Welcome to Haven

[Demeter]

Serenity lounged on a pile of cushions. Covered by a thick blanket and not moving, many would think she was sleeping on the job. She both a guardian and not one. She was a guardian for the interior of Haven and a contact for the creatures made of snow and ice that guarded the entrances. Except for emergencies, she wouldn't venture beyond the fire gate. The weather outside was often inhospitable and there was the danger of running into the human scientists. 

In order to guard their beloved Haven, Serenity and the other guardians would mentally connect with the creatures outside and romp with them for the duration of their shift. In doing so, they were partially disconnected from their bodies. The cushions provided something soft to protect them from the cold, hard floor. And the blankets were to keep their bodies warm. The heat of Haven didn't reach all to the gates. 

On this Antarctic early summer day, roughly early november, she and Bubba were romping in the snow. They'd scouted out several of the research stations and watched as the humans did their experiments and research. For Bubba, the scouting was play and for Serenity it was a chance to watch humans. As a species, they fascinated her. She didn't get outside of Haven much and they'd only had a few of the human researches inside Haven. The ones that did cross the gates were usually unconscious and kept that way so she couldn't ask questions. Their very existence depended on keeping Haven secret. They couldn't let humans, especially the scientific ones, wander about as they pleased.

They were rolling in the snow when she spotted a bit of color flapping in the wind. Directing Bubba to it, Serenity discovered that it was a distress flag. They looked around the area but saw nothing. The wind she though had kicked up over the last few hours and had changed the landscape. She directed Bubba to not only dig around the flag but to summon the others who guarded the fire gate. With the help of the others, it didn't take long to not only uncover a wrecked dog sled but the team and their musher as well. 

Bubba got right up into the musher's face, nearly forehead to forehead, so that Serenity could get a look at the wound on the person's skull. The arid terrain of the Antarctic was always changing and the musher was probably new to the area and had gotten lost. Probably directed the team over a ledge or something, Serenity thought, in order to gave taken such a knock to the noggin and to have wrecked the sled. Directing the silly creatures to stay put, Serenity broke off contact with Bubba. 

Back in the safety of the gate house, Serenity woke with a start and caused the healer assigned to her to jump. She struggled to throw off the blankets and get up. "Sent for pony carts, Daria," she told the healer. "wounded musher and sled team out there."

She barged into the outer room, causing her two apprentices to yelp and jump. As she grabbed her own outdoor gear, dyed a deep blue, she td the other two girls to suit up and then hitch the gate teams up. Pulling on her gear, Serenity hopped into the road between the two gate houses. Her partner guardian, the man who'd not only trained her but was the father of her first born, came out the opposite gate, followed by his healer, the healer's apprentice and his own two apprentices. "Please, Phyrrus, let me be the one to lead the rescue of that musher."
The older man looked at his protege. "You just had a child, Serenity."

She rolled her eyes while tugging her boots on. "Flynn is three months old. I was cleared for active duty weeks ago."

"What if you run into other humans out there? Flynn could end up motherless."

"One, Marta would never not mother Flynn. I have to pry him away when I go to pick him up. Two, there was no one else out that. That person is very much alone."

Phyrrus sighed. She presented very sound arguments and she was able to take care if herself. Hadn't she led overland searches on several occasions without detection from humans? "Very well but you are taking Adam and all four apprentices. If something happens to you, the Oracle may just kill me."

Serenity zipped up her coat and tugged up the zipper. "Nothing is going to happen to me, Phyrrus, so stop worrying. Now, where is my sled team? Kat, Yuna, Jackson, Pierre and Adam, let's get going. Open the gates, Phyruss."

Once the gates were open and the four teams ready, Serenity gave them the go ahead signal. Laughing, she whipped out a pair of sunglasses as her team lunged into the sunlight. 

It took fifteen to twenty minutes to find the wreck with her eyes. The weather was starting to turn, heralding a coming storm, by the time she called the team to a stop. Adam, her eldest and a apprentice healer, was the first to come to a stop. Even before Serenity brought her team to a stop, he was out of the sled and running across the snow to the injured musher. Serenity called out her orders. Kat and Yuna were to load the dogs onto their sleds. Pierre was to wrangled the wreckled sled while Jackson handled the musher's supplies. Not one bit of anything was to remain out on the snow where the humans could find it and track them back to Haven. Once the guardian apprentices were doing their assigned tasks, Serenity turned to her son. Adam had finished his exam of the wounded and was preparing the sled for transport. "Well? How bad is it?"

