The Resort was where we kept detainees. It was a combination rehab center, prison, infirmary, and safe house. It was technically under Vampire jurisdiction. That was until Il Cane started deferring to me. Part of The Resort was in the depths of the Night Light building. It was where the most dangerous supernatural criminals were kept under lock and key until someone dealt with them. That was where Cari was holding Valence right now.

The rest of it was on the 13th floor of the Night Life building. You couldn’t just walk into it. There were no key codes no entry ways except through the service elevator or shadow walking during the day. Which was why Ant had to shadow walk to the basement and we had to take the elevator. During the day only the most powerful vamps could shadow walk into the building in daylight hours. So it limited the access to Cari, Ant, Tony, and Francesco – and probably a few other primeval vampires, but Cari was the only embraced vampire who could shadow walk at all. But as of dusk the shadow walking room was lit so that lesser vampires can’t shadow walk into the safe place.

It was Tony’s idea. Sanctuary – the primeval vampire home – can only be reached by shadow walking. But since not all creatures have that sort of travel methods the one way in was through the service elevator. You could come through the windows but the glass was thick and we were high enough off the ground climbing outside was difficult and coming down except via the window washers. It was complicated. But doable but it was safe as we could make it.

Ant took our errant wolf upstairs via the service elevator. I started to get into the elevator when I heard my name from behind me. Alec Moretti was wide awake for a vampire who had just woke up. He was bright and smiled at me. “A moment?” he asked when I turned around.

I looked at Ant and he frowned. “I think I’ll be okay in the company of Alec. The most have to fear is him trying to play Dom again.” I smirked at Ant and his frown deepened.

Alec raised his hands. “I will be on my best behavior. Scouts honor.” He even held up the scoun’s sign.

Ant nodded. “Alec if any harm comes to him I’m killing you first.”

Alec grinned at Ant. “Why Anthony I didn’t know you cared.”

“I mean it.” Ant said as the doors closed on Ant and the werewolf.

“I’m surprised he didn’t stay.” Alec said. “I need to speak with you.”

“You are always welcome to.” I said.

The grin on Alec’s face reminded me of my own. “That is why I bow to you.”

“No it’s not but thanks anyway.” I said.

Alec waved his hand in front of him and indicating we should move. “My apartments are spacious. And far more comfortable than the hall.”

We went a few doors down and Alec opened his door to a very modern set up. All straight lights, and grey’s very similar to Dorian’s taste. I bet his couch was just as uncomfortable.

Alec sat down in an arm chair that looked just as uncomfortable. I sat on the edge of the couch and waited for Alec to speak. He said nothing and I sighed, “What do you need Alec. Not my presence to stare at I hope.”

“A fine presence to stare at, but no. I’m thinking how best to put this.”

“Just spit it out.” I said.

Alec grinned at my turn of phrase. “Valence is giving us nothing. No amount of compelling, or torture is working. He speaks no words. Evangeline has tried to make him speak. I’ve tried. Valentina has even tried to read his unscrupulous mind, but nothing. We know nothing of Brandon’s plans.”

“And?” I said.

“Could you try your brand of witchcraft and sorcery on him?” Alec said bluntly – spitting it as I asked.

“I don’t like to use my powers like that.” I said.

He nodded. “I am aware. I’m not asking you to torture him. I’m asking you to be that threat. Use your vampiric powers that are so foreign to us to push him in the direction we need. No violence.”

“Threatening him isn’t going to work. I can throw fireballs all I want, make the chaotic storm as a display of power, but if I’m unwilling to follow through he will know and he won’t speak.”

Alec sighed. “You are the last stop before Il Cane lays her fingers into his flesh.”

“I don’t want to know do I?”

Alec shook his head. “Carissa is growing tired of his silence and wishes to make him scream. Of our darkest creations she is the blackest. She will revel in his blood and screams. She will not seek answers. She’s craving blood for the harm he’s done to everyone. For taking your family hostage. For Valentina and Evangeline. For the deaths of two council members. There is much for Valence to pay for. And it has been a while since Il Cane let lose her teeth.”

“Should I care what vampires do to other vampires?” I asked Alec.

“It is with in your right now as Regnans – our Ascendant. The Ascendant, Nox. But Brandon Holt, he is a threat to everything you stand for. Valence is not a key player, a mere pawn.”

I sighed. “Take me to him.”

Alec nodded. He looked neither pleased with himself nor disappointed that I’d asked it of him. He merely strolled out his door and into the lower Resort. The place was dark, vampires didn’t need light to see, and once I let my senses go – neither did I.

In the darkness we wound through the halls to the cell where Valence was chained with silver. I could smell the burning flesh from outside. Alec opened the door and I stepped inside. I threw up a direction orb so that it shined in the prisoners face but not mine. Though I still had to blink away tears for the bright light. I let it dim until I could see the man clearly. He snarled at me.

“I will not speak to you either.”

I smiled. “I didn’t come here to ask you questions Valence.”

“Then why are you here?” He spat.

I held my hand out and Alec placed a firearm in my hand. I hadn’t asked. He just seemed to know. Was he manipulating me?

I looked at Alec and he nodded. “I am not using my line on you. You know this to be fact.”

I searched his eyes and I felt the magics around me, Alec’s was tied up in a nice little ball inside him. He was right. He smiled when I met his eyes. “I have come to understand your compassion.” Was all he said.

I sighed. My compassion. I turned to Valence and he was still glaring at me. “Do you have any last words, Valence Massé?”

He laughed. “You don’t have the balls to kill me.”

I raised the gun level to his forehead. “You don’t know me very well.”

I squeezed the trigger and the gun shot rang loudly in the small room. “Dismember him, burn the pieces and scatter them to the winds. Nothing in the same region.” I said as I handed Alec the gun and turned to leave.

“You told me just enough so Cari wouldn’t torture him to death.” I said.

“Yes.” Alec said. “Your compassion even for your enemies is paramount. I could not kill him for fear of Il Cane.”

“But I can with out repercussion.” I said.

“Precisely, my liege. I am sorry for the ruse.” Alec was faltering behind me, his steps falling behind like a good little subject.

“Next time, Alec, play it straight. Tell me what is going on without the fine manipulation of my emotions.” I stopped and turned back to him. “I am not a child and I can make the hard decisions.”

“I know, that is why I came to you.”

“Just tell me next time that Cari wants to torture someone who is not ever going to give us information. Alec, you can make me do anything you want. And I probably won’t even notice that you did it. Don’t play games with me. I trust you. I trust you to be honest and tell me when I’m fucking shit up. Don’t play Regnans and Ascendant cards with me. Tell me the facts. I will do what I have to to keep everyone safe.”

Alec smiled. “As you wish it. But Il Cane’s temper will not be easily diffused”

“If she doesn’t come to heel.” I sighed, but didn’t finish the sentence.

Alec’s smile grew and he nodded. “So it shall be. He who reins in the hound shall reign without question.”

“Another prophecy?” I asked.

“No, it was what Sal used to say after we found out about the massacre. Francesco and Tony Giovanni could have ruled the vampire world with Il Cane indebted to them, but they did not. Sal predicted that whoever controlled Il Cane’s leash would rule. And I believe he is right.”

“I don’t control her.”

Alec laughed. “If that is what you wish to believe then I will not be the one to destroy your delusion.” He pressed the service elevator button. “Return to The Son before he’s down here guns blazing.”

Ant followed me onto the subway platform and we hopped down into the tunnel to see if we could find Rob before he got hurt, or hurt someone else. He didn’t say anything until we were well into the tunnel near Central Park.

“You don’t even question me coming with you anymore.” He said as a means to start the conversation he wanted to have.

“You’ll come anyway.” I said. “It’s like trying to ignore Jin. I can’t do that either.”

Ant sighed. “You know Dee’s making this all harder by ignoring her powers.”

I asked, “How so?” as we stepped to the far edge of the tracks as a train came hurdling down the tracks completely unaware that we were walking there. The joys of supernatural powers. I was learning that when I was with Ant his shadow power encompassed us both without my need to hold a veil, freeing me for other things. Ryan says that’s how it works for him too being Chevalier. Our bond was similar if only reversed.

“She’s manipulating all of you without realizing. I watched her do ith with Dev just now. He was seething anger, and then it was gone. She doesn’t even have to touch him. She’s got her hooks into Sage too. Sage is easily manipulated though, we see Adam doing it.”

“You’re bold today.” I smirked at my friend and now bodyguard.

“Dee through a canary because Dev had to go. She stormed off in a temper tantrum. You think that’s normal behavior for an adult.”

I laughed. “No, but that’s Dee.”

