NB: Credit goes to my editor,
wildheartedangel
, for making the necessary checks and changes. Anyway, I realize that there are actually quite a few loose ends to tie so I might have two instead of one chapter more to write for this series. I know that this chapter ends with a mother of all cliffhangers so cookies and steak are welcomed since the muse is unwilling at the moment. Lol.
On another note, I really appreciate those of you who suggested possible locations for the sequel. (yes there will be one. The first chapter is already done; a draft is somewhere on my blog.)
Happy reading everyone!
*************************
Josephine smiled upon hearing Draven's thoughts. Never in her life would she have imagined her baby wanting her to stay.
"Everything alright in there?" asked Alaron, trying to peek through the doorway but Josephine blocked him. Amber was naked and she knew the two of them needed their privacy.
"Yes it is. Fiona dear, why don't you get something for Amber to wear? We'll meet you three downstairs in a while. Your husband's coming home isn't he?"
Fiona flushed guiltily before hurrying towards her own room to get some clothes.
"Guess that just leaves you and me Sweetie," said Josephine, smiling at Alaron.
Alaron was staring at her suspiciously. "Why do I feel like a trapped rat? I fell for the moldy cheese. Damn."
"Language," she said, waving a finger absently.
A while later, Alaron found himself alone in the living room with Josephine. She intimidated him but he was also intrigued by her.
"I can collapse time," she said softly, watching his eyes widen in surprise.
"Like... stop time?"
"Well, not to that extent. But I have a certain degree of foresight and hindsight. It's hard to tell sometimes when it doesn't concern me."
Alaron frowned. Why was she telling him all this?
"Did you see something about me? Is that why you've pulled me aside?"
Josephine shook her head; much to his disappointment.
"I had always assumed that your brother got his abilities from me. It's always the case with our race; at least one parent needs to have the gene for expressing abilities or the child doesn't inherit them. But Fiona has them and she's Sired by you." Josephine paused to let the words sink.
"But my mother is human..." said Alaron slowly. "Are you saying Father..."
"Yes, and that means you should express something too although you are still considered young. Some Vampires don't express any powers until they reach a century old."
"But Fiona did... although I accidentally pushed her limits."
This time, Josephine raised her eyebrows in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"Err... Draven and I have been working on this blood pill for the American Council and I sorta fiddled with it..." he flashed her a guilty look. "I managed to isolate a strain of protein to enable her to mate with a Were... but of course it wasn't tested yet and the side effect was a premature unleashing of her powers."
"Very impressive. This science thing makes my head spin!" laughed Josephine. Taking Alaron's palms she patted it and smiled. "I think it is natural for you and your brother to have this obsession with science. It could be related to your individual abilities. He can read minds, Fiona can control minds. Take Fiona's abilities for example; neurons and what not... don't you think if she can 'see' it, so can you? You did provide her the blood."
Alaron could see where this is going.
"So you're saying that I might have something that may heal Amber's mind?" he was hopeful but he shook his head. "But... that'd take years to perfect. Even if I do have it, it's still dormant."
Josephine smiled. "I know baby... but that's only because you didn't have the right trainer. Your brother took a long time to discover his own powers and an even longer time to get it under control because your father didn't help him with it."
"But he helped Fiona..."
"What?" Josephine was truly shocked. "He helped her control her powers?"
"Umm... yeah. They had some sparing session with it. I'm not quite sure what he taught her but soon after that she managed to gain some control."
Josephine frowned at his answer. Why didn't Aramis help Draven? Or was her son just too stubborn to ask for help?
"I'll help you."
"Why?"
"Because I want my babies to be happy. And right now I still see that image of Draven crying and I really don't want that."
Alaron didn't want that either. He had seen Draven cry and he wanted to help... with his abilities or not.
"When do you want to teach me?"
"As soon as possible... but not tonight my dear. I can sense the Alpha wolf returning and he is not happy. I need my energies for his welcome."
"He has a soft spot for women. You'll be fine," said Alaron with a smile.
As though on cue, the front door opened and there stood a very virile and territorial man; his eyes more wolf than man.
"Explain." His voice was calm but leashed with fury.
"Eian?" Fiona's gentle voice was like a balm to his anger. The soft padded soles of her slippers flapped as she hurried down the stairs into his arms.
"Are you alright? Is the baby..."
"Yes, everything's fine... more than fine actually," she said, letting him nuzzle against her neck; no doubt trying to sniff for her and the baby's heartbeat. "Amber's upstairs with Draven... and she seems well. She's safe for now Eian, stop growling!"
"I have strangers in my home," he growled. "I don't mean you Alaron although sometimes..."
A slap on his chest stopped him midsentence. "Don't be rude. Eian sweetheart, this is..." Fiona paused, unsure for a minute then, "My grandmother."
"Dame Josephine Draefend," she introduced, lowering herself into a curtsey, "Your Grace..."
Eian stopped growling; his eyes returning to the striking green that was his own.
"You look different now Josephine," he replied, bowing his head slightly to acknowledge her.
Everything in the room fell silent then Fiona exploded.
"What! You two know each other? And yet you act so uncivilized?" she snarled at Eian. "That is so rude!" she continued, punctuating every word with a playful slap on his chest.
"I was young and pregnant then. Of course I looked different," said Josephine. "Time changes people." She meant him of course. When Eian first came to Culzean's castle, he had been a young warrior; cold and without mercy. She didn't blame him for war was a constant during the medieval times. Now look at him --older, wiser, mated and a father to be. The last bit certainly put a damper on his cold, unyielding personality. Josephine could almost see him going all soft and pliable to the woman in his arms.
