Nyx POV
I banged my head on the desk, silently cursing to myself. After breakfast, I'd gone to the office and started going over the paper work and it had been a nightmare. The duty rosters needed to be rotated, the food supplies were low, there was a long list of minor incidents that I needed to deal with, and the fucking solstice was tonight.
"God, I fucking hate paperwork," I moaned out loud. "Whoever invented this shit, I will go back in time and rip their fucking throats out."
"Wouldn't that be messy," a voice said from the doorway.
I looked up with narrowed eyes and she took an involuntary step back. I cleared my throat and sat back up.
"It is, indeed, Cora," I said with a smirk, "but, oh, so satisfying. Though of course it would've been invented anyway since people were learning to read and write."
She nodded and said, "You wanted to see me?"
"I did," I replied and stood up. "Can we sit down on the couch?"
She nodded and we walked over and sat down.
"Have you given any more thought about the proposal," I asked as I poured her a glass of water and myself some whiskey.
She took a sip of her water and answered, "I have."
"And how is that going," I asked taking a sip from my glass.
She set the glass down and looked me in the eyes and said, "I know that you gave me two weeks to decide, but something's telling me that I don't have that much time."
I nodded and took another sip, "I can understand that, wholeheartedly. Does this mean that you've made a decision?"
"It does, but I'm torn between deciding on two families. Your's and de Pakstoka's."
"I see. Do you need some clarification?"
She sighed and said, "Yes. You said that if I'm adopted into either yours, the Devereuxs or the Rendons than most likely I would be next in line."
"That's correct. The three of us need a successor. If what happened hadn't, then the Devereux line and mine wouldn't be in any danger of not having one. One of Lexa's sisters would have been next in line and Sephy would have been next in line."
"Why isn't Seph next in line to become the Second?"
"Because she's already in line to become Second of the Southern Pack. That's what she's been trained for. If she took up my duties, she'd have unlearn a lot of things and learn what I do. Which would then lead to not having a Second for that pack. Just like the Head Pack leadership is hereditary, the Southern Pack is done the same way. Unfortunately, for Indra, since Gaia has been Called, she has to choose from among her extended family."
"What types of things would I need to learn?"
"The most important would be learning to lead such a large pack. Since we have smaller packs plus the head pack, you have to learn to juggle those responsibilities. I know that I'm the Second, but I've had to also learn how to lead a pack if anything ever happens to de Pakstoka. Then there's learning strategy and logistics, diplomacy, coordination, and all sorts of boring shit. You also need to learn our laws inside and out and know the punishments. You need to know when and where you can use your discretion. Things of that nature."
"What's the difference between Second and de Pakstoka?"
"The duties of the Second are to muck through the mundane shit. If there's a dispute, it comes to me first. A request for transfer. Career change. The inevitable invitations to this and that. Setting up security. Maintaining security protocols. I oversee all infractions and make the decisions on how the judicial proceedings go. I go through all of the reports that are sent to the capital. I look through the census reports. Anything I can't solve then and there, goes up to Lexa with my recommendations."
"And de Pakstoka?"
"She takes on the harder cases. Sometimes, that means involving the Council. She oversees everything and makes sure that everything is running smoother than I can make it. She's the one that makes new laws or amends the laws that are replaced. If something happens like what happened at the Western Border, then she's the one that decides who replaces who and whether or not the border should remain open. She's the one that brokers alliances and treaties. If the Coalition needs to be informed of something, the Second is usually the mouthpiece."
"So, the Second has more duties, but de Pakstoka has the harder ones?"
"In a nutshell, yes. My job is to try to make her job easier. It's also my job to protect her at all costs. I'm her bodyguard. The last line of defense."
"Since neither of you have a successor at the moment, what happens if something were to happen to either of you?"
"As of right now, if something were to happen to me, most likely my mother would become Second until she could train another family member or a first tiered family to take over. If something were to happen to Lexa, I would become de Pakstoka and we'd have to find another first tiered family to become the Second."
"Because the Allistars would then become the hereditary line of de Pakstoka."
"Yes," I said and finished my whiskey.
"That's a lot of responsibility on your shoulders," she said quietly.
