter of all time. His kill ratio is near 100. His mission completion is 100.”

“You said what you see and what he does are similar? How?”

“My father sees images – the way our brain interprets things. Like a movie playing out. I can see the possibilities, but on a tinier scale. Sherlock Holmes was a master observer. You know the stories right?”

Alex nodded, “Never read them tho.”

“Me either. But he saw the small details and could deduce those things. It’s the same for me, except I see it in finer detail. I see the patterns of the universe. I see the way it settles. I can see how the elements make up the flow of things. I can’t predict the future, but given enough time, I can figure out all possible situations in a given moment.”

“But you would have to know physics and…” Alex started as realization dawned on him. “Straight As…”

I smiled. “The things I excel at are because I have put a lot of effort into mastering the fine details.”

“Drawing, dancing, cooking.” Alex nodded, “You know that is probably why you look like this too.”

“The nutrition, the workouts, the schedule. All attention to the fine details in order keep my sanity.” I nodded.

“A method to your madness.”

“So my Dad seeings things no one else can?” Cass added.

“Yes. I think Hunter can too.”

“I can see things. Hunter says he sees some of it. But no one believes us except the other kids in the class.”

“The whole class sees things the adults can’t?” I asked.

She nodded and stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and the flow of the pedestrian traffic had to move around us as we all stood staring at Cass. She pointed to the water puddle on the side of the street. “I see blue wavy lines cutting their way through yellow and red lines pressing hard against the puddle. And the brown lines curl up to cup the puddle, they are the strongest and brightest colors, the others are dim.”

I laughed, “Those are the elements. That is what a Magnus can see. And if you can see them, you can manipulate them. What you are witnessing now, is evaporation.”

“You mean she’s watching water molecules float up into the air because they are superheated?”

“Not necessarily super heated but yes. She sees the elements at work. All science and magic are the same. It’s why Sage can manipulate a computer, a mechanical lock and a human being. All with his technopath ability.”

“Wait, Sage can manipulate a person?”

“Why do you think he won’t touch anyone?”

“I figured it was because he was a germaphobe or something.”

“Has nothing to do with germs. Sage is a foster kid or he was. Not anymore as the Morgan’s adopted him. But Sage is rare in that he can manipulate a person. He was three the first time he did it. He wanted to go back to play at the ball pit. He made his father do a u-turn in the middle of the highway. He and his brother survived, but his parents didn’t. Sage knew he was doing it at three. He remembers doing it. He refuses to touch anyone out of fear.”

“But he touches you, and his wife?” Alex asked.

“He can’t manipulate me.”

“Why?”

I shrugged. “We were too young to experiment and figure out why, and now we just take it as fact. Sage doesn’t like when I ask too many questions. I think he knows why now.”

“But he won’t tell you.”

“Sage doesn’t tell me a lot of things to protect me.”

“You know he has secrets from you.”

“He kept knowing you from me. I think he kept the fact you went to Vegas from me until I’d finished my case and I was freaking out about it. I think he kept the fact that Jace was lying a secret too.”

“And you aren’t mad at him? I’m kinda mad at him,” Alex said as he pulled open the door to my building for us all. Cass went first with a giggle. Drake followed. And the rest of us after. Alex’s hand was at the small of my back as I passed through the door. The small touch made me happy.

“Sage is who he is. His father is an FBI agent, and he’s a hacker. Lies are who he is I can’t be mad at him for protecting me. Just like I can’t be mad at Dorian, or Margo for their lies.”

“But you are angry with your father?”

“I’m not angry at my father as a man. I have 18 years of resentment to overcome. It’s difficult, and I’m working on it and so is he. The problem my father and I have stems from the fact that he hated what I represent.”

“And what’s that?” Alex asked.

“Change. He blamed me for Nick being gay. He hates me on most Venatori principles that everyone hates me for. But he feels guilty for not being there for me as a kid so he over compensates. Which is why I think he loves my brothers so much. I can’t wait to see how he treats his grandkids.”

Alex laughed, “Wait for the spoiling to begin.”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

We all got in the elevator and I buried my face against my son in my arms and Alex wrapped his arms around both of us putting Hunter between us. Cass and Drake wrapped their arms around us all in a giant family hug. Now isn’t this the life.

It’s nice, but I’d rather have you squirming underneath me.

We headed up to the Infirmary. Cass was crying on my shoulder still. We got to Hunter’s room and the twin instinct kicked in. Hunter screamed and the nurses all came running and I shook my head. “I got this he’s not hurt.”

I tugged Alex in after me and I shut the door behind the four of us. I set Cass down on hunters bed and put my hand gently on his head and he screamed but not because I was touching him. “Shhhh. Hunter, baby, it’s okay.”

Cass was already curled around him. “He knows,” she said and cried into his shoulder.

“Hunter?” I asked. “Can you hear me?”

Alex was there at my side and he leaned over and touched the boy’s forehead and he instantly calmed down. While I wasn’t happy he was manipulating Hunter, we needed him to calm down.

“Hunter. My name is Nox.”

His eyes popped open and he looked up at me, “I know you.” He laid on his back and looked over at Alex. “I know you.” He smiled.

“That’s Alex.” I said, “He’s mine.”

Hunter giggled.

“How do you know us?” Alex asked.

“You are in my dreams.”

“So you know you are coming home with us?” I asked.

Hunter nodded, he pointed at me, “You are my Dad. And I call you Da.” He pointed at Alex. He looked at Drake in Alex’s arms and his grin grew wide, “He’s my brother. I have lots of brothers and and two sisters.”

“Two?” I said. I swore I heard Alex growl but he was smiling brightly at the twins.

Cass looked expectantly at me, but Hunter nodded. “Yes. One day.”

He was telling the future? “Let’s not say more?” I suggested hurriedly. I was going to have to talk to my dad about that.

Hunter nodded. “I’m sad.”

“I know.” I held out my arms to the twins. “We all are going for ice-cream you both want some?”

Cass held her arms up to Alex and I picked up Hunter. Drake clambered over the bed and curled up with Hunter in my arms. “I think we are ready to go?”

Alex laughed but it wasn’t a funny laugh. “I guess this is going to be a thing.” After a while he whispered, “I don’t like sharing you.”

“I’m sorry,” I said for only him to hear. I wished he was in my head. I missed him knowing everything.

The kids were happier, sadness still lingered but they were excited to be a family. It was hard to follow child conversation and Alex wore a fake smile, his bright eyes were dull with annoyance, or anger or something. He wanted to meet the kids. Maybe I should have waited.

Alex smiled at me when I looked at him, “I’ve been thinking. I don’t want to do the thing.”

“What thing?” I asked confused.

