Chapter Nine

 

I gratefully took the coffee Albert offered me the next morning. I only allowed myself one mug in the morning during my pregnancies, but I was definitely going to savor this one. It had been days since I’d had coffee, and there hadn’t been any of Albert’s pastries on the planes we’d visited.

“Are the masters coming?” Albert moved around the dining room. I’d always wondered how such a large demon could move with such delicacy. He inspected the silver coffeepot and settled china cups on their saucers, his clawed hands looking incongruous against the fragile dishes.

But that was Albert. He was the definition of gentle giant.

“Yes. Dev was finishing getting dressed, and Daniel was taking a quick shower. They’ll be here any moment.” I’d been in shock the prior day. I hadn’t taken a chance to talk to him privately, and if anyone deserved my thanks, it was this halfling who’d been so loyal and loving to my family over the years. “I wanted to talk to you.”

He straightened up, his horns almost touching the ceiling. “Of course, Your Highness.”

It had only been a few days since I’d seen him, but I felt the years between us in that moment, and it brought tears to my eyes. “I don’t really want to talk to you. I only have one thing to say.” I set my cup down, and there was a moment’s panic in his eyes as I moved toward him and wrapped my arms around him. “I love you, old friend. Thank you for everything you’ve done.”

A shuddering sigh went through him and he patted my back. “You are my family, Your Highness. You have been since the day you married the prince. You should understand that the children have become the light of my long existence. I bless the day you came into my life.”

I stepped back, grateful he gave me that moment. “And I bless the day you came into mine.” I did have one question I wanted to ask him. “That day we disappeared, Grayson Sloane asked if he could speak with you.”

Albert nodded. “Yes, the dark prophet came up to the penthouse that morning.”

“He warned you, didn’t he?” I wasn’t sure how I felt about the fact that Gray had known and not warned me. There are two prophets walking the Earth plane. I’d met the first many years before. His name was Jacob and he came from the Heavenly plane. Grayson was the Hell plane’s prophet, and like his Heavenly counterpart there were rules that governed his existence. Gray could see all possible futures, but he couldn’t clearly warn anyone. Instead he could only speak in terms that could be taken in any number of ways, so I wondered how he’d managed to warn Albert.

“He did, though I did not understand I would need to act so quickly,” Albert admitted. “His warning was somewhat cryptic, but that is his nature. He tried. He tried very hard to get me to understand. He made himself sick, Your Highness.”

The fact that Gray had been able to get a warning out at all was a miracle, and I tried to tamp down my irritation that Gray had known and not told us. Though even if he’d tried, it likely wouldn’t have worked. “So he gave you his whole prophet spiel, and then when Myrddin came to the penthouse, you figured out it was time to move?”

“I understood that if anything happened to you and Daniel, I should run with the children. I should not allow anyone outside our household to gain access to them,” Albert explained. “It was Sarah who warned us something was wrong. She came to the penthouse that morning looking for you. She’d heard unsettling rumors.”

“Do you know what happened to Sarah?” I felt sick inside that I couldn’t find my friend. At least we knew where Neil was.

Albert shook his head. “We realized that our cell phone service was unavailable, and she went to warn Neil and Chad. I did not see her again. Your father and I decided we should move the children. Eddie came with Trent.”

“But Gray didn’t come?”

“From what I understand, the dark prophet bought us time. He went to speak with the wizard while Eddie and I tried to make the children ready. Harry helped. It was during this time I also wiped the hard drives on all of the computer systems. I locked down the bank accounts as my master taught me, and I gathered the documents required to access the money left. We still have much of the cash Master Dev prepared for such an occasion. I am sorry we couldn’t save your father.”

He’d taken on such responsibility. “It wasn’t your fault. You did what he wanted you to do, what we needed you to do. You were more than we could have hoped for.”

