See first chapter for disclaimers/warnings/summaries. NOTE: Lots of things happen in this chapter. Read slowly. There may be a few mentioned triggers for depression, etc.

RECAP: . Bahn Deveraine sends Harry a brunch invitation for a beach party with his original circle Bonded and his children. Harry accepts. When Bahn's Circle arrive, everyone has fun exchanging greetings and getting to know each other. Bahn is happy to share some dragel information with Harry. In the meantime, Quinn is working up the nerves to face his Sire, Patrick (Kalzik Beta) for his recent actions at the clinic.

NEVARAH : ILSA'S GUEST HOUSE : DEVERAINE PROPERTY : BEACHSIDE

Shouts came from the far end of the beach and both Harry and Theo looked up in time to see Charlie be tackled to the ground by an enthusiastic Takar. The Betas rolled around in the sand for a moment, playfully wrestling to draw the moment out.

"Our win!" Bu crowed, waving the squishy object in the air. It had been thrown up in the air by Charlie's surprised hands and she had run to catch it. "Three points to us!" She gave a little wiggle, her own version of a victory dance. "We're winning!" She twirled. "Go us!"

"You cheated!" Edora growled, hunching her shoulders up. She looked away from her chirpy circle mate to her fellow team member. "Nara, you were supposed to be paying attention!"

"I was paying attention, it's not my fault we're two hands down." Nara grinned widely. She clapped her hands to gain the wrestling duo's attention, throwing a wink at Charlie. The redhead was nicely planted in the ground with Takar's weight carefully settled over him. The sight the two Betas presented was definitely worth looking at. She'd never lay a hand on the handsome guest, but there was certainly no harm in looking and admiring. If anything, it would make Takar a little hot and bothered and that was always good. "That was a nice bit of lovely, handsome."

Takar snorted, rolling off of the dragon tamer and offering him a hand up. He gave a friendly nod to Charlie, before stalking back to their side of the traced game court. His dark brown eyes had easily seen where his Advisor's eyes had been looking. "And where exactly are your eyes wandering?" He retorted, giving Narah a nudge as he passed.

"Aww, jealous, loveling?" Nara blew him a kiss, mischief in her pretty pale grey eyes. "Don't worry, when you lose I'll be sure to have a consolation prize for you."

"As if we'll lose." Bu threw back. "Tak, quit flirting and march yourself over here." She cracked her knuckles. "My team never loses."

"Our team." Takar corrected, smoothly. He accepted the kiss of reward for scoring a point.

"Exactly what are we trying to win?" Charlie asked, accepting Edora's efficient hands at dusting the sand from his body. The petite Gheyo finished with a hard slap to his back that prompted a choked warble.

"Takar." The blonde perked a brow. "And Bahn." Edora grinned.

Charlie coughed. "What?"

"Well, you could play for something else, but we mostly play for Takar." She shrugged. "If they win, they have Bahn. If we win, we have Tak."

"…and what exactly are we…doing with them?" Charlie had to ask. Amusement colored his features. "Slave for a day?"

Edora's hazel eyes warmed considerably. "More like babysitter for an entire week." She smirked. "Slave wouldn't even begin to cover it."

"As if I'd lose." Takar shot back. He drew Bu back to him for a half-hug and dropped a kiss on her head. "Not when I have her on my side."

"Cheater." Edora's earlier glower returned. Bu was more like an entire team in one. It was usually why she had to play an entire half of the field herself, she couldn't play with too many in close quarters. Her reflexes were deadly and her accuracy was spot-on. "You're the one that's-"

"Time!" Sueh called out, taking up her position at the head of the triangle, the little white squishy thing in hand. It was something of a ball with a cloth wrapped around it, making it seem like a stuffed toy ghost. She tossed it back from hand to hand, her blue eyes snapping merrily. "We'll play another two rounds and call it from there, good?"

"Two rounds?" Charlie grimaced. He looked down at his stomach. It rumbled faintly. A look of dismay settled on his young face.

Nara burst into laughter. She leaned over and patted his tanned stomach, gently. "Go swap out with that little Alpha of yours and tell your Harry to feed you."

"Has Callis arrived with the food yet?" Bu titled her head to the side, tugging the golden ribbon free and holding it out to Takar. He calmly gathered the golden braids into a careful ponytail and retied them securely with the proffered ribbon. "I think I've worked up an appetite myself." She shook her head, settling the braids. "Thanks, Tak." She leaned into him for a moment and then turned, shading her eyes to see further up the beach.

He thumped her head, gently in response. "I don't think so. If he arrived, we'd know. He loves his dramatic entrances."

"I don't know what they saw in him." Sueh inspected her fingernails, but there was a faint smile hovering at the corners of her mouth. She loved to tease this particular Bonded and he was sweet enough to never complain. "Alright then, game off until later?"

"Truce." Nara agreed. She turned to Charlie. "That fine with you?"

Charlie nodded. His stomach rumbled again. He sighed. He'd never worked up an appetite like this before—not in a few mere hours—then again, he'd always been eating something on the reserve and his fellow tamers always had something on hand. He'd actually become quite used to walking around with a little pouch of trail mix and dried jerky strips. It was convenient and easy. He'd forgotten that little note since the entire Dragel thing as Theo had a good memory for ordering takeout and blood was more filling than he'd ever realized. It was a thought that made him blush—faintly—and then wondering whether it would be best to check the kitchen for a temporary snack.

Nara leaned over and slung an arm around the redhead's shoulders. She urged him forward, shifting to lock her arm more around his neck than his shoulders, to compensate for the height difference—she was still taller. She liked the young Beta even more now and thought that he was lucky to be in such a new, interesting triad—and then to be a friend of Bahn's. She'd make sure to encourage Bahn to bring their Circles together again in the future.

"Who won?" Bahn called out as the weary circle members approached, most of them happy and flushed, a few looking sweaty and tired. A calm, relaxed aura had settled all around them and even the children were following their parents back to the unofficial center. The square of carefully arranged beach towels provided a nice, sand-free resting place for any interested parties. He had urged Harry to join the others and have some fun, but the younger dragel had declined, opting to stay with him and lounge lazily in the sun. Bahn hadn't complained, the company was welcome and the conversation had been interesting.

Harry now cracked an eye open and looked up from beneath a hand, shading his eyes to adjust to the light. He smiled in welcome, rousing himself to greet the gamecomers. "Charlie!" He grinned at seeing his Beta in a half-headlock by the tall woman—Nara, the advisor.

"We called a truce." Nara released her hold on the redhead and gave him a push towards Harry. She dropped onto the towel beside Bahn and scooted up to pillow her head on his available thigh. She smiled when he handed over Camalis, resting him on her bare stomach. "Charlie's hungry. I think Tak is too. Sueh voted for a break. They must be running on a different frequency than the rest of us, though now that I think of it. I'm sure the little ones will start whining for a snack as soon as they hear the word." She paused. "Speaking of food, where's that drama queen—er—king, of ours?"