“No, that’s her emotions getting the better of her. She sucks down Dev’s anger, and Sage’s attraction to you both, and makes it all about her. She can’t do that with you. At least not easily. You’ve noticed everyone but you and Matt bend to her will.”

I sighed. “What do you want me to do about it Ant?”

He shrugged. “Nox. I can’t protect you from her.”

“I don’t need protection from her.”

“I think you do.” He said. But we didn’t get to finish the conversation as a blur of motion jumped up onto the next platform in sight and we started to run after it. Ant was faster and he had no problem being first. And I didn’t have to worry about him. He knew how to fight, but more importantly he knew not to kill whatever it was.

I caught up with Ant grappling with a werewolf. It wasn’t Rob, he was a cat – leopard I think. The wolf was trying to bit Ant’s neck but the vampire was holding the shifted man from him with ease. Ant smirked at me, “Well you going to do your thing before it bites me?”

I grinned at him and put my hand on the wolf’s back and sent my pack magic through it – willing the werewolf to calm down. When it had stilled Ant set the wolf down and I willed it to shift into human form. It fought me. But I won.

There was a lot of things I was learning about my abilities. As peace keeper, I had more abilities than Cari did as Enforcer. I spanned the races – such was my connection to the cosmos. There was no denying I was Ascendant. I wondered when women would start clamouring at my door for me to give them a child. Maybe they already were and Jin was keeping them at bay. I’d have to ask her and hope I didn’t sound arrogant.

The wolf shifted into a naked man who was staring wide eyed up at me. “They said you’d kill me.”

I frowned, “Who said I’d kill you?”

He shook his head. “No. I was the bait.”

That made Ant get up and take up a defensive position. I extended my senses to see if there was anyone around. But other than the few humans who were ignoring us because of our supernatural nature there was no one around. This wasn’t an ambush.

“Why would I kill you?” I asked.

“I was to be bait.”

“Bait for what?” Ant asked, but the man looked at me and was wide eyed with fear. He didn’t look well, eyes sunken and body skeletal.

“Where do you live?”

The man shook his head. “I don’t want to go back.”

I nodded. “Okay. Can you come with me?”

The man shivered. I looked at Ant, “Can you get us to The Resort this time of day?”

Ant nodded. “Yeah. We’ll have to take the service elevator up from the basement though.”

“That’s fine.” I said. “Just get us there so we can deal with him. I need to go look for Rob.”

I was being the responsible adult. I watched from my vantage point, my height and my perch were good. But I wasn’t sitting here to be the skeevy dad watching the kids, I was watching my kitchen, and making sure the kids didn’t spike the punch that I sat next to. The food was nearly gone, I might have to order pizza. I hated ordering pizza. And the pizza delivery guy, even though the store was downstairs hated taking the elevator all the way to the top floor. Even though we tipped well.

Jace and Mia were dancing. I could hear Dee in the hall but I couldn’t make out what she was saying without prying. I assumed Dev was with her. I wondered if they were still fighting about him going on tour.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and pulled it out to see an unknown number. Jin was already on it I saw her picking up the land line that was my office line. It forwarded to my phone but Jin was on the ball as usual. Even on the weekends. She never took a day off. It bothered me a little. Both her and Ant never took a day to themselves. They were going to get burnt out and I was going to be the cause of it.

Jin saw me watching her across the way and nodded for me to pick up the phone. I answered professionally. “TCP Investigations, this is Nox, can I help you?”

The voice on the other side was frantic. “Yes. I was just telling your secretary Mr. Nox. I hate to bother you. But it’s an emergency. The new moon is in a few days. Rob’s been out, he should have been safe. But he’s changed. I saw him. He’s going to hurt someone or get himself killed. You have to help.”

I sighed. “Mr. Escalante, you are saying you found Rob?”

“No. Well yes. He came home last night.”

“You didn’t call me.”

“No, we… He’s changed. He doesn’t have control. Roberto can’t handle the moons full phases. There are Venatori hunting him.”

“Where is he?” I hopped off the counter and headed for the back hall. Mr Escalante relayed where he’d last seen Rob and I took note and hung up the phone.

I found Dee blocking the hall with both her hands extended and her legs making a big X. She shouted at Dev, “You can’t go we have a date tomorrow.”

He looked back at me. If I didn’t know Dev better I’d say he was about to punch the girl in front of him. But the look was gone in moments and he was smiling at me. “Nox. Manson called said we have a once in a life time chance to open for a big name band in Las Vegas. The opening act got sick, he promised them we’d be there for the Sunday show and last until Thursday before we have to get on the plane to hit a show in Cali. Dee’s being unreasonable.”

I sighed. If there wasn’t drama in my day to day life I think I’d died and gone to heaven. If I believed in heaven that was. But that was so not my life. I grabbed Dee from behind and lifted her effortlessly out of the way. She squrimed and kicked and screamed as I physically moved her out of Dev’s way.

When I let her go she hit me in the chest repeatedly. “Ow.” I said and she looked up at me and slapped my face. “I hate you both.”

I rolled my eyes and she stalked off back to our bedroom. Sage was standing in the doorway to his room with Adam in the background.

I nodded. “You might want to check on Ms. Temper Tantrum.”

He smiled and kissed Dev on the cheek. “She’s right you know. We had plans. You are getting as bad as him.” But he hugged our rockstar, “Have fun and bring me back suveniors.”

Dev wasn’t looking happy. I turned and called after Sage. “I need to go out, my client’s son turned again and is in Central Park. I need to find him before someone gets hurt.”

Sage growled but nodded.

Dev sighed. “Seems they will be mad at both of us.”

I shrugged. “When aren’t they mad at me.”

I grabbed Dev’s bag and hefted it over my shoulder. “Let me walk you to the elevator.”

He took his bag and snaked his free arm around my waist. “Let me do that.”

I didn’t argue with Dev. I let him protectively walk me to our door. Ant was already at the elevator doors waiting and Jin had taken up my spot next to the punch bowl. I absolutely adored them. Never a fight. Unlike everyone else in my family.

The three of us embarked the elevator and Dev dropped his bag and Ant stood in front of the entrance, if anyone wanted on they’d have a hard time getting past him. Thankfully he made the elevator an express down, so we had it all to ourselves for a few minutes anyway. Dev pressed me to the back of the elevator and kissed me hard. “I’ll miss you.”

I grinned back at him. “I’ll miss you, but I’ll dream about you every night.”

Dev laughed. “I know you will.” He sighed, “You aren’t mad I’m not going to be here for our date?”

“Not mad, disappointed, but maybe it’s good me, Dee and Sage go alone.”

Dev laughed, “You won’t go, something will come up. It always does.”

I frowned. “I’m sorry.” I ducked my head and Dev lifted it with two fingers. I looked at him with questions in my eyes. Nothing I could say would relay how bad I felt that I was causing our relationships to falter.

“It’s not just you, pretty boy. Deadshot and our princess is just as much to blame as me and you. We all do it together. That’s the problem.”

I sighed. “But…”

Dev kissed me hard cutting off my words making me forget my own thoughts – or maybe that was Dev’s influence. I didn’t care. I was kissing my rockstar good-bye as he embarked on his first tour. I was excited.

Dev laughed. “You’d think it was you going on tour.”

I grinned at him. “How often do I get to say that’s my boyfriend up on stage?”

Dev smirked. “Everytime I preform.”

“How many times is he opening for a big band name?”

“This will be the first.” Dev said as the elevator doors opened. “I’ll see you tonight in our dreams provided I get some sleep on the plane or in the hotel.”

I nodded. “Stay safe.”

He nodded. “You too pretty boy.”

I watched as Dev walked quickly to the lobby entrance. I headed for the stairs to the subway station below. I had to catch a train that was were Rob was last seen.

Darwynn left shortly after telling me he’d gotten nothing from the vampire downstairs. Chris had gone to interrupt Matt and Andrew and Dev and Dee were still doing whatever it was they were doing in the bedroom. Sage and Adam were doing Sage and Adam things and I was alone in my living room sitting on the couch waiting for the seriously over crowded of my living space by teenagers.

Jin and Ant were out in TCP waiting for guests and ushering them through to the house proper. Dev’s playlist were already going in the background, we had the lights up high for now while everyone came in. My once quiet living spot was now filled with chatting teenagers. The dance-floor was filled with kids grinding to the music. If I were one of their parents I might find it a bit offensive, but I didn’t care.

From my perch next to the punch bowl on the counter I spied Matt with his arms wrapped around Andrew’s neck just a hairs breath from a kiss as they dance. They weren’t grinding like the other kids were, they weren’t even dancing too the beat – a music all their own. Chris was dancing with a boy who I didn’t know. She didn’t seem to be into him and they weren’t grinding like the others.

