Triad

[Demeter]

Darius was quite sure that if either Genesis or Voski were home, he'd get yelled at for putting the baby in harm's way. He supposed that allowing Dare and Ruri to chase each other around the yard in their respective Dragon and Feline forms was dangerous but he could hardly stop them. Whenever Ruri came for a visit, the would chase each other around the grounds.

The first few days of Dare's life with them had been amusing. Voski had been worried about the baby setting things on fire until he'd been told about the quintets of doom. Ever since Lani, Rowan, Sebastian, Gareth and Shay had been youngsters, everything that could be fire proofed, was fire proofed. Any of the other elements they might have had problems with but fire was covered.

When Voski commented on how well Darius handled the baby, he'd looked the Brood dead in the eye and told the man that he had fourteen step-children, though if anyone ever asked, the official number of off-spring was 13. Voski had seemed a little overwhelmed at the number.

Darius knew and understood children. Emotionally stunted Adult Brood were another issue. Dare had been here for a few months now and Voski had been with him and Genesis for the same amount of time. Physically at least.

Reaching the Brood on an emotional and physical level was starting to seem impossible. But Darius had plans. He grinned as he thought of the upcoming Summer Solstice Ball. Yes, he would throw down the gauntlet then and let Voski know it was time to commit himself, mind, body, and soul.

[Demeter]

Genesis repositioned Dare in his sling. "Stop squirming, Imp," she said. The little Brood was only a few months old and did not like being left with the Nanny. Of his three parents, she was the only one available at the moment. Voski was out at the Dragon Compound, a little miffed. He knew that something was going on but no one was telling him details about the solstice ball. Darius was upstairs, dealing with clan paperwork and tutoring the young teens of the clan on their upcoming duties.

Historically, the young men of the clan would serve first as pages and then as squires for a number of years until they could make their first stab at being a warrior. The girls would have to be trained as ladies. Most of these modern girls had stuck out their tongue at that thought (Genesis couldn't blame them; she'd done the same thing) so Darius was allowing them the chance to join with the boys. Mostly, the program of pages, squires, and ladies in training had been done away with, replaced by the Junior Corps Program, except for events like these.

Supposedly, Genesis was supervising the decoration of the Grand BallRoom at their estate in the french countryside. In reality, she was ensconced on a chaise with a squirming baby brood while Maya, the clan's head woman, over saw the process.

She was watching with a smile as Maya yelled at the eight burly men she'd appropriated to haul in the tapestry of the deLorme clan crest. These eight warriors feared the repercussions if they dropped the priceless tapestry. As the men raised the tapestry to the brackets near the ceiling, Maya regaled them all with the history of the crest.

Genesis knew the story so she sat back into the chaise and tried to soothe Dare into a nap. Darius had been born under the banner of the deLorme clan, that of a black dragon. When he'd taken possession of ShatterSoul, he'd been rechristened as Darius and given the mark of a red dragon. On the day that he'd assumed leadership of the deLorme clan, the very day that he'd slain his father, he'd ordered the two crests to be united in a new design. It had taken the ladies of the clan ten years to stitch the giant tapestry.

Genesis tilted her head to watch as the piece of fabric artwork was carefully unrolled. The two dragons faced away from each other, one the deepest of black while the other was a vibrant red, on a white background with their unfurled wingtips touching and their tails entwined. The Black dragon clutched a spear while the red held a replica of ShatterSoul. Beneath the two dragons was the clan motto of "without fear."

She watched as banners were raised around the perimeter of the room. This wasn't just about welcoming the summer season. This was an event of clan heraldry. It was also meant to show Voski just how much he was welcomed by this clan. It said something that Darius had been born under the banner of a Black Dragon. That this clan's founder had been honored by a black spirit dragon.

Voski, despite being one of the Brood, belong to this clan and to its leader. Voski who still withheld his whole self from them on the beliefs that a Black Dragon was somehow tainted. There were times when she was sure he'd finally give more then his body to them but, at the last moment, he'd pull away.

Damn stubborn Dragon wouldn't even tell them why. She was sure it had something to do with the silly idea of protecting them from retaliation from the Brood.

****
Up in one of the upper rooms, Darius watched as Carma ran the young men and women through their paces. As much as they grumbled about their roles as servers, they needed this practice. Couldn't be spilling wine and crab puffs on honored guests. In just a few short days, he would have to force Voski to make a final decision. In the year he'd known the Brood, he'd learned plenty about them. Knew that a final commitment from Voski would happen when he took them as his bonded partners but that hadn't happened yet. Voski had not yet approached them with that offer.

Growling, Darius slammed his fist against the wall, causing the young members of his clan to jump and stare at him. Carma cast him a knowing look. After dismissing the young people, he crossed to his friend. Carma examined the dent in the wall. "Genesis won't be pleased with that," he said.

Darius avoided looking at the impression of his fist. "Make we can hang a picture over it. Is this how you felt, Carma, before you could finally form your triad?"

"My problems were of my own making. I imagine Rune is a better person to talk to about this. But there are differences; no one ever told either Rune or myself that we were abominations that could not be loved. 700 hundred years of being told this is bound to do something to a man. Now, come on, I received a text from Rune a little bit ago, while you were grumbling about the cost of clan livery for the youths. He's one his way back from the harbor and your sister won't stop pinching his cheeks. Luca is enjoying himself."

Darius perked up at the mention of Luca it would be the first time he'd seen the boy since he'd gone off to Avalon. And it would be the first time in centuries that he'd seen his mother or sister.

****

Charis was thankful for the safety harness that kept her attached to the great, white beast of a spirit dragon she was bonded to. It had been eons since either of them had left Antartica and she knew that she was leaning too far to side but she wanted to see things. Thanks to one very grumbly Greek God of the Underworld, she was on the way to a dragon compound high in the Alps to kick the butt of one Black Brood.

In the words of Hades and his damned sword, Darius was all hormonal because his Dragon was blowing hot and cold. Last thing the world needed was a hormonal guardian of Balance. Near insane, split personality Darius was better then hormonal Darius.

Rather then summon the triad to her, she and the ancient, nameless beast she rode, had slipped from Haven at the darkest hour. By now, their disappearance would have been discovered and she wished she could see the ensuing panic. She giggled and stroked the beast's smooth scales.

Up ahead, she caught sight of the red dragon that Darius was bonded to. 'Greetings, Hellfire, from us to you,' she sent to him. 'Can you guide us in to where Voski is?'

Hellfire, hovering in the wind, cocked his head and wondered what the ancient ones wanted with Voski. Shrugging, he wheeled around and led the pair to the hidden compound. He sent ahead, telling everyone to clear out the main compound in order for a landing. A dragon the size on an ancient room needed all of that space to land.

Charis giggled again as they circled down to land. She could hear the residents of the compound freaking out. Some where even screaming. She stroked the beasts shoulder. "You are scaring them, Love."

'They are silly. It is merely my age that has gained me my size.'

"The biggest dragon they know is Hellfire and he is a kit compared to you," Charis said while unbuckling the harness. Rather then slid or climb down from the great height, she used her wings to gracefully float down to the ground. By the time her toes touched the hard packed earth, the commander of the compound arrived. "Greetings, Octavius, I've come to visit your compound and speak to Voski. Where is he?" She asked before turning in a circle to try and find the Brood.

Tavi stumbled over his words. The Oracle was here. He'd received word only a few hours ago that she'd gone missing and now she was watching as the kits backed into people, walls, buildings, and trees while trying to see all of her white dragon. "You're not supposed to leave Haven!"

Charis peered at the sputtering commander and holder of Saturn's Scythe. "I can leave Haven if I want. i just haven't had the desire to."

Tavi was spared the pain of saying something stupid when Charis caught sight of Voski. She gave a happy squeal and bounced over to him. "So glad to see you, Voski. I'm Charis and we need to talk."

She pulled the brood away from the courtyard. "I just have on question for you, Voski. Why won't you bond with Darius? Don't you know that rejecting him like this is just as bad as killing him? What are you so afraid of?"

[Maira]

Voski was not prepared for the onslaught that was Charis. He'd felt the presence of the ancient spirit dragon before it had even landed at the compound and he had come out to see who it was that was connected to such a powerful creature, at which time he was promptly pounced and hauled out of the public courtyard and interogated. He stood gawking at the woman as she demanded to know why he wouldn't take Darius as his bonded partner and informed him that he may as well kill him for all the turmoil he was putting the man through.

