Enjoy and vote!

Love,

Robin

-------------------------------------

I froze, completely unsure of what to do next, of how to even react... How was I supposed to react in a situation like this? What did I say to my long lost grandfather? After I just mated Nathaniel?

Luckily he moved first, lifting one elegant hand to place against my cheek, his thumb rubbing gently over my skin. 'You've grown so fast...' he said, sounding genuinely surprised about that, as if he expected me to be a little girl still.

He stepped closer till there was only a foot between us, heat radiating off of him as if he was a furnace. The air around him felt alive, moving with warm currents.

An intent look on his face told me he was studying me closely, trying to figure something out. A complicated puzzle, judged by his frown.

I felt like I should say something but the words died in my throat, really what could I say?

'Why?' Tlanextic spoke, suddenly swirling around to face Nathaniel again. The impressive wings of light spreading out to enfold me somewhat and shield me from the rest of the room. Suddenly I was regretting staying near the wall, I was completely cornered.

'Why did you take my little girl? My Yolotli?' somehow the Arch Angel made those words, although accusing, sound rather flat. As if there was no real emotion behind them, but I also immediately knew it was an act.

This man hadn't gone cold, he was fire and sunlight, his very essence was warmth.

I moved instinctively even as Nathaniel spoke: 'She's not just your Yolotli, she's mine too.' Nathaniel's voice was cold too, obviously angry about the fact that Tlanextic was placing himself between us. Nathaniel sounded possessive and along the bond between us I could clearly feel that he was only staying where he was because he was clinging to his control by his fingernails.

Sliding further in between the Arch Angel's wings I wrapped my arms tightly around his lean waist... He was much slimmer and slighter in build than Nathaniel and my arms easily met in the front.

As I did it the man moved forward as if to go for Nathaniel's throat, only to freeze in his tracks again and stare down at my arms incredulously. He was obviously not used to anyone touching him just like that.

His entire body became tense and coiled like a spring, the air around me becoming hotter as if the temperatures rose along with Tlanextic's temper. I closed my eyes and pressed my face into his back, right between his shoulder blades where his wings grew out of his back.

The muscles underneath my cheek were strong and very well developed, it wasn't magic that made them fly but real power. Pure strength was what propelled these wings when in flight.

I couldn't see Nathaniel but I felt him move closer in a flash.

'Don't you dare!' the snarl that ripped out of his throat was downright feral and terrifying. I felt Tlanextic's body shake and then there was a metallic sound as something fell to the floor with a clang.

Casting my eyes downward I spotted a mean looking, curved dagger. The hilt decorated with an Aztec sun, the heart of it an upturned triangle. Tlanextic's sign.

I could feel my heartbeat hammering in my throat in shock, had the Angel been about to stab me with that thing? Or was he going for Nathaniel? I didn't think Nathaniel would respond that fiercely if had been meant for him though.

The next second Nathaniel flew across the room and glass broke and shattered as he hit the large French doors. A loud curse was yelled out in a language I really didn't know and then suddenly everything became eerily quiet.

I could feel that Nathaniel wasn't hurt but that he was beyond furious, somehow a force was pinning him to the ground into the broken remains of the door. But strangely enough I also knew that Tlanextic was shocked and only now coming to his senses.

Surprisingly he seemed to feel contrite, as if he regretted his actions of before. I could feel his body softening in my embrace and then he was nodding, to who I didn't know.

Yet a subtle movement in his body made me realize that he too had been pinned back by an unseen force. A force that had been removed after his nod. Was that Sammuel's doing? And what the hell was a Titan capable off if he could immobilize Nathaniel and Tlanextic at the same time?

Slowly I let go off the Arch Angel, stumbling back as far as the little space between me and the wall allowed.

'Forgive me my actions, calm down your mate little Yolotli,' Tlanextic said, stepping a little to the side so I could see what had happened in the room. His voice was missing the carefully practiced coldness of before, sounding truly remorseful and slightly worried.

He snapped his wings tightly into his back, folding them until I could step past him easily without even brushing against him. As I stepped forward I realized he was holding one of his hands, forcing his wrist straight as if the bones had been snapped and he was realigning them.