A hand touched my knee and ran up my leg and I looked at the person who had the audacity to touch me like that only to find Mia standing next to me with her husbands hand at my hip. He winked at me. Jace and I hadn’t hung out in a while. I had a feeling he was jealous of my life – of my family. And pissed that it wasn’t him.

“Where are you lovers?” He asked.

“Doing their thing. I honestly don’t know where Dev and Dee are. Sage is with Adam in his room like always.”

Jace laughed. “You sound bitter about that.”

I shrugged. “It is what it is.”

Mia sighed. “I feel so old.”

Jace looked at his wife and smiled. “Baby, you ain’t old.” He pulled her on to the dance floor, “We’ll show them how it’s done.”

And just like that I was alone again watching the crowd.

The current song ended and Chris walked over to me and pulled herself up next to me on the counter. “You look lonely.”

I shrugged. “I don’t mean to.”

She laughed, “I meant sitting her all alone.”

I nodded. “Well I’m the only adult present so I’ll be lonely.”

“Aren’t they adults?” Chris pointed to Jace and Mia.

“You haven’t met Jace. And Mia is babysitting him so she’s all taken up with that.”

Chris snorted in laughter, “He’s that bad?”

I grinned. “No. But he thinks he is. I think they are using this as date night so I’ll let the be kids while I’m the adult.”

“Sounds so boring.”

I laughed. “I never thought I’d be the one pretending to be an adult.”

“Where are all yours at?”

I shrugged. “Dunno. They’ll show if they want to.”

“You don’t think they want to?”

I laughed. “Tell me, would you like to be reminded your are an adult watching a bunch of kids grinding on the dance floor when you’d rather be out there dancing with them?”

“Don’t you want to?”

I shrugged. “I’m good at doing things I don’t want to do.”

Chris sighed. “That sounds so sad.”

She hopped off the counter and took my hand. “Then dance with me.”

“I shouldn’t.” I said.

“It’s just a dance.”

I shook my head. “I can’t be an adult and dance with you at the same time.”

“Sure you can.”

I smirked. “Sweetheart, thank you. But I’m happy right here.”

“You aren’t. You are afraid you’ll fall into old habits.”

I sighed. “I am. I’ll stay right here.”

Chris smiled. “You don’t deny that you might hit on me?”

I laughed. “I don’t deny it. Why would I? You heard it in my head.”

“Most people deny it.”

I smiled. “I’m not most people. I respect the gifts of others. I trust in it.”

“One day I’d like to see what you can do. Matt’s always so cryptic.”

“Probably because I don’t know all that I can do.”

She smiled. “That’s a lie. You know what you can do it just scares you.”

I sighed. “Again yes. Go dance Chris. Matt and Andrew are separated a little join your friends, leave the old fuddy-duddy to himself.”

She laughed. “You are so not old.”

I was glad she thought so but I felt out of place here.

Chris was busy taking care of the drinks. Darwynn came upstairs and was strolling into the kitchen and Chris let out a small eep as he sat down in front of her container of ice and drinks. “Who’s the teenage girl?” Darwynn asked me.

“Matt’s friend. She wanted to give Matt and his beau a few minutes alone.”

“They are probably making out on the piano.” Chris laughed.

“If they are making out in the studio they are so going to get in trouble. Dev won’t even let me make out with him in the studio.” I grinned at her.

Chris blushed but kept on working as she said, “Maybe I should go interrupt them then.”

“Leave them.” Darwynn said. “What’s a girl like you being friends with a boy like Matt? You friends with Faelen?”

Chris smiled. “Fae is sweet, but he’s too quiet.”

Darwynn nodded. “He grew up rough. He needs Nox as about as much as Nox needs his family.”

“Which is a lot.” I added to the conversation.

Chris asked, “Why did you all meet?”

Darwynn laughed. “Nox and a bunch of boys were on a camping trip in my neck of the woods. Matt was one of them. Me and Fae were living a rough life in the mountains and shit fell out of the sky as it seems to do around Nox and we are where we are now. Me and the boy are friends. He’s adopted Matt and Fae. And now I work for him.”

“Shit fell out of the sky?” Chris asked with a giggle.

“He means there was a lot of trouble and fighting and misunderstandings.” I said.

Chris laughed. “You know, I know all about what Matt is right?”

Darwynn asked, “What is Matt?” His voice was full of concern and I thought I almost detected a hint of fear.

“He’s Venatori. Supernatural police slash peace keeper.”

“He told you that?” I asked.

“No.” Chris blushed. “I heard it in his head. He called you a god and was thinking about all the things he couldn’t tell me.”

“You are a telepath?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No. Not exactly.”

“But you hear thoughts?”

“I was conceived by a human host.”

Darwynn looked at me and frowned. “What’s she saying?”

“Her mother or father was possessed by an angel when she was conceived.” I said.

“My Mom was” Chris said. “She’s very religions and Viviene needed a host, so Mom agreed. Viviene was new to emotions and when she hooked up with my Dad in a one night stand she wasn’t careful. But Mom finished Vivienne’s mission and found out I was going to be born in a few months.”

“So you can hear my thoughts?” I asked.

Chris shook her head. “Not really. It doesn’t work like that. I hear the lies.”

I laughed. “So you heard half of what Darwynn and I were thinking about the shit storm?”

Chris smiled. “No. None of what you said was a lie.”

“What did Matt say when you told him he was lying?”

“I never told him. I kissed him.”

“What did he do?” I leaned down on my elbows rapt with attention for this story.

Chris giggled. “I wasn’t the first girl to kiss him. He rolled his eyes and took me by the shoulders and held me away from him and sternly said, ‘no’. I taunted him with I know what you are and then ran away. He chased after me and when he caught me in the library stacks I told him what he was. We’ve been friends ever since.”

“So the kiss was just a ploy?” Darwynn asked, “Dirty little minx.”

“Matt doesn’t like girls – everyone knows that.” Chris defended herself. “I wanted to tease him.”

I looked at Darwynn. “What did our friends downstairs have to say?” I asked. Chris smiled at me before she went back to work.

Darwynn shook his head. “Not much. Valence won’t talk. Their methods aren’t brutal enough yet. I never thought Il Cane to be soft.”

I sighed, “That’s my fault. I’d rather he didn’t die just yet.”

The buzzer for the apartment went off which meant someone had exited the elevator and Jin wasn’t at her desk. Which she shouldn’t be, so from the kitchen I made my way to our front door to find a cute blonde boy standing shly in front of my door. He looked up at me with bright blue eyes – not quite Sage or Dev’s color, but a nice blue. “Matt said I could stop by early to go over the playlist with one of his Dads.”

I heard running down the hall towards the front door and Matt skid to a halt nearly colliding with me. Chris was rolling her eyes walking behind him. He looked to the blonde boy and asked, “Did he say anything.”

He shook his head. “I was just telling him you said I could come by.”

Matt looked up at me and frowned, “You haven’t said anything?”

I smirked. “I was admiring your taste in men. I’m not much into blondes but you nailed the blue eyes.”

Both Matt and the boy blushed and Chris laughed. “He’s so got you two pegged.”

Matt shot a glare at his friend and then turned to me offering the boy his hand. I let Matt pull his friend into the house. “I’m Nox, by the way. It’s nice to meet you Andrew.”

He smiled up at me and offered me his hand. “Thanks for letting Matt have this party. The football team has been so much nicer since I started dating Matt.”

“They picked on you?” I said as we walked into the kitchen?

“No more than the other boys. But my dad is the coach and I have been water boy for years and they still treat me like a kid.”

Andrew muttered, “Doesn’t help that I like boys.”

I patted the boy on the back. “I know that feeling. They aren’t picking on you are they Matt?”

Chris laughed. “Would you pick on a kid that could beat you to a pulp standing still?”

Andrew nodded. “Remember when Mitch tried to hit you. You ducked and he went flying into the locker and busted his hand. So much for his football career.”

Chris giggled. “Or when Darain was picking on Skylar and Matt stepped in between punches and caught them both.”

I gave Matt a look that said you better not have been showing off. He added. “It was nothing. I have a good teacher.” He nodded in my direction. “Nox taught me how to control the fight without throwing any punches. He figured I was going to need it to protect myself.”

I smiled. I had also taught him so he wouldn’t hurt anyone while he was pretending to be human. He was stronger than I was and he could do some massive damage, so we had practiced long and hard before he went to his first day of school.

Andrew’s face was in awe. “Can you teach me?”

