***side conversations in italics***

Oh, what a night! I woke up smack dab in the middle of my mates. I didn't want to get up but get up I must. I can't stay in bed all day. I have a lot to do before Jeffery whisks us away to Never Neverland.

Darric will go back to BloodRose Pack to put things in place with his Beta Cole and return for our trip with Jeffery. I decide to call it a trip and not a forced vacation. Who am I kidding? I am freaking out. No one knows where we're going or how to retrieve us if the earth blows up. Are we even staying in this universe? Who the hell knows? My vampire mate sure doesn't.

Meanwhile, Esme asked El Dargon to train me on how to use my powers at least learn how to control them better.

So here we are with El Dargon and Original Drago visiting the mansion. Darric and Rafe are meeting with Original Drago and I am here in the forest training with El Dargon.

"El Dargon sir, how am I doing?" I just froze some birds and released them at will.

"You're a fast learner. You've mastered this power. Good! Have you manifested any new powers?"

"None sir."

"Actually, your manipulation of herbs is another power you unwittingly displayed early, but you thought it was just your 'thing'. Your father had several powers and you may see new ones pop up. When they do, just remember that you can control them with the techniques you've learned."

"I don't want any more powers. Really, I don't."

"Too late, that's part of being an Elder's offspring. At the very least you will inherit half of his powers."

"Is there any way I can respectfully decline any more powers?"

And he burst out laughing. His eyes crinkle at the edges, his nose flares up, and his mouth widens to show white beautiful teeth. He is a handsome elder. Just never noticed before due to my fear of him. Justifiably so since while he's laughing, the trees shake, and the wind blows fiercely. I don't see anything that's funny about my request. I don't want any more powers.

"Esme is right. You are a very funny young man. Sorry, the powers are the consequences of being an Elder's seed. You will inherit half his powers and we in the ruling council hope you will use them wisely."

"And if I don't?"

He smiles. The earth shakes. He disappears and reappears right behind me. Shit!

"We will have to teach you how."

Time to end this lesson. "Thank you, sir, I think I learned enough for today."

I scurry to the house, looking back every so often at my teacher. He's watching me race back to the house with a smile. I look back again and he has disappeared.

On my way to the den, I run into Original Drago, Rafe and Darric coming out of Rafe's office.

"Hello Cal, how are you? How was the lesson?"

"I'm well sir and the lesson was informative." Another member of the ruling council. I was hoping to miss this one.

He tilts his head at an angle and says, "Dargon left I see, well, I must catch up to him. Congratulations on your mating boys." And he disappears!

"Doesn't that freak you out?"

"What?" Rafe asks.

"Their disappearing act. Why can't they walk like normal people?"

"They are not normal people."

"I need a drink." I continue on to the den. Jeffery was already there with a glass of cold water.

"My lord," he offers me the drink.

"How did you know...you know what Jeffery, never mind. With you, I'm just going to roll with it." I take the drink and flop on the nearest sofa, gulping the much-needed cold drink.

"You okay?" Darric asks.

"Now I am since they left. They scare me. And El Dargon said that I will probably inherit more powers. Seems Elder's children inherit at least half of their powers. Half he told me. I'm so screwed."

"No need to worry. You're a tough cookie. You'll handle whatever comes at you."

"He's right. You're the strongest person I know." Darric sits next to me and hugs me.

"I have a parcel for my Lords from Lady Georgiana," Jeffery interrupts.

Jeffery walks in with a huge box, puts it on the center table. I'm praying to all the deities above that it really is not what I think it is.

"She says and I quote 'tell Cal and his mates that I know the feeling. This should help as promised. Love Georgiana.' End quote."

"What is she up to now?" Rafe opens the box and pulls out the first wrapped donut tailbone pillow.

"What the hell is that?" Darric asks.

"I don't know," Rafe pulls out the other two.

"I believe those are donut tailbone pillows, Alpha Lord." The ever so inconveniently helpful Jeffery answers. Shut up, dude and go 'butle' or whatever it is you butlers do.

"Tailbone pillows? What for?" Rafe asks scrunching his face.

"I believe they help with butt pains or aches, my Lord." Seriously, no more helping Jeffery!

"Jeffery thank you so much, you may leave now," I tell Jeffery.

"Yes, my Lord."

Oh goddess, let the floor open and swallow me now, right now!

"Lord Cal, she also said to tell you that she hopes the cream suggestion worked. I will see to lunch now my Lords?"

And he leaves. After dropping the bombshell, he walks out of the room unperturbed. If I didn't know better, I'll say Jeffery delights in Georgiana's shenanigans.

I slowly turn to my mates, praying they will not put two and two together and get five. They both face me looking at me like a specimen to be studied.