"Callis takes his own sweet time in doing absolutely everything." Bahn tapped her nose lightly. "You know that, and you also know that he has ears like a hound, do not let him hear you calling him that." His lips pursed, twitching as if to hide a smile at her accurate words. "It's well past the hour—I expect he would arrive sometime soon." He turned to Harry. "I stocked your kitchen with the basics, but even I know that's hardly anything for our lot. I stocked it for you three, not for us. I wasn't sure what you would like. Though I don't suppose there is anything in there to spare, is there?"

"I made eggs and toast this morning." Harry began to shift as if to stand. Charlie had come to stand beside him and he'd rolled up to a sitting position, gladly using his Beta's shins for a back brace.

Charlie had nudged him, with a chuckle, but hadn't protested. He was hot and sweaty—and hungry, but seeing an adorable, half-awake Harry certainly helped to take the edge off of things.

Harry hummed, in thought. Charlie's large fingers were tangling in his hair and it felt very nice. He tilted his head back, enjoying the gentle caress. He could feel Charlie's contentment through the shared bond. That was good. His mind now flickered back to Bahn and the present issue at hand—lunch. He had already begun thinking along the same lines, wondering what he had that could be fashioned into a presentable snack. He was sure there were biscuits and such that the children would enjoy, at least. "Anything you have in mind?" He asked Bahn. His repertoire of kid-friendly recipes was a little sparse.

"We won't need anything fancy." Bahn assured him. "Probably some fruit juices or nectars for the children and something for the others to nibble on." He hummed to himself. "I'm not exactly sure what, I know I put some biscuits in there and there was some cheese spread and possibly something with sugar…" Bahn trailed off, thinking quickly.

"I'm sure there's something we can-" Harry stopped. A sudden, violent wave of emotion hurtled through him and he physically recoiled, mind whirling to decipher where it had come from. The following pulse of magical energy settled him somewhat as he realized that a portal and had opened and two newcomers had arrived—with a host of angry, fighting energy. He took one look at the approaching women and immediately scooted backwards and out of their warpath, half-hugging, scrabbling at Charlie's tanned legs. For a moment, it looked as if Bahn would be eaten alive and Harry did not want to be an appetizer—at least, that's what his dragel instincts screamed at him. He worried for his pale friend only to see Bahn's expression brightening somewhat as his gaze landed on the duo.

"Ah. They made it." He said, cheerfully. "Never mind the snacks then. Alma was bringing groceries with her. I'm sure we can find something in there. You might want to plug your ears though, Harry. They're going to yell." He said, matter-of-factly.

"Bahn." Nara scolded. She twisted turning to see and immediately rolled onto her side. She was on her feet and backing away, Camalis expertly cradled in her arms as she took in her approaching Bonded. There was apparently more to her than the mere title of Advisor if her grace and fluidity was anything to note. "On second thought, you might want a silencing charm and something else to amuse you for a few minutes. I think they'll do more than merely yell, loveling."

"Mmmhmm." Bahn hummed in answer. "You'd best let me hold, Camalis, hmm? She might not want him in your arms at the moment." He held his arms out for the baby. Alma was prickly over certain things and her son was one of them. Nara was an exception and he was a necessity. Alma would not throttle him for holding his own son—at least not just yet.

Nara made a strangled noise in her throat instead and handed him over, before skipping backwards a few feet. The duo was covering ground rather quickly. She gave a funny little quirk of her head, a hint to Harry and Charlie to move out of the way.

"Bahn!" The first approaching woman glowered at him, her gaze deadly, her aura fairly radiating the promise of pain and possible death. Magic seemed to be sparking off of her as the tension in the air grew tangible at her approach. "If you ever try and leave me alone in the Marketplace again, I swear by all that is beneath this realm and within it, that I will rip your head off and feed it to a tank full of bloodthirsty, yellow-bellied-!"

The second woman, a lighter-haired brunette came trotting up behind her, worry and exasperation painted on her lovely face. "Threats will not help." She chided. "Alma, please, calm down, love! The children are right here and I'm sure that you-"

"I know the children are right here, I can see them! I can actually see them. Do you think I'm blind?" Alma snapped. Magic, of a faintly black-grey color, swirled around her clenched fists and a smattering of small blackness rippled over her shoulder caps, then faded back into her natural color. For a moment, the anger seemed to recede by a few degrees and her eyes glistened.

The other woman sighed, squeezing her eyes shut as if to keep from saying anything to set off the situation. "No. I know you are not and I can see that. I also know that this is not the right way to be-"

"Just stop it!" Alma half-screamed. She was a tall, slender brunette, roughly about the same height as the statuesque Nara. She was also the visible opposite of everything else in Bahn's circle. Instead of white, black seemed to be her signature color. Her outfit was a well-detailed, cutout swimming suit, with a loosely tied wrap forming a makeshift skirt for her lower body. Her skin was whiter and paler than any of the other elves and there was the barest hint of a shimmer to it in some places.

Harry found himself twitching as he sorted through the sudden rush of magic and emotion that seemed to be radiating from her. He could easily discern that the recent flood of changes had nothing to do with himself or his Bonded. Theo and Charlie were both content and mildly hungry, not furious and desperate as the chief emotions channeling back to him were. This Alma was on the verge of a breakdown, it seemed and completely overwhelmed with whatever had happened at the Marketplace where Bahn had left her.

At that, Harry was annoyed at his fellow Submissive, wondering in Merlin's name had prompted Bahn to do something that seemed to have such an upsetting outcome, when he caught sight of the elfin-dragel's face. The earlier hint of amusement was completely erased, replaced by something that was a mixture of worry, concern and barely concealed anger.

Harry blinked. Anger? He tried and failed to comprehend that, but tentatively send another careful check through his own bonds to be sure that it wasn't from his own Bonded. He didn't think it was, but he wanted to be sure. Theo's reassurance and Charlie's own sliver of worry came rushing back to him and he quickly scanned the gaggle of dragels to see where they were. Theo was working his way carefully through the others towards him, while Charlie had taken up a position that somewhat shielded him. He'd left Harry and Bahn to listen to little Bruen's happy chatter and gone off to be shown a handful of pretty seashells. He'd immediately begun to make his way back to Harry and the others the moment the portal had opened.

A blossom of warmth bloomed inside of him and Harry tentatively relaxed. From all that he'd seen and known of Bahn so far, hinted that the blond was quite capable of handling his own Circle, no matter the problem. His playful nature seemed to be something that all of his Bonded took quite seriously, but they had interacted honestly with him, showing no duplicity or other worrisome things.

Harry frowned.

Alma had switched to Elvish and was currently still telling him off about whatever had happened, fairly trembling with suppressed magic and emotion as she did so. Two mesh sacks had been in hand before she dropped them on the beach towels to try and combat her own temper. Various food items were contained within and they rested at her bare, bejeweled feet. Her thick, long hair was pulled into a braided bun, with the excess length hanging down to her waist. Another contrast of differences was the fact that it was pure black and most certainly not the pale blond hue of every other Bonded in the Deveraine Circle. She finally paused for a breath, with something of an audible hiccup.