I shrugged. “If your parents say it’s alright you can join in Matt’s training sessions after school.”

“Me too?” asked Chris.

“If your mom says it’s okay.”

“You’d really teach me to fight?”

I smiled. “Where I grew up, the girls learned to fight just like me. Some of them could even beat the shit out of me. Don’t get into a fight with Mia.” I said.

Matt asked, “Jace and Mia are coming aren’t they?”

I shrugged. “You invited them, you tell me.”

“I figured you could use friends too. Other than Ant and Jin. Dev, Sage and Dee don’t count.”

“You call your parents by their first names?”

I laughed. “I’m his legal guardian.”

“My dad is still in the picture.” Matt said. “I feel wrong calling them Dad since he’s around. Fae, Drake and Morana all call him Dad, Dev Da, and Sage Vader. Mom is of course Dee.”

“Why Vader?” Andrew asked.

“It’s a long story revolving around Star Wars and the line that never uttered in Star Wars.”

Chris giggled, “Luke, I am your father.” Her Vader impersonation was pretty spot on.

Matt laughed, “Except it was Drake doing the saying to Sage “You are my father, Vader.””

“It kinda just stuck.”

Matt took Andrew by the hand and pulled him towards Dev’s studio. Chris followed behind stalling. “You can help me with the drinks if you want Chris.” I added as she shuffled her feet out the door.

She turned and smiled and whispered, “Thank you,” before she was picking up the Mountain Dew Adam had left and started putting them into the ice bucket sitting on the counter.

Our bedroom was empty. I wasn’t sure where anyone was and without letting my powers go I really had no way of finding out. I wasn’t that pressed to find anyone. I had to get ready for Matt’s part. I couldn’t wear the shorts and t-shirt that said, “Kiss the Cook” to a teenage party. I couldn’t wear leather pants and a mesh shirt either. But I knew Dev and Dee would expect me to look both paternal and hot at the same time. Not an easy feat.

Jeans, a solid t-shirt underneath a black button up that wasn’t buttoned and a pair of sneakers that I didn’t go running in. Dee hated when I did that. She made me go shopping for shoes. Your running shoes get smelly. I sighed but had listened to her. I’d normally not wear shoes in the house, but with a bunch of little feet scampering around my house it was a good idea.

Drake and Morana were regulated to the theater room watching TV with Jin, Xi and Vin. My babysitters. Xi was a new addition recently. He’d just broken up with his long time girlfriend and was lonely so we had invited him over for movies one night. He and Dev got on well, the whole dream walking thing was a good connection. And Xi loved Morana. He was one of three people she curled up with. Don’t know why she chose him, but we were happy she had found someone outside me and Fae to curl up with. And he didn’t mind her cool touch. That was always good.

I was applying eyeliner when I heard voices in the bedroom. It was just muffled and I ignored it at first until Dee shouted, “You can’t go!”

Ah fuck! Dev was talking to Dee about going on tour. I expanded my hearing so I could listen. I hated doing it but I wanted to make sure Dev was alright. And this was important. I heard Dev chuckling in my head as he reassured me he was going.

“I can go. I’m going, Dee. Nox and Sage are here you can live without me for four weeks.” Dev said.

“Nox is needy. Sage and I can’t handle him on our own.”

Dev laughed. “Sage is capable of handling Nox. He’s not that bad, Dee. He is better now. Don’t you see it? The depression isn’t as high, the anxiety is normal.”

Dee whined, “He won’t be fine if you leave.”

“He will.” Dev sighed. “This isn’t about Nox. You just want me to stay and think Nox is the only reason I would.”

“I do not.”

Dev laughed, “Really, you are going there? I can hear what you think.”

Dee stammered but she didn’t say anything else. The only thing I heard was them kissing. Dee’s go to move.

I stepped out of the bathroom and brushed passed the kissing couple on my way out the door. I wasn’t going to interrupt their make out session but thought I should say something so when I got to the door I stopped and turned to them. Their eyes were on me and I smirked. “Dee he’s going. If you talk him out of it, I’m going to pack his things, and I’m going to kick his ass out to the bus that’s taking them on tour. He’s going.”

I turned and left with Dev frowning slightly but he was smirking in my head. I heard Dee say, “Now he’s going all bossy again,” as I rounded the corner to go into the kitchen, where Matt and Chris were fervently talking and then stopped when I came in.

Matt asked, “Dev’s going on tour?”

“He is. Cool right?”

Chris said. “Can I get his autograph before he becomes famous?”

I laughed. “I think Dev would like that. We’ll have to find a few extra DS shirts for the band to sign.”

Chris giggled. “My mom would so freak.”

“Why?”

“Because my best friend’s Da is a rockstar. And so cute.”

I laughed. “He is mighty fine.” I said leaning down on the counter like it was some sort of secret between us. “And he’s great in bed too.” I grinned and Chris blushed and giggled at my words.

Matt rolled his eyes. “Stop flirting with my friends.”

I walked around the counter to where Matt sat and kissed his check, “Never.”

I went in search for Sage and Adam. I knew where they’d be. I needed to see if Sage was going to be monitoring the cams for any teenage nookie. As I was leaving Chris called, “Hey Nox.”

I turned to look and she was smiling at me. “He’s not the only cute one. I think there are three of you.”

I smirked and looked at Matt. “I like her.”

He rolled his eyes, “You only like her cause she thinks you are cute.”

I grinned. “There is that. But that’s not why. She’s got a quick wit. So needed around here with all you dour faces.”

Matt just rolled his eyes and got up from his stool, “Come on Chris lets go see if Dev has the music ready. He probably needs to be saved from Dee.”

“They were kissing when I left.”

Matt stopped and sighed. “Let’s go to the studio and wait there then.” Good idea. I thought, Matt definitely didn’t want to walk in on that – again.

Cindy was about to reach the elevator button when I called out. “Leaving so soon?” I asked to interrupt her button pushing.

She turned with her brown eyes looking up at me. Her cheeks were a little flushed and Jin was no where to be seen. She stammered, “I…” She took a deep breath. “Just embarrassed.”

“By what?” I asked.

“I opened a door I shouldn’t have. Ms. Jin was insistent I not look in the unlocked door. But I figured it was something I should know about if my kid was going to stay.”

I grinned at her. “Don’t tell you you thought it was a closet until you saw the straps hanging from the ceiling and the sex swing hanging on the other side?”

She paled and nodded. “I don’t know what kinda of weird you and your lovers are into. But Chris is welcome to stay. But you need to put a lock on the door.”

I laughed. “That’s Dee’s room, and all the kids know to stay out of our private spaces.”

She shook her head. “You have a three year old. He listens without question?”

I shook my head. “No. He questions everything. He’s in a why stage. He doesn’t know what it is, and we don’t hide sex from the kids.” She paled as I continued. “We don’t do it in front of them. But we talk about it.” I sighed. “Look, Cindy, we have a monogamous four way relationship. If anything you should take offense to it’s the fact that we are doing that. “

She laughed. “So kinky sex is probably all part of what you four do.”

I grinned. “Duckling you’d be surprised how vanilla we go.”

“Nothing about your relationship is vanilla.”

I nodded. “True, but it’s just like any other love story. We flirt. We fight. And we…” i didn’t finish the statement as she was already during red around the ears. “Chris will be fine. Matt will be the perfect gentleman, and as long as you come get Chris before our date tomorrow night she won’t see or hear anything inappropriate.”

Ant snorted in the background and I turned to look at my ever present shadow with frown.

“Cindy, this is Ant. Head of TCP Investigations Security team. He will make sure Chris is safe.”

“He seems more like your body guard then head of security.”

I nodded. “He is that. Which is why he’s head of security. He can’t protect me by himself.”

“Do you get a lot of death threats?” she asked.

“I’ve had may share of them.” I smiled, “But I’d rather deal with his brand of security than leave my family without me for the rest of their lives. I mean, I don’t want them to go into massive depressive states because they miss me so.”

Ant snorted again. “Ms. Cindy, let me walk you out. Nox has to go get ready for the party.”

“I didn’t see Jin.” I looked at Ant.

“She didn’t want to interrupt you so she told me when you were done.”

I nodded. It sounded plausible. But Jin never really cared about interrupting before. I grinned. Jin must be embarrassed too. I held out my hand to Cindy with a smile. “It was a pleasure to meet you. You and Chris are welcome here any time.” I shook her hand then let Ant usher her through the elevator doors and I headed back to our room.