"Female of Mutari and Wolven heritage, age undetermined. She's been out here for a few hours. Body is to busy keeping vital systems going that it hasn't worked on the wounds yet. Extremities starting to show signs of frostnip. She needs to get warm. Hop in the sled, Mom. I can't hold a heat summoning yet."

Serenity nodded and climbed into the sled. Adam lifted the musher and settled her against Serenity. "Please excuse my forwardness but I don't want you to die," she said as Adam draped both a thermal and thick blanket over the woman. Under the blankets, Serenity worked off her gloves to open the coats the musher wore. She worked one hand up under the layers of shirts until her palm rest against the woman's heart with skin and skin contact. The other hand went under the woman's coat hood and hat. With her hands in place, Serenity called to the gods of fire. "Oh, Gods of Fire, please grant me the power to heat this woman's body and keep her alive."

She felt their answer as her hands heated up. She nodded to Adam. "Once everyone is ready, head back. Pull the blanket up."

Once she was covered, Serenity focused on the woman. She felt the jerk of the sled as they started back but she stayed focused on warming the body. The ride back seemed to take forever. Once they got back to Haven, she stayed with the woman, being transferred with her to the pony cart that would take them to the healing hall. 

It wasn't until the woman was stripped naked and placed in a warming bath that Serenity released the power and broke contact. She stayed at the hall, filing out her report and going through the woman's stuff when it was brought up. The dogs, she'd been told, had been taken to the kennels at the Earth Gate to be looked over by the vets and the sled had been left just inside the Fire Gate. 
Once she found the credentials, she took them to the healers. "Her name is Zoya Volkov. She's a photojournalist assigned to the US researchers."

Not long after that, Serenity went to go fetch her son. First she stopped at her apartments to change. After she'd collected Flynn from his soon to be step-mother Marta, she returned to the healing hall. Zoya, she learned had been healed of her wounds and her body brought back to it's normal temperature. Now all that was left to do was wait for her to wake. Serenity volunteered to sit with the woman. 

It was late in the night when Zoya showed signs of waking. Serenity, leaving her baby in a cradle that one of the healers had brought in, leaned out of Zoya's door and quietly called the healer assigned the night watch. Once she was on her way to the room, Serenity returned to the bed. Sure enough, Zoya's eyes were open and she was frantically looking around. Serenity leaned over the bed until she caught Zoya's attention. "Good evening, Zoya," she said, "and welcome to Haven."

[Maira]

She'd grown restless in Egypt so she had gone on the hunt for a job elsewhere. Luckily, being a photojournalist meant she was pretty much able to go anywhere so she just kept scanning until something new and interesting came up on her laptop screen. One listing in particular jumped out at her and she couldn't help but giggle, "Nothing like going from desert sands to polar ice-caps." Within a week Zoya was packed, her few belongings were in storage, and she was on her way to the south pole.

Her adventures at the bottom of the world had barely started when she'd been out with one of the dog teams, something she was normally quite skilled at, when the terrain disappeared out from underneath them. She had only long enough to thank the gods that they were actually over land instead of the sea before her head cracked down onto something very hard and very cold.

*****

Her head ached something awful. She wasn't sure she wanted to open her eyes but considering the last thing she remembered was the team falling into a hidden crevice or something, she needed to know what had happened to them. Opening her eyes slowly so they could adjust to the light, Zoya looked around for Emanuel. He was the research group's doc and he should have been nearby. Only, when her eyes were able to focus properly, she realized that she wasn't back at base camp. She knew better than to sit up, but that didn't stop her from looking around in a panic.

After only a moment, Zoya's eyes landed on an unfamiliar woman and when the woman spoke she nearly lost her battle of wills as her body demanded she scramble off the bed and away from this woman. Instead she tried to steady her racing heart and answered, "Uh, hi." She didn't have a chance to ask any questions though because at that moment another woman entered the room and beelined for her. It didn't take long to figure out the second woman was a healer and Zoya tolerated her pokings and proddings and answered questions as best she could.

By the time the healer left the room Zoya was exhausted, but she had even more questions for the first woman and a few slipped out unbidden. "What is Haven and who are you?"