Instead of running away like he felt the urge to do, Voski forced the shock and mild panic away. Essentially shutting down his emotions he informed her, "I'm sorry that I'm causing so much trouble, it was never my intent but there are certain rules that one of my kind has to follow, or risk severe punishment for." Then, reaching out to the woman's dragon he begged, *Please tell her what will happen to me and Genesis if I take her as a bonded partner, show her the atrocities I've witnessed,* and with that, Voski showed the great white spirit dragon the fates of black brood who dared to challenge the established rules of blacks not being allowed to take mates or bonded partners of the opposite gender. He showed the dragon the bloody brutal deaths of the partners while the brood watched on before being slaughtered themselves.

After his message and images were relayed to the white dragon, Voski quietly told the unknown woman, "Your dragon knows my fate if I do this, ask to be shown and you will know why I can't take Darius as my bonded partner. If I take him, I have to take Genesis as well and that will kill all of us." Before she could say anything more, Voski shifted into his brood form and leapt into the sky, transforming into his full dragon form in mid-air, before racing off and getting lost in the cloud cover.

*****

Knowing that none of the people associated with Darius knew where his home Holding was, Voski made for the mountains and his hideaway near there. He couldn't do this, he couldn't stay with the DeLorme clan any longer. If he did, he'd get both himself and Genesis killed for certain. Possibly Darius along with them since he would have been the one allowing the bonding of his wife to a black brood. If that happened, if all three of them were killed, what would become of Dare? The boy's custody would default back to the Holding and he would either suffer the same emotional abuse that Voski had, or he would be outright killed. He knew that his own clan was supposed to be more tolerant that others, but there were a few radicals in the clan that would see to it that Dare suffered the same as all blacks.

With these harsh realizations about the fate of his adopted son, Voski changed his course and flew toward the Holding proper and the permanant Gate that was set up for him to travel between the Holding and Darius's home. He needed to talk to Carma about custody arrangements for Dare if anything happened to any of the boy's three parents.

*****

Seeing as he'd been banished to the dragon compound for days, Voski had no idea just what an uproar the house would be in when he arrived. Coming through the gate, he was immediately accosted with the sights and sounds of servants rushing around on various errands. It took three tries before he was able to get one of them to stop long enough for him to ask where Carma was, and all he got by way of an answer was, "I'm sorry sir, I'm not allowed to tell you anything. Try checking upstairs though." Then the servant scampered away, eager to return to whatever she had been doing.

More than a little frustrated, Voski stalked toward the nearest staircase that would take him upstairs and before he was even halfway to the second floor Carma met him coming down. "I hear you were looking for me?" the custos asked by way of greeting. Extra frustration, as well as relief, surged through Voski at the appearance of the man he'd been looking for. The servants wouldn't tell him anything but they were happy to warn the other man that he was looking for him.

Putting aside all feelings of frustration, Voski just jumped right into the purpose for his visit to the house when he wasn't actually allowed to be there. "I need you to come up with some custody arrangements for Dare. Legal ones. Right now the Holding only recognizes me as his parent, not Darius and Genesis. If we have something legal, something in writing, the Holding won't ever be able to claim him. I need to have guardians in writing as well, just in case anything happens to all three of us. And some sort of clause indicating that he will always reside with members of the DeLorme clan or their immediate allies."

The look of surprise on Carma's face was almost amusing but the custos quickly took on a businesslike aire and led Voski to his office to get started on the paperwork.

[Demeter]

Charis growled and stopped her feet while watching Voski fly away. No one spoke back to her like that and just flitted away. No one!

Oh, she knew all about the Brood and their ridiculous ideas about the Black of their kind. She had a small holding of Black brood within Haven. The Brood living closer to Antarctica had a habit of dumping baby black Broods near Haven, as well as chasing adults there. She'd cared for plenty of them herself.

She did not need a tutorial on their habits of dealing with those who broke the rules. "Stupid, stubborn, vile, hide bound idiots," she screamed out the words while the air around her crackled with lightning and the ground frosted over at her feet.

Those standing nearby jumped back at the display of the Oracle's power. Charis growled at the gawkers but she was to used to being stared at to care.

Of all the beings living on the earth, she knew the perils of having such a closed society. And this battle had barely started. She swung away and turned towards her Dragon. She smiled slightly as she watched the Ancient, nameless beast carefully pick his way out of the compound toward open ground. "Darling, where has he gone?"

'He's gone off to his mate. What do you intend to do?"

"I don't know yet. Perhaps if I tie him to a chair, I can get him to see reason? Stay here, Darling. You'll attract to much attention and I don't want him to see me."

After telling Octavius that she would see him later, Charis snapped her fingers and ripped open space and time. Being bound to all the deities had perks, such as almighty powers, but it came at the price of insanity, a death wish and a headache that never went away.

The portal she'd opened spat her out in the hallway of Darius' French residence. Shaking her head, Charis scrambled to hide behind a wall hanging with a set of double doors opened. It was Voski and the Charming Carmine. Vowing to get a dance from the blonde man, she listened as they discussed custody arrangements for someone named Dare. A quick whisper from Hades filled her in in the identity if that person. Pleased with that information, she waited until Carmine had gone back into the office. The moment the doors were closed, she leaped from her hiding place, grabbed Voski and hauled him down the hall. A quick assist from Hades had her in a empty room, where she slammed the Brood against a wall and pinned him there.

"Hi, me again. Listen, I think its great and all that you want to spare Darius and Genesis the pain of possible death. It shows that you actually care about them but I also think you are a dumb ass, idiotic, male...Brood!"

She didn't let the man speak in his own defense. "Do you really think that mating you will be the biggest threat to Darius? He's had people trying for his head since the age if Camelot! Don't believe me? You can ask Arthur himself; his reincarnation should be here soon. As for Genesis, she's been in danger since the day she took up with him.

"He's a warlord. The lord of all Europe in fact, so that's a formidable army the Brood would have to face should they ever try anything. And Genesis, she's a six wing. There's a lot of power in her as the voice of her deity.

"And if the brood did attack and if they were successful in murdering you or Genesis, Darius would first slaughter his enemies and then throw himself on his own sword. He'd follow you into death. And, unless the soul is destroyed, death is never the end for an Alati and their mates."

Weary now, Charis released Voski and dropped to sit on the floor. "I've lived five of your lifetimes, child. I'm one of the Ancients. I've watched as the races of this earth have tried to destroy each other. You've witnessed the slaughter of Black Broods and their mates as a lesson as to what you are not to do. Haven't you ever wondered what made those Brood break the rules even when they knew the punishment? Why are you so willing to give up the greatest love you'll ever know? Just because you're not supposed to?

"You've witnessed what happens but never lived it. Where I am from, we have Black Brood that we've saved. Some because they were abandoned as infants. Other because they were chased to our doors. Some of them after their mates had been killed and we couldn't keep them alive. And, believe me, death is preferable after having love like that taken away."

Charis motioned for Voski to sit across from her. Once he was on the ground, she reached out to take his hands. "I truly do admire and applaud your desire to keep them well and safe but that is also why I am forcing the issue. Let me show you what it means to be in a God Triad."

She squeezed Voski's hands and connected her mind to his. Unlike the Brood sitting across from her, she did not require an intermediary to show him her thoughts, another one of those headache inducing perks of being The Oracle.

First she showed him her mates. Her brave, trident wielding King Ariston. The gentle, sweet healer Gaois. She shared with Voski the overwhelming feelings of love and joy and happiness she shared with the two men.

Then she shared with him the terror of those final days in Atlantis when the tides turned and the Ibrida became outcasts, like the modern Black brood. The knowledge that eventually the mon outside of the palace walls would break through and come for the three of them, their infant, half-breed daughter and all the Ibrida who held power.

She shared with him the moment she's felt her mates' deaths. The very second she felt their hearts stop beating and the sudden emptiness in her soul. The millennia of heartache and suffering and the constantly withheld gift of death.

When Charis finally released Voski's mind, she sat back and huddled into a ball. Reliving those moments caused her to shiver and shudder. "I have lived for twelve thousand years, Voski. I met my mates and lost them before my hundred birthday. Not a day goes by since the fall of Atlantis that I don't wish for death. I've stopped trying as the gods always stop me. But would I wish to go back in time and make it so I never meet Ariston and Gaios in order to escape this pain? Never once have I wish that.

"The bonds we Alati form with our mates, whatever race or species those mates are, extend into eternity. Whatever magic was used against Ariston and Gaios destroyed their souls so we will never be united again. Should you bond with Darius and Genesis and this fate you imagine come to pass, you wouldn't be lost to them."

Charis stood, shaking out her robes before looking at Voski. "The choice is still yours, Voski, about what you do. I know that they love you and it hurts them to see you holding back like this. I know you have feelings for them because you are holding back in order to protect them. You can either turn away from them. They would be crushed but eventually they would recover and the sword would find another to support Darius. You would have to live with the fact that you stepped aside from the greatest love you could know.