I followed Ant through the living space and out the door into what was considered the lobby of TCP. It had entrances to the home theater, the gym, the computer lab and of course our house. Among all the office space for TCP. Which to me was a lot of wasted space. The only two rooms I used were my office and the conference room. Cari’s layout of the office space was all glass walls – she said transparency or the illusion of so was what I needed. I wasn’t hiding anything. You saw exact you got. There was definitely going to be no office sex which was a slight disappointment but such is life. At least none while it was business hours.

But TCP didn’t just have offices, there were a few apartments here too. Jin and her brother Xi had one. Ant’s apartment was still a floor down. He didn’t really want to be up here this close to the sun he said. As if one floor below as any safer but whatever. Vin on the other hand he had an apartment in the basement with several other vampires. Isabel had an apartment and there were a few more all empty – waiting for whoever else became my ambassadors or whatever Cari wanted to call them. Darwynn had an apartment here too but he was never here.

My office was sparse, nothing hung on the walls – hard to hang things on glass. My desk was just as sparse though. Sage rigged me up a nice computer to use taught me about half the bells and whistles. I stopped him before he was done told him he was making me hot with all the computer talk. Which made my boy blush and we went to our bedroom. He was more than happy to take care of my growing problem.

Ant sat down in one of the guest chairs and I joined me in front of my desk.

“What did you want to talk about?” I asked.

Ant smiled. “Mostly wanted to get you away from the poison Adam was spewing. You’d take offense and then I might have to hurt Sage’s big brother which would piss you off even more so I’m taking you away from all of it.”

“Thanks. I think.” I said grinning at him.

“But I did want to talk to you about Valence. Mother knows you are busy today and tomorrow. Monday she says you should talk to him. Maybe he’ll help us find Brandon or figure out what’s going on in their heads.”

“Can he get out? or away?”

Ant shook his head. “No Evangeline and Alec both have powerful vampires standing guard at all times. Valence was good at dominating and controlling others but he didn’t heed the necessity to be immune to their powers since he always had the upper hand he thought he had it controlled.”

“What’s different now?”

Ant shrugged. “A lot of things. Evangeline and Alec are working together, so their combined powers are stronger. You.”

“Me?”

Ant nodded. “We’ve all noticed it. Those that swear direct fealty to you in the way only vampires can we gain in our ability. So Alec and Evangeline who are indebted to you and swore to follow you with power and blood have a new push in their mastery. It’s one reason some of the Master vamps have recently come to you like Bernstein and Desmond seeking your seal of approval.”

“I hate this you know.”

Ant laughed. “I know. Being King of the Vampires is a rough gig. The council only exists because of you. Nate and Virgil both need to be replaced. And they are searching for the most powerful but the vampires are in hiding in fear I suspect.”

“Couldn’t we call them like I did Morana’s creations?”

Ant gave me an all knowing grin. “You could. I’m sure Evangeline and Alec would very much like to assist in that.”

“I’m sure they would. Do you think we can house them here?”

Ant shrugged. “The basement has some room. The estate in Italy can hold more who have we know who won’t head tail at the first chance. We can house a few here, and on our floor. Mom can process quickly as can you. Maybe Dev can help with the dream walkers. Me and You can probably manage the elementals with ease.”

“Can I process all the New Yorkers first and then reach out further and pull them in. Pull out the farthest reaches first?”

“Yeah. I think that would best.”

“I’ll have Jin make an appointment with Alec and Evangeline and we’ll work on it.”

Ant smiled. “You like Jin don’t you?”

“She’s great. I’m glad your mom introduced us. But I feel bad that she’s not like family.”

“She will be. It always takes one of Cari’s new people to fit in.”

“Jin thinks she’s just help. I can’t do what I do without her now. Sage probably would have rigged a shock collar to my neck for reminders.”

Ant laughed. “I doubt it.” Ant nodded, “Isn’t that Chris’s mom leaving.”

I nodded. “Yeah, let me go make sure all is well.”

I was cleaning up when Adam came in from TCP bearing a case of Mountain Dew he was lugging back to Sage’s room. I nodded at my boyfriend’s brother and smiled. Adam gave me that usual look. He sat the Mountain Dew on the bar and took a seat on the stool opposite me. “I brought this for the boys. I know they keep stealing Sage’s when we leave it in the fridge. I figure Matt, Fae and Chris could gorge on it.”

I nodded. “I’m sure they’ll love it. Thanks.”

Adam watched me for several minutes before I asked, “Thirsty?”

He shook his head. “No. I’m just trying to figure out what they see in you.”

I smirked. “You and me both.” Though while I meant it as a joke he was not. He was always trying to put a wedge between me and Sage. Or me and Dev. For some reason he didn’t really care about Dee. Maybe it’s because we already had issues.

Adam continued to sit there and watch me. I didn’t like those blue eyes watching me. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“No. I guess guys liking guys is something I won’t get used to.”

I shrugged. “I love your brother you know.”

“So he says.”

“You don’t beleive it?”

Adam shrugged. “I don’t know my little brother as well as I should.”

“That’s not your fault. You are here now, he’s here. You two are together almost all the time.”

Adam frowned. “Sage says you get on to him about that too.”

I sighed. “I do. But not because he’s spending time with you. It’s he’s spending all his time with you. We miss him. I miss him.”

“He’s always here. You could come into his room. It’s not like he’s hiding from you.”

I nodded. “That is true.”

“Sometimes I wonder about you. How you think all this is going to end well. I mean you hunt vampires. You are some fucking god. And you keep stringing along my little brother because you love him. You are going to get him killed.” Adam was about to go on when Ant stepped into the room and the hacker stopped talking.

I shook my head at Ant to stop what ever he was about to say. Ant didn’t like when people started bashing me. He took great offense to it and he usually put people in their place physically long before he said anything. But this was Sage’s brother he at least had some tact in that matter..

I asked, “So what would you have me do?”

The look in Adam’s eyes was clear that he didnt want me anywhere near his brother. “Why couldn’t you just have let him stay broken up at you? You had to have Dev interfer and give him hope.”

“I didn’t do anything Adam. I didn’t ask Dev to intervene. I didn’t even ask Sage to take me back. He told me he was sorry and we agreed to try.”

“I’ve heard some pretty dispicalbe things about you.”

“Like what?” Ant asked.

Adam turned to look at the vampire who was standing in a pool of sunlight from the kitchen windows. It wasn’t so much a pool of sunlight but my entire kitchen was swathed in the daylight sun. Adam paled a little. “He’s into the D/s scene.”

Ant nodded. “He was. Which Sage knew before he started dating Nox. His alpha wolf is Nox’s Dom.”

Adam stared at Ant with venom in his eyes. “He’s fucking Venatori. He’s tied to you vampires. He’s a necromancer and I don’t know. Maybe he’s in a relationship with three people when Sage deserves to be someone’s one.”

Ant laughed. “Sage is the one who pulled Dev and Dee into Nox’s life.”

Sage came out of the hall from the direction of his room with a grin on his face. He didn’t see his brother as he stepped into the kitchen and pressed a kiss to my check and pressed me against the counter from behind. “Hey!” He said with lust in his voice.

I said. “Hey love. You’re brother dropped off some Mountain Dew for the boys.”

He looked past me and saw his brother sitting down. There was a slight flush to his cheeks as he stepped around and sat down next to Adam. “Hey bro.”

Ant shook his head. “You have some time?” He looked at me.

I nodded. “I think so. Jin hasn’t told me it’s time to get dressed yet.”

Ant laughted. “In your office?”

I nodded. I wasn’t sure I liked that part of the conversation but I think it was mostly to get away from Adam. I walked around the counter and kissed Sage on the cheek. “Love you.”

Sage grinned up at me and waved. “See ya.”

I’d made over four different kinds of wings, too many pizza crusts and way too many appetizers without a name by the time Jin came back from TCP with a stranger in tow. She gave me a head nod, “Sorry to interrupt, but Il Cane has sent a missive, and he refuses to speak to anyone but you.”

I dusted off my hands and poured a glass of wine and handed it to Jin. “Take a break, grab a snack. It’s alright.”

She smiled and set the wine down on the counter, “I will take you up on the snack though.”

I took the glass and set it down and poured a second and handed it to my new guest. “What does Cari want that can’t wait until later?”

He smiled. “I’m Tran. Il Cane wanted me to tell you that in the bowels of the building you will find our missing enforcer.”

“She caught Valence?”

Tran nodded. “Yes, he’s in a holding cell in the depths. She said you’d want to know as soon as possible.”

“Thank you.” I said.

“I can see myself out.” Tran said.

Jin stood up and finished her mouthful. “I’ll see you out.” She smiled and gave me a nod as Tran sat his untouched wine down. Some vampires drank others didn’t. He wasn’t a drinker.