[Demeter]

Serenity kept out of the way while the healer did her thing. She knew better then to get in the way; she'd been bumped out of the way enough to learn that much. On e the woman healer was satisfied that Zoya wasn't in any danger of complications, she instructed Zoya to rest before leaving. Only, Zoya didn't seem interested in rest at the moment. At her questions, Serenity sat on the edge of the bed before answering. "I am Serenity, one of the guardians on Haven. And Haven is a sanctuary for those of the Other World. Now, rest and don't worry."

Once Zoya was asleep, Serenity collected Flynn and told the night-duty healer that she'd be back in the morning to check on things and discuss the situation with Zoya. With the baby wrapped in his sling and asleep against her chest, Serenity walked the quiet streets to her quarters in the Fire District. The timekeepers kept everyone on a fairly standard schedule by creating artificial days and nights in their underground home. The ball of light that acted as their sun and moon was dimmed down to a silvery glow.

She past few people in the streets; there was always someone awake in Haven. From the scholars, who often disregarded such things as day and night, to the ones seeking solace who couldn't sleep without being chased by their personal Custoss to the ones who were simply night owls.

After a thirty minute walk, Serenity reached the Guardian tower and, huffing out a sigh, started to climb the stairs to her quarters. As a mother with three minor children, she rated some of the best quarters in the tower. While she enjoyed the two level, five bed quarters she'd been assigned, there were times when she missed the ground floor, one room unit she'd had as an apprentice. Especially at times like this, when she had to climb up ten flights of stairs with ten pounds of dead weight strapped to her chest.

Giving her sleeping son the fish eye, Serenity climbed the stairs. She was only slightly winded by the time she'd reached her quarters. She quietly checked on the occupants. The girls were asleep in their beds, one sprawled out in all directions while the other was curled into a ball. Adam, her eldest who'd volunteered to keep an eye on the girls, was using her guest bed and, Serenity noted with some surprise, had Jackson curled up along side him. Grinning to herself, Serenity put Flynn into his bed and crawled into her own. It had been a long day and once Zoya recovered, Serenity would have to explain the situation and the woman's options.

A day later, she received word from the healers that their guest was sufficiently recovered and would be released into Serenity's care. Temporarily excused from her gate duties to be both guide and jailor to the woman, Serenity hurried down to the Healing Tower were Zoya was currently residing.

She found the woman sitting up in bed and clutching her bag. "Hello again, Zoya. I hear you are being released today. Why don't we take a walk in the garden and talk about what happens now."

The environment of Haven was more like the tropics then the endless winter of Antartica and the gardens surrounding the Healing Tower were lush. Serenity found them a quiet spot in the shade of a tree and sat down on a bench. "As I said when we first met, Haven is a sanctuary for people of the Other World, like you and me. I'm sure that by now you've realized that your research team or anyone you've spoken too hasn't mentioned a secret society of non-human beings that live within the Antarctic mountains."

When Zoya blinked at her, Serenity smiled. "That being said, our continued survival here requires secrecy. I'm sorry to say this but we can't just let you leave now that you are healed."

Serenity could see that Zoya was starting to panic about being kept captive. She raised her hands but didn't touch the woman. "We're not going to force you to stay. It is your choice to stay or go but all choices have consequences. You can leave Haven. Your team is fine and your sled is repairable but, if you leave, all memories of this place will be removed from your brain. Or you can stay here and live in this hidden paradise but the people on the outside would believe you to be dead, lost in the Antarctic desert."

Serenity stood. "Please, I encourage you to take a few days before you decide. Explore Haven before making a choice. You may stay with me or in guest quarters for however long you stay. I'll just be over there," she pointed across the way, "while you decide."

[Maira]

Even now, confronted with Serenity's presence and explanations, Zoya had a hard time believing she was at some hidden community at the south pole. Surely a place as large and full of people as Serenity made it sound wouldn't easily be hidden from the rest of the world. Right?

When Serenity walked away from her, standing a short ways off, so she could make a decision on where to stay, Zoya got up from her bed and peered out the window again. The sight before her couldn't really exist, could it? The place seemed downright tropical and it went on for what seemed like miles. How could a place like this truly exist amidst the ice and snow?

