Tamsin stormed the secret liquor stores of the Dal while Kenzi walked back up upstairs with a handful of papers, mail and a couple of packages.

"I think I still have a 500 year-old bottle of…" Trick started.

"Found it!" Tamsin replied as she raised a bottle a nearby storage closet.

"Of course you did." Trick said. Dyson chuckled.

"What's with all the flowers?" Dyson asked.

"They are from Antony as a 'Thank You' for hosting them all at the Clubhouse. I thought they would have died by now, but they are still as fresh as the day they were delivered."

"Bo and Lauren went home?" Trick asked.

"Yeah, Lauren was just as shocked as the rest of us to see The Regnant shift into a one hundred - foot Bear. Then add in Jock and Julian, yeah, a lot to take in. For all of us I think." Tamsin replied.

"I bet it was. I remember when Lauren told me how they had to hold The Regnant down when she was trying to get up and go after The Queen Consort. They did not understand why Antony had to partially shift to do so, but we know now. Can you imagine if The Regnant shifted inside the JFM?" Kenzi commented.

"The JFM would have been a pile of rubble." Tamsin replied.

"Dude, your wolf is like a toe on the Regnant." Kenzi said.

"Don't remind me." Dyson replied.

"She could step on you and not even know she did it." Kenzi said.

"I get the picture." Dyson replied

"It is clear that they can control the size of it though. Dakari was way bigger in Africa than what he was at the JFM." Trick noted.

"Trick, when you said we were meeting ancient Fae with ancient powers you didn't say they were all the size of something out of a Godzilla movie. Are all of the children like that?" Kenzi asked.

"One would have to assume so. The Prescotti's are a unique family because they are Ranoruks. However, it is not limited to just Ari's side. There are genetic influences from Helen's side as well. There are limits to their powers, though. When they shape-shift, they cannot access their other powers. At least not that we are aware of. It is only in their humanoid form can they access their all their powers." Trick replied.

"And Julian can double-shift? I have never encountered anything like that in my life." Dyson said.

"Neither have I, and I've had several lives." Tamsin added.

Kenzi continued to sort through the mail while everyone sat and talked when the Seneschal entered the Dal. Everyone looked surprised. Trick rose from his chair.

"Greetings." Trick said as he offered a quick bow. "Are we being summoned by the Ruling Couple? I thought they had already departed for the Presidium?"

"We were directed to bring this for Ms. Malikov, Your Excellency." The Seneschal answered as they presented a small package, wrapped with gold and gray paper with a white bow on top to Kenzi. Everyone looked at Kenzi.

"What? I have no idea what this is about. Probably from The Regnant for introducing her to pizza." Kenzi surmised then looked at the Seneschal as she accepted the package. "Thank you." The Seneschal bowed and left.

"I doubt anyone would send a gift over introducing them to pizza." Tamsin said.

Kenzi opened the box and her eyes narrowed.

"What is it?" Dyson asked as Trick resumed his seat.

She reached into the package and pulled out a small paddle, no more than five inches long.

"Okay." Kenzi said out of curiosity while examining the paddle.

"Is that supposed to mean something?" Tamsin asked.

"Have no idea." Keniz replied.

"Is there a note?" Tamsin asked. Kenzi looked inside the package again, saw a note, pulled it out, opened it and quickly glanced at the signature.

"Is it from The Regnant?" Trick asked.

"Nope. From Antony." Kenzi said.

"Really?" Everyone said in unison. Kenzi smiled as she read the note, smiled agin after she read the note, put the note to her chest, tucked it away in her pocket and then re-focused her attention back to the group.

"Ooooh. What does the note say?" Tamsin asked gleefully.

"The crux of it is that he looks forward to seeing me again at the Presidium." Trick, Dyson, and Tamsin all cracked big grins.

"I just bet!" Tamsin said with a huge smirk. Trick and Dyson laughed while Kenzi rolled her eyes as she blushed.

Later that night after she and Tamsin returned to the Clubhouse Kenzi went up to her room, and re-read Antony's note:

"Dear Kenzi: My apologies that we had to depart so soon after the visit to Africa. As a sign of my affection, please allow this small token to serve as a vehicle of all the beauty and wonders that await you at the Presidium, and my sincerest wish you will allow me to be your guide as you explore them. I await your arrival. Until then. – Antony."