Bahn gave a resigned sigh, slowly rising to his feet. He hadn't stood at all, sitting calmly while she'd raged at him without saying a single word. Now he rose to his full height, nearly level with her chest. "Alma." He greeted, simply.

"Give me my son!" The woman snapped.

Bahn handed over the sleeping bundle, the necessary silencing charms already cast by Nara. He watched as she checked them, then checked the babe and then immediately thrust said bundle into her Alpha's arms, as Delani came up behind her.

"Do you have any idea what you did?" She hissed. Her fingers uncurled from their fists and twitched as if she'd like to slap him, but didn't. "You were right behind me one minute and when I turn around, you've vanished. You didn't even leave a single note-!" She screamed in frustration, the sound seeming more melodic than it should have as her hands came upward to scrabble at her head. It echoed through the empty shores.

"Alma!" Delani said, sharply. She swayed the sleeping baby in her arms, carefully for a moment, her sharp grey eyes seeing more than was presented to her. "Calm down. Do not make me force you." She frowned before moving to stand somewhat between the two. "Thank you," this was directed to Alma as her attention now shifted to her Submissive. "Bahn, you owe her an apology. I have no idea what possessed you to be so careless, but it will not happen again—so help me, if I have to remind you. Your weekend is not shaping up the way you promised me it would." She frowned, quite displeased. "Alma, there is no need to be screaming yourself hoarse. I would much rather prefer to hear your side of things as calmly as you could manage it. I have no idea what really happened back there. Can you elaborate-?"

"He left me." The words were forced through teeth and fangs. "In the middle of a—do you have any idea what I almost did-?"

Delani immediately settled the baby into the Pareya's flailing arms.

Harry sucked in a breath. He didn't think that was a very smart move at all. In fact, instinctively, the only thought in his mind was to be as far away from the current situation as possible—somewhere that he wouldn't be caught in the crossfire, baby and all. He didn't know anything about babies and dragels, except for it appeared that Delani did, because the moment she'd transferred Camalis—Alma calmed.

The effect was immediate.

Alma instinctively clutched her child to her breast, the wild magic rushing about her dimming to a tolerable murmur. Her stance changed at once, from defensive to protective. She took several careful breaths and then buried her face in the babe's blankets. Her eyes fluxed grey and then back to the customary black. "Lani, he-!" She started off again, her fingers clenching and unclenching in the soft blanket.

"Shush. I know. He did. That was wrong and you know I'll make him pay for it." Delani soothed. "However, there are gaps in this particular story and I am sure you both have reasons for what happened. Reasons that I would dearly love to know. Now take Camalis over there and calm down." She drew the smaller woman towards her, placing a kiss on the side of her temple, one finger caressing a mark half-hidden on her lower back, visible above the waistband of her sarong. "Besides, you're making a terrible first impression."

Dark eyes blinked and then locked onto to Harry and Theo. Her eyes glittered again, with unshed tears and she turned away abruptly, her arms automatically rocking the babe in the familiar swaying motions.

Bahn frowned, looking from her to Delani. He winced when the Alpha made a fist out of one hand and thumped him on the head. "Ow?" He suggested, uncertainly. His earlier chipper mood had melted away to something worried and vaguely uncertain.

"Save it." She sighed. "Takar?"

Their Beta approached, taking the cue to comfort Alma. He wrapped a sturdy arm around her shoulder and guided her to the side with a whispered murmur in her ear. He was careful to stand in such a way that he shielded her from the others, while placing himself between her and Bahn.

"Must you torment her so?" Delani scrubbed a hand through her hair. Unlike the other blondes of their respective circle, she had a lovely dark blonde tint to her own locks, though nothing on Alma's pitch black tresses.

Bahn's frown deepened. "I told her I was leaving, Lani. She was fine. You know I wouldn't have left her otherwise—I am not that cruel."

"But you can be especially when you are not thinking." His Alpha scolded. "Do not 'Lani' me. Exactly how fine was she? Do you know where I found her? Correction, do you know how I found her?"

Pale brows knitted together. "I left her chatting with Orreson's Pareya by the vegetable stalls. She was fine. They haven't had a chance to visit in a few years—not since we haven't graced the Hunts—they were very happy to catch up. I spoke to two of them—we had a lovely conversation—and then I remembered that I needed to see to the children before coming over here, so I excused myself. They were fine with it. They said they were finishing the same stalls as I was and I counted it as luck. I figured Alma could stay and finish things up, I knew she'd be fine with them. They like her. She likes them." His shoulders twitched. "I left a message with the tall one whose name I still cannot pronounce."

By now, Theo had reached Harry and Charlie. He was not oblivious to the renewed tension settling thickly in the air. He was careful to take up a protective—not defensive—stance beside his Submissive and Beta. Something had happened, though it appeared that the main people who ought to know what—didn't—and those who needed to be speaking—weren't.

"Theo?" Harry scratched one arm, absently. Charlie's warmth still seared into him, as if branding and marking his skin, even though it wasn't anywhere near as uncomfortable as his mind screamed it ought to be. Harry could feel his magic literally crawling under his skin as if it were about to burst out any minute, Charlie's heat was distracting enough for him to ignore the itch. He bit his lip, wondering what exactly was being transmuted through the bond between them, when Theo's hand settled on his shoulder, directly over the tattooed mark.

"Harry." The young Alpha's voice was soft and familiar. "It's fine. It's an inner circle matter. We only need to allow them a moment to sort it out."

"It feels like something bigger." Harry reached up to hook his fingers with Theo's, relaxing by a fraction when the command filtered through the mark, requesting him to remain calm. That was a welcome cue and he was grateful for Theo's silent, strong support.

"If we're worked up, then they'll be more on edge." Theo whispered, cat-quiet. "We're fine." He locked eyes with Charlie, relieved to see that their Beta kept his distance, carefully positioning himself in a place where he'd be at an advantage. Theo did notice Edora shifting uncomfortably, positioning herself at a point where she could keep all three of them in line. He smiled, grimly, realizing that their Gheyo had read the situation in the same way as he had.

"Something came up then." Delani rubbed her face. "They left. Alma never received any message. In fact, she was accosted by a certain charming fellow by the name of Lael Guantrell, who took notice of the fact that she was very much alone. She nearly ripped his head off." Delani frowned. "Now, I don't exactly know what this means in particular to you or her, but I can't imagine anything that—Bahn?"

The elfin-dragel had gone rather still all of a sudden. The pale eyes darkened to a more decided grey and when Delani reached for him, his head jerked around, fangs snapping with an audible click where her fingers had been moments before.

"Bahn-!" She yanked her hand back, staring at him in complete disbelief, worry etching across her face.

