by N R Tucker
Tempe indicated that Joey should hand over Xan. He balked.
Star explained softly, “Lady Z does not need to hold the children to give them gifts. I suspect they received them as soon as she laid eyes on them.”
Lady Z grinned and nodded her agreement.
Joey sighed and handed over his son.
“Fear not, consort. Each boy received a gift suitable to their temperament.” She sat down in one of the oversized chairs to coo at the babies.
“Perhaps you could tell Lady Star and her consort what gifts the boys received,” Tempe suggested.
“Why ever for? Gifts are given to the child, and the child will show their talents at an appropriate time.” Lady Z replied without taking her eyes off the twins. “Lady Star, the boys are lovely. I look forward to watching them grow and learn.”
“Are you staying?” Star asked.
“What? By the five realms, no. The elementals keep tabs on my family and inform me of major milestones. I have watched over you since the day you were born.”
“You have?” Star asked in surprise.
“Indeed.”
The question tumbled out of her mouth before she could think better of it. “Lady Z, did you…”
“Yes, I bestowed upon you a small gift at your birth. I always give the descendants of Ellwood a way to deal with him.”
“Well, that didn’t work so well with Valiant, did it?” Tempe snarled.
Bryce moved to Tempe’s side. She once commented that he could calm her by merely standing next to her. He wasn’t sure he believed it, but if ever there was a time to calm her, it was now.
Z huffed, “You know as well as I, that Valiant corrupted his talents and his gifts, and that caused his death. Moral liberty trumps everything.”
Tempe nodded her head in unhappy acceptance. Moral liberty, the fae term for free will, frequently caused havoc.
Bryce cleared his throat, “Would you like to meet the quads?” It was the last thing he wanted, but obviously, it would happen. Might as well get it over with.
Lady Z nodded, handed Joey both boys and walked to the quad’s bedroom. Joey held his sons tightly.
Bryce looked over at Tempe and mouthed, how did she know?
Tempe responded directly into his brain, elementals.
Great. Wicked scary fae witch with spies everywhere. Bryce took a deep breath and followed Lady Z and Tempe into the nursery. The quads would be two in less than a month, and they would move into new rooms.
Willow’s grandparents had taken one of the mobile homes they purchased for Eli’s property. Most of the couples with young children moved into the remaining mobiles with one being reserved as the schoolhouse. The ranked teenagers had moved into Calabozo, and now there was breathing room in the house. Instead of the twenty-seven people that had been living at Beryl Lane, there were now a comfortable ten, four being the quads. The office, gym, and media rooms, as well as the tree house, had been returned to their original purpose and everyone felt more relaxed.
Likewise, Vitvarg, Eli’s home territory, decreased from forty-four residents to nine and his office, gym, and media room returned to normal functions. There was still a lot of visiting back and forth between Vitvarg, Calabozo, and Beryl Lane. Everyone enjoyed the additional freedom that comes from having breathing room.
Lady Z smiled at the toddlers. “Tempest, you do make good looking babies.”
“I had some help, you know.”
Waving her hand dismissively at her niece, Z focused on one of the quads and laughed. “Tavian is going to be a handful. He will bring back to you all the mischievousness that you and Val unleashed on Lord Ellwood.”
Kyan laughed, while everyone else looked at Tempe in surprise.
Sage smacked Kyan on the shoulder, leaned on the doorway, and asked, “What about Lady Temperance?”
“Lady Temperance, even as a child, was the most proper daughter to ever grace a realm, any realm. I don’t think she caused Lady Rayna or Lord Ellwood one moment of discomfort. She was the yin to Lady Tempest and Valiant’s yang.” Lady Z twirled Julian around and looked over at Star. “Thank goodness she finally outgrew that. I’m just amazed it took her so long.
A blush crept up Star’s face, but she remained silent.
Lady Z put down Julian and picked up Adrian. “I hope he prevents Adrian from being serious all the time. Julian will be self-sufficient and fun. Vivian will need some specialized training. I may have to visit more often.”