All Zoya really knew when she turned from the window was that she wanted a chance to explore this strange place. It may not have been what she'd signed onto learn about with her trip south, but it seemed as good as any. Approaching Serenity, her bag in hand, Zoya told her, "I want to stay in Haven, beyond that I don't really know much at all. How close are the guest quarters to where you are? Since you're the only person I even slightly know here I would like to be somewhat close by, I just don't want to impose by staying with you." She wanted to ask about her dog team too, but she figured once she had a place to stay she'd ask to see them. Ideally, if she were going to be staying in Haven for any real length of time, she'd eventually wind up with them living with her. She'd gotten rather attached to the team and they were all that was left of her old life, and she of theirs.

[Demeter]

Serenity smiled. "You'll be right across the square from me. Come, let's gather your things and I'll show you the Fire District before getting you settled for the night."

After getting Zoya all checked out with home care instructions, Serenity showed her the immediate area of the district. She explained that Haven ran the length and breath of the the Transantarctic Range and was divided into five districts (earth, air, water, fire, and soul) with offshoots and smaller districts everywhere. She showed Zoya the most important areas (coffee house, lending library and the bakery) before taking her to the guest residences. She pointed out her apartment in the guardian tower and then showed her to her quarters. "Tomorrow, if you feel up to it, I'll take you to your dogs. They are fine by the way. And then, if you are up for it, I'll take you to the Oracle. She likes the greet everyone new here."

***
It took some doing but Serenity managed to pry Zoya away from her sled team the next day. Only after promising to return the woman to the excited dogs did she manage to get her to the Oracle's tower. The Oracle, who also happened to be Serenity's Grandmother, spoke with Zoya, while sending Serenity on a wild Phoenix chase.

Charis waited till Serenity was out of the room, chasing after paisley and Coco, before speaking to the young woman across from her. "That pair is at the top of this tower. I wanted to speak with you alone and needed to get her out of here. You've had a few hard times in your life, Zoya, and I invite you to take as much time as you like here. You haven't fully healed from your tortures."

When the woman gawked at her, Charis smiled and tapped her forehead. "The Mutari were born from the Alati; the connections to the Gods are still there even if the Mutari do not need them any longer. You are welcome here, Zoya. Also, the gods wish you to know that your child, Kolya, lives and not to fret. He will find you again and will be in good company."

Charis sighed. "Serenity has found the birds. If it weren't for Coco making a scene, it would have taken longer."

In short order, while Zoya was being entertained by the two birds, Charis spoke to her granddaughter. "During the Feast week of the Fire Festival, take Zoya to the fire cave."

Serenity blinked. "The fire cave? But thats..."

Charis grinned. "I know. Have some fun for once, Serenity, and enjoy yourself. The both of you need it."

Serenity swallowed and turned away from Charis. The Fire Cave, though not as lush as the Grotto or the Bower, was a location that couples could sneak off to. And the Feast Week of the Fire Gods was Haven's version of Mardi Gras with several dozen Incubi and Succubi added in. The healers and mid-wives were kept busy nine months after the Feast ended.

Needless to say, her Grandmother had just told her to go and get herself laid by Zoya. So, she had less then a month to see if Zoya would be amenable to the idea. Right, easy-peasy.

Serenity glared at her Grandmother's back.

[Maira]

Her meeting with the Oracle had been interesting, to say the least. Despite going in knowing that the woman had open lines of communications to the world's deities was one thing, having some of the darker parts of her past dragged out into the light of day because some god or other told the woman was something else entirely. She wasn't sure if she was pleased to know that at least one deity had noticed her plight, or if she was angry because said god or goddess hadn't done anything to help her or even give her a sign she wasn't alone. The best part of the meeting with the Oracle, by far, was discovering that her son Kolya was indeed still alive. Still a little giddy over the news of her son's survival, it wasn't hard for Serenity to get Zoya distracted with the two fire birds while the other woman talked to the Oracle.

When Serenity finally told her it was time to leave, she noticed the odd look on the woman's face and the knowing smirk on the Oracle's. Zoya was curious what the Oracle may have said to the other woman but at the same time she didn't want to intrude so she just remained silent and followed along side as Serenity led her back to the kennels.

They hadn't even passed through the doors of the kennels when Zoya heard howling and yipping. Despite the presence of many other canines in the kennel, Zoya recognized most of her team's song. They had sung to her and the research crew on many evenings before they'd wound up in Haven. Knowing by their song that they weren't distressed, Zoya listened for a moment before going inside and answering them with her own howl. The team wasn't startled at all by their musher's voice being added to their own, she had done so many times out on a run. They knew what she truly was and they loved and respected her all the more for her closer than normal ties between a musher and a dog team.