He ignored her, starting forward after Alma. Scales began to ripple and surface, showing along the edges of his face, the features morphing to something vaguely reptilian.

Delani's eyes narrowed. "Oh no, you don't." She lunged for him, succeeding in grabbing one arm. She easily wrestled him to her side, leaning her head back to keep from bumping her chin on his head. "Bahn. Bahn, calm down, love. Please. Don't make me force you. Please. Who exactly is he and what did he do that—she's fine. Bahn, Alma's fine. I am fine. Nothing happened to us. I need you to tell me if-"

Bahn struggled against her embrace anyway, a continuous low growl slipping out of his throat.

Theo immediately pulled Harry back, flush against him, careful to put more than a few steps of distance between them and the agitated pair.

A grunt came out as Harry wriggled, though not to escape, but rather to soothe the uncomfortable itch that now seemed to be spread over him. He felt the familiar pang of worry as he took in his fellow Submissive's obvious distress. He could now see how some of the secrets in the Deveraine Circle could have survived for so many years. The longer he knew Bahn, the more it seemed as if he didn't really know anything about him at all. He'd seen Bahn fight Ilsa the night before, had seen Bahn's playful interaction with Takar, but he hadn't expected anything like the Alpha-Submissive Dynamic playing out before him.

"Shhh. It's fine. We're fine." Theo paused. His golden eyes roved quickly over Harry's twitching form. "You're…twitching. Are you alright?"

"Think…so." Harry twisted again, not finding the friction that he wanted and feeling an unbearable heat beginning to build in him. "Magic." He growled out to Theo, clenching his jaw as the hairs along his arm began to stand on edge. "Feels like there's something inside of me."

"Hey, hey, shh." Theo soothed, instantly locking an arm around his neck and digging those talented fingers into the mating mark between them. He fairly pushed the command of 'calm' through the bond, worrying at Harry's near vibrating form. "Don't think about it. Do not think about what you're seeing. Listen to me. Listen to my voice. Close your eyes if you have to. Do not let yourself be worked up over this, alright? I know it looks—dodgy, at best—but trust me. Remembering that little chat we had in the shower this morning? The one about your dragel gift being Nameless and possibly empathic?" He locked his other arm around Harry's waist, pinning the slender arms to the sides. "You are reacting right now. I can feel it and I'm sure you can too, if you're searching for it. Stop searching. I know that's easier said than done, but close your eyes, that will help some."

Harry bit his lip, feeling a distinct coolness from Theo combating the flaring heat between them. He closed his eyes without a second thought. If there was anything dangerous around him, Theo and Charlie would handle it. He should trust them. No, he could trust them and he would.

"Thank you." Theo's lips brushed against the outer shell of his ear, his arms tightening a touch more. "It'll blow over in a minute, I think. Right now—you don't want to be between them."

Harry bit his lip, worrying it between his teeth, forcing himself to focus on the sensation instead of the scene he'd just seen—Delani wrestling Bahn into an armlock. From the very obvious signs between them, he didn't see the need to use his magic to confirm what his eyes could already declare. His mind clicked over to the usual train of thought he followed when wanting to help another, he pounced on the single piece of useful information that had registered before Bahn's reaction. "Who is Lael Guantrell?"

Bahn's head jerked around to glare at Harry. "Don't say his name." The words came out as a hiss.

"Eyes." Theo murmured, quickly. "Don't open your eyes." His own golden gaze met Bahn's greyed orbs steadily.

Before anything else could happen along that line, Delani's light orange eyes began to turn colorless. She tightened her grip on Bahn, careful of his baby bump, before knocking his head to the side and sinking her fangs into his neck. He keened softly, when the pain registered and after a few weak protests, grew limp in her arms. Only when assured of his compliance, did the Alpha gently retract her fangs, pressing a kiss to the puncture wounds. Her magic was a warmer hue to Bahn's golden-white flickers and it swirled easily around the pair, forcefully projecting a deliberate calm.

A pink blush immediately stained his cheeks and Bahn turned his face to hide it in her neck. The brunette gave a sad smile, cradling his head to her. She rubbed a careful line up and down the mating marks on his exposed arm, further relaxing her distraught Submissive.

Several tense minutes passed and then Bahn straightened, leaning away from her arms again. Delani sighed. "Bahn, would you like to tell me what is wrong or should I start guessing?" Her fingers gently tapped along his exposed upper half. "I know something's wrong and I know there are only two things in this realm that could ever put you in this sort of a state. I'd rather you told me instead of guessing."

Harry shifted, uncertainly, turning closed eyes towards Theo. Their cheeks brushed and after a moment, Theo nudged him gently, a silent cue. Emerald eyes carefully slid open a second later, taking in the altered scene. Harry was relieved to find that the crawling, burning itch had abated enough to a tolerable level and he found himself fixed on Bahn's troubled face.

The blond stubbornly pressed his lips together and he threw his weight forward, to break the embrace. He obviously wasn't about to speak just yet. Delani frowned but released him, watching as he immediately headed towards the irate Alma, pacing up and down a marked path in the sand, having freed herself from Takar's arms. When Bahn reached her, she turned her back to him at once.

Only to be pulled around and have Camalis pried from her arms to be handed off to Nara. The advisor had immediately drew near to monitor the situation and she quickly took the baby without a single word. Before the Alma could complain, Bahn grabbed her in a hug and forcefully threw his magic out over her, urging it to seek for injury heal any that was found. Nara immediately scooted backwards, accepting the protective stance Edora took up in front of her.

Surprise radiated from the Alma as she froze, feeling the protective magic twining around her. Bahn rarely did this—ever. He trusted them all to take care and look after their own selves. Their inherent nature as Battle Elves meant that they were accustomed to it—to show this side of him meant that something was wrong. She squashed the inner tendril of panic and forced herself to project a calm that she did not quite feel. "Bahn?" Her voice was careful, tentative.

Bahn simply hugged her harder.

Alma bit her lip, fangs peeking out over the edges. She looked over Bahn's head towards the approaching Delani and mouthed a question. The Alpha's shrug was not the least bit helpful. "…Bahn? I'm fine. Really. Nothing happened, it's just that—well, if you were there—ow. Alright. I should mention that I am not a stuffed toy and squeezing me to death will probably be frowned upon." The grip slackened fractionally. Alma huffed. "Nice. Alright." She stood with her arms by her side for a moment, before her lower lip quivered and suddenly, she was hugging him back with equal force.

Delani came to a stop a few feet away, wary of interfering. By now, the rest of the Circle had gathered, instinctively grasping that something was troubling one of their own on a deeper level. The children were kept by Nara and Soula, with Edora keeping watch in front of them, while the others came forward.

"Bahn?" Takar circled around to watch from the opposite of Delani. "Is everything alright? Alma?"

"They appear to be fine." Sueh's magic, pale blue like her eyes, whispered over the hugging duo. Her wings had emerged, flaring out protectively and curving towards the two Bonded. "What happened? I haven't seen him like this since-" She swallowed back the word. "Lani?"