“What special training?” Bryce asked sharply. What type of gifts did she give the kids?
“Worry not, shifter. The quads’ predispositions were set long before I arrived, and that specific talent is not one I have the ability to bestow. Vivian was born with it.”
Wicked scary fae witch with spies everywhere said not to worry. Definitely time to worry. Bryce looked over at Tempe. She shrugged again.
The blast shook the house.
“What in the five realms is that?” Lady Z exclaimed. She handed Adrian to Bryce and headed for the door.
“It’s just another barrage of cold iron hitting the shield,” Sage explained.
Lady Z looked back in surprise. “Why would they catapult iron at your shield? You’re not fae.”
“The humans believe cold iron weakens all preternaturals.” Kyan looked at the security cameras as more iron hit Sage’s shield and ricocheted back toward the ones who threw it. They dove to escape the projectiles. He looked over his shoulder and smirked, “Oops. I guess we failed to explain that properly.”
Chapter 3
It worked! Beyond her wildest expectations, it worked.
For months Victoria pulled data from the satellites trained on PAC HQ. Among other things, she had watched changes in barometric pressure, air pressure, and temperature. The last was tricky. The point of departure or arrival could raise or lower the temp significantly or not at all. But she found the answer. Victoria could see a gate event, dimensional or earth side, open outside of PAC HQ and identify both points on a map. She still had some work to do to differentiate between departure and arrival, but she was closing in on a solution.
Victoria still needed points of reference within the Farseen. A gate to or from the Farseen simply identified the portal as connected to that dimension. She didn’t have enough data to identify Farseen specific locations and no preternatural would provide the information. She couldn’t track gate events within PAC HQ either. The shield over the facility, or something else, blocked those events from her. For those who had to walk through the checkpoint, gate events were opened out in the trees. Those gates could be tracked.
“Eureka, I’ve found it!” she shouted and leaned back in her chair. A few of her fellow lab rats looked up and chuckled at her comment. She grinned, “I’ve always wanted to say that.”
“Found what, Dr. Nelson? Hopefully, it was worth disturbing your coworkers.” Geoffrey Watson, department head, walked over to her workstation. The others hastily returned to their work.
“I found the indicator, frequency if you will, that broadcasts where both dimensional gate events and earth side gate events are opened and closed.”
Geoffrey looked over the data before loading it to a flash drive. “Excellent, this is just what we need. Perhaps it was worth the shout out, but don’t make a habit of it.” He hurried off with the flash drive.
Victoria grinned. Finally, her efforts would help keep preternaturals safe. If gate events could be tracked, governments would know when a preternatural entered their country. Preternaturals with the ability to move freely from country to country had made many humans nervous. Once preternaturals could be observed and carry passports like humans, everyone would be safer. Tracking a gate was the first step. Once all magical energy could be detected, like serial numbers on a gun, there would be no reason for the hate groups. Life could return to normal. Full disclosure, that’s what would keep everyone safe.
Her aunt married a shifter, and he ran one of the Harmony bars, leading t
he family to discover they had a shifter in the family. The bars are owned and operated by shape shifters, and only preternaturals are hired to work there. When the big reveal happened during the dual full moons, it was explained that the Harmony bars were places where the preternatural community could meet under the Treaty of Harmony. The Treaty of Harmony served as a preternatural code of conduct, decreeing that anyone who met under the banner of the treaty could not be harmed, and all written or verbal agreements were binding.
Victoria smiled and packed it in for the day. The only blemish on this moment of success occurred as she was leaving. Her backpack wouldn’t zip. She tugged hard, and the zipper broke, sending the contents tumbling to the ground. At least she managed to catch the laptop.
Chapter 4
Now, this was a secure facility, even better than PAC HQ, mostly because PAC HQ and its location was public information. The existence of Calabozo remained a closely guarded secret. Rafael looked around in awe, as did the other invited prifs. The prifs knew Rayna built a new facility, but none saw it before her death. In fact, their first view of the command center had been via teleconference when the humans killed Rayna. Yesterday, each invited prif had been picked up by alphas capable of opening ways, or gates as they were now called, and brought into the underground facility.