"Or you could be brave and stand beside them, giving the Collective Brood the finger and be loved as you deserve. You just have to know what you want more. Darius and Genesis are brave enough to accept you with all your flaws and to stand beside you. They would follow you into death without hesitation or question. Are you brave enough to risk the same and stand against your own people, the ones who tell you that you can't love because of an accident of birth. My advice, take the unconditional offer of love and happiness and tell the Brood to fuck off."

With that, Charis turned away and flitted from the room to announce her presence to the no doubt panicking Darius.

[Maira]

He barely had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief after leaving Carma's office when he was jumped again by Charis and hauled off down the hallway to an empty room. He didn't even get to curse the blasted woman before she started telling him off. Only after her she had finished her tirade and flitted out of the room did Voski have a chance to relax and let things sink in. She had shown and told him many things both about Alati triads and the black Brood colony down at Haven and if what she said could be believed, then maybe he really had a chance at the kind of happiness he thought he had forever been barred from simply because of what color his hide was.

Voski wasn't sure how long it was he'd been in the vacant room but when he left the room and headed off in search of Darius or Genesis, when he got stopped by a woman who looked vaguely familiar. He wasn't sure where he recognized her from, but when she asked his name he responded in his normal semi-formal manner. With a small bow, Voski introduced himself, "My name is Voski Darbinian, its a pleasure to meet you."

[Demeter]

Genovefa wandered the halls of her son's grand home, feeling vaguely overwhelmed. In the time since the Excalibur Triad had returned to Avalon, she'd grown used to modern homes, thanks to the time spent in Merlin's off-island residence. It wasn't the house and its furnishings that were putting her off kilter but seeing her son again after so many centuries.

And what a grand man he'd become in that time. Leader of the clan. Alati ruler of France. Overlord of Europe. Wielder of Shattersoul, the blade of Hades. Father. Husband.

Although, to be completely honest, the number of children and spouses her son could claim was a bit startling. She'd always expected to be called Grandmother but never thought it would be by quite so many people. 13 children, he'd said. 15, if Corrine and Little Dare were counted.

And what about this dragon of his that was dragging his feet on mating her son? Just what was wrong with this Voski? Couldn't he see just what a catch Darius was?

Genofeva huffed and crossed her arms over chest while studying a painting. Darius was of the finest celtic blood; born of The Morrigan and the Royal blood of Avalon. Genofeva would have worked herself into a snit if a flash of white hadn't rushed by her. She spun around and caught sight of the Oracle bounding down the stairs.

One problem down, she thought, a thousand more to go. It was a relief to know that the Oracle was safe, apparently having taken her ancient dragon out for a joyride to France. When she turned again, she was startled to see a man in the hall. One she recognized from photos she'd been shown. Voski.

She smiled at his greeting. At least he possessed manners. "Greetings, Voski. I am Genofeva, a friend of the clan but most call me Morgan le Faye," she waited for his reaction to her other name. Like Aria, she had the two names. The one she'd been born with and the one she was famously know by.

When Voski's eyes went wide, she smiled. "Yes, that Morgan le Faye."

***

Darius was supposed to be dressing for the ball. For that matter, so was Voski but Darius was distracting the man. With Voski staying at the compound and the frantic preparations for the solstice celebrations and ball, he'd barely seen the Brood. He'd walked into the master suite right as Voski had exited the en suite bathroom wearing only a towel and a few drops of water.

The only logical thing to do was pounce on the man, pushing him down onto couch in the room. The towel had been the first thing to go and Darius had used his mouth in an unconventional apology for banishing the Brood to the compound. Voski, judging by the way he yanked at Darius' hair and cried out, was most appreciative of the apology.

Afterwords, when Voski had caught his breath, he'd given the tent in Darius trousers a pointed look and had even reached out to take matters in his own hands but Darius sidestepped away. He'd knelt on the couch beside Voski and leaned closed. "Consider the fact that I'll be hard for you all night long as my punishment for sending you away for the week. Come find me after the dawn celebrations and I'll ride you into oblivion," he whispered into Voski's ear before kissing him and skipping away. He had his own shower to take.

***
Genovefa appropriated Voski as her escort for the evening. After their brief meeting earlier meeting, she'd gone to her son and asked for Voski as an escort. It would draw attention but then, most would assume it was because she was Morgan le Faye and not because he was the true guest of honor. She almost wanted to speak to him without him knowing that she was Darius' mother. She'd get a true impression of him if he wasn't on his meeting the mother in law behavior.

Wearing the sky blue and apple green colors of Avalon, she greeted him at the top of the staircase. "Hello again, Voski. I see you've been asked to haul this old lady around," she said with a smile.

Darius and Genesis had already gone on to greet their guests at the door, so she looped her arm through Voski's and let him led her to the ballroom. Most of the occupants of the ballroom were either clan members or the grandchildren she'd been introduced to. Genovefa spotted Charis, seated on the floor and holding the trident. She was surrounded by young Lord Zahir, his queens and a few burly clansmen.

As they descended the stairs, someone issued a silent signal and the drapes that had hidden the grand tapestry of the clan's crest were pulled back. There was no possible way that Voski missed the reveal. It had been timed to his arrival. He halted on the steps, staring at those two dragons.

Genovefa looked at him. "Darius may have been given the mark of a red dragon by Hades on the day he took hold of Shattersoul but he was born under the banner of a black dragon. I think that has meaning, don't you?"

[Maira]

His brief interlude with Darius before the ball was both unexpected and more than a little welcome. He had missed the man greatly while he was away and with the incident with Charis, he'd been really anxious about seeing the man again. He had wanted to return the favor, but Darius insisted on waiting until after the ball, leaving Voski more than a little twitchy as he got ready for the ball.

He was still rather twitchy when he met his 'date' for the evening. Darius had asked him to escort Genofeva, more commonly known as Morgan le Faye, for the event and while he knew he'd have to escort one of the guests, he was a little curious just why he had gotten paired up with such a well-known woman when he was essentially a nobody. He smiled warmly at her, despite his twitchiness, and answered her, "Its an honor to get to spend the evening with you, m'lady. I hope you don't mind that I was chosen as your escort."

When she slipped her arm through his with a smile, Voski bowed his head to her and led her to the ballroom where the guests were already starting to gather. He knew most everybody in the ballroom already so he didn't really pay attention to them. What he did notice was the revealing of the clan's tapestry. He'd seen the clan symbol before but never in as much detail or so large. When Genofeva told him pointedly about the dragons on the tapestry and then asked him if he thought there might be meaning to the colors, Voski continued to stare at the tapestry for a moment before answering. "I honestly don't know. I'm not really the type to put hope in obscure coincidences."

[Demeter]

Genovefa rolled her eyes. "I'd forgotten just how pragmatic you Brood are. I suppose being trapped on an island for centuries will do that to a person. Sometimes, I wish that Avalon sank just like Atlantis, then I wouldn't have to learn how to function in a "modern" world. I dislike computers and their blue death screens," she said while brooding for a moment.

Genovefa shook her head. "You Brood tend to believe in what you can see, touch and smell. We Alati believe in coincidence and other random things. Mostly because we have to, with our vanishing cities, gods shuffling us here and there and our souls uniting with others for eternity. We have to believe that there is some higher reason for our existences and the things that happen. How else can you explain Charis being denied the death she craves," she gestured to the woman sitting on the floor.

"Or how young Luca and Kyros very clearly remembering their pasts as Lancelot and Arthur?" she motioned to the two men wearing the same colors as her. "If one goes back far enough in the Legends of this world, you'd find both the connect and the disconnect between our races."

As she spoke, Genovefa walked with Voski around the perimeter of the ballroom. "As you may know, the Alati are divided into five houses; Ignis, Unda, Aether, Terra, and Animulus. Four of those five houses are widely represented. The house of Ignis, however has very few pureblooded Alati representatives. Mostly because the members of that house are too passionate about their callings and usually get themselves killed.

"When Atlantis fell, it is believe that a good number of the rebels were of Ignis house. When the survivors fled, they were taken in by a group of spirit dragons of all colors. Spirit dragons, as you know, don't discriminate based on the color of one's hide. These were not the first spirit-dragon/alati bonds - Charis' ancient, nameless beast followed her south. The dragon that St. James supposedly killed is bound to a still living member of the original round table slumbers beneath Avalon. What was different about these bonds is the extreme isolation of those Alati and Dragons. The bonds they shared became very intimate, far deeper then any other spirit dragon and Alati bond before.

"A bond that was so strong it allowed the dragons to take a human form. And create offspring with their Alati partners, thus the first of the Brood were born. None of this can be substantiated, of course, and I'm sure the Brood have their own ideas about where they came from. What I'm sure of is that the Brood eventually formed their separate subgroups based on hide color - like with like - it's the same with every race on this planet and anything that mixes one with another is to be shunned. It brought the ruin of the great cities.