“The thing, we talked about it at the coffee shop.” And then the world crashed in on me and I smiled at him. Hiding behind the facade I’d made to keep people from the truth. The reality that inside I was a broken mess.

“None of it?” I asked.

“It’s a piece of paper right, that’s all,” Alex said.

He looked at me and I smiled at him. His smile faded and he cocked his head, but Cass spoke first, “Is he alright, I can’t think straight.” She put her hands to her head and I clamped my shields down tight and she yelped, “Ow.” But she laughed, “It’s gone now. All of it.” She sounded confused.

My heart was racing and I kept on smiling and Alex was frowning. Hunter and Drake felt my tension and wrapped their arms around me and held me. Fuck my kids were trying to comfort me. I was so going to fail at being a father. And down the spiral went.

We made it to Bonnie’s in once piece and Alex set Cass down in my booth and I put the boys down. Alex was off talking with Bonnie I didn’t much care at the moment. He came back and grabbed my hand. “Cass, Hunter, Drake. Ms. Bonnie is going to bring you each a milkshake, and a plate of fries. You sit here and be good while I talk to your Dad a moment.”

They all nodded and Alex didn’t even ask me if I wanted to move. I followed because it was easier than fighting him. He took me out of the dinner but he was looking inside the window watching the kids. His blue eyes turned to me and there was fire in them. “I can’t believe you think I don’t want you.”

“You said you didn’t want to be married to me. Didn’t want to do the thing. What did you expect me to think? After you got a glimpse at my life it’s pretty par for course for you to run when it’s too much.” And I was angry by the time I finished it. But I was still crushed by the despair and desperation so it didn’t matter.

“Stop shielding Nox.”

“I can’t. I’m a mess right now and you saw what it did to her. I was fucking hurting her.”

“You are hurting yourself.”

“Better me than her,” I growled.

“Let me teach her,” Alex offered.

“I want you to. But I’m a mess right now. I’m hurting her right now. Teaching her isn’t going to help right now.”

“Let me help you,” he begged.

“How?”

Alex smirked. “First, when I said I didn’t want to do the thing, I was talking about the wedding. I don’t want a party, I don’t want to see you walk down the aisle. And I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me how much we love each other And I don’t really need to make you mine in front of your friends. Jace maybe, cause he’s still a fucking prick. But I know Nox. And you know. And that’s all that matters. We’ll do something, when the time is right. We still have a long ways to go in this.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I am broken Alex. No one can love me, has been a mantra I’ve heard all my life. So it’s hard to believe – truly believe you do.”

Alex chuckled, “And everyone leaves has been one I’ve heard.”

“Promises?”

“I promise I will always love you Nox. Forever and always.”

I smiled and pressed my forehead against his, “And I promise I’ll never leave you, Alex. Forever and always.”

Alex pressed a tender kiss to my lips. When he breathed he said, “I can help with your shield. If you let me. I can keep Cass out.” Alex sighed, “But that also means I’m inside your head again.”

“I’ve missed you.”

“What?” Alex took a step back.

“I liked having you knowing my thoughts. Even if they were trash, but knowing you know I was in a bad place helped me stay out of the bad places. And I have a feeling a lot more bad places are coming. I have three kids, and two teenage boys I’m responsible for. And I have my first protege, and a job to do. Plus I have a complicated lover I need to take care of.” I smirked at Alex, “Though I think he’s the best part of it all.”

Alex smirked. “Let your shields down and let me help.”

I did as he asked. But my mind wasn’t rolling anymore, Alex had mended most of it. We were getting better at this. And soon there was a strange warmth around me, and Alex looked a little overwhelmed. “Fuck she’s powerful. She needs to stay out of people’s heads.”

“She’ll have a good teacher,” I said.

We took the stairs up further into the AU building. Alex didn’t like it. I smiled at him and held his hand. “It’s not like they know what you can do by looking at you.”

“You can,” Alex said. “It’s one of your talents.”

I chuckled. “The only person who can read the pattern is Dorian. And he already knows.”

“You trust him?” Alex asked all serious like.

“With my life. If anyone was a parent to me it’s Dorian. And he’s all I had for a long time.”

Alex sighed, “You have me now.”

“Always and forever,” I agreed.

The daycare level was not nearly as noisy as the Academy levels. It was nap time probably. There were class rooms and play rooms and storage rooms full of toys. We passed a cluster of firestarter rooms and I shivered. I hated those rooms.

The room we wanted was on the left. I knocked on the door and waited for the attendant/teacher whatever you wanted to call them at this level to answer. The woman was a few years younger than I was and I remembered her from my time in the Academy. “Yes?” she asked but forgot to not sneer at me.

“Treec. I’m here to pick up Cassidy Donovan and Drake Pierce. My kids.” I handed her the two papers.

“Oh. Um, yeah, Hunter is in the infirmary,” she said absently.

“I know. I’ll get him in a few minutes.”

She pushed the door open and called, “Cass, Drake, someone is here to get you.”

There was a small squeal and then I heard two peels of laughter as they barrelled around the door with their backpacks. Drake had his arms around my legs before Cass figured out what was going on. “You aren’t Mr. Dorian.”

“No, but he did send me. I’m Nox. This is Alex.”

“You have bad news.” She looked at me and frowned. “Tell me now.”

I raised my eyebrows and she kicked me. “You got me in trouble!”

“Oh, that wasn’t nice,” I said.

Alex laughed but he didn’t say anything but Cass turned to look at him with wide eyes and then she dropped her gaze and nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“At least she listens to you,” I said. I put my hand on her head and pulled her along as I picked Drake up with the other arm. “Hey little man.” He wrapped his arms around my neck and buried his head. “Let’s go get your brother and then we’ll get some ice-cream.”

“Before dinner?” Alex asked.

“Why not?” I asked. I looked down at Cass. “Are you too old to be carried?”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t want you to touch me.”

“Fair enough. Let’s go get Hunter.”

“Where’s my ma?”

“We’ll talk about that when we have your brother.”

Cass stomped her foot and stopped in her tracks and I stumbled over her and the three of us collapsed to the floor. I sighed as I sat up. “Z, can you take Drake and get Hunter?”

“They won’t let me taken him will they?”

“They will this paper.”

“I don’t know my way around this place,” Alex said looking around. “It all looks exactly the fucking same.”

“Okay. Can you take Drake around the corridor then? Keep making rights and you’ll end up back here.”

Alex nodded. “Okay.”

I moved against the wall but Cass was still glaring at me and she was standing above me with her hands on her hips just like her mother did. “You look like your mother when you do that.”

Her glare grew bigger. Alex tapped her on the head and Cass looked up at him. “Be good. Or I’ll make sure you don’t get any ice-cream no matter what he says.”

