ZEDD - ONE MONTH LATER

"So what do you think?" Watching as Trey carefully examines the brand, Thomas helping to keep the boy calm as he does, it's truly taking all of my willpower not to leave and go throw a good bit of power around at just the sight of the damage once more.

"It's definitely sloppy work, that's for sure" the Triforian states, unhappily. "If it was a clean press it'd be easier to cover, or even heal a bit.

"I moved." All of us looking up at Hunter's soft confession, I know my expression probably matches the other lord's as well as my mate's. "Didn't mean to, but couldn't help it and jerked when he did it."

"That's a completely normal reaction" Trey assures him before patting him on the head gently and letting him pull his jeans back in place. "Anyone tries that again and don't jerk away though, bite and kill them instead."

"S'what Jacob said too."

"So can you do anything for it?"

"I think so. I have a few rather skilled artists at the palace that have done good work covering up marks worse than his before. He'll have to have a tattoo over it, as that's just not going to be fixable, but at least with the right design he could very easily pass for a Triforian halfbreed or even maybe Malkian, or Phaedosian as both of those species are known to ink themselves for certain rituals or rites of passage."

"Scorpina thought Phaedosian might be the best bet too. She thinks he might have a bit of their genetics anyways and suggested a few tattoos the might be acceptable" Thomas agrees before looking back to Hunter. "What do you think? Would you be okay with that or would you rather not have anything else done and leave the mark as it is?"

"If you cover it he can't take me back, right?"

"He can't take you back regardless" I assure him. "Don't let this choice be based on your fear of him reclaiming you, as I can assure you that will never happen, especially given the fact you and Jacob are bonded as he even tries and brother or not I will kill him." Because like hell if I will risk my son's life to spare his.

"Can Jacob come with?"

"I think that's very likely going to be a given" Thomas agrees. "Or at the very least I'll take you if for some reason he can't."

"You know your children are always welcome at the palace" Trey reminds him, before giving a rather telling smirk. "The same as you and Lord Zedd. Well so long as Zedd doesn't steal anything and you don't harass any of the prisoners that is."

"I told you I don't know how he got stuck like that. I was just as shocked as you." The all too 'innocent' look on my mate's face speaks volumes as we are all aware of just how my ex happened to get 'stuck' in a cage last time we were there. However given the comment I heard him make concerning Mara Jane and mating I can't say I can blame Thomas in the least for the swift act of reprimand and neither could Trey apparently upon learning what was said.

"Mhm, of course you don't."

"So, do you want to go give it a try then?" Thomas questions returning focus to the matter at hand.

"Give what a try, exactly." Apparently having arrived home without us noticing, Jacob quickly surveys the room, eyes skimming over Hunter before locking onto Trey with a dangerous glare. What the hell? Jacob didn't seem to have a problem with the other lord the last time he was here nearly a month ago. "Why are you here?"

"Jacob-"

"He came to help" seeing his potential mate's displeasure and acting quickly, Hunter is fast to try and defuse the situation, though what he says of course has the complete opposite effect. "He's going to help me get better."

"The hell he is!" Moving swiftly and putting himself between the Triforian and the boy, Jacob continues much to all of our shock. "He is not going with you, I don't care how many damn rescues you have or what they told you but he is not a pet anymore and he is not yours!"

"Jacob-"

Cutting me off and actually daring to face off with me for the second time in how many days over the boy, his next words make me come to a rather upsetting realization. "And you, I don't know what the hell you're trying to do! You gave me your word you wouldn't do this and here you are going behind my back trying to ship him off! I thought I could trust you!"

"You can-"

"The hell I can!"

"Jacob stop you don't-"

Turning on Thomas now the bond leading him just as it had led me so many decades ago where my own mate was concerned, he is clearly losing control of himself and fast. "Don't even start! I swear either one of you tries to send him away and I'll-"

"Jacob help!"

Stopping abruptly and whipping back around to see Hunter no longer behind him, but instead curled up in the corner, my son forgets his rage in one swift pass as his entire focus recenters on the boy. Hurrying to him and dropping down he's fast to begin reassuring him and checking for any signs of injury.

"It's okay, you're okay, what happened, did you fall, I swear I-"

"Got you."

"What?"

Looking up and showing he's unharmed and looking actually somewhat pleased with himself the blonde reaches out and wraps his arms around my son pulling him down for a hug. "Tricked you."

"What the-why did you-" Struggling to realize all is fine, thankfully Jacob can't seem to bring himself to reprimand the boy for the deception, instead settling for simply hugging him back in clear relief that he is actually fine.

"Because you were being crazy, that's why." Looking at him sternly, or at least as sternly as he can manage, Hunter begins reprimanding my son much to all of our pleasure and slight amusement. "You were yelling at your fathers and their friend, that's not okay and that's not you. You need to be nice like you are, not act like that."

"But I thought you were hurt."

