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I looked at Soren, who was watching his familiar disappear up the stairs. “We can stay here and you can tell me what you got into during your time on that planet.”
His head swung around and he stared at me, realizing this talk may take longer with everyone listening than just telling me his story.
“Ummm—”
Holden skipped down the stairs, stopping at its base. “Okay, we are ready. We settled the kids in Lark’s and Konner’s room.” Shane came down, moving slower, a grin on his face at his wife's antics.
I waved a hand at the others, who were now walking towards the back door. Grabbing Soren’s hand, I pulled him along with me, halting on the porch as the crew moved down to the gate on their mission to retrieve Holden’s parents.
Stet had several of his peace guardians guarding the entrance. He stopped to say something to them as Lark led Holden and Shane through into his Gate World, the place he had created as a kind-of landing spot. Belesh and Tamerin followed behind them, with Betta and Lexi taking up the rear. Betta paused when she reached her mate, while Lexi walked on through, moving through the energy with ease now.
Stet wrapped an arm around his mate's shoulders, guiding her through the gate. It snapped closed as soon as they stepped over the threshold.
I looked around, realizing Ravenal hadn’t gone with them. The woman was leaning against the frame of the back door, watching us, a slight smile on her lips.
“You didn’t want to go?” I wondered out loud.
She shook her head. “No. That trip was for family. I am not family.”
I cocked my head. “You were my mother’s best friend and coven leader. You were part of my family.”
Ravenal stood up straight. “I was at that. Speaking of which,” her eyes moved to Soren. “Now that you are back and your powers have grown, why don’t we attempt to adjust Alemos? Marian had done a wonderful job setting up this place. And with your familiar's help, there is a possibility we could restore it to its former glory.”
I gasped, knowing what we had lost when the house had saved Lark a while back, using up much of its energy and magic to do so. “Do you think we can do it?”
She nodded. “Talk first, then rest. Then we can try. We have time. I expect they will be gone for a while.” She disappeared into the house, leaving us alone out here.
Konner and Justin stepped out the door. “We are going with the dragons.” He pointed to the sky where an enormous red dragon was winging down to land in the backyard. James sauntered out to greet the woman who shifted right before her beast had landed, her hair immaculate despite the flying. Xotchi followed behind him, moving much slower.
She didn’t seem thrilled.
James greeted his mother, their affection for each other clear, if not a tad reserved. Dragons didn’t like to be near others of their kind for long periods of time. Not that they couldn’t; it was the fact they were territorial enough to not like competitors close by.
While Alemos fell within James’s territory, Evangeline was his mother and the only family the spirit dragon had.
She hugged him and then stepped away, glaring over his shoulder. “Xotchi.”
Oh, right… These two were not friends. I wouldn’t call them enemies, but they were not at the singing kumbaya stage, either. Evangeline was the only reason James could go to the lake without the two getting into a squabble, though. That is, outside of the respect he had for Maggie.
I glanced back at the house. Maggie didn’t appear. She wouldn't come out here, either. Of course, despite all of her recent changes, Xotchi had been the one to kidnap her a while ago. Learning her lesson and deciding she didn't want to be evil anymore didn’t mean Maggie had to like her. And I suspected the omega still didn’t.
Xotchi bowed her head. “Evangeline.”
James sighed. “Mother—”
Evangeline shook her whole body, her long braid swinging with the motion. She smiled up at her son, who towered over her. “I won't start a fight. My dragon would kill me if she didn’t get to soak." She turned to stare at the other woman. "Can this place really hold three dragons without issue?”
I grinned, shouting down to the others. “It’s a lake! In a humongous cave!”
Evangeline smiled back at me, waving up at us. “Well, hello, Lily! Who is your friend?” She waggled her eyebrows.
James mumbled something and her hand came up to cover her mouth. Lowering it enough to cover only her chin, she gasped, “Soren? Is that you? What did you do?”
Xotchi spun and made her way to the gate. James grabbed his mother’s arm, pulling her with him. “Tell you later, Mom. Let’s go while we can.”
The angel and his Berserker went last, grinning at the situation brewing in front of them.
Don’t let things get out of hand, Konner. We need all of them alive. I threw the words down the bond I had with my brother.