Sammuel stood in the middle of the room, holding out one hand towards Nathaniel as if he was holding him down with it. The other hand he had raised towards Tlanextic but was relaxed, as if he wasn't doing anything but staying alert in case he had to respond quickly.

In the door opening stood Jaden, in panther form and ready to pounce at any second. The cat's eyes were trained solely on the Arch Angel.

But I hardly noticed any of that as I hurried across the room towards Nathaniel. He was flat on his back, surrounded by debris, just outside the house on the lawn.

As I neared him Sammuel apparently lowered the force field or whatever it was he was doing. Immediately Nathaniel's growl of frustration ripped through the air, he was on his feet in a flash and then strode into the room.

Behind him the french doors repaired themselves miraculously but his shirt remained in tatters, red staining it. A fine line of blood across one of his cheeks, the high cheekbone thrown into relief because of it.

He was about to stride right past me as if he was going back just so he could hurt Tlanextic again but I stepped in his way immediately. 'Nathaniel!'

His eyes were completely black as they snapped to mine but as soon as I'd diverted his attention I felt him calm down. He scanned my form once and then swept into my mind easily as he searched for any hurts or pains.

'I'm fine,' I told him out loud as I reached out my arms for him. He didn't hesitate to sweep me up and hold me close to his chest. His chin resting on my shoulder as he kept a close watch on everyone else in the room.

I ran my own hands up his back, checking for injuries but I met only smooth skin. All his injuries already healed, still my hands came away red.

'I'm truly alright Nathaniel, he's regretting his actions now. He never meant to hurt me, he's just not used to anyone touching him. It was my mistake, I didn't want him to attack you.' I tried to send him the clear sensations I'd felt from Tlanextic's feelings when I was touching him.

'He was going to stab you Amelia, I cannot forgive him for that!' Nathaniel's voice was a growl in my head as he moved sideways around Sammuel to get nearer to the door where Jaden was still waiting readily.

'I think you had better leave! Granddaughter or not, you will not hurt her,' Nathaniel spoke out loud but he sounded like a man again. His voice holding that horrible cold tone, tightly controlled anger.

'I don't want him to leave! And I can forgive him so I'm sure you can too!' I replied, pushing against his shoulders to get him to put me down again. He did so only when he'd moved behind Jaden, the huge panther forming a shield between me and Tlanextic.

As soon as my feet touched the floor I spun so I could look at my grandfather. He was still in exactly the same spot, his face impassable as he looked at Nathaniel calmly.

'I see I have nothing to worry about when it comes to Amelia's care. She's in very capable hands... How did you ever manage to trick the Jotun into serving you? This particular Jotun even!' he spoke with his empty voice.

Still I could hear the real curiosity underneath it. He was feeling things but for some reason he desperately tried to hide this fact. I could only wonder why.

'It's none of your business Arch Angel,' Sammuel snapped angrily, he seemed to have finally decided that he rather wanted Tlanextic to leave as well. Moving to stand beside Nathaniel with one hand raised by his shoulder as if he was ready to draw that huge sword of his.

Tlanextic tssked as if looking at a naughty schoolboy and then said, 'Týr... Still no manners I see. Why ever do you go by such a mundane name now a day's? Don't tell me you're ashamed are you?'

What was he doing? Pissing off Sammuel on purpose now? Driving Nathaniel insane? He didn't even need to taunt Jaden, the panther was already bristling in defense of his friends. Did he consider the Titan part of his pack too?

'That's enough Tlanextic! I invited you so Amelia could meet you but you've broken the rules of hospitality more than once. Leave!' Nathaniel's voice thundered across the room and I flinched in surprise.

Tlanextic straightened and turned his topaz eyes on my mate, one finely arched eyebrow raised. 'I think you broke a more ancient rule first Flynn, I'm not demanding restitution for that. All I want now is a short moment to talk with my own granddaughter. I will leave immediately after that.'