Delani sighed. "We need to talk." She said, firmly. "I shall call the others in. Come and sit down, all of you. This will be sorted before it grows out of hand. Nara?" She called out. "Soula? Bring the children." She scanned the beach line. "Didn't you bring the pavilion?"

"Bahn said Greta would bring it." Bu supplied. "Which means that if she wasn't released from the pits, Ilsa should bring it, if she ever manages to make it here from wherever she went in the first place. Edor tore the last one down, remember?"

"Hey!" Edora scowled in her direction.

The petite Pareya merely shrugged in answer. "Tis the truth, isn't it?"

"Wings then," Delani said, decisively. She turned back, stopping when she caught sight of Theo and the other two. "And one of you smells familiar, though I can't imagine why—Theodore?" She stopped and stared at the golden-eyed brunet incredulously. "My word, you've grown." The last vestige of her defensive posture melted away as instinct dictated that she was with family that would not attack. "It's been years…"

"He's more than grown." Takar said, gently. "Did you not read anything that Bahn wrote to you last night? This is Theo and his circle, they are currently a triad. His Beta, Charlie—the redhead and their Submissive, Harry, the one with the green eyes. You did read the letter Bahn sent, didn't you?"

"I did." Delani's left eye twitched. "and I might have been half-asleep when I did."

"Ah." Takar hummed. "Did you at least read what he had to say about Ilsa?"

"That was probably the part where I fainted from sheer disbelief." Delani retorted, the sarcasm lacing her tone. "I read the letter, Takar. I simply haven't had the chance to properly process it." She inclined her head towards the younger Alpha. "My apologies, it appears I am distracted."

Harry frowned. He wouldn't call Bahn's distress a distraction, but he was aware that the formal phrasing probably meant more on what wasn't said than what was. "Will Bahn be alright?" He asked, bluntly.

Delani's eyes grew even paler. "He will be, if I have anything to say of it." She said, softly. "Wings, everyone." She looked at Theo, hard for a moment. "You may join us, if you can keep your silence."

Theo looked down at Harry. Emerald eyes pleaded silently with him. Theo drew in a breath and nodded, he beckoned Charlie to join them.

They managed to guide Bahn and Alma to the towels, where the children were brought and clustered around them. Nara, holding Camalis, sat back-to-back with Alma, while the Pareya stretched their wings out, forming a shadowed cocoon. The youngest of the children were spelled to sleep and the oldest—Soula, was allowed to stay awake. She hovered on the edge of the group with something of a worried pout.

For Harry's comfort, Charlie extended his wings instead, providing some shade for his own circle from the afternoon sun. They were carefully situated with an out allowed for comfort on both sides, should either circle feel threatened. Theo was mildly impressed and chose to keep close to Harry, while Charlie settled behind them both with his wings extended.

After several long minutes of whispering, Delani finally pried Alma and Bahn apart, gathering Bahn up and into her lap, while Takar did the same for Alma, being careful to allow the woman to keep a clear line of sight to Nara and her son. Delani whispered some more before Bahn's face scrunched up into an odd expression and then he reached up and tugged her head down so their foreheads to touch.

Harry frowned, wondering what it was for when seconds later, the lady Alpha started, violently, her wings shredding the fabric of her white blouse and a loud growl cutting through the air.

"Lani?" Takar's voice was measured and careful. He tensed, arms around Alma as if to feel.

Delani licked her lips and tucked Bahn's head beneath her chin. He shifted, restlessly again and was quickly presented with her slashed wrist. There was no hesitation before he sank his fangs into the offering. "Remember that circle a few years back…after Ilsa?"

Takar frowned. "Which one?"

"The one with…the…the one who said that Bu was a pretty little thing fit only for-?"

Edora clapped a hand over the Alpha's mouth, being the only one close enough to the irate pair to do so. Her hazel eyes glittered with suppressed anger. "I do." She said, stiffly. "Don't remind me. I should have killed the bastards!"

"…apparently, they've changed names. The Circle expanded. Lael Guantrell was…well informed."

Edora leapt to her feet and stalked away from the group. Her hands clenched at her sides and then her thick, plated wings made an appearance. Then she threw her head back and literally screamed a whirlwind across the rippling waves.

Harry felt a sense of growing dread ripple over him as he watched the entire circle start and tense at the new revelation. He didn't need to know exactly who was who to fill in the blanks on this one. Someone had insulted Bu and apparently been warned off—yet had still made another pass—this time, at Alma. The pretty Pareya had been alone and while certainly not defenseless, if her temper was anything to measure it by. But the encounter had not been welcome for more reasons that were being publicly shared.

On the other hand, Harry was mildly impressed at Edora's little display of temper. He hadn't seen an Air type in any sort of 'action' and while he didn't like the reason for such a display—it was lovely—and a muted warning. In spite of her small, feminine frame, there was a significant amount of magic contained within. He found himself wondering if he could possibly be lucky enough to find Bonded from every possible element. It was certainly an enticing thought.

Takar swore in Elvish and all the women simultaneously reinforced the muffling spells around the children almost as if it were habit.

"Takar." Alma scolded. She poked him in the chest with one finger, but made no move to break his protective embrace. Her lower lip trembled, faintly.

"What did you see?" Takar demanded. He leaned to the side and winced, catching sight of Edora carving up the sandy beach between the cracks of two overlapping wings.

Delani sighed. It appeared she was the only one able to speak clearly and coherently for the moment. "I felt her magic spike and I saw her backed up into a pillar, with this…idiot leaning over her. She had her arms full with bags and the place was crowded and busy. You know how it is. He said something. She said something else. He grabbed her by the neck and that's when I finally reached them." Delani's fingers fluxed to claws and she breathed deeply through her nose, willing them to morph back. She could not afford to lose control—not yet, anyway.

Theo found himself scowling along with them, noting Harry's grim reaction to the news. The upper crust of dragel society was just like any other—a feeding frenzy where only the richest and most influential could keep their footing. Ilsa had been careful to keep him out of it and when she couldn't—well, that was one of the many reasons she'd gifted him her surname. With the Gorgens name attached to his own, it would keep the lesser irritants from interfering and allow him to keep the privacy he'd grown fond of. It was a detail he was now thankful for, knowing that Harry disliked the spotlight as much as he did. He'd have to make sure he registered a Circle name for them soon. He'd omitted that particular detail when he'd registered both Submissive and Beta.

"Tell me you at least bruised him and filed charges?" Nara scowled, darkly. "He deserved it. You said his name was Lael? I've never heard of him and I won't forget him either. I know most of the High Noble families. I can't believe I've missed a bloody name change!"

"Mmhm." Delani frowned. "You probably didn't. You might have heard it and it didn't register right away. He's from the same circle, according to Bahn. But I've never seen nor heard of him before either. I did hit him—broke his nose, not that it lasted long, but now I wish I'd killed him. The three on patrol said they'd write it up. I left a brief report. There were witnesses."