She nodded and looked at me but that glare never left. I waited until Alex was around the corner. “Cass right?” I asked and when she nodded. “Your mom died awhile a go. They found her body a few days ago.”

“You’re lying,” she said and she punched me in the shoulder. She pushed into my head and she screamed, “You’re lying.”

Her little fists pounded against my shoulders. I grabbed the little hands and I fixed her thumb. “You’re hitting wrong. You’ll break your thumb.” I fixed her hand and moved her hands in the right motion. “That’s how you hit.”

She didn’t hit me again just stared at me. “Why would you do that?” she said through the tears that fell.

“Do what sweetheart?”

“I was hitting you, why would you show me how to do it better?”

I smiled, “If you are going to do something, you need to do it right. I don’t want you to break your hands. Cass, did your mom tell you about your dad?” I asked.

She shook her head. “She said we’d meet him one day when we could do magic. But no one believes us we can.”

I nodded. “I believe you. Can I tell you something?”

She wiped at her tears but nodded. “I’m your dad. Your mom left me a note, told me all about you and Hunter.” I felt my own tears starting to fall.

“Why are you crying?” she said as her little fingers wiped my tears away.

“For lots of reason. I miss your mom. I’m sad I didn’t get to know you before – mostly that. I’m sorry I have to tell you this horrible horrible news. But I’m also happy that I get to meet you and Hunter.”

She cocked her head to the side, “How come what you say is what you think?”

I shrugged. “I don’t find the need to lie when I’m with my family and friends.”

“My mommy is really gone?”

I nodded. “I’m so sorry, Cass.” I took her by the hands and pulled her against me. She fought me at first until I wrapped my arms around her and pressed a gentle kiss to the side of her head. And then she lost it. She sobbed in my arms. Her arms wrapped around me and her face pressed against my neck. “I’m so sorry baby girl. I wish it wasn’t this way. But I know how you feel. So does Alex and Drake too. Everyone you are about to meet knows how you feel. We’ll help okay. It won’t get better fast, but we’ll help.”

Alex and Drake were talking as they rounded the corner. I offered Alex my hand and he helped me up and we started walking towards the Infirmary. One down, one to go…

Dorian’s office was in the Academy office space not HQ. Alex wasn’t thrilled about being anywhere near the big wigs of the Venatori and he relaxed when I told him, only big wigs around have anything to do with teaching little Venatori how to be big Venatori. Which honestly isn’t much better, but they can’t send Alex to the brig or anything more than the Headmasters office. And since people knew me there that was unlikely, they’d just send me to Dorian and I’d get my ass chewed there. That’s how it has always worked.

Dorian was sitting at his desk tapping away at his retro old school big ass tube computer like it was the fucking 80s. My phone was more powerful than the thing on his desk, but that was the technology here in the AU building. Though most of it ran on magic. Magic Venatori didn’t possess but hired out for. It was all well and good till the supernatural bolted on you. We had no hackers, but we had some tech savvy teenagers come on up, and they had some techonopath abilities. It was finally a trait they were breeding into our existence. It had never mattered before. My nephew Nate was one of the first full fledged technopaths. Which was why he worked in IT at such a young age.

Alex stood there staring. “Holy fucking flashback batman.”

Dorian looked up and frowned, “Join the back of the line Mr. Kennedy. Nox and his friends have all had their laughs.” He smiled. “I’m glad to see you are both here, I was beginning to wonder what had pulled you away.” He raised an eyebrow when I opened my mouth to interrupt, “And I don’t need to details of your delay. I’d appreciate I never know those details.”

“But you love them so very much.” I whined, as I pulled Alex into the office and shut the door behind him. We sat down across from Dorian and he was rolling his blue eyes at me as if that were something new.

“Where do you want to start, Nox?” Dorian asked.

“In the middle.”

“Why do I bother. Mr. Kennedy do you have a preference?”

Alex looked up from his phone, “I’m only here to meet his kids.”

Dorian chuckled, “All in good time.”

“I have a number of things to discuss with the childish one.”

Alex shrugged, “I’m with him.”

I snickered and squeezed his hand and he rolled his eyes but never looked up from his phone. “Start with Matt.”

“Mr. Davenport.” Dorian nodded. “He is a null, as I’m sure you are aware. He’s nearing his final Magnus test of this year and he’s failed every one. Dae’lin’s working with him now but you know how she gets when you fail and Mr. Davenport does not respond well to the rigidity as you did. She’s at her wits end and so am I.”

“He’s a null, he’s never going to pass the test.”

“And that’s why I’m enlisting you. No one can teach him to use his power, much like no one could teach you. Maybe the two of you can fumble through it, hit on some unseen pattern for the boy not to become tacet.” Dorian sighed, “He’s a bright boy. Top of his class, reminds me of you except without the attitude.”

Alex snickered. And then he looked up, “What’s a tacet? I’ve heard it too many times today not to ask.”

Dorian started before I could. “Tacet a Magnus who has had their magical ability removed so they do not cause harm.”

“In other words it’s a lobotomy and the person is never the same.” I added. “I’ll work with him, but I’m going to need access to the tests before hand.”

“When you return to duty I will have the Adept set placed in a testing room for the two of you to figure something out.

“What’s this test like?” Alex asked.

“A puzzle box you have to solve with the elements.”

“Nox has the fastest recorded time for any of the five tests.” Dorian bragged. “Though I know of two very young ones who are nearing that time in practice.”

“So on to my kids. Michaela told you? How are they doing? do they know?”

Dorian shook his head. “They do not. We discussed this. I wanted you here before I told them.”

“We’ll tell them.” I said.

Dorian nodded. “The children are doing well. Ms. Donovan is reminds me of her mother and her attitude is the splicing of the she-devil Michaela could be and you. Mr. Donov… I mean, Mr. Sétanta, is not. He’s currently in the infirmary because of a bad night. His roommates say he woke up screaming and crying. No one’s really been able to figure it out. When he came to us Michaela said he’d been having nightmares.”

“You know my dad’s a procog and my power is a variation of that – seeing the patterns and puzzles. Did you test him for it?”

Dorian shook his head, “He’s far too young to be manifesting things he can interpret beyond it scared him. And I haven’t been to see him today to ask him about it.”

“He needs to see Margo.”

Dorian stared at me in shock. “I didn’t expect you to say that.”

“She understands the child psyche better than anyone I know. She reached me when no one else could.”

Dorian nodded. “And I assume they will be residing with you until they are of age.”

I gave Dorian a look and he nodded. “It will be arranged, they are yours. I will have the paperwork sent to the dormitories immediately.”

“And the last order of business,” I said. Dorian frowned. “I want to speak with Garrett.”

“I can’t logically stop you. I appreciate you asking and going through the steps.”

“I don’t like disobeying you Dorian,” I said softly.