"But, Voski, it is these mixed-breeds who will inherit this earth. They seem far stronger then their older counterparts but the only way it will happen is if people put aside the color of their skin or hide or wings. To not assume anything based on genetic structure. Look around this room and tell me what you see."

As they'd strolled around the ballroom, more and more guests had filled. Darius hadn't just invited his own clan members. He'd invited the heads and select members of the European clans as well as some clans from the other continent. His associations were as wide as his titles. And with the exception of eleven individuals, he'd requested a very specific dress code to be followed. Anyone but those eleven not following that dress code would be asked to change.

When Voski just mentioned the increase in the crowd, Genovefa rolled her eyes. "Brood," she muttered before sweeping her arm out to indicate the crowd," it's quite the statement Darius is making, requesting that everyone wear black tonight. There are eleven of us who have been given leave to wear color. The royal blues and purples of Atlantis. The apple green and sky blue of Avalon. And the Oracle's white."

She turned to face him. "Darius has dragged out the old clan tapestries to be displayed alongside the new crest. He's commanded all but eleven to wear black or be turned away at the door. He's summoned all those who serve beneath him and his allies from the other continents to his doorstep and to not wear their clan colors. He is making a statement, Voski Darbinia, and he's making it for you.

Genovefa considered it lucky that they'd been near a wall lined with chairs because Voski sort of collapsed into one. She sat next to him. "By all that is Holy, he's got at least one deity here to night and believe when I say it is down right impossible to see a Sun God wearing black!" She pointed across the hall to wear Helios, one of the Grecian Gods stood with his mate, the Alati Lord Josif.

She leaned in close. "I know who and what you are, Voski. He's giving you the proof you need that he can stand up to whatever the Brood throw at him and this is just a display on his human-ish forces. Let's not forget the menagerie of creatures he has spirit bonds with. Make you decision to night, Voski, but be warned if you break my son's heart, I will break your back."

With that, Genovefa flounced off to go stand with the Avalon contingent to await the start of the ball.

[Maira]

First, having the fact that nearly all the guests were wearing black thrown in his face (and why), and then discovering that Genovefa was Darius's mother had poor Voski reeling. Morgan le Faye was Darius's mother! Holy shit... As soon as the woman he'd thought to be interesting and nice flounced off to join the rest of those from Avalon, he realized he was no properly terrified of her. Between her and Charis, the women at this party were going to drive him mad if he didn't get some air. Especially since Charis was now looking pointedly at him.

In a hopefully well-concealed panic, Voski got up and made his way toward one of the better concealed exits of the ballroom. If he were to make for the main entrance somebody was sure to stop him, but this alternate exit was also a short cut to the bathrooms so hopefully it would be less conspicuous.

He was nearly free from the crush of people when, as he opened the door, something fell into his shins. Looking down, Voski was surprised to see Ruri clinging to him. As he watched her, Ruri peered past his legs and she began to tremble. Worried for her, Voski bent over and scooped her up into his arms. "Now now sweetling, Uncle Voski's got you." He held her firmly against his chest, more so she'd feel safe and protected than to prevent her from squirming away, and stroked her dark brown hair soothingly. As he did, he realized that her kitten claws were digging into his biceps and her tail was twitching nervously. He needed to find her parents.

Looking around the ballroom, terrified toddler in his arms, Voski cursed Darius and his symbolism because it made finding Ruri's parent's harder. With everybody wearing black it wasn't just hard to determine who belonged to which clan, but just which black-haired woman or which male couple was which. He was still searching for any of Ruri's four parents when the strong, confident voice of his lover sounded loudly through the room. Like everybody else, Voski stopped what he was doing and looked in the direction that Darius's voice came from. Even Ruri turned her head toward her great-grandpa instead of hiding her face in Voski's chest. If nothing else, Voski realized, he could always take the girl to Darius and Genesis. Only, as Darius spoke, all thoughts of what to do with Ruri faded.

[Demeter]

From the top of the grand staircase, Darius surveyed the packed ballroom. With a few exceptions, it was a sea of black suits and gowns. "I was obviously insane when I ordered everyone to wear black. Why didn't you stop me?"

From her place beside Darius, Genesis rolled her eyes. "I did try. You just refused to listen."

"Next time, try harder. I can't tell anyone apart from anyone."

"Hopefully, there won't need to be a next time. Your gambit better pay off, Dear, or I'll brain you with the nearest heavy object. I was looking forward to Baja and now I'm wearing pinchy shoes."

Darius looked down at his wife's feet and admired the strappy black heels she wore. "They're hot."

She thumped his shoulder with a fist. "They're painful. Will you hurry up and get this show on the road so I can take the damn things off!"

Chuckling, Darius took his wife's hand and escorted her down the stairs. It still took them fifteen minutes to work their way across the room to the low stage that had been assembled for the band. A blast from a horn caught everyone's attention. As the crowd quieted, they caught Darius swearing about tying that damned ceremonial horn into a knot.

Once he was aware that everyone was focused on him, Darius grinned and cleared his throat. "Well, let's get this damned show on the road. The wife is wearing pinchy shoes and wants out of them."

Everyone laughed at the comment and the visual of Genesis punching Darius.

"I'm sure that everyone was looking forward to the "family reunion" in Baja this year. I know I was. Sand, sun, surf, fish tacos. The wife in that one itty bitty bikinis she has. But here I am, stuffed into a monkey suit under my own orders. As much fun as Baja and bikinis are, events have occurred this year that demand respect.

"First, I have been given permission to put the rumors to rest. Siren's Song and Excalibur have been reclaimed! Atlantis and Avalon have been returned to is!"

Darius waited for the roar of the cheering crowd to settle. Indeed, it was something to cheer about that two of the lost cities had been returned. "And I am proud to announce that my Grandson, Zahir, is the new ruler of Atlantis and has been chosen to wield the Trident of Atlantis by Poseidon. And that my other Grandson, Luca, is part of the Excalibur Triad."

There was another wave of noise as both clan members and allies cheered again for having two powerful cities associated with their leader.

"But there is another reason for dragging out the tapestries, dusting off the livery and asking you all to wear the color of clan De Lorme tonight. There is something I need everyone's help with. As you know, my Lady wife is part of my Triad; given the number of times she's slapped me with ShatterSoul, there is no doubt of this. In this past year, I have one who might by the final piece to the ShatterSoul Triad."

There was another roar of approval at the news.

"Thank you," Darius said once his allies calmed, "I will not invite him onto this stage or ask someone to shine a spotlight on him as he wouldn't like that but there is a problem. It's a bit of a Romeo and Juliet situation. You see, his family would not approve of the relationship he fears what could happen to Genesis and myself should they resort to physical attacks. His fears are not unfounded; his relations could not only do some damage but end our lives.

"The souls of the Alati may be immortal but our bodies are not. Although I did marry into one of the best Healer Clans and Hades say that he's not going to let me die for such a petty reason because I'm the best handler he's ever had for ShatterSoul. Its nice to know that the boss likes me so much. Even with these assurances, he's still wary of what could happen. His relations are legion but so are we. I need your help to help him understand that we three would not weather the storm alone.

"Not only is every allied clan represented here tonight but nearly every Deity of every European pantheon has an earthly representative present. It is not just my family or my clan that offers us support. There are the clan allies. The clans allied to me under my lesser title as the Custos Ruler of France. All of the clans of the European Nations under my Title as Overlord. There are the great cities of Atlantis, Avalon and Haven offering their support.

"So, My Love, I have a message for the very relatives who would deny you affection and support. They can being their best effort to destroy us but I've got just as big an army, all of whom are rooting for us. Isn't that right, Ladies and Gentlemen?"

The roar of approval was deafening. It shook the rafters, triggered car alarms and rattle panes of glass in their antique frames. Darius waited for the crowd to quiet. "I'm still not going to introduce him to you lot. You'll just have to wait and see what happens. There, now that my speech is done, lets get this party rolling. If my wife would care to join me in the opening dance?"

He was halfway down the stage before he stopped to face the crowd. "My children will be joining me in this dance. We were planning on only using the instrumental version of this song but well, there was some experimental choreography, a fall and now Lady Zhara is lending us her voice and I believe Rune and Carma are still banished to the couch?"

He turned to look at Zhara. From her perch on a stool. She nodded. "Separate couches in different rooms. I'm certain that banishing them to the same couch or even different couches in the same room would be seen as a reward for breaking my leg," she said while glaring at the men in question.

***

While Darius had been inspiring the crowd, Genesis had been looking for Voski. She spotted him near the terrace doors. Judging by the way Ruri was clinging to him, he'd need help. A whisper later and she watched as Lysander was dispatched to pry his daughter off Voski.