Jin took Tran out and I sipped the wine I’d poured. Darwynn stepped into the kitchen and looked at me with concern, “A bit early to drink?”

“I poured it. I’d hate to waste it.” I handed the second one to him and he took it with a wink.

Darwynn took a long swig of the wine and drained most of it’s contents. “Don’t they know it’s Saturday?”

I shrugged. “Bad guys don’t take the weekends off. And neither does Il Cane.”

He laughed. “But it’s Valentine’s Day weekend and you are spending it with your family. And more importantly entertaining a bunch of highschool students.”

I grinned. “Matt’s become popular in a human school. He’s athletic, and smart and all the girls think he’s cute and all the guys want to be him. Except he likes boys.”

“He has a good role model.” Darwynn said looking at me like a proud father. Sometimes I wished my father looked at me that way.

“I’m not smart like Matt, and I’m not athletic like he is.”

“Fuck that Nox.” Darwynn said. “You may not be book smart, but you are smart and I’ve seen you beat the shit out of some of the fastest and strongest creatures here.”

I shrugged. “They let me win.”

“I seriously doubt Anthony Giovanni or Ryan Elliot let you win. Il Cane taught them well and she’s afraid of you. You honestly think they’d not try to kick your ass just so they can prove to their mistress you won’t get through them?”

I shrugged again. “I don’t think they are trying. Specially now, they don’t want to hurt me. Cari might kick their ass if they did.”

Darwynn shook his head. “I can’t see those boys taking it easy on you no matter what their mistress says. They are hard core Nox. Be proud.”

I gave him a wry smile and sighed. “I probably should go take care of some of that business.”

“You aren’t wearing shoes. Stay home. I’ll run down to see if the scariest fucking vampire needs you to do anything, and then I’ll come back up here and jump ship before you unleash teenage hell.”

I nodded and sighed. I was still getting used to people doing for me. And Darwynn was a minion – a friend, but a minion none-the-less. “Alright.” I said but Darwynn was already heading for TCP. He hadn’t waited for my answer.

Darwynn stuck around after breakfast. He took Fae aside and was planning ondoing the whole, have you felt the change come on talk. It wasn’t expected at 16, more like 22 but with kids like Fae who had self confidence issues and was not even expected to make it this far they changed early as a special preservation mechanism. And he had already partially changed even if he didn’t know how.

Dev went off into his studio and Sage to his computer room. Dee was decidedly absent while I cooked. Jin came around from the back of our house and noted the time. “Chris’s mom will be here soon, where would you like to meet her?”

“I’m cooking so here is good. Can you make sure I have a few wine glasses out and a cold white?”

Jin nodded, “Of course, Nox. I’ll bring her right through then.”

“Sounds great.” Jin went to the cupboard and pulled out two wine glasses and a bottle of white wine from the wine cooler behind me and set them on the bar so that they were handy, then the my tiny PA went off in the direction of TCP to wait on Chris’s mom’s arrival.

It wasn’t but ten minutes before Jin was walking back with two women following her – well one woman and a teenage girl and I laughed, which caught her mother off guard, “Something funny Mr. Davenport?”

“My name is Nox Sétanta, I’m Matt’s legal guardian not his father.”

Her mouth formed a little o, “I’m sorry. I’m Cindy Glass, this is my daughter Christina.”

I wiped my hands on the apron I was wearing and shook her hand, then placed a kiss on her third knuckle, “A pleasure Ms. Glass.” I pointed in the direction Matt and Drake had gone – likely to the home theater to play games again. “Chris, Matt is back that way, if you’d like to go find him.”

She nodded. “Thank you.” And she skipped through my kitchen and stopped at the door way. “Everything smells great.”

“Thanks sweetheart. I do hope you’ll stay with us.”

“Mr. Sétanta, can I ask what was so funny when I walked in?”

“It’s Nox. Nothing was funny really. When Matt asked if Chris would stay I assumed Chris was a boy and pointedly asked him if Chris was his boyfriend. His exact words were, “Chris is not my boyfriend.” He neglected to tell me Chris was a she and not a he. I won’t make that mistake twice.”

“So he really is gay?” She asked.

I nodded. “Matt likes boys. He has since I met him. It’s not a reflection of our relationships here.”

“Meaning?”

I smiled. “Matt didn’t tell Chris?”

“She’s not very forth coming about Matt.”

“Ah. I’m in a poly-amorous relationship with two other men and a woman.”

Her mouth formed into that cute little o again and I chuckled. “And you are all in love?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yes, at least I think so. But we are in a committed serious relationship.”

“I was concerned about Chris spending the night at a boy’s house. Are there any other teenage boys?”

I nodded, “Yes, but I wouldn’t worry about Faelen. He’s shy and is confused at the moment.”

“Confused?”

“He sees us and is confused. He had a rough start in life and didn’t expect to be happy and now that he is and can grow and experience love for himself he’s confused. He’s very attracted to Matt but we think it has to do with the brotherly bond that they share and Fae doesn’t understand it.”

“That’s what his therapist believes and we’ve seen it too. He reacts to Matt differently than he does when he sees a pretty girl. We have a spare bedroom and the boys in general behave well when told not to do something. I wouldn’t worry about her, if you are okay with her staying we will take good care of Chris while she’s here.”

“You’re certain none of the other boys then…”

I laughed. “Matt hasn’t introduced us to his boyfriend yet, but I’m assured Andrew is coming tonight but Andrew is not allowed to spend the night. And Matt only asked if Chris could stay. I will keep an eye on her personally while the other boys are here from school.”

“A helicopter parent? I don’t think she’ll like that much. I love it.”

I grinned. I wasn’t a helicopter parent – was I? But super hearing and super sight was something I had grown accustomed to. Apparently so had the boys. “She’s welcome to stay now, as are you. Jin could show you around the place and meet the rest of the family, Ms. Glass.”

“You can call me Cindy, and I’d think I’d like to see where Chris’s best friend lives.”

Jin put her hand on the small of her back and ushered her out of the kitchen, I heard Cindy ask, “So are you their female companion?”

Jin laughed, “Heavens no. I’m Nox’s personal assistant, without me he falls apart.”

I grinned at her confidence, but she was absolutely right, in the past few months Jin had become my calendar, my alarm clock, my schedule and so many other things I had relied on before. I wasn’t constantly carrying my phone everywhere I went. Instead I had two constant shadows.

Dev and I started making breakfast. He didn’t like to use the stove top said that’s you’re thing, I’ll do other things. And he did. He beat the eggs into submission, mixed the batter got out all the measuring cups. He even put the sugar in the water for our berries. Dev liked helping – usually it was more of a game than it was this morning. He must really be hungry.

As my back was turned I asked, “So Darwynn, tell me what about that report.”

“It’s not really a report. It’s a few recordings of meetings the CCB has had with some of us lower members alerting us to some upcoming changes. I figured you’d want to know.”

“What’s in these recordings?” I asked.

Dev handed me the bowl of batter an I started making pancakes. I was learning how to make shapes with the batter for Drake, but this morning we were getting just plain ones. We had company.

Drake was sitting in Darwynn’s lap contently coloring in his coloring book that was purposefully left on the bar for him. Darwynn sighed, “Probably shouldn’t be something we say in front of kids.”

Matt laughed. “I doubt anything you say is something we’ve not heard. We’ve heard them having sex Darwynn.” Matt didn’t even blush when he said it. And when I turned around he still wasn’t blushing. I gave him a questioning look and he smirked at me. He was lying through his teeth.

Matt grinned at me. “You think you are all so quiet.”

“Never thought we were quiet. But I didn’t think you heard anything you shouldn’t.”

Matt rattle off a few of my choice phrases and my jaw dropped.

“Super human hearing – all of us.”

All three of us muttered, “Fuck!”

I had to ask, “Even here?”

Matt shook his head. “No, was at Sage’s house. But here you put us on the opposite side of the house and sound proofed all the walls. I can’t here Drake in the next room unless both our doors are open.”

I nodded. “Say something next time Matt.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I liked listening to you guys in love.”

Fae came into the kitchen stretching, his t-shirt pulling up above his pj pants and he quickly yanked it down. “Matt…”

Matt gave Fae a look that said to shut up and Fae did. I might have to have a little talk with Matt later. Fae was impressionable at 16. He hadn’t lived a life like Matt or I, or even Dev and Sage. His was one of survival and he hadn’t really had time to be a kid. That time was now, and he adored Matt in everything. But Matt was not the same kid I’d met either. They were both very different people than they were this summer. Both boys I was proud of.

“Matt can you take Drake into the living room and play a game with him, please?”