“I know. You won’t. I will send you his room number and when dusk arrives, the son of the hound is welcome in this facility.”

“He’s been here before.”

Dorian nodded, “Officially this is his first time. I’d appreciate it if he came through the front doors.”

Alex laughed, “None of that shadow foolery you hear.”

Dorian rolled his eyes and pulled two pieces of paper from his desk. “Permission slips for the children to leave with you straight away.” He stood up and offered his hand to Alex. “As always, Mr. Kennedy, a pleasure to see you.”

“Ditto, Dorian. Drop the formalities.” He smiled, “We are almost family.”

The words made me smile. Dorian offered me the same and I took his hand with a simple shake. Dorian was never a hugger. “And Nox, if things go well with Mr. Davenport, I’d like you to teach a certain class of little ones.”

A fax scrolled out of the printer and Dorian picked it up. “Ironic. The young dragon is cleared. Golden clan deems the boy, Last Phoenix to be branded upon his eighteen birthday if he so chooses.”

“The Last Phoenix?”

Dorian smiled, “Your clan. The Dragons are calling you The Phoenix. Rising one, rising star. Reborn into this world. Or so Margo informs me it translates to.”

Dorian handed me the fax. “Enjoy your growing family.”

Alex sat down but he was distant. He wouldn’t look at me. “I know you are waiting on me to leave,” I said.

“It’s what you do,” Alex snipped.

I sighed. “Do you want me to promise to never leave you?”

He turned his blue eyes on me and I saw tears building up in them and I just wanted to kiss them away. “You promised me you’d never leave me before.”

“In a dream?”

Alex nodded. “It was after we’d had sex for like the third time. You professed your love even though you didn’t know me really. Said you’d never leave me. That even though you didn’t remember me you’d never leave. But you did. That night, every night since. And then I find out you’re my fucking soul mate and when I tried to make it real, you left me again.” Alex shook his head when I started to interrupted. “I know it was a misunderstanding, now, but it hurt. It still hurts Nox. Every night since I’ve known you you leave me.”

“So is that what you want Alex? You want this to be over? To be done with me for good. You tell me something that you think will devastate me so that I’ll end it?”

Alex looked down. “Maybe subconsciously.” He spoke almost too quiet to hear him, “I don’t want you to leave me.”

I got up and I grabbed Alex’s right hand and slipped the ring off his finger. He was glaring at me now, but I got down on one knee and I did the only thing Alex might understand how fucking serious I was. I held the ring in the palm of my hand, I didn’t have a fancy box. “I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember Alex. You were my first everything, and I’ve had a lot of everything in between then and now, and I know without a doubt I want you to be my last everything. Marry me?” by this time we had an audience, people were watching us.

I was publicly declaring my love for him and doing the big human thing. And Alex stared at me like I had done something completely out of character. “Nox…”

The whole place was waiting on a bated breath and I started to panic. My heart was racing and I felt the familiar sting of rejection and I knew I’d made a mistake. I closed my eyes and felt the tear slide down. Alex brushed it away with the tip of his finger and leaned down. “Yes,” he whispered for my ears only and took the ring from my hand and slid it on his finger. “But we need to talk about this.”

The crowd cheered and Alex pulled me up into his arms and wrapped his arms around me. It wasn’t a happy embrace everyone thought it was, it was Alex comforting me panic attack and I knew it. He spoke softly in my ear, “Aren’t we a pair of fucked up idiots.”

I nodded against him as I took the smell of him, and the warmth of his body into me. He was my home – forever and always.

Alex pulled me to my feet and grabbed the brownie, “Let’s walk.”

I took my coffee and we left to another round of applause.People always like the sappy. We walked a few blocks before Alex laughed, “This is not what we talked about.” He lifted his hand with the ring on it holding my own.

I gave him a weak smile. “You needed a big gesture Alex. I can’t get any bigger than that. Nothing has changed except your acknowledgement that you heard me when I said I’m not going anywhere. That’s all this changes.”

“Not exactly how I expected my proposal to go,” Alex said.

“And how was it supposed to go?” I asked dryly.

“Well first of all I was supposed to be doing the asking, and you were supposed to done up all fancy and we’d be out to eat at some expensive restaurant and I’d have it all planned out perfectly. You, me, candles and mouth watering food. Instead I get a coffee and a brownie I don’t even like.”

I laughed, “Sorry to disappoint you. So, this is my commitment to you Alex. Nothing more. Slow and steady still. When you want to do the thing, you ask me,” I said simply.

“The thing?”

“Get married, the whole human ceremony and all that.”

“What, Venatori don’t get married?”

“Not in the same way. Dorian’s married in that sense, the whole wedding and all that. But his parents aren’t. They are married by human law, for taxes and record purposes, they signed a piece of paper that said they were a union and that their property was joint, basically all that it is for us. Our stipends adjust based on family size, our living arrangements and such. But it’s paperwork.”

“So this is just paperwork to you?”

“That is not what I said. If you want the big wedding, the fancy ball room reception with the cake and the band, and the presents. I’m all in, Alex. I won’t wear a dress, but I’ll wear whatever else you want me to, I’ll walk down the aisle and my Dad can even give me away. I get you’re traditionalist about this all. I want to make you happy. You can wear my ring on the other hand. Alex, that was my promise to you. I’m not going anywhere, and the only way I can prove it to you is to do the big thing. I proposed. You agreed mostly to keep me from freaking out, I get it. But I’m not going anywhere.”

“Anyone ever tell you, you talk too much?”

“All the time.” I grinned at him.

“I promise you, when I’m ready to do the thing, I’ll propose the right way.”

“Was mine really all that wrong?” I asked.

Alex wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me against him. “No pretty boy, it was perfect. Perfectly timed, in the perfect place, at the perfect moment. We have a lot to work through.”

I nodded. “But we can do it together,” I added and Alex hummed his agreement as he stuffed a piece of brownie in my mouth.

Another thirty floors down to the gym to find my brother kissing the fucking blond who had hit on me earlier. I cleared my throat. The blonde, Sandy was her name I thought, turned first and she got bright red. “You realize you are kissing a sixteen year old boy.” I didn’t think the pale woman could get any redder but she did. “You did realized that? Then you won’t mind me telling the cops.”

“I… ” She stammered.

But Rider interrupted, “Nox come on man. You don’t have to do that. She won’t touch me again.” He looked at her hard and she nodded. “See, she won’t.”

“I don’t believe it Rider. She’s at least a twenty something fucking a sixteen year old.”

“We were only kissing,” she blurted out.

“You want me to believe you got that red because you were kissing a boy? Please.” I looked at Rider. “Do you need to hop a plane to join your father?”

Rider went pale. “No, sir. I promise I won’t do it again.”