When Bo and Lauren returned home, Maddy had informed them the children were already in bed, asleep. They thanked Maddy, and she went to her room. Lauren collapsed on one side of the couch and rested her right arm on the arm of the couch. She then rested right side of her head in her right hand. Bo went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses.

"I hope you grabbed the potent stuff! I need a real drink tonight!" Lauren yelled in Bo's direction.

Bo chuckled, turned around, and swapped out the wine for a bottle of Irish Whiskey, and was about to swipe out the glasses when Lauren yelled, "Bring the wine glasses, though! Gonna need the volume!" Bo smiled and brought it all out to Lauren.

Lauren took the Irish Whiskey, and poured her wine glass half full which caused Bo to raise her eyebrows, but then Bo decided to join her, drink for drink, and poured hers half full which nearly killed the bottle. Lauren nearly killed her glass on her first drink.

"Do I need to get another bottle of something?" Bo asked.

"No. Let's just wait for this to hit first." Lauren replied then eyed Bo's glass, grabbed it, and poured half of Bo's whiskey into hers. Bo chuckled. Bo fell back in the middle of the couch as she watched Lauren ponder her thoughts.

"You know, there is a part of me that says if I dwell on all of what we just witnessed I will drive myself insane. The other part says if I keep my head above water I will be just fine. Then there is the middle part of me that is so utterly fascinated by their genetic makeup I cannot help but to be curious…if only suicidally curious." Bo laughed at her last statement.

"When I worked in the Congo nearly 20 years ago our medical group actually visited Beni's tribe. Who knew the Bosaki people were descendants of the Ranoruks. Not one word was ever said of the possibility of their existence." Lauren said.

"Maybe they were there. In myth." Bo replied.

"You know, you're right. The presence of the Ranoruks could have been covered up in the practices and beliefs of Animism." Lauren said.

"Animism?" Bo asked.

"A practice where believers deify animals, stars, idols of any kind. Such beliefs exist in many religions such as Hinduism, Mormonism, Buddhism." Lauren shook her head. "Where have these people been? Who are they? Really?" Lauren asked still stunned at what she witnessed in Africa.

"Well, you bonded yourself with The Regnant while she was at JFM, did you guys not talk at all?" Bo asked.

"We did, but anytime I think I have a grip on who she is, she drops something like 'oh, look I am 100-plus foot Atlas Bear.'" Lauren quipped. Bo laughed.

"And here I thought Dakari was shocking enough, then you have Julian who looks like he's part Minotaur, and let us not even talk about Jock." Lauren said.

"Yeah, it was all pretty spectacular." Bo replied. Lauren drowned the rest of her whiskey and emptied what was left of the bottle into her glass.

"Honey, you are really going to feel that later." Bo warned.

"I hope so." Lauren looked at Bo and asked, "Doesn't all of this fascinate you? Make you curious? Scared? Nervous?"

"I think I am just as shell-shocked as you, but just trying to flow with it." Bo replied.

"You will reign over all of what we just witnessed, and goodness knows what I will come to know at the Presidium. Bo, this is bigger than what anyone has ever imagined for your future." Lauren said.

"I know, but you what the good thing about that is?" Bo said.

"What is that?" Lauren asked.

"You will be with me." Bo said sweetly.

"Yes I will." Bo leaned in and kissed Lauren on the lips.

When they broke their kiss Lauren said, "You seem to be further along about all this than I am so you will need to bear with me as I get my bearings."

"I will be right there next to you." Bo replied. Then Lauren turned herself around and rested her head in Bo's lap as Bo caressed her hair with one hand and took a drink with the other.

"You know, I am glad that our children are just good, old-fashioned chi-suckers." Lauren said which caused Bo to partially spit out her drink in laughter.

"And don't forget part blood sages." Bo replied. They both laughed.

Then pondered their thoughts for a few moments.

"So now we have to start packing." Lauren said as she took a look around at their home.

"Yes, we do." Bo replied.

"We need to figure out how we are going to tell Mary." Lauren said.

"One thing at a time." Bo replied.

"We are going to have expose her to the broader Fae world someday, Bo." Lauren said.

"Operative word being 'someday.'"

"Bo…"

"I know. I just need to think on how to couch it. Especially, after what we just witnessed this evening."

"Well, I need to make a few stops of my own before we pack up our traps." Lauren said as looked at Bo to make sure she understood what she meant. "Okay?"

"Okay." Bo agreed.