While Darius and his children waltzed to Unconditional, Lysander skirted the edge of the crowd until he reached Voski and Ruri. Once he had his daughter's attention, he didn't so much have to pry Ruri from the man but catch her as she lept to him.

Lysander wasn't a dumb man; he knew that Voski was Darius' special man. He could also guess some of the man's thoughts. As they watched the dancing, Lysander leaned close so that Voski could hear him. "I know that our situations are vasty different but did you know that five years in my relationship with Dominic, I left him. Someone from my past was threatening both him and Lani and I thought leaving them was the best way of keeping them safe from that person. Turns out that leaving Dominic nearly killed me and almost destroyed him. Long story short, I was kidnapped and this family moved mountains to find, rescue and save my life. And I was just the ex-partner of Darius' granddaughter's ex-husband. Imagine what he would do for you."

Smiling to himself, Lysander excused himself to return Ruri to the nursery and left Voski with his thoughts.

[Maira]

The speech, the crowd's reactions, and the music left poor Voski gawking. Only Ruri's little claw pricks, and the worry of outing himself as Darius's object of attention, kept Voski from bolting from the ballroom like he had planned. He watched his lovers share the dance, a small smile eventually started to replace the outright fear on his face. When the words finally broke through the fear-induced fog in his brain, Voski had to fight the lump in his throat as he comforted the still distraught Ruri.

Only when the girl shoved out of his arms, practically flying at Lysander, did Voski tear his gaze from Darius and Genesis. He was so glad to see the other man that a broad smile split his face. "Oh thank goodness, she's been terrified of all these people," he mattered to tell the man before Lysander gave his own little speech about the depth of caring and support this family could provide. Even for one, like Lysander, who had left it willingly. When the man turned and left, Ruri waved over her daddy's shoulder and Voski just smiled at her. She was the one that had first lured him to consider joining this family by clinging to him on first meeting and showing him how it felt to have the love of a child, she had now brought Lysander to him with his own story of what this family was capable and willing to do for one of their own, and now she was melting his heart once again by blowing him kisses as Lysander slipped out the door to return her to the nursery.

Throwing all caution to the wind, trusting in the Gods and allies gathered in the ballroom, Voski strode out onto the dance floor and tapped Darius on the shoulder. When he and Genesis stopped dancing, Voski kissed her soundly on the mouth before asking if he may cut in. The answering smile on her face was enough permission for him and he slipped between the couple. When he finally looked at Darius, the look in the older man's eyes was equal parts shocked and triumphant. When he heard gasps around them, Voski knew that the crowd had noticed what was transpiring between their Lord and another man. Knowing it would shock the hell out of Darius, Voski smirked and then fisted his hands in the other man's hair and pulled him in for a less than chaste kiss as the rest of the family continued to dance around them.

[Demeter]

As Voski kissed the hell out of him, Darius didn’t notice the cheers and catcalls from the crowd or his wife’s laughter. He barely noticed when his brother-in-law Titus stepped in and swept Genesis off into the dancing crowd. All he cared about was the man holding onto him.

Darius kept hold of Voski throughout the night, introducing him to the others. And once his clan leaders had left to attend to their own Solstice celebrations. As the sun rose, Darius collected Genesis and guided her and Voski out into the back reaches of his French estate. Hidden away in the woods was an ancient stone dance. There was power within those stones and that’s where they’d make their vows. Decades ago, before any sort of formal wedding, he’d stood here with Genesis and exchanged promises. He’d do the same now with Voski.

Genesis, remaining outside of the ancient ring of stones, watched as Darius pulled Voski to the center of the circle. Darius pulled Voski close until they were aligned. “Decades ago, I brought Genesis, my true wife, here, in this place of ancient power, and pledged myself to her. Now, I do the same for you, Voski, as you are my true husband. No going back now,” he said as he smiled at the Brood.

“You, Voski, you are my lover and my teacher. You are my model and my accomplice and you are my true counterpart. I will love you. I will hold you. I will honor you. I will respect, encourage and cherish you, in sickness and health, through all sorrows and successes, for all the days of my life.”

Before Voski could answer with any sort of reply, Darius pressed a finger to the Brood’s lips and held out of his free hand for Genesis. She stepped into the stone circle and up to the two men before repeating the words Darius had spoken to Voski.

Taking Genesis’ hand in his, they both offered hands to Voski. “Make us the guardians of your soul, Aravoski’garen, and you’ll have our souls to keep and cherish throughout eternity and beyond.”

[Maira]

After that life-changing kiss and dance, the rest of the night went by in a whirlwind. He had been introduced to so many people that by the time that Darius had finally pulled him and Genesis away, Voski was more than slightly overwhelmed. Witnessing the support from Darius's family and allies for not only their lord, but their lord's newest lover left Voski slightly reeling. How could so many who knew nothing about him, other than the two people who had laid claim to him, be so willing to risk all for him?

Voski was lost in thought as Darius led him through the forest surrounding the estate. Only when the other man pulled him past Genesis to stand inside the stone circle did Voski realize that they were no longer anywhere he recognized. The brood may not have been magically inclined, but the power in the sacred space sang to his dragon blood like nothing he had ever felt before.

As first Darius, and then Genesis recited vows to him, Voski could feel the power of the circle gathering around them. He could feel a second power rising within him to match. When he finally took their offered hands in his own, Voski was nearly knocked to his knees as the power surrounding the two people in front of him met the power now surging within him. The two forces brushed against each other but did not mingle causing his heart to race and his head to swim and it took everything he had to ignore the nausea that was threatening to overtake him. After a moment to steady himself, Voski finally managed to speak. He had wanted to return the formal vows that Darius and Genesis had spoken to him, but all he could muster was, "As you give yourselves to me, I give myself to you."

As soon as the last word passed his lips, the power inside of him rushed forward into the man and woman who were now stuck trying to hold his dragon-y bulk upright. At the same moment, the power surrounding Darius and Genesis rushed into him. He knew by the gasps the three of them shared that they were all experiencing the same sensation and that knowledge nearly brought him to tears. He could feel the essences of both of his lovers flowing through his body, connecting every part of himself to them. When he finally felt them settle at the back of his mind Voski reached out gently to them both, testing the newly formed bond. The clarity and strength of it rocked him to his core; it was only then that Voski knew what had truly happened.

In a typical Brood bonding, where a brood takes a partner of a non-brood species, it is an unbalanced pairing. As dragons, the magical essence in a brood will always outstrip that of a non-brood partner. It is this imbalance that leaves the bonded brood unable to resist the mating urge even if they are in a committed romantic relationship with their bonded partner. What Voski had felt was no common bonding. What Voski had felt, was nothing that any black brood he knew had ever experienced. The innate power in Darius and Genesis, combined with that of the stones, had equalled his own. He would never have any need of a Brood mate to satisfy the natural urges of his kind. He had not only been given lovers, in Darius and Genesis, but he had been given true mates in every way possible that a brood could need. His voice quite shaky, Voski told them what had happened.

[Demeter]

Darius and Genesis carted the exhausted Voski back to the house. Trailing them, Rune and Carma acted as both bodyguards and in case any assistance was needed. Once they were safely in their quarters, all three flopped onto the bed. The truth of their bonding was startling and they'd explore it later on.

Like while they vacationed in seclusion on his private island.

Groaning, Darius pushed himself off the bed before pulling Genesis up. They couldn't sleep in their evening wear. Voski appeared to be out cold. With Genesis help, he stripped the dragon down and maneuvered him into bed. While Genesis went to deal with her makeup, Darius stripped out of his own clothing.

Once stripped he took a moment to brush the product out of his hair. While looking in the mirror, Darius dropped the glamour spells he typically wore. There, contained in the center of the red dragon mark that covered half his face, was a smaller black dragon. He grinned and crawled into bed.

***

Danni paced; cousin Voski hadn't been too the holding in three weeks. And when he finally showed up yesterday, cousin Voski seemed different but why?

Scowling, Danni scrambled from her hiding place to spy on her cousin while he took a swim in the holding's lake. What she saw made her screech; young as she was, Dannie knew the difference between a partner bond and a mating bond. "Oh great dragons, what have you done?" She shouted, catching the attention of the holding."

[Maira]

He had wanted to never return to the holding, had wanted to never be forced to be around those that would forbid him what had happened between him, Darius and Genesis. Unfortunately for Voski it just wasn't possible for him to stay away forever unless he wanted to risk losing Dare back to the Elders of their rag-tag clan. So, the day after he and his new mates returned home from some much needed alone time on a private island, Voski had done his duty and gone "home" to the holding.