"It is, but because I've been trained from birth and started to work alongside my mother when I turned 16, the transition was relatively painless when she retired. The same goes for Lexa. That would happen to you as well. We'd teach you alongside us as we worked. It'd be hands on training. It would also mean that for the time being, you would have to give up your position with the guard and your dream of being a Gate Commander. But it would also give you the opportunity to still protect the ones that are seeking asylum within our territory."
"I could?"
"Yes and you'd carry more weight to make sure that it happens. I know my duties seem daunting, but quite honestly Lexa has the much harder job. She has to play nice with everyone regardless of the fact that she may want to tear their throats out. She can't openly vent her frustrations or appear weak in any way. The only time she can be herself is behind closed doors or with me behind closed doors."
"Wow, I don't think I could ever pull that off," she said with a small smile.
"Neither could I, but I wouldn't have to worry about playing nice. I'm too powerful and they know it."
"But that wouldn't keep you from doing the right thing, would it?"
"No, it wouldn't. I just wouldn't have to put up with their petty bullshit and blustering."
"How do you do it?"
I raised an eyebrow and asked, "How do I do what?"
"How do you handle all that responsibility and never complain?"
I chuckled, "The reason why I can handle it is because I've surrounded myself with people that can support me. Tell me when I'm being an idiot or kick my ass if I need it. But, I do complain. I whine. I question myself. I doubt myself. It's just done when I have a moment to myself and have someone to hash it out with. Let's take for example why I quarantined the humans and locked up a man that was formerly the Chancellor of their old council. Prior to the cause of the whole thing, the Manassas Apex were just learning that they were Apex and were shocked when they learned that they ultimately had control of the camp. Because they were the smaller group among the humans, they had to hide that they had powers and were werewolves. When I came here with the cure, Mother Earth guided my healing and super healed the old council members. Each one of them represented the three factions of the camp. Mage, Werewolf, and Human. The Human, Jaha, took an extreme disliking when Clarke informed him that his council was no longer in charge and that since he was a human, he didn't really have a say in the matter. He threatened her and in doing so threatened the Apex. I took exception to this and had him arrested. Now, because of that incident and the one that resulted in the death of Jessamine Valdez, a prisoner, I made a decision to quarantine the humans and bring in our own guards. I questioned myself as to whether or not I had made too hasty of a decision. If I overreacted. I had a conversation with Lexa and was reminded that it was too risky not to have done that. Then Sephy came in and told me the same thing. Clarke's council didn't like it but knew that I had overall authority."
"So, sometimes you have to make decisions that you don't necessarily like doing, but because it involved the safety of the Apex here, which would mean that the entire Forest Pack were also at risk. Just because of the sheer number of humans."
"Yes," I said nodding. "My job isn't always pleasant and sometimes I have to make rushed judgement calls, but it's always about the safety of my people. They are first and foremost in my mind, always."
"Then that's what I want to do."
"What exactly," I asked curiously.
"I want to do what needs to be done to protect the pack."
"Okay, both Second and de Pakstoka do that."
"Well, I also want to do what needs to be done so that de Pakstoka doesn't need to either. I want to be adopted into your family. I want to learn what you do," she said with conviction.
I was floored. I knew that this was what Mother Earth wanted, but I'd never heard of anyone willing to step into my shoes.
"Are you sure? Like a hundred percent sure, because once it's done, you can't back out."
"I'm sure. I want to follow in your footsteps. I want to keep our people safe."
"Alright, then," I said standing up and calling for Seph.
I walked over to the desk and called to have Clarke and Octavia come to my office.
"Why are you calling them to come here," she asked curiously.
"We need witnesses for the adoption. That is if you don't mind doing it now?"
"No, I'd rather get it over with."
I nodded, "The adoption is a matter of a blood oath. You'll exchange blood with me and Seph. When we have a chance you'll do the same with my mother. It binds your blood to ours and you become one of us. The witnesses are needed to sign the paperwork. Our family's oath is in Irish, but we can do it in English if you'd prefer."
"English, please," she replied. "You speak Irish?"
"I do. It's only really used when we're around family. We're pretty big on keeping our Irish traditions alive."
"That's pretty cool. I wish I knew what my family was like," she said wistfully.
"I know and I wish we could have retrieved any information from that attack to give you something to remember them by," I replied in sympathy. "Oh, and another thing you'll be using your power as well. Just let it meld with your blood."
"Alright," she said, suddenly nervous.