"It was the only way I could think to stop you without making it worse. You were already mad because of me and I thought trying to argue with you wouldn't help."

"Smart boy" Trey praises, as Thomas and I quickly agree.

"Hunter I'm not mad because of you, don't ever, ever think I could be mad because of you. I was mad because some people seem to think they can ship you off behind my back."

"But you were going to come with."

"What?"

"I asked if you could come with and Lord Trey said yes, we were going to tell you but you didn't give your fathers a chance to."

"Wait-what?"

"We're going to cover up the brand Jax gave him" Trey explains, shaking his head and clearly more amused than myself and Thomas right now. "However I need to take him to my specialists at the palace to do so."

"I thought you'd be happy, you seem so upset every time you see it, I thought it would be good."

"So you're not going to live with Trey?"

"Live with Trey?" Seeming honestly confused, the boy shakes his head. "I live here with you. We're best friends, and I'm 'stuck with you' you said so."

Seeing the situation has been defused for the moment I look to Thomas unhappily. "Was I seriously this bad?"

"It's pretty damn close, though at least he hasn't tried to physically kill us or Scorpina yet."

"I told her I was sorry."

"Yeah, after I made you."

And speaking for making someone say sorry, I can barely contain myself as both boys slowly stand and Hunter points to us sternly. "Go tell them, Jacob."

"But it just-"

"Jacob." Tone almost matching what my own or Thomas' would be, Hunter fixes my son with a look that speaks volumes.

Head hanging and thankfully seeming to be in control of himself once more, Jacob offers an apology to all three of us, before looking back to the boy for confirmation he's out of his bad graces now.

"You can't keep being mean like that, I know you worry about me, but it worries me more when you get like that."

"If it helps, his behavior will settle down once you are both more used to the bond and able to control it more" Thomas offers, seeing the new look of concern now on our son's face. "It takes time to be able to not instantly jump into fight or flight mode where the other person is concerned, and I'm sure it's especially harder since you're both so young."

"You were younger than me when you and Papa bonded."

"I was, but he wasn't. His age helped to curb some of his behavior, the same as my past training in meditation and as a Ranger did for me."

"That aside, what do you think about what we've proposed to you?" Trey questions, looking to Hunter.

"I want it gone or covered up. I don't like it and don't want someone to accidentally see it and get the wrong idea."

"Okay, I'll let my people know and we'll tend to it whenever you're ready."

"Thanks Trey." Moving to his fellow Ranger and already beginning to discuss something or other relating to his home world or some new batch of Rangers now that the one matter has been settled, I watch as Hunter happily follows them toward the kitchen clearly interested in whatever they're discussing and seeming rather fascinated by the Triforian's explanation of being a Ranger like Thomas.

Waiting until they pass me by I quickly reach out and stop my son from following them however. "Can I say it's safe to assume you're done losing your damn mind for today?"

"Papa I'm sorry, I swear I didn't mean to jump on you guys like that I just- I don't know."

"I know, believe me I did more than my fair share of property damage and bodily harm to those around me during my first few years with your father. Which is why that's not what I'm stopping to discuss with you."

"It's not?"

"No."

"Okay, so..."

"When exactly have you seen that brand on him?"

"What?"

"The brand, he said you get upset every time you see it. Considering where it's located, how exactly have you happened to see it and how many times is he referring to?"

"Ugh, well I mean- it's not what you think."

"Trust me if its what you think I think I will kill us all and that's assuming your sister doesn't do so first given the fact I've requested she wait to even court and here you have a potential mate sleeping in your bed."

"I thought you said there were some allowances when a bond was involved."

"Allowances such as letting you court, Jacob. The whole sleeping together thing is honestly only because it keeps him from waking up screaming at two in the morning." Because wasn't that a fun heart attack inducing wake up call the night they fell asleep watching TV, Jacob not thinking and leaving him to sleep on the couch in the game room rather than wake him when he went to bed.

"Yeah sorry about that. As for the brand though, look he's still adjusting to things, sometimes he gets confused when he wakes up and doesn't remember exactly where he is or why he's dressed and sleeping in an actual bed." Damn it. "Never mind trying to convince him it's okay to take a shower or bath and that he doesn't have to do anything to get food or clothes. Look, he's getting better, okay, and I'm doing my best not to, like you say, kill us all every time he freaks out."

"I understand this is a rather out of the ordinary situation, it's just- Jacob you're clearly already struggling to control yourself because of the bond, even you admit as much. Well mating-"

"It makes it stronger, I know. I remember what Dad told me when we had that talk how many years ago."

"Okay." Knowing I'm very likely fighting a losing battle as Thomas was clearly right when suggesting the two of them are near mirror images of us and our own situation how many years ago, I can only hope that my child can keep a better grip on his temper and possessiveness than I could at the time. "Look, I get I can't tell you what to do where most anything is concerned anymore, especially this, but just promise me you'll be careful and- you know-not be me."