He had been home for a day already, visiting with his family, and hadn't even checked in with the clan Elders. The next morning as he prepared to see the Elders, he made a bee-line for the holding's lake. He'd gotten quite used to the serenity to be gained while swimming while staying on the island, and if he needed anything right now before facing the Elders it was some serenity. Choosing to swim in human form, Voski left his den in Brood form leaving his clothes behind and carrying only a towel. When he reached the lake-side, the deposited his towel on a boulder and then let his human skin over-take his fine dragon scales. He had picked a spot along the lake shore with a steep drop off under the water and dove in without hesitation. The water was warmed by a hotspring and while warmer than the tropical waters around the island, reminded him of the place anyway.

He wasn't sure how long he had been swimming when there was a screech from behind him at the lake shore. The words from the girl's mouth were like an icy dagger through his heart and suddenly Voski felt himself struggling to breathe. If he had known he wouldn't be alone, he wouldn't have taken human form to swim. The lake was big enough for multiple dragons to fit and play and in dragon form the mark from his mating bond with Darius and Genesis wouldn't have been visible. As it was, the two dragons flying in a circle around the combined family crest of Geneis and Darius was clear as day. It wasn't muted colors like a partner bond would be, it was the bold, colorful and detailed mark of a mating bond.

Before Danni could screech again, Voski told her in what he hoped was a steady voice, "The magic decided it for me, I didn't know it was going to happen." The girl's eyes were wide and full of emotions verging on fear and anger. She was one of the young ones of the clan and not a black, if that fear and anger he saw in her eyes was any indication then despite his efforts to help integrate blacks into their clan was failing.

Not wanting to scare her any more, Voski swam to the boulder holding his towel and heaved himself out of the water before gathering it up and preparing to shift back to brood form to leave the lake and the frightened girl behind. Only, as he was drying himself off, others from the holding began to arrive to see what Danni had been yelling about. When she blurted out his sin, telling about his mating mark, Voski suddenly found himself on the receiving end of more and more glares as others arrived and word spread. He wanted nothing more than to flee the holding and never return, but he knew that with such an uproar among the clan members that the Elders would soon arrive and he needed to face their wrath instead of running away like a coward.

Once he was dry, Voski wrapped the towel around his waist and looked up to see the other four Elders, him being the fifth, arrive at the lake. He held his head high and when dead uncle's mate, and Danni's mother, Iranna demanded to know what the commotion was about, Voski answered her simply, "While I was away, something unexpected happened. A partner bond that I thought I was making shifted beyond my control and resolved itself as a mating bond." He then turned to show the mark at the base of his neck between his shoulders. Voski heard the sound of three sharp breaths followed by growls and hisses and knew that he was likely about to be banished, beaten, or outright killed.

When he turned around to face the other Elders again, they were clearly deciding his fate. The whispers of the other clan members that surrounded the five Elders got louder and more heated with each passing moment, and when the four finally quit their deliberations it took a minute for the whispers to be stopped. The Elder that spoke was, once again, Iranna and she informed Voski loudly enough for the entire clan clan to hear, "You have broken one of the most crucial rules applied to one of your kind. Not with just one other, but seemingly with two if your mark is any indication. You know the punishment. An accident or not, family or not, I speak for the Elders of this clan and holding in telling you that after returning the child you adopted, your life is forfeit. You will fetch him now with an escort of twelve, four of each color, and return for your punishment no later than sunset. If your mates do not return with you willingly for their punishment equal to your own they will be hunted and killed."

The icy dagger that Danni's words had shoved into him, deepend and twisted. How could he have been so careless as to come back here? He knew better, yet he did his duty and returned anyway. The hurt in Iranna's eyes made Voski's heart hurt even more. She had already lost so much and now she was having to sentence him and those he loved to death. Worried what would happen to Dare, Voski asked meekly, "My son, will you take him in?" Iranna closed her eyes and a single tear slipped down her cheek as she informed him, "The boy's life will be forfeit as well. I'm sorry."

Those words were what finally broke Voski and he staggered on his feet as if he'd taken a blow to the stomach. "He's an innocent," he pleaded, looking at each of the Elders in turn. Only Iranna had any compassion in her eyes, the rest had disdain and pity. "He legally belongs to my mates and me, and if anything happens to us he legally must stay among their clans. You can't do this to him!" he begged, hoping that the legal status of Dare's adoption would spare his life.

"The laws of other races do not apply to the Brood, Voski, you know this. Like you and every other full Brood, the child is ruled over by Brood laws. Only hybrids can be held accountable and fall under the laws of non-Brood." This last was spoken by Orek, one of the gold Elders, and this time Voski fell to his knees in defeat. He had done what he could in hopes of sparing his son, yet it appeared it wouldn't be good enough. Two of the clan's warriors, both black like him, stepped forward to lift him from the ground. He didn't look at them, he was too heartbroken and lost in his own thoughts about his son and mates. If he had, he might have caught the look the two shared. It was one of defiance as they didn't like the sentence being laid down on Voski and those he loved. They helped him back to his den and when Iranna tried to follow they made it clear that her presence wouldn't be welcome.

*****

As he tumbled through the gate, Voski yelled at the keeper to destroy it. "Nobody can follow me, bring it down -now-!" The elderly lady was startled but didn't hesitate more than an instant at Lord Voski's command. He was Lord Darius's husband now, he had almost as much say as the Lord himself. When she turned from the gate to tell him it was finished, she was surprised to find he had vanished.

*****

As soon as he was back in the manor, Voski immediately went to Dare and collected him from the nanny. He couldn't be without the boy now, for fear of what might happen outside of his presence. With the growing boy now safe in his arms, Voski went hunting for either of his mates. He asked where they were and when nobody knew where Genesis was he demanded they find her and bring her to Darius's office where, unsurprisingly, the man could be found. Then he hurried there himself and burst in without knocking.

The black eye, broken nose, and blossoming bruises likely gave away the urgency of Voski's visit and Darius shooed away the other men he'd been talking to. As soon as the door shut behind the other men, it opened again admitting Genesis. When she saw the state that Voski was in she nearly went into healer mode but he pushed Dare into her arms instead before collapsing into one of the chairs in front of Darius's oversized desk. After a few breaths, and demands from both Darius and Genesis to know what had happened, he told them everything. He told them what had started with one of his little cousins seeing his mark and how it had turned into a death sentence for all four of them. Then he explained how two of his black brethren had helped him to the gate between the holding and the otherworld only to be jumped by the other 10 members of the official escort that was supposed to see him home to collect Dare, Darius and Genesis. Two of the blacks were knocked out and the other two were killed trying to defend Voski as he bolted for the gate. He was kicked, punched and clawed by two golds and a red before he managed to stumble through to safety and order the keeper to destroy it.

When all had been told, Voski took a shakey breath and stammered out, "I-I'm s-s-sorry..." before slithering out of the chair unconscious.

[Demeter]

Darius managed to keep his emotions reined in until Voski had been seen to and the baby returned to the nursery under the care of Genesis. Only when he was finally alone in his office, seething with anger, did he release the reins. The following roar of anger shook the rafters of hell.

Freed from all the glamours and illusions, the great Lord Darius stormed through his French Estate. Servants ducked and cowered as Darius swept by in all his glory. He took the stairs down, spiraling into the cellars of the great house.

At least Voski had gotten the jump on those lousy, good for nothing Brood, and managed to escape. And they had one up on them; no doubt the good for nothings believed Voski's mates to be a couple of two-bit schmucks. Wouldn't they be surprised, Darius thought as he ducked under beams and into a stone and mud walled room, when they found an army instead.

The children would be sent to Avalon, he thought as he activated the wards around this and all his families' homes. Haven might be just as safe but Avalon was still hidden. And none other then the legendary Arthur and his circle to guard them.

Satisfied that the wards were activated, Darius back out of the ward room and slammed the steel vault door shut. Spinning the dial, he headed for the stairs. His new mate needed him.

Voski had been moved to their chambers and Darius sat next to him on the bed, pressing a cook cloth against the worst of the injuries. Thanks to technology, the message that Voski had been attacked and sentenced to death by his own kind was already circulating through their allies.

Darius knew this would be an eventuality. That didn't cancel out his anger and the first brood to approach his domain would feel the keen edge of Shattersoul. The Brood would learn the hard way just what it meant when he was called Hades-on-Earth.

***

The holding was in chaos. Danni kept a fist pressed to her mouth to stifle any sound as she hide in the rocks. Everyone was shouting and arguing. People had died because Cousin Voski had gone and gotten himself a mating mark.

And she'd opened her big, fat mouth about it.

"Its not your fault, child."

Danni barely muffled the yelp. She scrambled around to see a female dressed in all white. "You're not brood."

"Indeed, I'm not or I'd have to deal with this on a daily basis. Disgusting."

Danni growled. "We're not disgusting!"