Albert tilted his head. “I am happy to have done this duty. I will stay and look forward to welcoming the next member of our family. Congratulations, Your Highness. I’m glad you and Master Daniel had a chance to grace our world with your child. And Eddie is over the moon at the thought of Mistress Kelsey having a baby. Our dark times…well, we’re not through them yet, but you bring light and life with you.”

“Thank you.” It still seemed surreal that I was pregnant. It reminded me of another pregnancy that had come at a bad time. That pregnancy and what happened to me in the catacombs of Paris had come full circle, and I had to face the choice I’d made that day. But I still had questions before I had to deal with what Daniel had told me the night before. “You said Gray was still there that morning. Is he all right? From what I heard last night he didn’t stick with you and Trent.”

“He could not,” Albert explained as we heard someone walking down the hall. “We decided it was easier for Gray to stay away. He couldn’t leave the inner planes. He must remain close to the Hell plane, and after he began his descents…well, Hell changes a person. I’m worried at what Mistress Kelsey might find.”

So was I, but the door opened and I had to let it go for now.

“Good morning, Mother. Albert, this looks lovely as always.” Evan walked in and picked up her plate.

Albert gave her a nod. “I wanted something special for your parents’ return. I’ll be helping Eddie prepare for your journey if you need anything else.”

“Thank you,” Evan said, turning to me when the door closed again. “I hope this family meeting doesn’t take too long. We’re due to head to Atlanta in thirty minutes. I don’t intend to hold Kelsey up.”

So she was still in a good mood. “Where’s Fen?”

There was a massive buffet laid out, and it couldn’t all be for us. Daniel didn’t eat, and I scarcely thought the platter of grilled meat was meant for my breakfast.

“I’m going to make him a plate.” Evan moved to the buffet. “Dad asked that we make this a family meeting. Fen isn’t blood.”

I snorted at the thought. If we didn’t understand our kids now that they were grown, they certainly didn’t understand us. “Daniel isn’t technically blood either, but I assure you he’s family.” I seriously doubted Danny had meant to leave Fenrir out. And if he had, then I was going over his head. I crossed the room and opened the door to the hallway. Sure enough, Fen was leaning against the wall, waiting. “Fenrir, there’s half a cow in here for you. Is your mother with you? She’s welcome as well.”

He was absolutely adorable when he smiled. “Thanks, Your Highness. Mom is taking breakfast in her room. I was going to join her, but she’s like super pregnant and apparently not enjoying it. Normally I can eat through anything, but that’s some hefty vomit going on there.”

“We’ll need to make sure to pack some snacks because her morning sickness won’t last, and I assure you she’ll want food.” I ushered him in, grateful this baby of mine didn’t seem to have the same effect on me. “Where are the boys? And has anyone seen Grandad?”

I probably should have asked if they’d seen Shy, but in this case it was specifically my father who should be here.

“Shy’s sleeping. She projected Grandad a lot yesterday. It takes something out of her. More recently, it’s really left her exhausted. She’ll sleep until afternoon at least. As for the boys, they slept out with the trolls. They have a little encampment on the other side of the mountain.” Evan passed Fen the plate she was holding and picked up a smaller one for herself. “The room we put you in was spelled to contain Fae sex magic, but Rhys wasn’t taking any chances. Which is funny because he’s the reason we had to spell the room. Did you know that Rhys doesn’t need to actually have sex to infect a whole area with lust?”

“Things got real bad when Rhys figured out how to...” Fen started to giggle and then seemed to realize who he was talking to. “Sorry, Your Highness. I meant…”

“You meant when Rhys masturbates, so does everyone else.” I sighed. “If his father had been around he would have taught him to control that.”

“I told you Momma isn’t a prude.” Evan placed a Danish on her plate.

Ah, the first bit of movement after yesterday’s debacle. “I’ve dealt with Rhys’s issues for a long time. You try getting called into a school meeting where you have to explain why every teacher in your son’s grade is suddenly pregnant. Including the one who’d gone through menopause.”