I looked at the women. “I see you around my boys one more time, any of them and I’m not telling you who my boys consist of and I’ll call the cops and my brother will confess because he’ll do the right thing. That’s how he was raised.”

She looked at me with fear, and I knew the look. I’d seen it many times before. The same look the supernatural give me when I make threats I’ll carry out. But she left in a hurry and I wouldn’t be surprised if she never looked at anyone from my apartment again.

“Holy fuck,” Alex said softly.

I turned to look at him. He pulled his lips in and frowned. “I’ve seen you be all big bad and scary but that was new.”

Rider laughed, “You must be Alex. I’m Rider, and I’m going to go sit outside of the apartment door until Lake is done fucking his boyfriend.” He was tattling on his brother.

Alex snorted, he knew it too. “I know. I told him to lock the bedroom door. The living room should be safe. Please go inside, we’ll talk about this later.”

“Yes, sir,” he said and he left without another word.

“I’m going to say I don’t think I’ve heard anyone yes, sir you as much as I have today.”

“My brothers were raised to respect their elders and my house my rules. They like my rules.”

“What rule did he break?”

“He didn’t break one specifically. What sixteen year old boy isn’t going to say yes when an older woman comes on to him? She wanted to fuck me the last time I was down here with her. And I can tell this wasn’t the first time with Rider.”

Alex’s mouthed, “Ah.” He pulled me towards the door. “I could make her stay away from him.”

I shook my head. “I’m pretty sure she believes me when I said I’d call in statutory rape. Consenting sixteen year olds isn’t a thing.”

“You’d really do that?”

“I have rules.”

“What rule did she break?”

“You don’t fuck kids no matter how cute and or consenting they are.”

Alex nodded, “Reasonable rule. What other rules do you have.”

“Too many, but you don’t fuck married people, single parents, or someone in a relationship.” I sighed. “It’s sometimes hard to know, but once I find out it’s done. Not that I actually sleep with someone more than once.”

We walked in silence for a while. “You know I fit two out of four of those rules.”

I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk as it sank in. Unless Alex was being a sarcastic git, he was married and had a kid. “I think you need to tell me. Now.”

Alex nodded and took my hand, “Coffee?”

I followed numbly after him. We went into the coffee shop on the way to the AU building. We ordered coffee. Rather, Alex ordered my coffee and his and a chocolate brownie. He didn’t ask me if I wanted it. He knew my fondness of chocolate and it was meant to soften the blow.

We sat down and waited for our coffee but we didn’t talk. It wasn’t until we got our order that Alex started speaking. “I’m not married anymore. It was a long con. My mother was really aiming high on this one. It was our last con together. We wanted her fortune. She a young heiress to some tech throne or another not real bright. It wasn’t hard to make her fall in love and a month in I asked her to marry me. She said yes. It was all great, living in that big house with my mom. But then there was a car accident, my wife asked me to stay home, she had news to tell me, but we were going to go to the bank and transfer all the funds to an account and mom’s car got hit by another car. I was supposed to be in it. Shelly, that was her name, she told me she was pregnant that day. She was so excited. I didn’t know she was trying for a kid. I was just a kid I shouldn’t be having a kid. And then my mom died and I pretty much bailed. On her, the kid, the con. I had the marriage annulled before the kid was born.”

Alex barrelled through it all and I could see his face reflect his worst nightmare. This was the most he’d ever talked about himself and for the horrible story it was it could have been a lot worse. And when he was done he stood up and started to walk away. I caught his hand, “Where are you going?”

“I don’t want to hear you break up with me,” he said.

“I’m breaking up with you? Because of something you did in your past?” I asked him confused. “Alex, you aren’t married now are you?” He shook his head. “Then okay I’m a little upset you didn’t tell me before. But I didn’t ask either. And this is the first time something like that came up. Why are you so ready to make this end?”

Alex stared at me from above. He was still waiting for the other shoe to drop “Alex, you were a boy. You said it yourself. Please sit down.”

So we walked to my new place. I would have held Alex’s hand but his hands were full. Mr. Chivalrous and all. Though I could carry my own things, like I could walk myself home safely but I didn’t say anything and let Alex be the man. Though I did get the door for him, and we took the elevator. Which was fun because I got to stand there and press myself into Alex’s neck. His hands were full but his arms were still around me. He was all I needed to feel safe – and loved.

Thirty floors later, and I was punching in the key code to my room. I heard shuffling on the other side and I knew my brothers were doing something they shouldn’t be – which likely meant Laker had Matt over. Even though it was summer for my brothers, the Venatori didn’t get that sorta vacation. Though the fourth did yield a holiday maybe I was wrong. I could be – things could have changed. I laughed at myself as I pushed the door open.

I didn’t have a direct path into the living room so I just let it be. I’d rather they had sex in my house than out of it. It was safer here. “This is my new place.”

Alex was looking around the entry way. “My room’s this way. I’ll give you a tour in a sec.”

“It’s nice. And so much bigger than your last one.”

“Yeah I think they were glad to get rid of me.”

I pushed open the half closed door to my room. Ophelia sat on the edge of my bed and stared at me as I walked in. “You can put it down anywhere I’ll take care of it all later.” Alex dropped everything on the bed and my scruffy cat glared at him then turned on her feet and threw her tail in the air and pranced to my pillow, curled up and laid down. “I love you too.” I replied to the annoyance of a cat.

“You remember Fee.” I asked Alex.

“She’s ornerier than I remember.” Alex disobeyed all laws of Fee and rubbed the top of her head. “I had a dream with her once, did you know she’s actually a woman trapped in a cats body?”

“Yeah, but how did you know that?” I asked. I didn’t recall ever telling him that.

“I just told you I had a dream with her. I was looking for you, and I found her instead. I watched you have a nightmare and when I went to try to wake you I was thrust out of the dream into utter darkness. It was strange. Never happened to me before.”

“You talked to Breanna?” I asked.

“You knew your cat was a woman?”

I nodded. “The woman I got her from told me all about her past. She’s a ghost from Salem and she tried to inhabit Oma’s granddaughter. Oma cursed her into the cat. Fee will live as long as I do. If I were wiccan I could pass the curse on to another, but when I die so will Fee.”

“Sounds an awful lot like the Chevalier bond Ant was telling me about. The one Ryan Elliot has with his mother.”

I grinned. “I know what it is. You’ve been talking with Ant a lot?”

“He’s your friend. I was kinda sorta using him to find out about you.” Alex shuffled his feet. “I wasn’t stalking you I promise. I missed you and I was denying it. I’m human. What can I say?”