"Callum, why will my sister send each one of us a donut pillow? And more importantly, how did she know about the cream?" Rafe asks in such a quiet voice, I don't think even the mouse heard him.

"Well, you see..."

"It's making sense now." Darric interrupts.

"What's making sense," Rafe looks back and forth between the both of us.

"Cal, the letter you got at our counseling session, was from Georgiana, right? And she put you up to everything you did last night?" Darric confirms.

"Excuse me? Letter, last night? Georgiana?" Rafe splutters.

"Somebody called?"

And she walks in making an entrance as usual with the ever-present Raul. I don't know why she bothers with accessorizing. The dude is her personal accessory. I breathe a sigh of relief; I don't have to explain anything. Wait a damn minute, who am I fooling? Georgiana's explanation is going to be worse. Oh shit!

She's wearing a lacey pink pastel colored mini dress. Sleeveless, with a v neck and drops to her knees like those dresses from the twenties. She has on a silver floppy hat, silver purse, and silver shoes. I swear that woman can wear rags and she'll make it look good. She literally drops into the other sofa, and sighs.

"Raul sweetheart, a chilled glass of wine please?"

"Of course, my love."

"California is so hot, god! You will think as the descendants of the sun god; I would love the burning heat. No, I do not. I couldn't wait to get home. I'm so excited, you're all mated. So, did you like my present?" She asks sounding all giddy like a girl.

"Georgiana, why would you send a note to my mate and a donut pillow to us?"

"First things first. Cal, how was the fuckfest?"

"Georgiana!!!!"

Darric is laughing. "You both are right, she's like no High Lady I ever met."

"Thank you Alpha Darric," she replies sweetly.

"You're welcome. And I for one say a big thank you if as I suspect, last night was your idea."

"At least someone appreciates all that I do for you three. And you're very welcome, Alpha Darric."

"Darric don't encourage her, please?"

My sister. The bane of my existence. I think the Sun god put her in my life to test my patience. As usual, her remedy for sticky situations worked but I'm not going to tell her that. It'll be like giving her carte blanche over my life as if she doesn't meddle enough already.

"Georgiana Klyne, how could you?"

"Could what?"

"You know what. Telling my mate to do what he did in our bedroom," I whisper.

"Come on Rafe. You can't even say the word 'sex' in 'genteel' company? Besides, the three of you were taking too long and dragging things on and on. So, you all never had sex with men before that's no reason not to pull down your britches and dig deep if you know what I mean," she giggles.

"goddess help me, she's too much," Darric laughs.

"Talking alone wasn't going to cut it. Cal needed to take control and he did. You went all night, didn't you?" she smirks.

"GEORGIANA POLLYANNA KLYNE!"

"You did not just go there, RAPHAEL PETROV KLYNE!"

"You know I hate that name!"

"Right back at you!"

"Oh, oh, we need to step back," Raul whispers to Darric and Callum.

"Why?" Cal asks.

"Because they both went there!"

"Went where?"

"They pulled the dreaded middle name card. They said the 'P' names that should never be spoken out loud. They used their forbidden middle names. They only do that when they're really, really, I mean really pissed at each other."

Callum and Darric get up slowly and follow Raul to the door.

"Take that name back!"

"You take it back!"

"Another step back guys," Raul tells them.

"Take it back or I tell Raul about Paris," Rafe gloats.

"You take it back or I'll tell your mates about Istanbul," Georgiana smirks.

"What happened in Paris?" Darric asks Raul.

"I don't know and don't want to know. Do you two want to know what happened in Istanbul?"

"No."

"Well then, I say let's just quietly leave them to their umm...talk."

We are staring at each other without blinking for several minutes now.

"Who do you think will win this staring contest?" Daric asks.

"Georgiana." Raul and Cal answer.

"Even I know that and I'm new to the family." Darric continues to take backward steps.

"Let's give them a few minutes okay."

"Right behind you."

"Fine, I take it back," Rafe says, blinking first.

"Me too," Georgiana smiles.

"Where are you three going?" I ask, turning to the three sneaking out the door.

"I don't think your mates have seen all of the mansion, so I'm giving them a detailed tour," Raul says, and they all rush out the door.

Rafe picks up his cup of coffee and leans back in his chair, takes a sip. "You still know how to clear a room."

"And you still know how to follow suit."

"Did you find out anything new?"

"No more than your 'person'. One thing I learned, there might be a witch in the mix."

"Come on now! A witch? Shit!"

"Time to put your unfairness aside and you three talk to Esme. There's no more powerful a witch to help you."

"Great! Esme Wood! The bane of my existence."