'NO, you nearly hurt her. I don't care about rules or restitution, I want you out of my house and out of my territory,' as Nathaniel spoke the black of his eyes started bleeding out into the white again. Nathaniel was absolutely furious and horrified by tonight's events.

It felt like it was sort of my own fault though, I had been the one to hug Tlanextic. Though I was only able to sense his feelings clearly when I touched him I should have known he wouldn't respond well to it.

Of course you'd expect such an ancient creature to have a better control of himself and his reflexes. Although... When I thought about I realized that in Chimali's memory Tlanextic had been nearly a God. He was someone no one just approached and it was saying a lot that he'd even showed up here to meet me all alone.

I stepped forward, trusting now that the man that had been responsible for sending away the demon from my mother once. The man responsible for my protection these past thirteen years if not longer, would not hurt me.

Nathaniel's hand clamped on my shoulder and Jaden moved so his hind leg pressed against my legs. Keeping me away from Tlanextic.

Fighting not to roll my eyes at their over protectiveness I curled a hand into Jaden's fur and drew a dagger from the holster at my waist. 'Hey Jay, remember when you said to remind you not to get on my bad side?

I'm reminding you now.'

The panther's large head swiveled around to look at me, his eyes clearly saying: you wouldn't!

Tlanextic's eyes were focused on me too, intrigued by what I was going to do. It was obvious that he hadn't expected me to wear weapons on my person or that I appeared willing to use them.

Nathaniel's hand tightened on my shoulder, 'Amelia what are you doing? It's for the best, trust me...' Clearly he couldn't see reason right now, the fact that Tlanextic hadn't been able to restrain a reflex and nearly hurt me... Added to the fact that the Angel had moved as if to take me away from him.

I wondered what had had caused Tlanextic to respond so irrationally to touch...

I ran the tip of the dagger over Jaden's hip, letting him know that I was holding it but not actually hurting him. 'Let me pass Jay.'

I stepped forward again, shrugging out from Nathaniel's grasp. Jaden's feline body flowed with me, carefully staying in between me and the Arch Angel but allowing me to get closer.

At about three feet away I stopped, keeping my eyes trained on Tlanextic and one hand tightly clenched in Jaden's fur. It felt like there was a nearly tangible line of tension running between me and Nathaniel.

'Five minutes,' I said. 'It's all you're going to get to talk because I don't think anyone's nerves here will last much longer. So talk...'

Tlanectic's eyes widened a fraction as if he was shocked by my words but then his stern features softened. I only knew that happened though because I felt the tenderness he was feeling wash over me.

'I had hoped to bring you home with me Amelia,' the Ach Angel spoke slowly. His voice carrying the sounds of rainforests and nature. I could feel Nathaniel's body tense even more, he seemed ready to pounce and snatch me out of Tlanextic's reach.

Tlanextic raised his hand as if to silence us and ease our minds, 'But I see that I cannot take you away from your Mate.'

At those words Nathaniel angrily spoke: 'You're damn right you can't!'

'At least I know that you are as safe as you can be, Nathaniel Flynn is a man of honor and loyalty. He would never forsake you, I am happy.' There was again no emotion in his voice even as he spoke about feeling happy, but I knew that he really was feeling this underneath the icy armor.

I sensed that Tlanextic wanted to say more, explain more but he was a private person and already he feared he'd shown too much of himself. One did not become a Regis, and sit on the Council for as long as he had by being open and sharing.

Searching my mind quickly I found exactly what I'd expected to be there; a link much like between me and Nathaniel, running to Tlanextic as well. It was much fainter and weaker but definitely there and I supposed that it was what allowed me to feel his emotions.

'Why didn't you come sooner?' I asked him. It was a question that had been burning in my mind for a long time now. If he'd come sooner maybe my mother wouldn't have died and maybe Hayden and I wouldn't have had to live with the Taylor's... Or if he'd at least protected my mother she wouldn't have been attacked and raped by a Demon!

Tlanextic didn't move a muscle but I felt shock resonate within him at the easiness with which I'd initiated mental contact with him. 'I forgot... It is unforgivable but time has no meaning when you've lived as long as I did. I simply forgot for a while... Your mother, it pains me to have never known her.'