The woman arched an eyebrow and looked past the girl to where the bulk of the adults were fighting. She watched as a red threw a punch at a black hide. "Yes, they are to be lowered to such levels over the love life of one man. The truly ancient are disgusted. Voski is better off with his mates for they love and care for him because of his unique characteristics. They won't shame him."

Danni's eyes went wide. "You know Voski? Do you know where he is?"

"Yes, I know him and no, I won't tell you were he is. I simply came here to see what the situation is."

Danni's eyes narrowed. "I could get an adult. They would make you tell us where he is. Voski broke the rules and has to be punished."

"Child, I would be gone before you can blink. As far as I'm concerned, he broke no rules," the woman said before turning to leave.

"Wait," Danni cried. When the woman stopped to look at her. "Could you tell him I didn't mean it?"

The woman nodded before vanishing.

***

Charis supposed she was the only one who could slip past the wards without being noticed but then, she had pantheons on her side. She stood in the bedroom and prodded Voski till be woke. "Remember what you have been told, Voski. This man would raze entire mountain ranges for you and the souls of a triad are eternally linked. Dare will be safe on Avalon and grow into a strong man who was raised with to the ideals of the Arthurian courts. Oh, and Danni says she didn't mean it."

With a wink, Charis was gone. She returned to Haven to watch this epic.

[Maira]

When he woke, he didn't remember much after barging into Darius's office. He was sure he must've told the man what happened but he certainly didn't remember passing out. As he was now tucked in bed and being prodded awake my the damn Oracle, he assumed that he had done precisely that. He wasn't sure why the woman irritated him so much but he listened to her words anyway and about sprung out of bed at the mention of Dare being sent away to Avalon. He hadn't known that and the panic was almost instantaneous at the thought of him not being able to protect him personally. Voski was still reeling from the news of his adopted son being taken away when Charis mentioned Danni. He blinked and stared at her and was about to say something when she winked and disappeared. "Damn woman," he muttered under his breath before attempting to get out of bed.

The full body ache, the sharp pains in his ribs, the throbbing in his face all left Voski gasping for breath by the time he was sitting upright. After that small ordeal he decided maybe getting out of bed wasn't the best idea just yet. Instead, he cautiously reached out to find Dare through their caregiver/child bond and he found that the boy child was still on the premises and he let out a sigh of relief. The boy hadn't been moved yet, at least he would get to say goodbye first. Dare may not have been his biologically, but as far as the baby knew he, Darius and Genesis were his parents. He was also Voski's first child, again regardless of biology. Being parted from the boy was going to be hard on not only Voski but the boy as well. Brood children bonded with their caretakers, often their biological parents but not always, and the removal of even one caretaker could leave a child reeling for a while. Remove all at once? Voski honestly didn't know what would happen to the boy, he just hoped that Dare bonded quickly with somebody in Avalon to hopefully help stave off any lasting effects.

Once he knew that Dare was still nearby, Voski reached out to both Darius and Genesis to let them know he was awake and that he needed to talk to them about what was going on. He also asked them to bring Dare and the twins before they were sent away. If Dare was leaving, he was certain the older children would be as well and he wanted to say goodbye to them too.

Once his mates arrived and got the trio of littles was settled in, playing happily on the floor next to the bed, Voski asked bluntly, "So Charis said that Dare will be going to Avalon?" Voski was a little confused by the amused and irritated look that flashed across Darius's face at that so he looked to Genesis hoping for a more clear answer.

*****

Aria was bouncing. Kyros couldn't help but stare at her like she'd grown a second head. He didn't dislike children, he just didn't really understand them either. Hell, he hadn't even understood his little sister when she was a child. Now, to have been asked to be guardian for Lord Darius's three youngest children for an undetermined amount of time... Kyros was doing his best not to panic. Watching Aria bounce around the castle making arrangements for the children didn't help him stay calm.

*****

When word had come to Avalon that Bricius, no she reminded herself, Darius needed a safe place for his three youngest children to be hidden away she had immediately agreed to house them. Maybe she should have asked Kyros and Luca before agreeing, but as Darius was Luca's quazi-uncle and she had a history with the man, she didn't think it would be a problem. Luckily for her she completely missed the panicked look on Kyros's face as she scurried around the castle on Avalon trying to make preparations for the young trio.

Also luckily, Aria was glad, Luca didn't seem terribly fazed by being sent off to meet the children and their escorts at the gateway off-island. As Luca was one of three people on Avalon capable of carrying the sword Excalibur, the item that let people pass through the magic surrounding the island that kept it safe from outsiders, as well a member of Darius's family, it made sense for Luca to be the one to see his little "cousins" onto the island.

*****

Merlin too would be greeting the toddlers, baby, and their escorts as the gateway opened practically in his front yard. He'd gotten the message, the same as all of Darius's other allies, that the children needed to be hidden away due to threats against their parents and he had been the one to suggest Avalon for the children. He too didn't think how Kyros would feel about the invasion of his hidden island because he too had history with the other Lord and had sworn long ago to help him when able. Merlin would also be accompanying the children and Luca onto the island after sending the escorts home and destroying the gateway. Once back on the island, he would send soldiers and another high level mage back to his home to guard the dock that, given the presence of Excalibur, would grant access to Avalon.

The island and the children would be kept safe at all costs.

[Demeter]

Kyria stood in the shadow of the stone ring. Behind him, Lucian lounged, snuggled against the raised roots of a great tree. They waited outside the ancient stone circle for the others to gather. Together, the ancients would review and judge the case of a Black Brood named Voski. While Modern Black Brood who defied the Modern rules were nothing new, usually so far below the radar of their august circle that they never noticed, this case had been brought to their attention by Charis.

Kyria glanced to his left and observed the woman currently draped over one of the ancient stones. She'd shown up at The Gates, informed him that their worlds were about to collide with each other again and demanded he come to the DeLorme estate in France. The Gods, he'd been informed, would clear a path for him. The estate was currently on lockdown due to outside threats against this Voski. The ancients were to review the case and then decide to approve or deny their support for Voski.

It wasn't long before the six other ancients appeared out of the mists, their bonded partners and mates trailing behind them. These men and women were like him, former Spirit Dragons who'd been enabled to take a human-like form. Kyria nodded to them before turning to Charis. The mates, Alati who'd escaped Atlantis, gathered around Lucian and flopped down next to him. It was Amyntas, the second of them all, who spoke first. "Why have you called us here?"

Charis sat up, frowning a little as she wiggled into a comfortable position. "The seven of you were the first. You were spirit dragons who became capable of shifting into a humanoid form. First was Kyria and last was Gaia. All those who shifted after Gaia did it because the seven of you were able to explain how. But that is only part of the reason I've summoned you. Not since you seven has there been another Brood who's been blessed with a mate mark from one who is not Brood."

As one, they turned to look at the seven Fire Alati, scions of a dying breed, gathered around the tree. It was true, Kyria thought, that the bond between him and Lucian was very different then nearly all the bonds among the Brood. The partner mark on Lucian was small, faded and hidden beneath his hairline but the mark of their mating was bright, big, and sprawled across his shoulders and arms. He himself bore the same marks, in the same condition and places on his own body. The marks of his mating to Nala, done to settle her instincts, were like the partner marks. Small, faded, and hidden. Secondary to what he had with Lucian.

"As many of you know, there are those among the Alati who are special and blessed to be able to hold a God tool. Those who are blessed then find their Triad; two others who complete and support them as the burden of a God tool is great. About a year, year and a half, ago, Voski was proven to be the third of Darius' Triad. Several weeks ago, right here, they completed the Triad bonding. It was a True Brood Mating. Now, his holding, which he help found as a place for misfits, is calling for his, Darius and Genesis' death because of this."

Hero cocked his head. "Then this holding is not a true home for misfits, not if they follow the laws of the Modern Brood and deny basic rights for those with a Black hide. Do you wish us to offer them sanctuary?"

Charis started to speak but Amyntas cut her off. "Wait just a moment. Before we go offering sanctuary to one side of a war, how do we know its a true mating mark? Its not like she's not known for not setting things up to suit her purpose."

Everyone winced as Thais, Amyntas' mate, threw a rock at his head and hissed. Rubbing his skull, the red dragon looked over his shoulder and shrugged.

"I should be offended by that, as I am a tool of the Gods and do their bidding, but I imagine Thais can come up with a far more effective punishment. Also, I though you might say that so I have prepared a presentation for you. If you would enter the circle between these two rocks, please and thank you."

They filed between the indicated rocks, shuddering as the ancient magic washed over them. Charis slipped off the rock once they were within the ring and waved her hand. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present the moment when Lord Darius, Lady Genesis and he who is now known as Lord Voski, spoke their vows and made their bonding formal."