I sighed. “You could have just responded to my texts and none of this would have been necessary,” I countered. But before we could start a fight I grabbed Alex’s hand and tugged him out of the bedroom and into the living room where Laker and Matt sat on the couch dishevelled and looking too innocent while they played a video game. The room smelled like sex, but I was pretty sure that they didn’t know that. “You were careful right?”

Both boys blushed and Laker nodded. “Yes, sir. Thank you for letting us stay here while dad goes on his grand tour of Central and South America.”

Matt looked up and nodded. “Thank you.”

“Well Alex, this is my brother Laker and his boyfriend Matt. Careful when you shake hands with this one, he’s a null.”

I waited for Alex to freak out when he shook Matt’s hand but he never did. “Guys this is my boyfriend Alex.”

Lake was all smiles. “So good to finally meet you. He’s a total mess without you.”

“Matt aren’t you supposed to be in class?”

“Um. Normally. But Mr. Vega,” Matt said, but Laker was snickering at Matt’s formality, “Is at his wits end. I’m supposed to be with my mentor now, but I don’t have one cause no one understands my gifts. Mr. Vega warned me that if I can’t pass the Magnus tests then they’ll make me Tacet like every other null before me. He says he only has one option left.”

I laughed, “Me? Right?”

Matt nodded. “He said when you get back on duty he’ll ask you, but since I’m dating your brother and I’m technically with my mentor now even though he’s not really home, but no one other than he knows that he said I could come hang with the twins.”

“So you thought to sex up my brother while you were supposed to be studying?”

Alex snorted.

“Yes, sir,” Matt said never looking away from me.

I grinned. “Best hope you don’t hurt him or you are going to have a few pretty pissed of men after you.”

“Yes, sir.” Matt smiled, “Mr. Viddens already threatened my life. As did Chef Marco while he held a butchers knife in his hand.”

I laughed. “Where’s Rider?”

“He’s somewhere else.”

“Which means?” I asked.

Alex translated for me. “He left the apartment cause they were fucking.”

I nodded. “Ah, any idea where he went?”

“Gym probably.” Laker said.

“Go to your room, lock the door. Please don’t have sex on the couch. We all have to sit there.”

Both boys said ‘yes, sir’ and I shook my head. “Down stairs we go. If Rider’s in the gym we’ll say hi but if not we’ll go see Dorian?” I asked Alex as I tugged him towards the door by the hand.

“Yes, sir,” Alex mimicked loud enough for the boys to hear.

There had been a not so quickie in the shower and we hurried to get clean. Alex was dressed quickly and I stood in front of the mirror debating ‘to shave or not to shave’. Why it was bothering me I don’t know but it was.

Alex brought me clean clothes – clothes he bought me. Sometimes I wondered if he thought I was a dress up doll. But honestly it didn’t bother me. Alex hadn’t bought me anything I wouldn’t wear. He held up the suit he’d purchased or a t-shirt featuring T-Story as the Walking Dead. He found it amusing. “You want funny Dad or put together Dad? He asked.

“How about jeans, a t-shirt and a dress shirt instead of my classic gray hoodie? I said.

“That’s reasonable, but I counter with a pair of black slacks?”

I nodded, “I can do that. But there still begs the question.”

“Leave off Nox.” He hung the items on the door and put the others down in a pile on the vanity. His arms were wrapped around me from behind and he was pressing his fully clothed body against mine which was only covered from the waist down with a towel. “You look good. Distinguished. I’d hit this.” Alex smirked.

“You did hit this already.” I grinned at him through the mirror. “Several times if I recall.”

His smirk only got bigger. “It’s not my fault my pretty boy is insatiable.”

“Only for you Z.” I smacked a kiss in the mirror. “I’ll leave it alone. I don’t know why it’s bugging me.”

“Because you are you, and it’s what you do. But if you’re really looking for a change, I remember a pair of earrings you never took off when you were younger.” He smiled. “There is eye liner in the vanity, so you don’t have to wave your magic around and make me all jealous and the like.” He stepped away. “And hurry up, or we’re going to be late to our very important date.”

“I think Dorian can wait.”

Alex snickered. “I wasn’t talking about him. He’s small beans.”

“I’ll tell him you said that,” I said as Alex closed the door behind him.

I hadn’t worn earring since before I could grow a beard.The holes had long since closed up but it wasn’t hard to do I didn’t need to go to someone else. I opened the cupboard and looked at Alex’s assortment of make up. I was meeting my kids, I went with black.

By the time I was dressed and made up I hadn’t decided if the earrings were a go or not.

Alex was sitting on his bed scrolling through his phone. He looked up with a strand of blonde hair falling in front of his blue eyes. I really hated that color on him. Washed him out. “Can I please change your hair?” I begged

Alex smirked. “What you don’t like it?”

I shook my head. “Not particularly.” I walked to him and put my hands on his shoulders, “I could fix it for you.”

Alex looked up. “I’ll just go to a stylist tomorrow.”

“I don’t want you to meet my kids when you are Jimmy.”

Alex leaned his head down with a sigh. “Be gentle.”

I put my hands on his head and ran my fingers through his blond hair turning it to his jet black hair I loved. I pushed his head back and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’d love you even with the blonde, but thank you,” I whispered against his mouth when I pulled away and let my hands drop to his shoulders again. “You are fucking gorgeous either way.”

“Yeah sure pretty boy.”

“Oh baby, trust me. I’ll take you anyway you come.” I pressed my lips to his, they were so soft. “We should go before we end up in bed.”

Alex sighed. “I wouldn’t mind that.”

“Me either.”

We kissed until I was sitting in his lap and once I was comfortable Alex pushed me off with a smirk. “So easy pretty boy. Let’s go.”

“Tease.”

“Always,” he said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me after him. “I have to meet your kids, and your brothers. How do I look?”

“Like Alex,” I said with a smirk.

Alex grabbed a bag and my things. “We stop by your place first?”

“Yeah. I think so. We aren’t in a hurry.”

The City came into view and I started having a panic attack. My heart was racing and I was sweating like crazy. I was fucking going crazy at what ifs. What if Laker and Rider didn’t want to stay with me. What if the twins hated me? What if Dorian refused my requests? What if Garrett was behind it all. What if….

Alex pulled over at the next exit and into a gas station. “Pretty boy?”

“I’m alright.”

“You don’t look alright.”

I sighed. “What ifs…”

Alex shook his head. “Why do you worry about things you can’t control?”

“Because that’s just me.”

“How can I help?” Alex asked.

“We need to get home for you to help.” I frowned. “I just need a quiet place and you.” I wrapped my hand in his. “I’m okay. Let’s just go home.”

Alex sat there staring at me for several long minutes watching as I tried to calm myself. He started Serenity again and headed back out to the highway and on to the City. It was quiet but Alex’s hand was warm in mine. I focused on that until Alex was cursing at the traffic.