I hugged her gently, "It's okay to be nervous. This is a huge undertaking and changes your life, but don't worry we'll be here to help you along the way."
I looked up and saw Seph enter with a small bowl with Clarke and Octavia following behind her. Seph found a small table and laid bowl on it and carried both to the middle of the room.
"I take it she's decided to take up your offer," Octavia asked.
"Yes," I said simply. "She can still join your pack if she wants to once she's finished her training with me."
She sighed in relief and said, "I'm happy to hear you say that. I was worried that this would make her ineligible."
I smiled and replied, "Nope, but she'll be a first tiered pack member which places her at the same level as Kane."
She nodded, "Got it. You know, you're going to have to explain that to me more in depth."
"No problem."
"Let me take that off of you," Sephy said and reached up and removed the inhibitor and I felt my powers slip comfortably in their spots.
"Wow, nothing this time," Clarke said as she came up and kissed me.
"Yep. I'll be able to remove it completely in a few more days," I replied.
"So, how does this work," she asked curiously.
"A simple exchange of blood and power and an oath. That's it and then everyone signs the paperwork. We hold onto it until Mom has a chance to do it with Cora and then it's sent to the capital to be filed and then sent along with the census report."
Seph clapped her hands and with a grin said, "Well, let's get to it, shall we?"
"Cora if you'll stand on one side of the table and place your hand over the bowl. And remember to let your power drip with your blood," I said smoothly as I withdrew one of my knives.
I came to stand opposite her and took her hand in mine. I sliced her palm deep enough to get a steady stream going and did the same with mine.
I looked up at Cora and clasped our hands together and let our blood and power mingle and then said, "Repeat after me. By our joined blood, we are become one."
Without taking her eyes off of me, she repeated, "By our joined blood, we are become one."
I held our hands together for a little bit longer as I felt our powers merge for just a tiny moment then let it go. I stepped back and Sephy did the same thing. When they were done, I stepped back up to the bowl and set the mingled blood on fire. There was a whoosh and the colors of our powers intermingled with one another before the fire went out. I placed my hands on their cut palms and healed them. Clarke came over and bound my hand.
"That's it," Octavia asked.
"That's it," Sephy replied, "Welcome to the family, Cora Allistar."
Cora blushed and ducked her head and then suddenly looked up. She stared transfixed at something that only she could see and then suddenly relaxed.
"Okay, what just happened," Clarke asked worriedly as she guided Cora to a chair.
"Cora, care to explain," I asked as I got the paperwork out of a drawer and wrote the information down and signed it.
"I think my power went up several notches, like a lot of notches," Cora replied, awed by the experience.
"It did," Sephy replied as she signed her assigned spot and then handed it to Octavia. "Since no Allistar is subpar in the power department, the adoption bond ramped it up to match our levels. Maybe not up to Nyx's, but you're as powerful as either me or my mom now."
"That's not quite true, Sephy," I said as I leaned on the desk. "Her null power matches mine. Even though it's a purely defensive power."
"So, what happens now," Cora asked, still reeling from the experience.
"Now, you get to enjoy the solstice. Your training begins first thing in the morning after breakfast. I want you to grab your gear and move into one of the empty rooms," I said.
She grinned at me and jumped out of the chair and booked it out of the room and out of the house.
"Well, she seems pretty happy," Clarke said with a smile as she came and wrapped an arm around my waist.
"I'd say that was more along the lines of ecstatic," Octavia said chuckling. "If you don't need me, I'm gonna go find me something to do."
"More like someone," Sephy said sniggering and Octavia glared at her.
"Enough Seph," I said and turned to Octavia, "You're golden. Tell Lincoln we say hi."
She growled and blushed, but left the room with a bit of decorum. I turned to Clarke and kissed her thoroughly. She sighed against me in contentment.
I glanced at Sephy out of the corner of my eyes and saw that she was trying to get away, "Don't even think about it, Seph. Sit your ass down over here. We've got paperwork to go over."
She groaned loudly and pulled a chair next to mine and plopped down, pouting. I gave one last kiss and shoved Clarke towards the door.
"As much as I love having you here, Clarke," I said with a smile. "I've got work I got to get down before tonight. So, I'll see you at dinner."
She pouted, but said, "That's alright. I've got council paperwork to do. See you at dinner."
She left and I sat down next to Sephy and began the laborious task of keeping the camp running.