“Yes, that was a fun time.” Dev strode in looking as delicious as a man could look. He’d changed into the slacks and sweater Albert had found for him. “Good morning, Evangeline. Fenrir. I hope we didn’t disturb you last night.”

Fen shrugged even as he overloaded his plate with meat. “Nah, those dampeners work. Sasha made sure Rhys had some serious protections in place after Rhys started an orgy on the werewolf plane. We all saw way too much that night.”

Rhys started to walk into the dining room with Lee behind him. The minute he heard Fen talking, he tried to turn and walk back out. Only his twin stopped him. Lee playfully pushed him back into the room.

“Do we have to talk about this?” Rhys’s eyes rolled, but he turned and walked in again. “I would rather discuss battle plans. Please tell me this isn’t what Dad called us in here to discuss.”

Lee’s smile went wide. “Goddess, I hope so.”

“I promise I can help you control your magic.” Dev put a hand on Rhys’s shoulder. “It will still go a bit crazy when you’re truly emotional, but you’ll be able to control it during sex. I haven’t asked you this yet, but have you had children?”

Lee snorted, and Fen nearly lost his plate.

Rhys went a hearty shade of pink.

“Devinshea, maybe you and Rhys should talk about this privately.” Sometimes Dev took his open-book policy when it came to sex way too far.

“No, Papa. I don’t have children,” Rhys replied.

“If you’ve had unprotected sex, it’s entirely possible you could have impregnated a female partner.” Dev was never one to back down from a hard talk, especially when it involved sex. “In fact, it’s probable, son. You have to be very careful.”

Rhys looked his father in the eyes. “I don’t have children.”

“Papa, he doesn’t have children.” Evan stepped in as though she thought Rhys might need her.

“Unless he’s kept up with all of his female partners, how can he know?” Dev asked.

“Because I haven’t had any, okay? I have not had sex with a female. Or a male, or anyone but my right hand,” Rhys said through gritted teeth.

“His right hand gets a workout, though.” Lee poured himself a glass of juice. “I mean it. That sucker is strong. It can go for hours.”

“Remember that when I use it to stab you, brother,” Rhys growled Lee’s way.

Fen put his overly full plate on the table and couldn’t contain his laughter. Evan sent him a dirty look. Fen held up his hands. “Sorry, baby. Hey, I can laugh. I’m absolutely one hundred percent as pure as Rhys. Lee’s the slut here.”

Lee simply shrugged. “Well, I’m human. You guys have plenty of time to get your freak on. I’ve got fifty years if I’m lucky.”

“Uh, I have a human life-span, too,” Evan pointed out. “And yet no one talks about poor Evan having to go without.”

Rhys frowned her way. “You’re seventeen. You can wait.”

“Lee was sixteen when he nearly started a pack war by sleeping with that she-wolf,” Evan said primly.

“Yeah, well, we all know that Lee probably won’t make it past his twenties the way he’s going,” Rhys shot back. “He’s the most reckless asshole ever to walk the Earth plane.”

“Rhys, it’s not normal for you to not have sex.” Dev’s jaw was hanging open in pure shock.

Evan had that prim look on her face I was coming to associate with her raging against the patriarchy. “But it’s normal for me because I’m a girl.”

“Your brother is a fertility god,” Dev argued. “At his age I was quite experienced.”

“He means he’d plowed through every female in the sithein, and many of the males.” I could translate for the kids.

“Zoey, you are not helping,” Dev replied.

“I disagree. Mom is helping my case a whole lot. Go Mom.” Evan took a seat beside Fen.

I noticed Daniel had joined us. He moved in quietly, his eyes going straight to Lee. After what he’d told us the night before, it wasn’t surprising. He’d likely been thinking about what he needed to tell Lee all night long.

I thought we should do it privately, but Daniel had convinced me it was a family issue. Rhys had never been able to hide what he was, nor had Evan had a choice in keeping her glow private.