We were almost home, but it took another hour before we would make it back to Alex’s apartment.

The familiar sites of home came into view as we pulled into the parking garage that was Serenity’s home. Alex ran his fingers over her door and leaned down and whispered to her, “I’ll send Bobby by to pick you up and give you a good cleaning.”

“You don’t clean her yourself? I asked.

Alex gave me this look like I was crazy. “Here in the City where there is a guy for that?”

I laughed, “There is a guy for everything. I guess that makes sense.”

I grabbed my bag of new things from the trunk and Alex grabbed a bag. “Come up, clean up and I’ll take you home?”

I nodded. “You know, I knew this was coming. That once we got here we’d go our separate ways.” I grinned at Alex as I took his free hand. “Not permanently, but because we already agreed. Slow and steady. Not barrelling through like we had been. Though I’m not sure I’ll like sleeping alone in my bed.”

Alex laughed, “We might have to ease into that.”

“What sharing a bed?”

“No. Sleeping alone.”

“I need to get home. My brothers have been at my place alone with only my father and Dorian checking on them periodically.”

Alex laughed. “It’s still standing, they didn’t throw any parties.”

“How do you know?”

“I’ve been following them on all their social media. Stalking you.”

“So maybe they didn’t take any pictures. Evidence and all.”

Alex was shaking his head. “I don’t think so, they take pictures of everything. It’s the millennial thing to do. Next they will be growing beards.” Alex grinned at me as he pushed the button for the elevator.

“Uh huh.” I just nodded. He was poking fun at me. “Maybe I’ll just shave then.”

Alex grabbed my chin and ran his fingers down my jawline with his fingers. “That would be alright with me. Smooth skin.” His voice was starting to sound breathless. “No scratching my thighs when you suck my cock. No hair caught between my teeth when I do this.” He leaned forward and nibbled at my ear and down my jawline to his favorite spot on my neck.

The elevator came and was devoid of people as we stepped on to go up to Alex’s apartment. He backed me up against the wall and pressed his body to mine. “Not that I mind the hair and scratching. You are mine no matter what, pretty boy.”

“You have no preference?”

Alex sucked on my neck and distracted me from my train of thought. The door chimed and Alex glanced up at the number even as someone walked into the car with us. But Alex returned to his spot pressed against my neck. He pushed a thought in my head. Quiet and they won’t look at what we are doing My body stiffened at the the request and he was right, no one turned around but I was hard and fighting back the sounds that wanted to escape with my pleasure.

One man watched out of the corner of his eye. And from the look of the boner in his pants he was enjoying it. The doors dinged open to Alex’s floor and we stepped off. I winked at the guy who’d been watching us and he blushed. Alex chuckled, “Such a fucking flirt.”

“He was the one getting off on watching us.”

Alex turned around to walk backwards to see the guy but the doors had already closed. “You like that? Being watched I mean.”

I shrugged. “Not really, it happens though. I mean how could they not. Me, and you.” I licked my finger and touched Alex and made a sizzling sound with a bright grin.

Alex rolled his eyes. “I don’t like sharing you.”

I laughed. “Yet you suck on my neck in a crowded elevator. I’m sure I’ll be sporting this new hickey for a few hours.”

“I hate that you know,” Alex said shoving his key in the door then handed it to me. “Your key.”

“I know. I can’t do anything about it though. I heal too fast for you to keep me marked.” I grinned at Alex. “I could tattoo your name across my neck, so it would stay.”

Alex looked at me like it was a thought but instead started for his bedroom. I set my bags down at the door and followed him. “Do you want a shower?” He shouted from his room.

“I need to call D first see if it’s going to break his rules if I come by to see the twins.”

“That didn’t answer my question Nox.” Alex stepped into the door way and look at me sternly.

“I’d love a shower, with you in it too.”

Alex smirked. “I might be able to help you out with that. Make the call quick, doesn’t take long for the water to heat up.” Alex turned back into his room and left me to make my call.

Dorian’s phone rang twice before he picked up. “Nox. I haven’t heard from you in a while. I see you found Alex.”

“About that, why didn’t you tell me I had kids.”

“Same reason I didn’t tell your father, the mother asked me not to.”

I sighed, “Do they know?”

“I wanted you to be here when I told them.”

“Can I tell them? Today? I need to grab a shower and change, and then I’ll be over – with Alex.”

“Sure Nox. But why do I get the feeling that’s not all you wanted.” Dorian had always understood me even if he hadn’t loved me early on. And even on the phone he knew something was up.

“I need to talk with Garrett. I need to bring Ant with me, and Alex.” The last was a whispered notion. I didn’t want to take Alex.

“You need back up?” Dorian asked.

“Not so much backup as a just in case. Alex won’t let me talk to my former torturer and I don’t want him near Garrett at all, our compromise is to both go with Ant as back up.”

I knew Dorian was frowning. “Why do you need to talk to him?”

“I just do Dorian. It’s a long story, I’ll tell you but not over the phone.”

“Fine. Come see me, we’ll talk. Then you can see the twins and deliver the news and hopefully by then I’ll have an answer for you about bringing The Hound’s Son into the AU building to talk to one of our esteemed mentors.”

“Thank you D.”

Dorian growled, “We’ll see.” And then he hung up. Not two seconds later he sent me a text:

D: He’s sorry. We love you. So glad you found happiness. ~M_

I was smiling when I entered Alex’s room to go find this shower we were talking about.

Two day later we were in Serenity on our way back to New York City. But we had spent a great two days doing nothing. Well not nothing. There wasn’t as much sex as I expected there to be with just us alone, but I think that was Alex feeling uncomfortable in his childhood home. This was as close to a home he’d ever had. He was a drifter I’d learned a lot from Kay about Little Z as a boy.

I learned that Alex was a romantic at heart even if he swore he wasn’t. Kish let me know his favorite movie was ‘Love Actually’ in secret. I intended to buy or rent the movie the next time we had some alone time. I’d never seen it but that wasn’t usual. I hadn’t seen his favorite movie ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ either. Which he promised me I’d watch with him too. And I was all for spending time with him, even if it meant watching a movie instead of other things.

Alex and I sat through Twilight – like the worst vampire story ever with Kish and Karma when they found out I just loved to watch supernatural movies. Fuck them! Sparkling fucking vampires! But we watched it and I didn’t groan too loudly, from either my disgust or Alex’s hand underneath the blankets and in my pants for most of the movie trying to distract me. Sex had been awesome that night.

I was lost in the memories, avoiding all the things I had to do when I got home. We still had a few days of travel. Alex didn’t want to press the issue. He said it was because of the nightmare, he was taking it slow. I knew better. He just wanted me alone, more time to himself. Because once we got home, I had two sets of twins to deal with.