He sighed, “I never get to hear the good gossip.”

“You are 16.”

He sighed and grabbed the crayon from Drake and set it in the bin and closed the book and pushed it where it went. Matt may not be OCPD but he sure as hell understood my desire for order. “Come on Drake, Daddy is being a meanie. Let’s go play a video game he doesn’t let you play.”

But Matt was very spiteful too. It was a Venatori thing, and he was everything Venatori. So was I but being half human made me an outsider so I wasn’t quite so learned in the Venatori behaviors.

Darwynn watched as the boys left. Fae followed but stopped in the doorway. He looked at me and frowned, “Morana’s sleeping in the theater. Is that okay?”

I nodded. “I’ll take care of her.”

Ant stepped out of his hiding spot and smiled. “I’ll take her to bed. Darwynn can look after you until Frankie shows up for his duty.”

I nodded. “Night.” I had stopped saying I don’t need a babysitter and Ant stopped treating me like a child. He was spiteful too.

Darwynn shifted in his chair. “The meetings were about the Venatori. Rumors have it the big wigs want the Venatori gone. The thorn in our side removed so to speak.”

“Did they mention how they planned on doing it?” Dev asked.

Darwynn shook his head. “No. But there are rumors. Some think they’ll turn the Venatori in on themselves with some shocking new revelations. I suspect that has to do with you being this new regent or whatever you call it. I’ve heard whispers of bombs being set and taking out city blocks that have Venatori in it. I think there are several of those type floating around, mail bombs sent to key individuals to spark a war internally.”

Darwynn shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“Thanks for the warning. I’ll tell Dorian and he can do with it what he wants.”

Darwynn nodded and then he started to drool as I pushed pancakes in front of him with eggs and ice-cream. I made the rest of the batter for pancakes. Dev was already digging in. He wasn’t about to wait on anyone else and had started eating when the first two pancakes were done. I flipped the intercom switch with a bit of air and shouted, “Breakfast is ready.”

There was a scramble from every direction and the boys were all in the kitchen washing their hands in the sink before sitting down to their own food. Dee sauntered in with a towel wrapping her wet hair. She pressed a kiss to my cheek and sat down at the table in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and a muffin. A fucking muffin…

I had a lot to make but I started with breakfast. It was relatively early all things considered. 7am was late for me, but still early for everyone else. Dev didn’t have a late shift on Friday which was unusual, but I expected it was due to the weekend off. Dee wasn’t on call for like the first weekend ever. And Sage worked from home so he was always here. Though he was talking about opening an office a few floors down. Jack said he could set up shop in one of the unused offices he uses. They were always chatting. Jack was a lot older than you realized but he looked the same age as Sage. He was Sage’s age back at the dawn of computers but he still looked 20 – the joys of being Chevalier. Ryan was an 18 year old boy still physically, his sister Mia – someone I’ve never really met – she was 16. But she was autistic which was why Ryan had made the deal with Cari 800 years or more ago.

His sister had been staked out for the wolves because they thought she was possessed by demons. But she just didn’t work the same way everyone else did. So Cari saved her life for his immortality and hers. Mia is the only Chevalier who doesn’t travel with Cari. She is home at Cari’s estate in Danghdburg. She’s the caretaker there. And thrives there. She’s alone most of the time but that’s the way Mia likes it.

Ant stepped into the kitchen and smiled at me, he probably heard half of my thoughts in our weird ass connection. I hadn’t seen him at all while Dee and I had been out of the house but I knew he was there. He was always there. While Ant slept during the high daylight hours he was testing out several different werewolves that Dom and Adrian had been sending him. They were vying for one of their own to protect me. I didn’t need a bodyguard but Ant insisted. And right now I made his job easy by staying inside most of the time not running around the city doing what I do.

He was excelling at the job of stalker. Ant rolled his eyes at me and I stuck my tongue out at him. Which earned me another eye roll.

Sage walked in and looked from me to Ant, but it was Dev who spoke first, “Nox is thinking about Chevalier and Ant and Ant rolled his eyes, and Nox stuck his tongue out at Ant.”

Sage nodded. “And that’s what that eye roll was about.”

“Mostly because Nox was being childish and sticking his tongue out.”

Sage laughed, “I’ll fix that.”

I was mixing pancake batter and he stood next to me and grabbed my chin. “Do it again.” He was trying not to laugh. It was a game to him. I shook my head and pulled out of his hand. He got rougher and took my wrist this time too and turned me again. “Now.”

I stared at him and wondered to myself if I wanted to be everything they thought I was – or everything Dee thought I was.

Dev sighed. “Sage don’t make him.”

He looked at Dev with confused look, “It’s just a game.”

Dev smiled at Sage and I frowned. Dev was always in my head. He’d heard my self doubt and..

“Stop Nox.” He said. Dev climbed off his stool and walked around to the other side, “Just kiss him, tell him you love him and let me have a turn.”

Sage grinned and kissed me. I gave him what he wanted and he sucked hard and bit my tongue.

Dev pushed me out of the way and kissed Sage hard and fast and I grunted. “Hey.”

Dev smirked at me as he broke his kiss with Sage. He grabbed my shirt and kissed me hard. “You are so easy pretty boy.”

I ducked my head and muttered, “Only for you.”

Sage pressed a kiss to my cheek, “And me.”

He walked away just as I heard a voice standing in the entryway to our living space. “Well wasn’t that cute.” I looked over at the older man who I’d met several months ago. He had a few days of beard growth and a new scar over his left eye.

“Hey Darwynn.” Sage said as he sat down. “We are having pancakes and ice-cream. What some?”

“Are you making them?” He asked Sage.

“Fuck no. I’m not allowed that side of the kitchen unless it’s to kiss the cook.”

“Which he seem to have enjoyed.” Darwynn sat down next to Sage with a huge grin, “As long as you aren’t cooking I’ll eat.”

Dev turned on the burner and got out the butter and syrup and the berries all without me asking.

Matt and Drake came out of the hall from their rooms and sat down around the bar too. Drake crawled across the counter space and sat down in front of Darwynn and put his hands on the werelion’s shoulders. “Daddy makes the best pancakes.”

Jin cleared her throat and I brought my eyes up to meet her dark ones staring back at me. “Darwynn has a report he left on your desk you might want to take a look at sooner rather than later.”

I nodded. “He can tell me about it while I cook. What else do I have today other than cooking to do?”

Jin looked down at the tablet in her small hands. “Matt’s party this evening is the only thing on the agenda for which you promised: pizza, wings, sandwiches and those little fried appetizer things that flew off the table on New Years.”

“You quoted Matt on that one?” I asked.

Jin blushed. “I didn’t know what they were called either.”

Jin flipped a screen and frowned, “Chris’s mom called and wants to meet with Matt’s parents. Something about Chris spending the night.”

Matt protested, “Nox already said Chris could stay. Chris isn’t my boyfriend I swear!”

“I believe you, what does she want?”

Jin shrugged. “She didn’t say. I penciled her in for 9. I didn’t know if she wanted you all here or not. So I opted for early just in case something came up.”

Dev and Sage both said at the same time, “That’s fine Jin. We all trust you.”

Sage laughed, “You did that on purpose.”

“Not at first.” Dev grinned at him. His stomach rumbled and he turned pointedly at me. “I’m hungry.”

Finally dressed, I padded my way to the kitchen sans socks and shoes. Dee was walking out of my room half in a daze with my sheet wrapped around her. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“You were sleeping. Figured you could use the rest.”

Dee blushed and then threw her hair over her shoulder. “I don’t think I want to do that again.”

I smirked. “Too much submission for you, duckling?”

She sighed. “You … I think… “ Dee growled. “You are too good at it and I’m not good at behaving.”

“Tell me you didn’t have a good time?”

There was a blush again. “I did. But…”

I shrugged. “No buts, but I won’t ask it of you again. But the point of it was to show you what I liked, not to give you what you wanted.”

Her eyes went wide at the realization. “You mean you …what would you have done if I’d done what you did?”

“Which time?” I asked.

Dee sighed, “When you came all over my legs instead of letting me finish.”

I smirked. “I would have taken my punishment and waited until you saw it fit for me to actually come.”

“You like that? Waiting, that was mean.”

I shrugged. “It was punishment for not controlling your body.”

“I still can’t believe you like that. You really enjoy when Dev tortures you with the feather in bed. Or when he makes you hold still?”