“Lee turns out to take more after Papa than I do.” Rhys sat down, his plate completely empty.

“Lee does not have your needs, Rhys.” Dev still seemed to be reeling. “Sex isn’t simply for fun when it comes to you. It’s a necessity.”

Rhys shook his head, his decision made long ago. “I am not in a place where I can take a goddess. I’m not going to risk my magic going wild and getting us all in trouble. You know Myrddin has spies, and an explosion of Fae fertility magic could get through the wards and potentially give away our position.”

“See, all Lee risks when he spends the night with a lady is a venereal disease,” Fen quipped. “Rhys could start our own personal apocalypse.”

“We all know why he’s waiting,” Evan said quietly.

“Yes, it rhymes with the chick I want has my grandad inside her,” Lee snarked.

“I will end you,” Rhys vowed.

Evan sent Rhys a sympathetic look before looking back to Lee. “Stop teasing Rhys. It’s hard on him because he’s right about the dangerous part. If there’s a Fae-sex-magic bomb that goes off, any number of our enemies could come looking for him, including the ones who took Lee’s eye.”

“I want to know who was involved in that,” Dev said, his tone quiet. Dev was often at his deadliest when he went still and quiet. “And son, I can teach you to control your magic. You have to funnel it off. In small bursts or controlled bursts, the wards will hold. Using your agricultural powers can help. When you’re stressed or feel the pressure building, grow a couple of trees or a small crop of vegetables.”

“Ooo, I’ve been craving strawberries,” Evan offered.

A small smile played on Rhys’s lips. “All right then. We can certainly talk about how to take the pressure off me in safe ways. And I’ll have your strawberries when you get back.”

Evan seemed excellent at calming her brothers down. She’d found her role in the family.

“So is this what we’re supposed to talk about? Rhys’s sexual disfunction?” Lee proved he could almost keep up with Fen. He’d downed a couple of Danishes and a whole lot of bacon. “Dad said we had family business.”

“It’s not business.” I knew what he meant, but what Daniel was about to say was so personal to me. This was the rest of our lives, this choice we were about to ask the children to make—specifically one of my sons.

“No, it’s not, but it’s important.” Daniel sat at the head of the table.

Fen’s hand went over Evan’s, as though he was afraid whatever was going to be said next might hurt her. They all suddenly looked like they were waiting for the axe to fall.

“We know Dad is going to take over,” Rhys said. “We’ve always known that. What we will have a problem with is if he chooses to sideline us. We’re not the young kids you left behind. We’re good at this.”

“I know that. But this is not about the war we find ourselves in.” Daniel leaned forward, his hands on the table. “It’s about something that happened a long time ago. It happened before any of you were born. We were warned about it, but we didn’t know what the consequences would be until now. Zoey?”

I sat down next to Lee. We’d decided last night that this was my story to tell. I put a hand over his, and he went tense as he seemed to understand that this was all about him. “When I was pregnant with you and Rhys, we were at war with the old Council. I didn’t take part in the last battle, but I was there at the beginning. Marcus tried to get me out, but we were caught. I was shot and your body was injured in utero. Technically we all died that day, but we were given a second chance.”

“By the angels,” Lee said. He’d heard part of the story before. “It’s how I got Lee Owens’s soul.”

I nodded, tears clouding my eyes. “Yes, but there was something more. The angels told me that one of my babies had been changed, and that we would have to deal with the change down the line. I said I would take you no matter the circumstances.”

“What’s wrong with me, Mom?” Lee’s hand had tightened around mine, and the air around us seemed charged.

“Though it was the angel’s energy that sparked us all back to life, it was Daniel’s blood that healed our bodies. It was vampire blood that restored your developing body. It was the king’s blood that saved you and changed you,” I explained.

Lee’s jaw dropped, and his eye went wide with surprise and no small amount of joy. “Holy shit. I’m a motherfucking vampire.”

I winced, but only a little. I would have to include that in his list of times he could curse around his mom.