Impressive living quarters with a medical wing and multiple conference rooms were available. The sovereign’s office contained numerous monitors for teleconferences and a relaxed, but somehow commanding, vibe. The offices of the sovereign’s squire and PAs were functional, but the command center stole the show. An elevated captain’s chair resided in the center of the room, with a full view of everything, and always an alpha in the chair. Rafael wanted that chair and the power it represented. As did a couple of other prifs, Rafael observed. It was hard for many of the older prifs to accept the newly ranked sovereign. If Tempest weren’t around, a revolt would have already happened. He glanced over at the sovereign’s second, currently sitting in the command chair. She looked up and winked at him.
He winked back. No reason to tip his hand, as if the alphas didn’t already know his view. He had been too vocal and well he knew it. He and Tempest had never been friends. His eyes fell on Bryce and Phoenix, both men had their heads buried in a monitor. How did Bryce deal with such a powerful companion? Rafael had never had a lover who was his superior by rank. His late wife, who had died after the birth of his twins, had been his superior in every other way. She had been kind, intelligent and happiness followed wherever she went, but it was the job of the man to protect the woman, not the other way around. A lot of people seemed to have forgotten that. Even though the alpha males had been outed, it was obvious the alpha females still ran things.
“Prifs, if you’ll follow me into the main conference room, we’ll begin.” Serenity beckoned them to follow her and smiled in welcome.
Rafael smiled and followed Serenity. Perhaps there was one alpha female he could work with. He took his seat, pleased Tempest remained in the command center. Tempest gave Rafael the impression that she somehow knew his thoughts, and he found it disconcerting.
*****
“Do you believe?”
Rafael looked up as Dimitriy, prif of the Saint Petersburg Clan, sat down with his tray. The empty cafeteria wouldn’t remain that way for long. He took a swig of beer but said nothing.
“Well, do you?”
“Believe what?” Rafael glanced around to make sure no one could overhear. He had no desire to be caught up in one of Dimitriy’s schemes. That man plotted, but never actually did anything. Dimitriy goaded others to action but always slithered off before he was caught doing anything suspect.
“The new sovereign. Does she believe the happiness and joy she’s spouting?” Dimitriy took a bite and muttered, “At least the food is good.”
“Possibly, she is young after all,” Stanislav, prif of Ukraine, sat down.
Rafael looked warily at the new arrival. Stanislav might be opposed to Sage, or he might be a supporter. Stanislav would do what was best for Stanislav.
Dimitriy gave Stanislav the same look Rafael had. “If Tempest were the new sovereign there would be no question, I would follow. But Sage, she is young. What if she orders Tempest to do something foolish?”
“You’re right, the food is good,” Stanislav took another bite, savoring the flavors. “Sage seems to listen to her elder siblings, all of them. Rayna certainly had a large brood.”
“Yes, for now, but think of your own children.” Dimitriy waved his fork in the air, “Who amongst us would want our teenager leading our clan, much less all clans?”
Rafael leaned back and nodded to some other prifs as they placed their food orders. While he agreed with Dimitriy, he did not intend to have this conversation with so many alphas and alpha supporters around.
“You are too silent, my friend,” Dimitriy glared at Rafael. “I can’t believe you are satisfied with our new sovereign.”
“It remains to be seen if Sage is up to the task. Meanwhile, her brothers and sisters support her, and no non-alpha has ever won a challenge against any member of the Alpha Clan. If you wished to challenge Sage, you should have done so right after Rayna’s execution. Sage made the offer then. Unless she instigates a direct challenge, you will have to challenge to a duel every member of the Alpha Clan to get to the sovereign, including Tempest.” Rafael stood and picked up his tray. “And there’s a reason no shifter has challenged Tempest in centuries. Fighting one-on-one, she is unequaled.” Rafael left the group, disposed of his tray, and turned to leave, nearly running into Estevan.