Bahn released her wrist to bite down in a new patch of skin—hard.

"Bahn!" She flicked him lightly with her free hand. "If you need to bite, then-"

He wrinkled his nose, but opened his mouth and carefully tended to the matching wounds. "Killing him wouldn't have solved anything." He said, quiet and composed once more. "It would have only caused you more trouble and brought a bigger headache to all of us." He sent an apologetic look to Alma, who offered a wan smile in return. "I shouldn't have left you alone, I thought you were safe with the others, I didn't realize—I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, "Alma began.

Bahn immediately held up a hand to silence her. He shook his head, then blew out a frustrated breath. "No. It is. I was too—excited—there was so much happening and so many things I wanted to do, especially since I…well, since I felt Ilsa enter Nevarah. I wasn't thinking straight." He turned to face Delani. "And I do know that you specifically requested that I be shadowed at all times and I willfully disobeyed you by deliberately losing her." His hands folded in his lap. "I realize that feeling stifled or excessively energetic are both situations that I should bring to your attention and that it is your responsibility to help me adjust and adapt. This wouldn't have happened if I wasn't feeling—stubborn—I fully understand and accept that this is my fault."

Harry felt his skin begin to prickle and crawl once more. He could practically taste the guilt wafting off of Bahn and it burned through him like Charlie's scalding flames that never singed. He leaned back into Theo, not sure whether he should speak, but feeling still as if he should do something. The last thing he wanted to do was somehow put his foot in his mouth at such a delicate point. Delani's earlier words to be silent reminded him to hold his tongue.

Theo squeezed his shoulders, reassuringly, his arms having fallen back from the earlier restraint. He wished that Ilsa was here, if only for the fact that her presence had always brought him some measure of reassurance. He wondered what was keeping her and then refocused his attention on Harry, careful to be channeling calmness through the bonds both to him and Charlie. He didn't dare make a sound at this moment. It was still too sensitive.

"We are not pointing fingers." Delani said, firmly. "We do not know if this would have been averted entirely had your presence been there or not. There-"

"It would have." Bahn interrupted, calmly. "You know me better than anyone else, Lani. When I am present everyone knows it. They know who I am and where I come from. They know to keep a wide berth, it is also why I prefer to shop with Sueh—she is very good haggler and no one ever dares look at her in the wrong way. This could have been prevented, if I had…behaved."

At that, Harry's emerald eyes immediately darted towards the named Pareya. He was wondering what was different in her from the others, when those sharp, blue eyes locked onto his. He sucked in a breath and dared himself not to look away. Sueh was the only one amongst them with blue eyes—a blue so rich and startlingly vivid, that he knew there had to be more to her than a simple Air element—just like her Submissive, something lurked beneath the surface.

"…I agreed to Alma today, because I knew it would be easy to lose her." Bahn hesitated. "I was in a hurry, I wanted things to be moving quickly and I didn't want to stop and deal with…a shadow. And that was wrong and solely my own fault. If I had done exactly as you asked, this would not have happened. I should have made my feelings clear on the matter and asked for a suitable compromise. I had options." He met his Alpha's gaze, steadily. "I accept whatever punishment you deem worthy and I apologize to all of you. I am truly sorry. I never meant for this to come about." He swallowed.

Delani stared him down for a moment and then turned away. She sighed.

Bahn shifted in her lap, reaching up to nuzzle her neck and then to rub his cheek against hers.

She let him, waiting for a long moment. The expression on her face was far from happy, but it was settled enough. She no longer appeared as furious as she'd been several minutes before. When his nudges became more insistent, her hand reached up to tangle in his hair and hold him steady. She held his head pulled back, so she could accept the apology, licking and kissing the soft throat, before she nipped it, lightly with her fangs. A reddened mark appeared. "We will discuss this later." She informed him. "It will be sorted and Alma deserves her own apology."

Bahn nodded, quickly, nervously. "I-I am sorry, Delani."

His Alpha hugged him tight, rubbing firmly up and down his slender arms. "I know you are." She said, softly. "I know you are."

Eventually the tension settled to an acceptable level and Theo reluctantly sat down again, with Harry cuddled into his side. Charlie, of course, took up Harry's other side, pressing his warmth closer to them. The trio was careful not to speak, unless spoken to. Whatever had happened seemed to be something of grave importance and all were loath to interfere in such a seemingly delicate matter.

Bahn finally sighed, his pale eyes searching the group before settling on Harry, he pulled away from Delani to stretch a hand towards his fellow Submissive. "…I suppose I owe you an apology as well." He mused, waiting.

Theo nudged Harry forward, reassuring.

"Not really," Harry scooted forward, reaching for the hand and twitching in surprise when a jolt of magic sparked between them. Both Submissives stared at each other for a moment and then Bahn smiled. "You didn't tell me you were an Empath."

Shock made its course quickly around the various dragels.

And the faintest of a smile touched Delani's face. "I wondered how you were so calm." She said, softly. "There are very few who can keep their senses when I am losing mine." She smiled warmly, albeit sadly, at Harry. "Bahn, love, I think I'd best take a walk."

He twisted to look at her and ducked his head, lightly, as she trailed her fingers over his neat plaits. "…if you must."

"I must. I suppose it is my turn to carve up the beachside. It will only take a minute. Sit and talk to Harry, you two fit together quite well. Do excuse me."

"Er," Harry said, intelligently.

Bahn squeezed the hand carefully in his own. He didn't watch as Delani excused herself from everyone to take her own turn at expressing her emotions across the pristine beachside. Apparently, the Gauntrell Circle was a very sore topic for all of them. "My apologies, Harry. I hoped you could have a relaxing, restful afternoon, but it seems as if I am a walking entourage of drama." He hesitated. "And I'm also sorry about naming your talent, I didn't mean to blurt it out if t'was a secret." He turned, throwing a warning glance to his circle, who understood the unspoken command. He took a shaky breath. It could be a conversation for later—much later. "Though, if I could make a suggestion, if you ever run into the Guantrell Circle, do your best to avoid them. They are arrogant pricks with absolutely no self-control, zero morals and despicable magic. The intent brands into your skin like filth that can never be removed."

Theo frowned, shifting forward to settle himself behind Harry. "If you don't mind my asking…how so?" He was careful to convey nothing beyond simple interest, acknowledging that they were still on good terms, in spite of the little scene.

Bahn sighed and shifted away from where he'd been sitting to half-curl into Harry, seeking the skin on skin contact from a fellow Submissive. He rested his head on Harry's shoulder and toyed with the ends of one of his many, shiny braids. "Lael is a new Bonded to the Guantrell Circle. Twelve years ago, my daughter Kandra was attacked by one of their Bonded." The elfin-dragel slowly clenched his hands into fists. "A rather nasty bit of…business." He exhaled softly. "However, due to inner politics and Kandra's wishes, the matter was never properly…handled."

