DAR - ONE MONTH LATER
Since I'm the one passing by the door when the bell rings, I grab the package. Fortunately, it's one of our regular delivery people so I don't have to have the brat check it for safety. Seeing it's addressed to Tommy, I head in the direction of the kitchen where I heard his voice last. He and Zedd have been arguing a lot lately. I know some of it is the situation with Jacob and his boy, some of it is Mara Jane's impending party, some trouble the twins got in at school, but most of it is work related. I also know that they've not mated in some time due to all of this. Tommy called Pina to ask her about those damn shots again while he was pissed off at Zedd, apparently expecting to be without for some time, so I'm guessing whatever that particular argument was about, he was losing. Still, that in mind I honestly think a lot of their problems would be solved by mating. At the very least they'd both be a hell of a lot less on edge and moody which would give the rest of us a bit of peace if nothing else.
When I step into the kitchen, there are a number of people here, forcing the brat to tone down his irritation even if his latest annoyance over something Mara Jane has just said is more than evident. "Here brat. Package for you."
His face lights up as he takes the small package from me. "It's here!"
"What is?" Jacob asks.
Tommy rips the package open and takes out a small glass bottle full of a clear liquid with a small dropper in it. There's a satisfied ring to his voice when he says, "Oh, just a little present for Jax." Hunter and Jacob make faces of disgust at this statement.
"Excuse me?" I'm rather shocked that he'd get anything for that subcreature. Unless... "Okay, but what is it?"
Attention still focused on the bottle in his hand, he answers absently, "You don't have a word for it in Eltarian, Dar, but I promise that you and I will have a lot of fun with it."
Now he has my interest peaked. "Tell me."
"It's pure capsaicin." He looks at me, an evil grin on his face. "Remember you told me about the time you tried buffalo wings?" At my nod, he goes on, giving the bottle a light shake. "This is what makes peppers so damn hot. It comes naturally in the peppers, but this is its purest form."
A hundred ideas race through my mind about what we could do with that. "So-"
"Since this is pure, there will be nothing to tone down the burn." One more look exchanged between us and we both start laughing. "We can't let Zedd know we have this though."
No kidding. His curiosity would have him wanting to test it for himself and I still remember very clearly what hell I went through with those damn wings. I can't imagine what would happen if Zedd tried this. "If you don't tell him, he'll be pissed. Besides, we might need to sound proof that room better if we're going to use it."
"We'll see."
"Room?" Suddenly looking concerned, Hunter's amusement dies swiftly at whatever has just come into his mind.
"The room Jax will be our guest in while we teach him a lesson in karma" Tommy explains, which only makes the boy look all the more ill and nervous.
"Here? He- but-" Seeing the problem now, surprisingly before Jacob or Tommy for once, I quickly try to reign in his panic. "You won't be here. If we have him here Jacob and the children can take you to one of our other homes, if Zedd disapproves of him being here however that won't be needed as Tommy and myself can take him to the palace. I'm not yet certain if Zedd wishes to participate in the matter or not as its a bit complex with him being family, even after gaining approval from his parents on the matter, however you don't have to worry about him getting hold of you regardless."
"Does he know I'm with you?"
"I'm doubtful" Tommy states calmly. "We haven't confronted him yet as we didn't want to bring any unneeded stress on you, however the last time we spoke to Kerch he made it clear Jax was rather panicked and distracted over something. Even asking if any of his siblings have acquired any pets or any such thing."
"What'd he say?"
"He said as far as he was aware none of them had and as for us, we don't keep pets. My guess is he's worried you very likely got picked up by one of his relatives as all live in fairly close proximity. They just haven't likely grasped the fact you were his and why he picked you."
"Thus the frantic desire to find out what happened to you" I agree.
"What if he demands me back?"
Tapping his hip gently where I know the tattoo Trey gave him is, Tommy shakes his head. "Can't. Not a pet. Even without the tattoo covering up his mark, your bond to Jacob alone grants you safety from that."
"Trust us, as vicious as all of us would be should he try and hurt you again, it wouldn't compare to what Kerch and Mara would finally do to him knowing he willingly risked the life of one of their grandchildren."
"Kerch would kill him, if Zedd or I didn't get there first" Tommy agrees truthfully.