Forgot for a while... As in he forgot about us, my mother's entire life time! Was that why he'd left my grandmother too? Tending to a child all by herself?

'I loved Daya! But I had to leave! She had her tribe to help her... She wasn't alone and she knew my reasons. I would have come for her had she called.' The emotions sparked hotly between our minds and I knew how much he'd loved my grandmother instantly.

He was still mourning for her in fact, it was shown in the red ribbons in his hair, they symbolized the blood his heart bled for her. The black that he wore from head to toe, relieved only by the white of his shirt.

'My grandmother left her tribe shortly after my mother was born... She never went back,' I told him. He had to know the truth, I couldn't believe that he'd never looked back until that one day that he'd ordered Chimali to protect me and why me but not Hayden?

Sadness that showed even in his topaz eyes now as he gazed at me, 'I know... I send her money and guards, anything she needed to survive. She was so proud my little Yolotli. Daya would not take anything from me.

When she died... I wished to forget and I did. Until you called out to me Amelia, after that I send one of my most competent people to shadow you night and day. I even came to see you a few times.'

I nodded and then smiled sadly, 'Chimali died... Thornten had him killed.' The uneasy shuffling in the room made me realize that I'd spoken out loud and that only a short time had passed.

'I know, the people that took him have been... taken care of already. Chimali was chosen for his ability to change form and blend in as well as his fighting skills and long range Telepathy. He managed to give my Hand as many details as possible just before he died. I would like to take his body with me when I return home.'

Surprisingly Nathaniel spoke, 'To do what?'

Tlanextic sounded colder than before when he spoke and I sensed that he was offended by Nathaniel's mistrust. 'To give him the burial he deserves, why else? He protected my granddaughter with his life. It's the least I can do.'

Nathaniel nodded, 'I'll have it prepared for travel.' He seemed on edge still but slightly placated by the way Tlanextic had acted and spoken since. 'As soon as it's here you leave.'

My grandfather nodded, 'Very well.'

'Yolotli,' amusement shone through as he spoke in my mind again. 'Your mate will take a long time to warm up to me, will you tell him I am truly sorry? And will you forgive me for my earlier behavior? I never intended to... hurt you... I...' He was struggling to put into words what he really felt, as a Regis and Arch Angel he wasn't used to apologizing and he wasn't used to someone knowing what he felt either.

'I know, you are forgiven... Grandfather.' I hurried to say to him, trying to reassure him that I bore him no hard feelings for the whole situation. I did feel a bit awkward about calling him grandfather because he looked to be in his early thirties. He just didn't have the whole... Grandpa aura.

Tlanextic was clearly fighting to keep a smile from his face and I felt his laughter inside him. 'You can call me Eyaheu or Eya my little Yolotli. It is my first name.'

'Alright, Eya. I have just one more question if that's okay?' I said smiling myself now and letting go of Jaden's soft fur. The panther was still tense but he was allowing me to inch a little closer now... Had he decided that himself or had Nathaniel told him to give me more space?

'Of course,' the Angel inclined his head to me. 'Anything.'

'Why did you protect me but not Hayden?'

A silence stretched across the room as everyone strained to listen to his answer. It seemed like it was something they all had been wondering... Tlanextic's face showed a clear emotion for the first time since his arrival: desolation.

I think it shocked everyone but me that he had emotion to show so clearly.

'My little Yolotli... I wanted, I wished,' Tlanextic faltered as his voice reflected bone wrenching sadness. 'The Demon that... The one that hurt my poor baby, he was smarter, more careful the second time.

When you called for me that first time, I put magic spells on both you and your mother to protect you... But it turned out that Hayden, in your mother's womb at that time didn't get the protection from it. The Demon was there before I could return and used his own magic on him to keep me away.

I.. I cannot approach Hayden or touch him.' His desire to reach out to Hayden and help him, be a father to him was tangible in the air. Jaden responded to it by stepping a bit to the side so that I could move past him, leaning forward as if to rub his big head against the Arch Angel's leg in comfort. He stopped himself short before actually doing so.