Page 66 of Sanctuary After Dark

I helped the subs pack the drawstring bags into boxes we already had set aside for this, and we carried them outside to our SUV, packing them into the back. I had thrown some blankets in the back as well. You can never be too prepared, and I made sure that we had everything we could think of with us.

Once that was done, I helped herd the subs back inside to get their hats, gloves, scarves, and coats on while my men came back down from our room. Lincoln handed mine to me and I pulled him into a kiss to thank him. Pulling back, I grabbed Elias as well and he giggled against my lips when I kissed him. Flicking the floppy ear of his bunny hat, he giggled more.

"You look adorable in this, little bunny. Got your scarf and mittens?"

He nodded and showed the scarf that Raven had crocheted for him in a mix of pinks. And he held his mittens in his hands that had pink toe beans on the inside of them. He really was adorable with his curls sticking out a little from under the hat. I brushed them off his forehead and tucked them in.

"Good boy. Tomorrow, I'm taking you to get a haircut."

He giggled and nodded before he took his sign from Lincoln, who had grabbed it from the kitchen counter. Raven showed up, wrapping their scarf around their neck and fixing their hat, and smiled at us.

"Ready to go when you guys are. I texted Master and said we were about to leave. He hasn't answered yet, but I figure he's busy tattooing."

"Probably is. We'll see him in a little though. Let's head out so we have time to find some parking and start passing these bags out."

I let them walk ahead of me while I watched Alec and a few of the other doms who were coming with us, like David and Atlas, while they herded the other subs to gather their things and head out the door as well.

It was a little chaotic, but when you had a bunch of brats to round up, that was to be expected. Soon, though, we were all driving towards downtown, where the protest was being held.

Pulling into our spot in the driveway, Lincoln turned off the engine and sighed. It had been a long and productive day. Over fifteen thousand people had shown up downtown for the protest, and I heard that there were a few other demonstrations in other parts of the city, like Squirrel Hill and the North Side.

We all hoped that it would make a difference. We had also run out of bags quickly, and a few people had even mentioned they would email us to arrange a club tour with the possibility of joining. We were always open to new members, so I hoped they emailed us to set that up.

Getting out of the car, I watched Lincoln walk around to the backseat to get Elias out. Our boy was so tired, and I knew that after a quick shower, he would quickly fall asleep in our bed.

Raven though, was a different story.

They were frustrated right now, and I knew they were trying to hide it from us. Gar had texted them when we got there to say that he wasn't sure if he was going to make it. His client's touch-up was going to take longer than he thought it was but he would try to make it there.

We grabbed some dinner after the protest, but Gar hadn't been able to make it it seemed, and Raven's mood just kept plummeting because of it.

Reaching out, I pulled them against my side as I put my arm around their shoulders and kissed their head.

"Come on, let me make us some tea while Linc gets Elias into bed, and we can talk."

Raven sighed and nodded as they let me lead them into the house and towards the kitchen. I’d clean out the boxes in the back of our car tomorrow. Right now, my friend needed me because I could tell they needed to get something off his chest.

Moving around the kitchen, I set the kettle onto the stove to boil, then measured out the raspberry champagne tea that I knew Raven liked into two tea steepers.

"Talk."

Raven sighed and ran their hands over their face while they sat at the kitchen island and watched me setting the tea up.

"I just… I'm mad that Master couldn't make it is all."

"I mean, your feelings are valid, but it's one protest, Raven. There will be others, and I'm sure that he'll be at those."

Leaning my hands on the counter, I watched them. There was something else they weren't telling me that was bothering them about this.

"I know. And I know he can't help it because of his job, and with his client only being in town for today. But he promised. And..."

They fell silent for a moment while they chewed their lip. I waited for them to gather their thoughts and the courage to tell me what was really going on with them.

"And we were supposed to tell all of you something today. We thought it would be the perfect opportunity to do so while everyone was together. We planned to tell everyone at dinner."

Nodding in understanding, I understood why Raven felt disappointed that Gar couldn't make it. I also realized that whatever they wanted to tell us was really important.

"You can tell me now, if you want. Or if you want to wait for your Master to plan a big reveal, then that's fine too. But I'm here for you, Raven. You're like my little sibling."