Jason Dolley as Cal Yorke

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

I don't know how long I've been out cold, but I wake up to see Original Drago and Elder Alexi peering down at me. I slowly sit up and look towards Esme. El Dargon has her in his arms. She wakes up, looks around and jerks out of El Dargon's hold. He stands up slowly and joins the other two.

"Are you okay?" I mind link her.

"Yes, groggy but okay. You?"

"Could be better."

I slide closer to Esme. The closer I get to Esme, the more my blood sizzles. I move closer till I am holding on to her. I hug her close to me and a warming feeling courses through my body.

Surrounding us in a circle are all fifteen members of the ruling council. The air is musty and constrictive. My breaths come out in short, rapid bursts. Their combined powers are battling the news ones ranging through my body. My heartbeat is racing uncontrollably. My growing powers instinctively want to counter their actions and bring their power to subjugation. But I remember what the Ancient One said, that at first, we must learn to kneel to rise. So, I mentally subdue my powers for now. Humility first.

"Esme, you feel like counteracting their powers, right?"

"You got that right."

"Don't for now. Let's see what they plan to do. And besides, we need to learn what powers we have inherited and how to use them."

"They're trying to suffocate us. They need to be brought down a peg or two, Cal."

"I know. Maybe but not now, please?"

"Okay. For now."

"Rise!" Original Drago orders us.

I prop myself up and help Esme stand. My knees are wobbly or is it the floor that's shaky. Finally, on our feet, a sudden mishmash of their voices bombard my brain and I tether a bit. I can ACTUALLY LISTEN IN ON THEIR MIND LINK? SHIT!

"Why are these two the chosen ones? An Omega and a witch? I thought the chosen ones will be two from the council but these two?" Elder Thomas yells through their link.

"I must confess that was my assumption too, but we all saw and heard the Ancient One's proclamation," Original Drago tells him.

"What are we going to do?"

"We must hold them till we unilaterally decide on what to do. About this new development and their request about the school."

"Exactly. This time there must be no division in our decision."

"Sheng's right, it is us against them from what we just witnessed."

"Are you saying we fifteen are to go to war with these two AND the Ancient One? And are you all prepared for any consequences."

"Listen, all anger and disbelief aside, whatever we do, we can never go against the Ancient One. My Sun-god cannot save my soul neither will your Moon goddess, so let's come up with another solution, okay?"

"First things first, put them in the holding room for now while we deliberate on what to do."

"The school they want to build is now the least of our worries."

"Dargon you have not said a word. Why, because she's your daughter?"

"In this time, in this era, two will mate and two will sprout. Two will be chosen, and two will die. A reborn of all creatures will begin," recites a deadpan El Dargon.

"The prophecy," whispers Elder Alexi.

"Two will mate."

"You and Sorenson."

"Two will sprout."

"The birth of these two?"

"Two will be chosen."

"Omega and witch."

"Two will die."

"Which two? Sorenson? Who else? Or two others, oh my goddess."

"Times are changing on us, my brothers. Before we deliberate, I suggest we all commune with our respective parents; Sun god and Moon goddess. We need help," Original Drago sounds fearful.

"You may come in and take them to the holding room," El Dargon commands.

Two guards walk in and help Esme and me out of the room. They take us to a large, furnished suite. The room has all that you may need or want. For a holding room, one may never want to leave.

"Anything you need, just speak into the air and we'll get it for you."

"Into the air?" I ask.

"Yes. We equip the room with microphones. It is the twenty-first century," says the stone-faced guard.

"Thank you, we will. Do you know how long we'll be here?" Esme asks.

"Until they request your presence." And he leaves.

I mind link Esme. I don't want the microphones to record any of our conversations. Humility is one thing, stupidity is another.

"Did you hear their conversation too?"

"Ruling council?"

"Duh."

"I did. A prophecy? I've heard nothing about a prophecy. Have you?"

"No. So, who are the two that will die?" I ask.

"No idea. But I don't think the council will go along quietly with any changes."

"You may be right. If humility fails, we just have to do this your way: drag them along kicking and screaming. How long do you think they'll keep us here?"

"Who knows? They kept an Alpha here one time for about a year."

"A year? I can't be away from my mates that long."

"He was very unfortunate because he didn't have a mate yet. So, no mate could request his release.

"Hmm, that pesky rule. I read it in one of the Klyne's books. No worries then, my mates will request my release."