I smiled at her. “I like giving up the control. Dev never needed me to tell him to do those things. He enjoys them too. You keep wondering why we connect, because we just do. Maybe he’s just reading my mind, but I don’t think so.” I shrugged at her. “Everything I did to you last night I enjoy. Each annoying little thing, each part you hated, each little punishment you had earned – all things you can do to me and I won’t freak out. But hitting, touching my back, pushing me into my anxiety states with heights, or needle like objects, clowns or any of my other irrational fears are a no go. Not only will I call out my safe word to stop I won’t trust you to take care of me again.”

Dee shook her head. “How do you do it? I don’t think I could be that for you. You were tender and pampering and you were only mean at the end.”

I smiled. “I like submitting Dee to the right person. I don’t think you can be what I want either. But either which way, you have more than what you had before about my flavor of kink.”

Dee smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I’m sorry, but I’m mad at you too.”

“I’m sorry too but why are you mad at me?”

She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me properly. She was naked underneath that sheet and was every bit as horny as she had been last night. I laughed, “Did I not satisfy you?” I asked.

She whispered against my lips. “You had no interest in helping me get to where I wanted to go.”

I rolled my eyes. “Dee, I was showing you I can stay still no matter what you do to me, and I can keep quiet when you knew all to well how much I wanted to make noise. I wanted to touch you. I wanted to move. I wanted to call out your name when you came on top of me pushing me to another level. But I was showing you it can be done.”

Dee sighed. “You are a pain in my ass Nox.” She grinned as she pulled away. “And none of you can satisfy me.” She sashayed out of the kitchen as Dev walked into the it. She stopped and pressed a kiss to his lips and he squeezed her ass before letting her go. “Sage is in the shower.” He called behind her.

“You didn’t tell her.”

Dev grinned. “I’ll tell her later. She’s in that mood. And honestly I’m sore.”

I gave my rockstar a smirk and he rolled his eyes. “I’m going to start cooking you want to help?”

“I want breakfast. Celebratory pancakes and ice-cream.”

I rolled my eyes as I heard the three-year-old from the other room yell, “Ice-cream for breakfast.”

Matt came out carrying Drake. Faelen was still asleep with Morana. It was an odd mix but they spent a great deal of time together. Her cool to his hot and his need to curl up tempered her need to hurt people. I wouldn’t let Morana feed from Fae yet, but he had offered. He told me in confidence that he wouldn’t mind if she did once and awhile to give me a break. Which was also why Vin was teaching her how to hunt properly, but she was 300 years old – still in the body of a child, with a child-like brain. Her capacity to understand was limited to what an 8 year old could. But her innocence was far far gone.

“Fine you can have pancakes.” I gave Dev a mock sigh of exasperation and he pressed a kiss to my lips.

“I love you make me desserts for breakfast.”

“I said nothing about ice-cream.”

Dev’s bright blue eyes sparkled at me as he stuck out his bottom lip and pouted. I sighed, “Fine, ice-cream too.”

I woke up with Dee naked on top of me. I had managed to slip into boxers and a tank before I fell asleep. I trusted Dee, but I didn’t trust her that much. She had a hard time listening last night. I was considerably mark free – usually Dee had sucked on my neck leaving a trail of hickeys. All of them enjoyed marking me. It made me wonder sometimes if I needed to put their names in public view on my neck so they’d stop.

I carefully squirmed out from under my brunette. She was still sawing logs. I let her sleep as I padded out of my room leaving the door a crack. I passed by the theater and found all four kids sprawled out and the TV playing the menu for one of their movies. I think it was Phantom Menace but I couldn’t tell straight up as I passed by – they didn’t get too far.

I opened our bedroom door quietly and dropped my clothes in the hamper by the door. Dev and Sage were curled up together in our shared bed both naked. I smirked as I walked into my closet and grabbed the top t-shirt and a pair of jeans and clean boxers before I slipped into the bathroom to take a shower. It was Saturday. I would normally go for a long run but I had a lot of cooking to do for tonight’s Valentine’s Day party Matt was throwing for like the entire high school. He was a freshman. Some of his friends had been at the New Years Eve bash and were more than eager to have yet another party here.

Since this was a highschool party there was no booze. The kids would be sadly disappointed if they thought we’d serve liquor to minors. Matt was already made aware of it and just shrugged. He didn’t care much for it anyway – he drank wine with us at dinner but that was it.

I was in the shower when the door opened and one of my blue-eyed babes stepped in the shower behind me. I could tell by the sound of their foot falls that it was Dev, but he hadn’t said anything as he wrapped his arms around me and pressed his head to my back. I smirked as I leaned back and let the soap wash out of my hair. “Did you enjoy the show last night?”

He laughed. “Pretty boy, you have no idea.”

“Tell me then.”

Dev pressed his lips to the middle of my back before he stood up and spun me around. “I knew you liked to be bossy once and a while, have we been shorting you?”

I shook my head. “As I told Dee last night, I only top women.”

Dev nodded like he didn’t believe me. “So it’s not a kink that you want more of?”

“No Dev. I like aspects of it. I love taking what I want, but I love giving it up more.”

He grinned at me. “I particularly liked your form of punishment. Dee didn’t listen well.”

“I enjoy it at any time. I don’t think it’s punishment. Sure it hurts when it snaps against a tender spot.” I closed my eyes and tried to remember the last time someone had used the electric wand on me. It’s been a while.

“You didn’t let her come until the very end, she had to hate that.”

I grinned at him. “I showed her what I liked, what can I say.”

Dev laughed. “Oh pretty boy, as if none of us didn’t know you liked to wait.”

I smirked at my rockstar and spun him to the water fall and started wetting his hair. He melted into my hands when they ran through his hair. There was no more talk of Dee, just me and my rockstar in a shower. One of our favorite places.

We didn’t have sex despite both of our libidos being through the roof. Dev had climbed out first and I got to watch him wrap the towel around his waist. “Manson told us yesterday that he booked a four week tour around the US. We’ll be playing in California and Texas and so many other places.” Dev sounded excited as he told me.

“That’s great!” I said and pressed a long congratulatory kiss to his lips. “We’ll miss you.”

“I’m not sure I’m going yet.”

“Why the fuck not?” I asked.

“I haven’t discussed it with the four of you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well you have my permission if that’s what you were seeking. I would never have stopped you.” I knew I sounded way more angry than I was.

Dev sighed. “I wasn’t asking permission.”

“That’s what it sounded like Dev. You needed to discuss it with us.”

“Okay so I haven’t told Dee or Sage yet. Dee isn’t going to let me go easily.”

“Devin. It’s your life. You don’t get these chances everyday. How long have you and the boys been trying to get DS off the ground and on the radio? Dee won’t stand in your way. And Sage probably already knows he reviews all the feeds every night before he goes to sleep.”

Dev laughed. “Not last night. He fell asleep in my arms after a rather thorough fucking on both sides. Watching you and Dee had deadshot worked up big time. So much more so than when he watched strangers.”

“I’m surprised he didn’t finish before you had the chance to do anything with him.” Sage’s kink was a loner thing and we had a hard time pulling him into us when we were all together.

Dev chuckled, “He jumped me soon as we came in here.”

My eyes went wide and Dev nodded. “Truly.”

“Don’t let Dee keep you here Dev.” I said as I brushed past him to walk into our room.

I was greeted with a groan from the bed. “Nox.” Sage said as he stretched. I stopped and looked at his lean muscles pulling and smiled at the gorgeous view of Dev kissing Sage. There was nothing platonic about the kiss, it was hot and heavy and my cock was so wanting in on that action. But I waited at the foot of the bed.

Sage tossed his blankets off and climbed out of bed and wrapped his arms around me from behind and pressed a kiss to my neck before reaching around and pulling my face towards him at the awkward angle. We kissed, not as long or hot as he and Dev had but if it weren’t for my hand at my waist I probably would have dropped the towel and let Sage have his way with me. And after the stress of topping last night I’d easily give in.

Sage grinned at me and let me go. “Last night was hot!”

I blushed. Dev was laughing as he walked into his closet. I sighed and walked into my own. Sage went to take a shower asking, “You guys didn’t use all the hot water?”

Dev yelled, “It’s all gone cold!”

It hadn’t, we had two water heaters and a huge ass boiler down in the basement that ran water here. I was top dog, and we couldn’t be without hot water. Or so says Il Cane! And it’s her building.

I saw Dev walk past my door and into the bathroom. I heard a hushed conversation and ignored it. They could talk about me without me listening. But when Sage yelled his excitement and then clamored down quickly I knew Dev had told him about his new gigs. Sage like myself was a big fan of our rockstar and tours meant more fans and more popularity and maybe a record deal. And that was a big deal for our Dev. Hell I was super excited for him too. It was a great opportunity even if I would miss him.