The images appeared before them and Kyria watched as the trio exchanged vows. Another wave of Charis' hand stripped the image of Voski of his shirt and the seven watched as the mating mark appeared. It was big, vibrant and obvious. Charis waved once more and the images vanished. She turned to Amyntas. "Is that enough proof for you?"

Amyntas nodded. "Very well. Are you asking us to stash them into one of our refuges and hide them?"

"No, Darius is too public a person and has to many responsibilities to simply go into hiding until this blows over, not that I believe it will, nor can I ask you to battle against your own. What I ask is, should they need sanctuary for a short while, they would be permitted within your holdings."

The seven glanced between each other and Kyria stepped forward. "While I'm sure my friends would offer space, they are welcome within the Gates."

Charis nodded and led them out of the circle. "You are all free to go except you, Kyria. I'd like you to stay behind and explain this to Voski."

Kyria nodded, following the others out of the circle. They made quick work of any small talk and soon the six other ancients and their mates slipped away. Kyria turned to Charis. "Well?"

"One more moment, my friend," she said and turned towards the woods. "May, you can come out now."

Kyria watched as a young female Brood slipped in from the shadows. He hadn't sense her at all. A halfling, like Voski, but one who'd gotten lucky with a red colored hide.

"She's one of mine, Kyria, and I thought her presence might ease Voski's fears for his adopted son. May has had an easy life, having been born and raised in Haven, and she's well educated in Brood ways. She can be both nanny and educator for little Dare. Her mother, a red named Mai, was mauled by her mate's clan, blinded in one eye and had her vocal cords irreparably damaged before she came to us."

"What makes today's Brood keep mating with other colors when they know what will happen to them?"

"Life is an unstoppable force, Kyria, and so is death. That's what makes those who balance the two important. For the record, May's father wasn't Mai's mate. Its an old story; two warring holdings agree to stop killing and exchange their young people in arranged matings. Mai was promised to the son of a prominent Brood. On the first day of her flight, one of the holdings black hided ones rose up in challenge, killed the son and flew her against her will. The holding blamed her and chased her out."

"An old story told anew."

Charis raised an eyebrow. "History is but old stories being retold. Nothing changes. Come, Darius will probably know there are intruders on his lands by now."

***
Darius did indeed know that there were strangers on his land. Even though Hades had told him it was only Charis with friends, he still seethed and clutched as the wide, stone banister of the balcony. The Brood had not yet found them but his children were leaving today. And Charis had just proved that his wards weren't completely impenetrable.

All three would be well guarded on the journey to Avalon. Luca was present, along with the Lady of the Lake. And Tavi had promised several wings of riders to provide ariel coverage. And yet Charis had snuck onto his property with a couple of Brood.

Growling, his fisted his hand and thumped it on the banister. His feathers were still ruffled, metaphorically speaking as his wings were more dragon-like then bird-like, and be hadn't been able to keep his glamours up. The children had been frightens when they'd first seen their Papa looking like this.

Curse the Brood for causing such fear, he thought while turning back to the house. He sent one of the maids up to the nursery where Voski and Genesis were helping the children pack. In short order, the two were downstairs. "Charis is here and she's brought guests," he said while waving a hand towards the open balcony doors.

Genesis went over and peered out. She could see Charis and three others clearing the parkland around the estate and strolling across the lawn proper. "She's got two Brood and another Alati with her. What does she want?"

"Hades says she's bringing us gifts."

"She's not carrying anything. Perhaps she's brought us the leaders of that holding and you can take off their heads?"

Darius looked to Voski, silently asking if he knew the two Brood. He sighed when the man shook his head. As the two men joined Genesis on the balcony, the quartet below started climbing up the stairs. "Charis, mind explaining what you are doing here and how you got through my wards?"

"Simple, the Gods let us through. You should have been able to guess that. As for why I am here, may I present May, Kyria and Lucian. Lucian chased me around the palace gardens as a child, Kyria is his mate and May is one of the outcast Brood who live within Haven."

Darius stepped back; in one sentence Charis had revealed that the Alati was one of the ancients and the male Brood was equally important. "Mate like..."

Charis smiled and nodded. She turned to face Voski. "Lucian is Kyria's mate like you are Darius' mate. Kyria is one of the seven original Brood; spirit dragons who became capable of a taking a humanoid form. Kyria?"

"I wanted to be with Lucian. Couldn't do that as a dragon. I wanted it enough that it just happened. Lucian is my true mate."

Charis grinned at the trio. "You are not alone. Kyria and the other six run special holdings where Black Brood have rights."

Lucian stepped forward. "And, should you three need an escape at any time, for any reason, you are more then welcome at The Gates of the Arctic Holding in the Endicott Range in Alaska. Voski, Kyria can give you directions so that you don't need an escort. The holding population is there by invitation only and most are asleep. We have hundreds of Black Brood who live fulfilling lives with their mates there. Now, I believe Charis has another gift."

Charis smiled and pushed May forward. "This is May. She's volunteered to be Dare's nanny and tutor in all things Brood while he's at Avalon."

"More like I was volunteered. Lord Voski, if it would please you, I would like to care for Master Dare. May I meet the little Master?"

[Maira]

Voski was grateful to not be tied to the wards around the property like Darius was, it meant that he'd been oblivious to the intruders' presence until Darius sent for him and Genesis. By the time he arrived by Darius's side, Voski was bristling with fear and anger. Hiding one emotion alone would have been simple, hiding both was impossible. He couldn't help but hover close to Darius's side as the three of them watched Charis, gods blasted Charis, and her companions make their way to them.

When the four finally topped the stairs, it was taking all of Voski's will power not to fight or flee from the brood now present on the estate. He did his best to remain passive and listen to what the Oracle had to say and only when she explained fully who the two men were did he begin to relax. They were like him and Darius, and if they were here at the bidding of the Gods then surely they weren't going to hand them over to his old clan.

At Lucian's mention of another gift from Charis, the Oracle pushed forward the second Brood that had come with her. Listening to Lucian had lulled Voski into forgetting the girl's presence and once she was front and center again, his lip nearly curled in a snarl. Instead he bit it and managed to keep his reaction down to a mere flaring of nostrils as the girl spoke.

When May asked to meet Dare, Voski grabbed Darius's hand to help steady himself and glared daggers at Charis. Why on earth would she offer a Red, if the girl's hair and eye color were a proper indication, one of those swearing to kill the child right along side his parents, to be Dare's nanny? No words were forthcoming from the Oracle by way of explaining herself and Voski couldn't help the panic rising in his chest. He squeezed Darius's hand once before muttering, "I'm sorry, I can't," and turning and running from the meeting. He needed to be with his son.

*****

When Darius, Genesis, and May finally joined him in the nursery, Voski had calmed down considerably. Being around the children had that affect on him and after he'd had a few moments with Dare, reinforcing their mental connection, his head had cleared enough that he realized why he had reacted so strongly to May. It wasn't her at all, she had come with Charis after all and not from his old Holding. It was just her hide color, something he had sworn he would never hold against another Brood. And if it hadn't been for the brutal attack he had suffered at the hands of both golds and reds he likely would have still been able to hold to that oath.

As soon as he saw the girl, now a little nervous in his presence, Voski felt horrible. He snuggled Dare close, inhaling the boy child's scent deeply, and walked toward the girl. "I'm sorry May, I reacted very poorly before. I hope you will accept my apology and still be willing to look after our son." At her affirmative nod, Voski held the happily squirming baby out toward the young red female and introduced them to each other. "Avandarek’Ara, this is May. May, this is Darek who we call Dare." When the girl took Dare from him, Voski sidled up between Genesis and Darius. It was taking everything he had in him to hand the boy to somebody else, somebody not a part of Darius's trusted household. His breathing was a little rapid, anxiety threatening to overtake him. Without realizing he'd done it, Voski was leaning into Darius and had tangled his fingers with Genesis's.

[Demeter]

May gladly took hold of the baby. "Hello, Dare. My name is May," she cast a look at Voski, "just May. My mother no longer believes in all things Brood and didn't give me a Brood name. I've honored her choice by not picking one for myself. Now, if you'll excuse us, I would like to get to know Dare and his siblings."

Keeping an eye on the girl and the children, Genesis sidled up alongside Voski. In low tones, Genesis filled him in on May's history. "She's been tutored in Brood ways so she can teach him but, more then that, she'll be able to keep up with him when he starts stretching his wings."

Darius come up alongside the other side of Voski. "He'll be safe on Avalon and, more then that, he'll be living with some of the greatest knights known to mankind. He's bound to learn some manners. And as much as I don't want to see the three of them go, think of all we could do without them around."

Genesis reached around and lightly smacked Darius. "What a thing to say, all though he does have a point. Luca will see to it that we'll be able to talk with all the children regularly and they'll be safe on the island. The spirit dragons who are on the island will be ample protection even if he is somehow found."