Unlike her dogs, the kennel staff and Serenity were slightly startled at the very wolf-sounding howl that came from her. Hearing Serenity take in a breath of surprise, Zoya turned and smiled at her flashing her elongated canines and laughing when one of Serenity's eyebrows crept up her forehead. "Knowing I'm part wolf doesn't make the proof any easier does it?" she asked with a hint of a smirk. That's precisely how she'd felt back in the presence of the Oracle.

When she and Serenity finally left the kennels to return to their own quarters, they were both quite for a while. Without any warning, Zoya asked, "How many wolven, other weres, or shifters are here in Haven? I need to present myself to them soon to let them know my intentions. Even if I don't know what I'm doing I need to let them know that." Then, before Serenity could answer her first question, another sprung from her lips, "Am I allowed to let my wolf out to run here? She's very strong and if I don't give her a chance to stretch her legs on a regular basis she will force it. I'm not really in the mood to get shot and wind up back in the healer's tower or in the kennels with my dogs."

[Demeter]

Zeno poked and prodded at his patient. As a favor to his niece, he took time out of his day (dear gods, it was a holiday time and Baron Von Dumberthenastick was in town, he'd do anything to get away from that man) to make a house call on Zoya and check her progress in healing. He also looked a little deeper, just to ensure her health. Once done, he wrote down his notes and then looked up at her. "Would you like birth control of some sort or are you planning on getting pregnant?"

When she didn't respond, he looked up to find her wide eyed stare fixed on him and her jaw hanging open. "What? I look a little deeper for everyone around this time of year so they can plan ahead. Dang fire festival; hundreds get knocked up and nine months from now, my staff end up exhausted from delivering all those children. So, control or no?"

She croaked a little. "I haven't gotten pregnant since World War II so don't think its an issue."

Zeno shrugged, flipping Zoya's chart closed. "Suit yourself but your body is gearing up for a shifter's heat right at the time of the Fire Festival. A festival that partly celebrates the Deities of Passion and aphrodisiacs, lust dusts, and alcohol abound. Not as bad as the Earth festival when every god damn thing with ovaries has a 95 percent chance of getting pregnant but its damned close. Can't guarantee any birth control will work when combined with a shifter heat and the festival but it's your body."

"But I don't even like men! I like women!"

Zeno gave her a look from over the narrow, wire rimmed spectacles he wore. "You have no idea how many times I've heard 'but I don't like men or women. Few weeks later, she comes in, knocked up or I find him in the tavern, wailing that he's touched girly parts and is an expectant father. It's your body, I can't control what you do during the festival but, if there is any chance that you don't want children, I'd suggest birth control or locking yourself up tighter then a chastity belt. Just send a note to my office when you decide but I'd suggest deciding soon."

***

Serenity couldn't help the giggles when Zoya told her about Uncle Zeno's comments. "Sounds like my uncle. He get's grouchy around this time of year. So, what are you going to do?"

"But I don't like men!"

"I know but sometimes, especially this time of year, inhibitions and gender preference get thrown to the wind. It's about feeling good and experiencing the carnal passions and base instincts. Its a time to let go, to be wild and wicked. Sometimes, people end up being wild and wicked with someone they normally wouldn't do that with."

Serenity leaned back against a wall and thought back to her grandmother's suggestion of taking Zoya to the fire cave. "I could help you out, you know, t o get you through your cycle but the real question is do you want children?"

[Demeter]

Drake was quite pleased to be out of Scotland and away from Jessica, Annabelle, Allie and their hulking brothers. Jessica and Annabelle had been like sucking limpets; both them fighting over him while their hulking brothers had glared at him. He might have made a go of it with Allie, even after she admitted that he was one of the possible fathers of the kid she was pregnant with. Except the muscle bound friend of her brother had chased him off while declaring he'd raise the pup as his own no matter who the biological sire was.

The summons from his grandfather couldn't have come at a better time and he'd hightailed it to Haven. And, man, was this place an improvement over that Scottish Highlands pack he'd fallen in with. For starters, it was warm and dry here rather then the damp cold he hadn't grown used it. And no one was throwing themselves at him because he was unattached and primo Alpha material. The idea of him being the Top Dog here in Haven was laughable.

Sure, his grandfather was the Alpha of the Earth District's pack and he was the heir apparent but there were beings far more powerful then that status and his abilities. Here in Haven, among the many powerful beings, he was simply average and being an Alpha here didn't hold the same connotations as it did in the outside world.

