Lucy held one of the sleeping Quins in her arms, as she listened to Morgana and her mates report on what they had discovered during their flight over the neutral lands. The Alpha and Luna each held one of their precious babies, with the fourth one safely cuddled up to Raeann who was representing Ravenclaw so Valenar could catch up on some much-needed sleep. The war room looked more like a daycare than a strategy space, with punnets of half-eaten baby food decorating the war table nicely, but Lucy wouldn't change a thing. The people in this room were like family to her, and she only hoped that one day, when the time was right, she would find her fated mate and they could start a family of their own. She marveled at the knowledge that the next Alpha lay peacefully sleeping on her lap, his rusty hair as bright as the sun, clashing beautifully with his red onesie, and the fiery lashes that lay gently against his cheeks fluttering as he slumbered, blissfully unaware that they were prepar

"How long before he claims her?" Valenar asked as he and Raeann strolled down the pathway back to the Academy. His little mate giggled and her cheeks bloomed red as she shrugged her shoulders. Then Raeann shocked him by saying, " I hope he waits until after we've mated, we have been together longer." Valenars mouth dropped open and he stalled to a stop, his hand curling itself around her arm to keep her there while his reptilian eyes searched her deep purple ones."Rae, do you know what you're asking? You have just turned eighteen. Once we are mated your life won't be your own anymore. Are you prepared for that? If I die during battle, you'll be a Queen to a whole different realm, responsible for all the witches, wizards and supernaturals that reside there. There wont be anyone from your family close enough to share the burden with you either?" Valenar finished in frustration. He ran his fingers through his hair again, when she just stood before him quietly, not knowing what e

Valenar woke with a start, still holding Raeann as she slept, with their newly formed union sapping her energy. There was a change in the air, and he knew that something major had happened. As he tried to wake his tired brain up, there was a shimmer disturbing the air, and Quinley appeared in their bedroom. Her hair was so white it glowed, and as she looked at him with those haunting purple eyes, Valenar knew what that meant."How long?" He whispered, being careful not to disturb Raeann, and Quinley's lip trembled as she replied, "About an hour ago." Nodding to indicate that he understood, Valenar motioned for Quinley to leave the room so he could get dressed. She did so gratefully and after hastily donning on shorts and a t-shirt, Valenar left his room and tiptoed down the stairs into the Academy's study hall.Luckily it was quiet at this time of night and the hall was empty, no one was up late studying, or cramming for an early test in the morning so they were able t

Jarvis walked into utter chaos. He was sure of it. There was no trace of the cool, calm, and collected pack that Lucien spoke so highly of. Instead, people were milling about, completely lost at 5 am in the morning. The Mafia Don had to resist his natural urge to take control of the situation. These people were not his people and their current crisis was none of his business.Then he felt it.A tidal wave of dominant power washed over the entire packhouse as the Alpha held up one hand. Shadow never raised his voice or held a weapon to keep his people in line, yet they all stopped, turned, and waited for their leader to speak. A washed-out looking blond with big breasts stood at his left, not his wife then, Jarvis surmised but holding some position of power within the upper ranks nonetheless. Very interesting. Then Shadow began to speak." Tonight our family at Ravenclaw, have lost a valuable member, but we must remain calm. I don't know who it is r

Lenora was beyond livid, although the baby sleeping peacefully in her arms would never know it. And when Santos casually walked back into camp the next morning, her eyes flayed him wide open causing Santos to halt mid-step. Lenora spoke quietly but nobody missed the steel in her voice."In my office now." They walked in utter silence, past the Dhampirs going through their morning defense session and around the blacked-out tent housing the vampires until they came to the entrance of a nondescript cave. Santos ducked his head as he trailed behind Lenora, entering her personal lair. He was surprised to realize that he hadn't been in her space since they came to camp and that somehow seemed significant. Lenora had made the cave her home. The floor was covered in animal pelts, and although he couldn't feel it given his state, Santos remembered that the walls would be warm with thermal rock, and with the way the cave snaked around before bellying out to the main