Raising a brow and giving a smirk, his response isn't surprising, "Be you?"

"You know, over impulsive, crazy, short sighted, possessive to a fault."

"I don't know, worked out pretty well for you and Daddy."

"Not at first it didn't. To be perfectly honest even after knowing of the bond, we had a very rough patch that almost ended things due to my stupidity. I just don't want to see you, or honestly, the boy, get hurt."

"Not to be 'that guy' but shouldn't you be worrying just a bit more about Mara Jane's party that's coming up, or Grace's virtue given how many of her school mates have shown interest in her?

"Nice try, but the party is handled, and as for Grace, considering the fact Sullivan is better than any bodyguard I could hire I have nearly zero concern that anyone who poses even a hint of a threat will be able to get within ten feet of her."

"We're going to have to find something new for you to worry about or focus on destroying here."

"Your father said I'm only allowed to destroy one thing each year, and I'm not wasting it on some fly by night problem you cook up just to keep me out of your love life."

"Really, because pretty sure I heard one of Grace's instructors call you old."

"Brat."

"I learned from the best."

"Speaking of learning, do me a favor and go pry Hunter away from Trey and your father, I need to talk to them and it's a subject he doesn't need to be present for."

"So it's about him."

"Yep."

Shaking his head, but going ahead of me to do as asked it thankfully doesn't take much for Jacob to convince the boy to go help him check on some of the plants and put some food out for the handful of wild animals that frequent the grounds.

Waiting until they're out of earshot I look to Trey and Thomas who are both lounging at the kitchen table. "Well?"

"Honestly?" Sighing at my nod, Trey continues, clearly unhappy. "I don't know where the hell your brother got him, but he wasn't bred to be a pet. He's too smart for it."

"He's not really a set species though."

"Doesn't matter, just because his bloodline has been mixed throughout the generations doesn't mean he should have been sold as a pet. If anything it indicates he didn't come from a breeder. Why the hell your brother would have even wanted him in the first place is honestly beyond me as I've no doubt he could have gotten much easier loyalty and submission from an actual species that is considered to be designed for the purpose."

Exchanging looks with Thomas we both cringe somewhat as the Triforian continues, gaze now watching the two boys out the window. "And truthfully even without the bond Jacob would have had little to worry about as far as me taking him back home to live would be concerned."

"Why's that?"

Fixing me with a look that says he's clearly questioning my intelligence, his response is a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Because for lack of better terms, he's you Zedd. I mean come on, appearance and lack of homicidal tendencies aside his personality is nothing short of yours. I mean you yourself have told me how within his first few days here he was sneaking around and exploring, despite no doubt being forbidden to do so before being rescued and unaware the rules here were any different. He wouldn't be happy as one of my pets. Not in the long run. Never mind he wouldn't get the intellectual stimulation he no doubt needs from my other pets. Nothing against them, but you yourselves are well aware they aren't nearly as bright as he is, it wouldn't be fair to him."

Nodding in agreement and seeming relieved as Trey essentially reinforces what he's suggested to me earlier, Thomas' focus turns slightly onto future matters now. "So you think he's fully capable of catching up to our kids knowledge wise?"

"I think it'll take him a bit of time, and I'm not certain he'll be completely on par with them, but I see no reason he couldn't pass intellectually as a species of equal standing. Though again with his hyper activity and personally being very similar to Zedd's I wish you luck getting him to sit still long enough to do his lessons." Amusing.

"He is somewhat easily distracted" Thomas agrees before giving me a teasing smile. "I suggested Zedd try and teach him a bit of math the other day to see if perhaps he might be able to work better with his style of instruction rather than mine."

"And?"

"And by the time the children and I got back from the market the lesson in basic arithmetic had somehow turned into a lesson in counting cards."

"It was still math."

Both of them apparently finding this rather amusing, Trey however is the first to voice his take on the matter. "Perhaps you should focus on the boy's academics and allow Zedd to teach him more 'real world' skills."

"I'm honestly more interested in teaching my fellow Eltarians manners at the moment rather than the boy any new skills." At Trey's questioning expression I quickly explain my concern where not only the child's past is concerned, but the fact he is bonded to Jacob with technically my son being far too young to even court by all social standing. "I don't want either of them looked down on or hurt and I know my species, they are snarky, gossipy idiots at the best of times and I can only kill so many before I run out of places to put the bodies or Thomas threatens to make me sleep by myself as punishment."

"Their ages I really can't help you on, but as for the boy's past, who says they have to know? It's not uncommon for a child with no family or means to support themselves to be taken in by an estate of high standing. Just claim he's Phaedosian, with Tommy and Jacob being very dominate in those traits it makes sense you'd take him in and he and Jacob would become close. And with your own standing and reputation I highly doubt anyone will dare challenge your claim."

"Maybe."