There weren't just people here who were elderly, vintage or antique. The ancients lived here. On his arrival in Haven, his grandfather had taken him to see the Oracle and he'd made the mistake of looking the woman in the eye. Her gaze had been heavy with history and knowledge; a jarring mash-up with the deceptive delicacy of her body. It had made his hackles leap up. Grandfather warned him to beware of the ancients, even the ones that Healed, as their knowledge was vast and their powers strange.

The Oracle had met his gaze and given him a sly smile, telling him that there was one who'd waited millennia for him to return. He'd brushed that off as the idea of soulmates wasn't one he'd ever believed in. And yet, in the six months he'd been in Haven, he'd felt the occasional rush of power.

Haven was a well of power, his Aunties had told him, and everyone was sensitive to the different wave lengths of those powers. Sometimes the others felt rushes he didn't, sometimes he felt waves of power that made his hair stand on end, and other times, he was swamped with energy that left him breathless and wanting.

Most of the time, he wanted to track that person, or persons, down and tell them to knock it off. Other times, he wanted to stalk them down and pounce. Right now, as he circled the edge of the massive, writhing crowd of dancers in the main square of the Fire District, it was the latter.

***
Using a trick she'd learned from her Uncle Zeno, Serenity kept the crowd away from Zoya. A ring of purple lightning surrounded the woman and her current dance partner. Anyone uninvited who got to close to the ring would get zapped. Those that Zoya showed an interest in would be permitted near her.

A year ago, Zoya had been brought into Haven after an accident on the surface and the woman had decided to stay. Last year, the woman had had the misfortune of falling into her Wolven's half heat pattern right before the Fire Festival. Serenity's uncle had proposed that between the power fluctuations of Haven and the healing the young woman had been given on her arrival had repaired whatever damage done and triggered the heat.

Serenity had gotten her through that heat. Now, a declared couple, they were on the search for a male who could give Zoya a child this time around. Serenity was willing to share her mate with a man, and there were plenty being drawn to Zoya, but any female was zapped away.

Times were different and they didn't need a male to provide much more then his genetic material. They weren't totally cruel; if the guy wanted to be involved, he would be but they wouldn't be dependent on him as a protector or provider.

They just had to find the right guy. They wanted someone with pleasing looks, a decent personality, and intelligence. Sexual attraction wasn't a necessary requirement, though that would be nice, as Serenity knew she could get Zoya worked up to the point where she just didn't care. They wanted to do this in as little time as possible so they'd both decided to skip the idea of fertility treatments and go all natural and straight from the source.

They had a short list of candidates and she'd just spotted bachelor number 3 circling the crowd. Drake McLaughlin's grandfather was the Alpha of the earth district pack and he had all the traits Zoya wanted. Grinning, Serenity sent out a harmless bolt of purple lightning to snag and draw Drake closer.

***
The band of purple lightning surrounding him was a curious thing. He poked at the lightning; it didn't hurt and Serenity was using it like a lasso to reel him in. As she was half of the couple he'd been seeking out, he didn't mind. They'd approached him a week ago with the most outrageous request. They wished to use him to have a child. He was, according to them, an exemplary specimen of Wolfdom.

He was pulled through the crowd, straight up to Serenity's side, and he raised an eyebrow when she grinned at him. "Having fun roping poor, unsuspecting males?"

"You have no idea. Make a decision yet? You're still in the running, you know."

"They're others competing in this?"

Serenity nodded. "We thought it wise to cultivate multiple options. Some haven't responded, some never made it past the second round and other's just haven't measured up, if you get me."

Both turned when they heard Zoya snarl and watched as she kneed her dance partner in the groin, punched him in the jaw and shoved him away. A flick of her hand and Serenity had a rope of the purple lightning dragging the unlucky bastard out by his heels. "Well, number eight is out of the running."

"What did he do?"

Serenity's eyes went unfocused as she used the telepathic link the Alati had with their mates. She smirked. "He insinuated that a night with him would turn her into a real woman and that she'd look good perpetually pregnant, barefoot and in his kitchen."

Drake blew out a whistle. "Dumbass. Why'd you pick him?"

"When not on a cocktail of mind-altering substances, he has a tighter hold on his tongue. You make a decision yet?"

"I'm not required to have anything to do with the raising of the kid?"