“This is the first time I’ve heard you praise Tempest, no?” Estevan grinned as he disposed of his tray.
“Only a fool discount her fighting skills.” Rafael smirked, “I am many things, but fool I am not.”
*****
By the end of the three-day meeting, Rafael was not a happy prif. It appeared the new sovereign did not trust her prifs. The Alpha Clan withheld information. He glanced over at Tempest. In response, she looked up and raised an eyebrow, as if to ask him what he wanted. He huffed and shook his head.
After the meetings, the prifs cued up to hitch a ride through a gate. Three days and only the Alpha Clan had been allowed to leave the facility. Serenity said the object was to safeguard the prifs, but in reality, the prifs remained inside so they wouldn’t know where they were. That was a bust. Calabozo resided somewhere in the southeastern United States. No other setting made sense. Most of the alphas, and all of their cyn, lived in the area. The real question, the exact site, could not be answered. Was it in East Tennessee near Tempest and where the sovereign currently lived, or Western North Carolina where the former sovereign had lived? Granted, they were adjacent, with only the Smoky Mountains separating them, but it still left a lot of land to search if someone wanted to find the facility.
Rafael tried to hide his boredom, but no one called him a patient man under the best of circumstances. Waiting in line was not even an okay circumstance. He felt eyes on him and turned. Serenity smiled and waved him over. He grinned, at least boredom was gone. He walked over, and Serenity placed her arm through his and led him into one of the small conference rooms.
“I’m glad I caught you before you left. I wanted to thank you.”
“I’m happy to be thanked, but what have I done to earn such thanks?” Rafael’s eyes softened, and he placed his hand over hers, still hooked through his arm.
“I heard you defended Sage.”
“And I’m sure I know who told you,” he shrugged her off and stalked over to the video screen that showed the outside in an attempt to get his anger under control. He had been fascinated that they were broadcasting security camera feeds giving the feel of views from windows, and yet they managed to hide all landmarks from sight. That was an impressive use of camera angles.
Serenity followed him and laid a hand on his shoulder, “Actually, Joey heard the entire conversation. He had not intended to eavesdrop. He
was helping the techs run more cable and had crawled underneath the cafeteria at the time.”
“The Sovereign’s Squire running cable? How democratic of him.” Rafael snarled.
“Don’t take that attitude with me. Joey was part of the sovereign’s tech team when Rayna was sovereign. He’s run more cable in this facility than anyone.” Serenity glared at Rafael with her hands on her hips.
Rafael bit back a grin she wouldn’t appreciate, but she was adorable when annoyed. “Forgive me. I have no right to complain. To be honest, if I were running this facility, I would have bugged every room in the place.”
She looked at him, appalled, “You wouldn’t?”
“Oh, yes, I would. And for that reason, I recommend you take everything heard with a grain of salt. I’m not the only one who assumed the place was bugged, some would parrot what they think you want to hear.”
Serenity laughed.
“You’re amused?” Rafael cocked his head to one side.
“Tempe said the same thing. The two of you are in agreement.”
Rafael leaned his head back and laughed. The smile remained until he said goodbye to Serenity and walked into the gate event.
*****
A week later, back home in Brazil, Rafael’s lip curled. He longed for the days a letter could be wadded up and thrown in the trash or set on fire. Now letters came via email. More efficient, but the delete button was not nearly as satisfying as physically tossing it in the trash or watching it burn.
Another parent wanted assurance that her child remained safe in the presence of shifters. The clan’s teenagers, including his own twins, were still attending Ensino Medio, upper secondary education. They were allowed to remain in school because the clan ran the private school they attended. Only three of the teachers were not clan members, and they were witches. Rafael himself was the principal and taught a couple of classes. His exposure had resulted in a few parents pulling their kids out of the school, but most remained. After all, graduates from his school traditionally scored in the top two percent of the vestibular (entrance exam) for any public university. Most parents decided lessons with shifters were acceptable for test results of that nature. But it didn’t stop the emails from concerned parents.