"What he's trying to say," Bu fluidly folded herself into a blank spot besides Bahn and immediately scooped him up into her lap, then reached for Harry and pulled him as close to them as she could, with an apologetic look to Theo. Her own instincts were riding close to the surface and she knew the young man would understand—Theo was an Alpha, after all. She let Bahn curl up for a moment, hands still stretched towards Harry, who didn't mind taking and holding them as he instinctively leaned closer to both of them, not the least bit bothered by Bu's arm draped around him. "Is that Kandra was never avenged. Because the crime—and make no mistake that it was one—was never marked on their Circle by an official, they've continued to grow and have brought themselves up in society. They currently have a ranking that makes it, well, suffice it to say that there is very little we can do about it at the moment. Not without causing some significant problems." She sighed. "Ithycar was furious when he found out and Delani wasn't much better, but it's after the fact and that's a bit of an issue."

Bahn made a noise of discontent. "There were things we could have done," He tried to explain. "But everything was a mess back then, Ilsa had just left, Greta was in the dueling pits, Callis wasn't settling in, Edora wasn't Edor and our Circle was fractured all around." He squeezed Harry's hands. "A Circle fractured is a house divided and a house divided will never stand in times of despair. It was…very bad."

Harry felt a chill ripple over him as his mind connected the dots between all that wasn't outright explained. "Is," he licked his lips. "Is Kandra…?" Alive, he wanted to say, but couldn't bring himself to voice it. "Alright?"

Bu stilled her Submissive with a reassuring grip on his shoulder. A pained look settled on her face. "That would depend on your definition of alright. Kandra was a…Submissive. The fight turned her into a Gheyo. There was nothing that could be done about it. She now trains with a special Military Circle on the outskirts of the Fire Borders, where the Fire Dragels reside. It changed her—they changed her—and it never should have happened."

Harry's brow furrowed into a knot. Bahn tugged on his fingers, lightly, an inquisitive look at Harry's puzzled expression. "How can she…change?" Harry asked. He had to know. It didn't make any sense to him at all. A saddened look settled over all of the dragels present and Harry almost wished that he hadn't spoken at all.

"Do you know how Gheyos come about?" This was from Edora who now stood over them, her sweat-slick body gleaming in the afternoon light. She had a towel slung around her neck and she pushed her sweaty bangs up and off of her forehead. She'd apparently finished carving up the beachside and using up her destructive anger in a more suitable outlet, now sufficiently calmed to mingle once more. Her generous bosom heaved with her slowing breaths as she swabbed about her face with the clean spot on the towel. "It's actually quite simple really."

Harry shook his head.

"They are either born to Gheyo parents or they are made." The blonde eyed him. "I take it you don't understand that, either?" She tugged on the ends of the towel. "For any individual to turn into a Gheyo apart from inheriting the gene, something horrifically traumatic must happen. It must almost kill them and it must make them wish to live beyond it. If it is not to kill them, then someone dear and near to them, someone that would prompt the sacrifice they give as a life debt—to survive, a Submissive's life debt often translates into the Submissive turning into a Gheyo. This is noted when the Submissive is feral and, well, you'd see the wings change."

The sudden chill intensified and Harry shivered, in spite of the warmth in the air.

Edora's own expression shifted to one of regret. "When this happens, instead of dying, the individual's magic forcibly rewrites them. They gain the traits of Gheyo-kind and well, their magic is everything that it never was. Vicious, powerful and tormented." Her smile was more of a grimace. "We may laugh about it at times, but there is very little to laugh about. Think of Ilsa, for example. There is a reason she is so short. She was not born to Gheyo parents."

Bahn made another strangled sound in his throat and shifted, faintly. Bu pressed a kiss to one bare shoulder. Bahn shuddered, relaxing minutely. "Show him, Edor." He said, softly. "Please?"

Harry found himself staring in morbid fascination as the feminine figure of Edora began to twist and shrink somewhat. The bikini top went flat against a lightly muscled chest and the cute, cropped bottoms were suddenly a little fuller than they were before. The thick, long, blond hair was now shorter and in a single braid down the back, the smaller braids morphing into one. The face became sharper and more angular as Edor now stared back. His shoulders twitched and the wings that burst out were nothing like the ones Harry had seen up close as yet.

These wings were thicker, heavier and when Edor curved one forward, Harry gasped. Whereas the other dragels he'd seen so far had lovely, colorful, shiny scales, Edor had dull, thick plates of what had to be armor, with bony points and tips over the surface. The colors were bland and flat and there didn't seem to be a single way to pry out a single armored scale. The top of the middle wing spines had a smaller, slightly deformed claw that was clenched tight. Edor's smile was tight and strained. The stark contrast of fierceness seemed out of place on the small, waif-like Gheyo.

"Fold it back," Bu murmured, softly. She arm around Harry's shoulder retreated as she stretched out the hand to trail down Edor's shoulder. She watched carefully as he folded the wings back and bunched up the ruined bikini top and tucked it under one thigh. "Kandra was being courted by three potential Alphas and two Betas," She continued. "She had just come of age. It happened when Delani was out of town and when Ithycar was tied up. There was precious little we could do, but Bahn took charge." She smiled, faintly. "And he was very good at it. He warned them off and made a deal that allowed Kandra to be accepted outside of the Central City, so she could have a life of her own."

"And what neither of them are telling you," Edor growled, his shoulders twitching violently. "Is that they tricked Kandra into thinking that if she wasn't quiet about it, that they'd take it out on her mother. Her mothers are Bu and Salani. Bahn is not her carrier."

Harry frowned. That name was new and unfamiliar and he wondered, briefly, why Bahn hadn't carried Kandra. He supposed it was easier for the women though and dismissed the thought. It was none of his business anyway.

Bu growled, faintly, her body quivering. She met Harry's horrified gaze, squarely. "We are not a perfect society, loveling. Where there is light, there is sure to be darkness of some kind." She squeezed Bahn gently. "Sometimes it means the rest of us have to shine brighter to make up for it. It does not mean that it is fair."

"Salani," Bahn said, softly. "Is one of Bhindi's Pareya. It was one of the main reasons our Circles merged." He reached up and gently pressed his hands against Bu's trembling lips. He turned to press a kiss to the side of her throat. There was nothing more to be said.

"I'm calling in the others." Delani said, abruptly. She'd finished her angry pacing up and down the beachside, surprisingly without any of the physical destruction on nature as Edor had. Now, she stood with her arms crossed over her chest, an angry frown on her face. "And I will be in touch with Ithy, Bahn. If there is absolutely anything at all that you need to say, then by Arielle's virgin blood, say it now." She paused. "Not to my face, if you do not want to, but speak."

Bahn had finally ended up half-cuddled, half-sprawled between Bu and Harry, now, he cracked one eyelid open, peering up at Delani's serious countenance. He huffed a sigh and carefully sat up. "He's already on his way."

The Alpha blinked. "…Pardon?" She inquired, uncertainly.