"Your mates; Lord Leech and Alpha Mutt? They'll barge in demanding your release but will forget the 'mate' part."

"No, they won't. I'm sure they learned that in their respective leadership training school."

"How much do you want to bet that they mess up and forget to ask for their 'mate'?"

"How much you've got?"

"Ten dollars?"

"You're on. I'm hungry, what about you?"

"I'm bored since you won't let us try our new powers on those pompous dweebs."

"Well, I'm asking for a meal and laptop while I check out this suite. Really posh isn't it."

"The park, clan, coven and gathering annual fees are put to good use, I guess."

I walk to the nearest chair and make myself comfortable. Now that we know what the ruling council is up to and with the ability to listen to their conversations, I feel slightly better. The playing field is leveling rapidly. Now I'm famished.

"I will like rare steak, mashed potatoes, corn and can of Pepsi, and a laptop please," I yell out loud.

"You don't have to yell. The mics are first rate I'm sure. I will like some ribs, mashed potatoes, carrots and a glass of white wine. THANK YOU!"

"I thought you said not to yell," I snicker.

"Whatever."

I repeat slowly, marveling at the enormity of that pronouncement.

Esme replies.

I lean my head back on the chair, comprehending the enormity of the task we have taken on.

"ESME," I yell into our mind link, jerk up in my chair, "we can't tell anyone not even our mates that we can read the minds of members of the ruling council. That is suicide for our loved ones."

"I was thinking the same thing," Esme replies.

"Good. Damn, this is getting serious and complicated."

"That's why I asked you before we came if you were prepared to go all the way. This shit is serious, and we are in a battle for the revitalization of our kind. Are you still in?"

I pause. What am I prepared to lose for the betterment of future generations? Am I being pompous and arrogant? Or obedient and honored? Either way, I want a better life for those coming after us. The ones before us have failed, so we must succeed. My mind is at peace and I smile.

"Why are you smiling?" Esme asks.

"The words of one of my favorite songs just helped me make my decision and the simplicity of it just makes me smile."

"A song? A song helped you make this decision. Look around you Cal, we're in ruling council holding chambers. Your mates are probably going out of their minds and a song helped you make your decision? We are so screwed. And the decision?"

"I am all in - all the way."

"Thank the Sun god. So?"

"So what?"

"Come on, the song?"

"The song? 'Ride to Agadir'. It says the people in the song were fighting 'For the ashes of our fathers and the children of our sons.' I'm here for the same reason; those who have died because of the division in the supernatural world and for those children growing up or soon to be born. We have to do better. We must do better."

"What do we do now?"

"We wait. They will show their hands. Esme, I know I ask that we humble ourselves, give them respect and hope that at least we'll get their permission to build the school. If what has been happening to me is happening to you, Ancient One has infused us with so much power, it's terrifying, I must confess."

"What are you now, a prophet?" Esme teases me.

"Well, I've been called worse," I smirk. "My point is this Esme; we humble ourselves and do everything in our power to work with them. Acknowledge their roles and their contributions as rulers of the supernatural world."

"And when all that humility and ass kissing fail?"

"We kick their pompous asses."

"Now you speak my language."

"Esme, Esme, Esme, all that burnt up rage. I highly recommend you screw your mate soon and release all that pent-up rage or..."

And she flings me on the ceiling.

"Seriously, Esme I just gave you a lecture on not abusing our powers and you stick me to the ceiling?"

"Hey now, you said to release my pent-up rage, I just release it on you. And since I don't want to screw you, I can hurt you, fur coat."

I land on the carpet a few seconds later, "Ouch! Esme that hurt."

"They refuse to let us even see Cal. They have no right to do that."

"They are the ruling council brother," Georgiana replies as she takes a sip of coffee. Her voice is calm, but her slow rhythmic tapping foot tells a different story.

"I don't care if they are combined Moon goddess and Sun god in one, they cannot keep Cal from us," Darric yells. He has been pacing up and down the den for the last hour, and he's getting more agitated.

"All those pompous assholes will tell us is that they are being sequestered for a secret meeting."

"Where is the Ancient One when you need him?"

"Calm down the both of you. Tell me how did you present your request? What did you say exactly?" Georgianna asks us.

"What do you mean?" I ask puzzled.

"What did you say, word for word?"

"We told them we know Cal and Esme are there and we would like to see them."