"Unless there is something wrong and he requires bone marrow or a kidney from a blood relative, you can have as much, or as little, involvement as you want."

"So, I get a night with the both of you and, if a child happens, its still a night of no strings? Seems to good to be true."

"All we want is your DNA. I sex her up while you sex me up and at the critical moment, you, ah, deposit your contribution in her. And yeah, we could take the artificial route but, even with her current hormone levels, conception is not a given. Chanced of success are higher this way. And she wants a baby like, now. Apparently the last year has put that baby clock on overdrive."

"Why me?"

"You're an intelligent, healthy, good looking man from a good bloodline who seems to be an upstanding gentleman. What's not to like? You came when your grandfather called and have been taking on more and more of the pack duties when though you've always identified as a lone wolf. Tells me you respect family and honor duty."

"Well, okay then."

"Really? Alright!"

Drake tried not to yelp when Serenity shoved him through the ring of purple lightning.
****
High above the square, away from the intoxicating fumes of the festival, Morcant stared down at the crowd. He turned back to the small crowd in the room and focused on Charis. "Are you sure?"

The woman rolled a shoulder. "Why would I lie?"

"Because you have a habit of bending the truth to suit your needs."

Charis rolled her eyes. "Why would I lie about this?"

Morcant turned back to the railing and the crowd below. Indeed, why would Charis lie about the reincarnations of his first mates being out there. He'd had many partners over the years as he had not been designed to withstand loneliness but none had ever been better then the first two.

Darko and Divina had died because he knew the secrets of the Atlantis Shield. He hadn't been a young man when he returned to his clan's home estate to start courting; the shield had already been in place for a few centuries when he'd started thinking about offspring. He'd gone back to his clan's birthplace to select a bride, thinking that, as many had that long ago, to keep his line pure, he had to look among his own.

He'd courted Divina, daughter of the clan's chieftain but had, at the same time, fallen hard for Darko, the fierce warrior and his bride's cousin. It had been Divina who, on the night of their bonding, summoned Darko to their chambers and insisted on a union of three as a gift to him. He'd delayed their return to the city to make Darko's inclusion official.

An act that was as effective as a death warrant. The Godless had ambushed Darko, overpowering and slaughtering him. They'd abducted Divina only to so cruelly use her that she retreated deep in her mind. He'd recovered her physical body but whenever she emerged from her catatonic state, it had been to scream the house down and seek death. She'd been success in that endeavor.

He's gone out of his mind at her suicide, going before his deity and demanding release from his vows to seek vengeance. And now, millennia later, Charis said that the souls of his mates had finally returned.

"You're not nervous, are you?"

He turned his head to look at The Oracle as she came to stand next to him. She was perhaps one of the few who could understand the emotions rolling through him. "Not nervous; scared."

"Of what?"

"Serenity. You. What you might do if I hurt Serenity. Are you sure about that part?"

Charis rolled her eyes. "You'll need Serenity to connect with Zoya. The scars on Divina's portion of the soul are deep and lasting. Zoya has her own. You and Darko-Drake are probably the only men she'd ever let near her as lovers. And think of Serenity as a thank you present from the Gods for keeping what remains of the original Mutari alive. I don't let just anyone have one of my family, you know."
***

By the third night of the Fire Festival, and the last night of Zoya's heat, Drake had been installed as Zoya's baby daddy. He was quite certain he'd been successful in that endeavor but Zoya's response to him has surprised all three of them.

And there had been other things. Flashes of images of one who was and was not Zoya. Of bedding down with that person and another male. But he mused that it was a concern for later; he had a job to do right now.

On the last evening of the festival, the trio had crawled from the cave were they'd been tangled up in the task of baby making to join the rest of the partiers for a last hurrah. Within the safe circle of Serenity's purple lightning, he danced with the two women. He was bare-chested and the women wore the very barest limit of clothing. Before long, he thought as they all rubbed together, they'd retreat back to their cave.

He blinked and came back to reality at the sounds of hissing, popping, and screaming. There was a rope of green lightning twisting around the purple of Serenity's lightning. She's given him a run down of color importance to the Alati. This green was just as solid as her purple which meant its owner was of a ancient dirt clan. And it was swallowing the purple which meant the owner was stronger then Serenity.

He looked up as a dark hair male appeared in front of him. He barely heard Serenity's exclamation of a name or Zoya's wordless cry. He barely heard because he was overcome by such a wave of power that he went to his knees.