"How much longer before the originals step in?"

"Not long enough for me, five weeks?"

"You better fix this quickly. Mated, unh? You look satisfied."

"Yes. Wonderful feeling. We also found some land to build a home for the three of us. We plan to tell the rest of the family soon."

"Already? Where?"

"About forty-five minutes from here."

"That's not too far, I can be there in five ten-minute tops. I'll miss you, Petrov."

"Right back at you Pollyanna."

"Don't call me Pollyanna!"

"You don't call me Petrov!"

"There's still at it, whispers Raul. Let's keep the tour going, there are hidden rooms I'm sure you haven't seen. Come on."

********************************************************

Three days! Three long ass days, they've been gone with no word, no calls, nothing for three days. If not for my father constantly checking on me and reassuring me, I would've lost it. And thank God for Georgiana. She has not left my side.

Immediately after my mates left, I took Georgiana to see the land and had Salim come out to check it out too. I have hired his team to build our new home. I know I should wait for my mates, but I have to stay busy, so I don't go insane. I also checked in with Beta Cole just to reassure him that Darric is okay and offer him my help should he need it as his Alpha's mate.

Then the evening of the first night, I almost went insane with the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. The pain was intense and sporadic. Body racking, mind-blowing, soul-crushing pain. My father and Raul stayed with me from that first night till this morning. He wouldn't let my mother or sister come near me. I hope my mates are not going through this. If they are, why Sun god?

The pain subsided this morning, the third day and now I am waiting for my mates. I asked my father what to expect. He said different mates different results is what his father told him. The only one that can answer that question when they get back is Jeffery.

I am in my office waiting, pretending to work but just waiting.

They're back! I feel them. I rush out of my office and there they are.

Callum looks different physically and mentally. His red hair is darker, almost brown, and cut to frame his face. He is sporting a beard that gently covers the lower half of his face and looks so good on him. I might just convince him to keep it. His innocence has a bit of toughness now. He looks at me and winks. Cheeky man! I smile and look over to my other mate.

Another surprise, Darric looks calmer. He is no longer sporting that 'I am Alpha hear me roar' look. He looks like a man sure of himself and what he can do. He is also sporting a smaller beard, black like his hair and he looks yummy!

But they still have their beautiful blue and hazel eyes respectively. Callum runs to me, I kiss him hard. I pull him along and we both walk to Darric. I kiss him too. Now I feel complete.

"Are you both okay?"

"I'm fine, other than the beard and some insane power flowing through me, I'm great." Callum gently pats my face.

"Same here."

I turn to Jeffery and I want to kick his ass.

"Jeffery?"

"My lord," he bows. "I must go over what your mates need to know and my responsibilities moving forward, sir."

"Come on then." I walk us back to my office, staying between my mates, holding each one's hand.

I sit on the sofa, pull Callum on my lap, and Darric by my side. I want them as close as possible for the near future. Not knowing where your mates are is torture, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

"My lords, my name is Jeffery and I am a watcher. I come from a tribe born directly by the Sun god to protect Clan leaders and their families and the ruling class at all costs. We are all male and eunuchs. Our motto is simple: safety above orders. Simply, your safety supersedes any counter order you may give."

"Alpha Lord, Lord Callum you have just gone through 'cleansing' but unlike others, you are the first Alpha and Elder's seed to have gone through this process. What that means my lords is that you are now infused with double the power you had before. When in danger, I will be able to locate you and protect you. the closer you are to me, the faster I can reach you, the further away, it gets harder but I will find you. I will always do you bidding unless your request is..."

"Is counterproductive to protecting us, we get it? Anything else?" I interrupt his speech. I am still angry at him so the less I see of him now, the better.

"Yes, but I will fill you in later, I will see to dinner, my lords." He bows, and as he is leaving Callum calls out to him.

"Jeffery?"

"Yes, my lord?"

"Thank you for bringing us back to our mate."

"You are welcome, my lord."

"I have missed you both. We have a lot of catching up to do and I must say that I love the beards."

"We felt you, Rafe. The whole time. That's the only thing I felt. I don't remember anything. Do you Darric?"

"No, nothing. Spooky as hell."

"Shall we reconnect before dinner?"

"Do lead the way High Lord Rafe."

Dinner was very late that evening.

Humans! Same feeling every time, I bring their mates back from cleansing: they resort to anger. Why? I am created to protect the Clan leader, his mates and his children. Three more cycles and I myself will be called for rejuvenation. I've protected seven generations of Klynes! I will miss them when my time comes if I know what it means to miss someone.

And he said thank you, in seven generations, that's a first!

Our boys are back in town 👏. So is Georgiana, ay! ay! ay!

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