I’d gotten an excited call the day before we left from my brothers. Rider was almost yelling into the phone as he requested me to get a few things from home before we left. It turned out it was more than a few things. And instead of driving back with it all like a delivery service, Alex shipped it all to them via the post. It wasn’t cheap. He growled at me when I suggested we could take it. “I’m not a delivery service.” And that was the end of that. I let him send it on his dime. It was his choice either way. I had offered to pay.

Alex interrupted my thoughts. “Pretty boy?”

I looked over at Alex over the top of my sunglasses. “Yes, Zee”.

He grinned at me. “You purr that like a fucking cat.”

“You like it,” I said smugly. “You disturbed my reminiscing to hear me say Z?”

Alex laughed. “No. I just wanted to know if you wanted to talk about things?”

“You want to do this now?” I asked.

“I figure we do it on the road, and I can’t leave you, or kick you out or anything. And if we yell well no one can hear us and…”

I interrupted, “I get it. So you don’t want me seeing Garrett. I don’t want you to come with me. So we are at an impasse. I need to talk to Garrett.”

“Why?” Considering our prior conversation this was going better than expected.

“Because I need to know if he did this to me. And why? Why torment me my whole life? Or is it coincidence. And since I don’t believe in providence or coincidence I need the answer.”

“You suggest Ant going with you. What if he went with both of us?”

Now that was a reasonable suggestion but I didn’t want Alex near Garrett. But he wasn’t letting me near Garrett without him – Mr Chivalry at his finest. I nodded. “Okay. I can tolerate that but you will let me do what I need to do?”

Alex grinned. “Anything you say pretty boy.”

“Why do I not believe that?”

Alex held out his hand with his pinky extended. “Pinky swear!”

“What?”

Alex laughed, and he didn’t stop for at least three minutes. When he finally calmed down with a fit of coughs he cleared his throat. “Sorry. A pinky swear, it’s a kid thing. An oath that they won’t do what they said they’d do.”

I nodded and held out my pinky. “Show me Z. Or should I call you Mushu for this.”

Alex grinned and took my pinky with his and shook. “Now what would what should I wear when I met your kids?”

And that was how our conversations went the next two days while we travelled home.

After pizza we rode around town and talked more. Alex never did answer my question about shaving. I didn’t really want to, but I also didn’t like being part of the in crowd. It bugged me. But we didn’t talk anymore about Garrett. We just talked. About everything else but the important things. Which was the most important things to talk about ironically. Getting to know Alex was good, and fun, and on the road he talked more than sitting next to me on the couch.

Which was where we ended up – back in the main house watching TV – rather Alex watched TV and I curled up next to him. We discussed when we should go back to the city. Alex didn’t think I should be on the road for another few days. We weren’t in a hurry so I had agreed. Another few days with Alex’s family.

The TV wasn’t very loud I didn’t really know what was on, I was reading a book I found on the shelf that looked interesting. It was on wicca magic. Alex had given me a strange look when I laid down with my head in his lap with the book. “You interested in magic?” He smirked.

I laughed. “Well duh!” I smiled at him happily with the book resting on my chest. “Call it research. Always good to know things.”

“Do you only read things to learn?” Alex asked.

I shook my head but pulled the book up so I could flip to the beginning. “I read some things for fun. Mia likes to buy me fashion and girlie magazines to read. And I like urban fantasy and end of the world type stories.”

Alex laughed. “You like to read about magic, vampires and zombies in the real world.”

I lowered the book. “Yes. I like to see how stupid it is or how close they come to the truth.”

“Anything come close?”

“Yeah. Several vampires have written autobiographies that pass as some great fiction. But if you go back in Venatori records it’s all true.”

“How far back do your records go?”

“As far back as there was written language.”

“Seriously? And you can read it all?”

I shrugged. “I can read it if I chose to I suppose. There are translations of translations going back generations in the archives. There are some Venatori who can still read the really old scribbling of mad men.”

“Mad men?” Alex laughed. “Are you a mad man?”

“Some would think so.” I said and snuggled closer to Alex. His hand draped across my chest rubbing small circles with his fingers. I was at home. We were off in our own little worlds together. So perfect.

I read about wiccan spell craft. It was oddly familiar. I’m not sure why it was, I’d never actually seen any wiccan magic before. It wasn’t something most city folks practised. There were more paths than natural magic users – the concrete and metal and the pollution tended to make wiccans stay away. Though there was a coven there. I’d have to look into their culture a little more.

The front door opened and Kish and Karma walked in chatting loudly. But their voices dropped mid sentence when they saw us sitting together in our own little worlds. I didn’t look away from the book. Alex on the other hand snarked, “What?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you show any public displays of affection Z, not even to your mother,” Kish said.

Alex snorted. “This is all him. It’s his fault.”

I lowered the book and smiled up at Alex. “Do I need to back off?”

“Not at all pretty boy.” He gave me that rare genuine smile and leaned down and pressed a kiss to my lips. I resisted the urge to put my hand in his hair and make the kiss deeper and longer, Alex hummed against my lips before he sat up. “He is a touchy feely sort of guy. I need to take care of him.”

I grinned happily as I went back to my book.

“I’d never in a million years pegged you as a romantic Alex,” Kay said as she headed for the kitchen. “I see all the food is gone.”

“Ah, yeah. Sorry about that,” I said sitting up. “Fighting the nightmare off kinda drained me.”

“You ate dinner tonight.” Kish frowned.

“And he ate two whole pizza pies, and two orders of garlic knots.”

“Where does it put it all?”

Alex shrugged. “He doesn’t eat like that normally.”

“Killing with my power takes a toll on my physically. It was murder and the balance had to be restored. It takes a lot of energy to kill someone.”

“Something, you mean,” Kish said. “It was a monster.”

“And to some Alex, you and Kay are monsters. I’m a monster to people. Different is what we are, monsters not likely. While I agree the nightmare is not a person, it was alive. It had free will. It could feel. I don’t regret killing it. But monster isn’t a term I like to use.” I stood up and headed for the kitchen. “I’ll make something for dinner, if you don’t mind me using your kitchen and your supplies.”

Kish was staring at me like I was an alien. She turned to Alex to ask, “Is he always like this?”

“Like what?” Alex asked.

“Pragmatic, lecturing, helpful?” She turned back to me and nodded. “By all means, Kay and I will gladly sit this one out. Help yourself. We’ll just sit right here and watch and talk about you.”

I laughed. “Fine. And I’ll answer for Alex. Yes, I’m always like that. And since you want to talk about me you won’t mind if I put in my ear buds and turn my music up loud.” I didn’t wait for an answer. Alex was smirking at me then turned to join his family in front of the TV while I learned the lay of the land in the kitchen.