"Oh, my Sun-god! Petrov..."

"... don't start, Pollyanna."

"Did you two ever read any of the books on the rules and regulations when addressing the ruling council? Didn't they teach that to you two in your leadership training schools?"

"We were respectful," I confirm.

"And we went through the proper channels, what else is there?" Darric asks.

"Sun god help me with these two... ugh! There is a way to ask to see Cal that will automatically have the ruling council release him to you. A 'get out of jail free card' so to speak."

"How?" I ask.

"Ask for YOUR MATE! Say the word MATE. Even the ruling council cannot separate mates without the mate's permission."

"Let's go, he's been there two days too long," Darric says.

"One minute. Do you two think Cal will leave Esme alone in their clutches?"

"Shit, you're right. He will never leave her there alone."

"Crap if only Esme has a mate," I groan.

"She does."

"WHAT!!!" Darric yells.

"Who?"

"Cole."

"My Cole?" Darric asks. "You're joking, right? Cole Smith, Beta of Blood Rose Pack, my friend? That Cole?"

"One and only."

"Since when have they known that they're mates," Darric whispers.

"I believe the day that Julian died."

"That long? Why didn't he tell me?" Darric wonders.

"Because both are fighting the pull. Either way, you can't retrieve Cal alone. Or Esme without a request from her mate."

Darric pulls out his phone and makes a call. "Your mate is being held by the ruling council. Get here now if you want to retrieve her." He ends the call abruptly and finally sits down.

"What are you doing here, anyway? Shouldn't you be relaxing with your feet up or something?" I sit down next to my sister.

"Raul is driving me crazy. He wasn't this bad with Freddy. I can't sneeze without him worrying. One would think I have never had a baby before."

"Not like this. With Freddy, you were younger..."

"Watch it, Petrov."

"... and not working. Can't wait to meet the little dude. Oh, oh, the big dude has found you."

"Pull that table closer. Tell him I've had my feet up, got it?" Georgiana whispers.

I raise my hands in compliance.

Raul walks in and right behind him is Cole, with Raul's shirt on. Raul moves quickly to Georgiana's side. He rubs her swollen stomach gently and gives her a kiss.

"Remind me to have Salim construct a mudroom for the weres," Darric tells me.

"Alpha," Cole greets.

"Esme is your mate?"

"So, it seems," Cole sighs.

"We'll talk later. Right now, she and Cal are being held by the ruling council, and the only way to get them back is to make the request for our mates. Are you coming?" Darric asks curtly.

"Of course, Alpha."

"Let's go. First, Jeffery?"

"Here sir," and he hands Cole a pair of pants.

"We'll see you two later. And no sex in our room. Use any of the other rooms," I warn them.

"No worries there. Raul is keeping his hands off me. For the baby, he says, umpf!"

"Mi Amore, I don't want to hurt the baby. You know how frisky you get when we..."

"... please enough. Come on guys," and I teleport us to the ruling council waiting room.

All three of us, including Jeffery, arrive at the ruling council waiting area. We are immediately surrounded by two vampires and four werewolves.

"State your business vampire, wolf."

"We request to see our MATES!" Darric commands.

"Wait here," they tell us insolently. "Watcher," but they greet and bow to Jeffery before they leave.

"Never teleported before?" Darric holds up a wobbly Cole.

"Never Alpha."

"Well, better get used to it. It's your mate's favorite mode of transportation."

They return and guide us to a part of the council building I have never been to. The aura is calm and soothing. We stop outside a room with double doors.

I open the doors and I see Esme is laying between the two arms of her sofa, with her feet dangling off one arm, playing on her tablet. And Cal is on the floor, on his chest, watching anime on a laptop.

I glance sideways at Darric and ask, "Tell me, why were we worried again?"

Cal looks up and greets us, "Hi guys. Two days? Took the two of you two days? You both just cost me ten dollars;" he pouts.

"I told you it will take them a while to figure out how to get us out of here. Pay up."

"Fine. Remind me not to gamble with you again when it comes to my mate's knowledge of the rules and regulations of the ruling council."

"What is he doing here?" Esme yells, jumping off the couch, points to her bane.

"I'm here to..."

"... the council is ready to give you their decision," interrupts the guard. "Follow me."

Finally, now we can go home, I hope.

Decisions, decisions, decisions! What will the ruling council decide?

Don't forget to vote and/or comment. Thanks. Toodles!