"Of all the questions you've asked me today," Bahn carefully eased himself upward and gingerly shifted to his feet. He passed a faintly glowing hand over his baby bump and seemed pleased at the result. "You didn't ask about Aracle." He reminded her of their active Rheyo—the chosen Beta among them. There was a faint air of authority around him.

"He's with Bhindi, isn't he?" Edor snorted. "That's the only reason he's never around and probably the only reason you would have managed to bring Ilsa here—of whom, I have yet to see." He grumbled.

"She'll be here." Bahn murmured. "She'll definitely be here. Aracle was with my sister, but I have no idea if they are still together at the moment. I know she said she had something to do…"

"…were you going to mention it at all?" Delani found her voice. There was a faint twitch at the corner of her jaw. "Verbal answer, please."

Bahn pursed his lips in thought, head cocked to the side. If any of them had the power to call Ithycar, the Head Alpha, apart from Bhindi and Bahn, it was Aracle. Bahn had sent the message at the earliest possible moment, through Aracle to be sure that it could not be refused. "Probably not." He allowed. "I am not asking him to come and fix things or to step on your toes, Lani. I simply want him to take care of what belongs to him." He yawned. There were more in those words than he would elaborate upon. "Besides Bhindi's been miserable and she's taking it out on everyone because of it. Now, I'm hungry and I'm fairly certain quite a few of you are too." He snuck a sideways glance at them. "We're being terrible hosts. We can discuss this later."

"Your idea of later is never." The lady dragel retorted. "And if that's the way you want to play this, then go right ahead, but we will speak of this later, if only if it happens to be my idea of a lecture. It will happen."

"I know. Just not now." Bahn's grey eyes lightened back to their natural hue. "Whatever you have to say, I will listen, however you wish to say it. I have already given my consent." He clasped his hands together and cracked his fingers. A mischievous look flickered across his innocent features. "By the way, you might want to make sure everyone stays on the square." He nodded towards the blanketed area where nearly everyone remained gathered. "This is Ilsa we're talking about."

Nara snorted. "Arielle help us, should she actually decide to appear normally." She sighed. "Fine. Will the children sleep through it?"

"Most likely. I'll lift the spell in a bit, if it doesn't wear off. It wasn't a deep one."

Delani rubbed her face. "I knew I should have stayed in bed this morning." She threw a look at her Submissive.

He winked and clapped his hands together. The wards for cooling and protection expanded to include them all.

"Incoming!" Edor's amplified voice rumbled through the air. "Hit the ground!"

"What?" Nara clutched the baby to her chest, rolling up to a sitting position. Her jaw dropped and her eyes grew wide. "Oh by Arielle's-!" She began, breaking off abruptly. "Down! Everyone down! Bu?"

"On it!" Came the short Pareya's reply. "Sueh?"

"They're covered." Sueh reassured. Her wings had remained out and fanned protectively over them all. "Heads down!" The Pareya snapped, when a few of her Circle Bonded attempted to peek out. "Unless you want to be blind, Bahn, the wards?"

"She's already opened them." Bahn's lips twitched. "And that was very fast. Lovely."

"I'm hardly surprised." Delani said, dryly. "What exactly did you tell her to have the poor thing 'port in so quickly?"

Takar snorted. "You probably don't want to know." He held a squirming teenage Soula in his arms and when she made a sound of protest, he bared his fangs, a half-growl-turned-hiss coming out.

The dark-haired beauty scowled and gave another deliberate wriggle, before settling down with a huff and crossed arms, refusing to look him in the face. "It's only her." She scowled. "It's nothing to be all excited about and-"

Bahn's rose to his feet, reaching over with one hand. He snapped his fingers and Soula's body immediately went limp. Takar shot him a grateful look. "It's only your mother, my dear." He said, cheerfully. "And now that she is, she can deal with your horrible temper."

The swiftly darkening sky had absolutely nothing on the crackling, violet-energy covered figure that came hurtling out from the clouds. From the bright flashes against the grey-black background, it did not take a genius to figure out that a battle took place within the skies.

"Do I even want to know?" Edora grumbled, scowling up at the brewing storm. "I hope they remember that we're down here."

"Ilsa will remember—even if Greta doesn't." Bahn said, calmly. He cast a warm glance towards his on guard Pareya. "They have Dahlia up there, so they won't really let loose with each other."

Harry tried to relax, based on the blasé air the entire Deveraine Circle had taken on. Bahn didn't appear to be the least bit worried and his somewhat calm exterior projected an aura that was easy for Harry to read off of. He had watched with interest as Bahn had summoned Ilsa and Greta, while Delani had called in Callis. It worried him, faintly to see Bahn acting as if nothing had happened, but he could read the thread of anxiousness beneath the cheerful air and knew that his friend simply did not wish to deal with the drama just then. He didn't blame him.

For that count, Harry chose to follow his cue and had taken the change in subject as easily as he could. Now he could see that Bahn had been right in his earlier declaration. The moment he'd called for Ilsa—legitimately called—she was answering. There was no delay at all.

One shimmering violet-hued Gheyo came streaking down from the sky. She was curled into a ball and smacked into the sandy beach with a fierce spray of sand, her armor rattling with the sheer force behind her landing. She uncurled almost at once, rising to her full height, neck rolling and shoulders settling back. There was an ornately handled whip in one hand and when she flicked her wrist, a crackle of white-purple energy rippled off of her body and over the long length. She swirled it overhead in the air and then cracked it. Her armor melted away to show a well-tailored bikini that hid absolutely nothing of her ample curves and tanned skin. Like Alma, this new Gheyo had rich, dark hair that was cropped to just above her shoulders.

Harry felt himself subconsciously gathering his magic, feeling defensive at the open display of power in a setting with too many possibilities. She was pretty to look at as well, but lovely in a way that screamed danger, if he looked too long. Theo's calming hand on his shoulder allowed him to pull back long enough to realize that his dragel instincts were riding closer to the surface than he'd expected. He thought he'd been calming down. "Theo?" He tested, carefully.

"It's Oretta." Theo's golden eyes flickered, faintly, searching the sky for something that Harry couldn't see. "It's nothing to worry about. I have forgotten that she does love a touch of theatrics when the situation is appropriate."

"Appropriate?" Harry repeated, thinking of the stern woman and finding himself unable to reconcile that with the playful, but equally dangerous Lady Gheyo currently occupying the beach. "Are you sure that-?"

"That's not Ilsa-" Charlie began, his own defenses beginning to shift. His blue eyes darkening faintly. His wings had folded back a little while ago and now his shoulders twitched, the rich tattoos swirled elegantly over his tanned skin.

"That's Greta." Bahn supplied, helpfully. His pale eyes sparkled. "And she's in top form too." He stood on tip-toe and waved energetically. "Ilsa's most likely right behind her. They always travel together, unless something's come up somewhere. Greta!" He called. "We're over here, love. Could you please try not to-" He winced.

A powerful gust of wind blew outward from the magic cast as a wave of Greta's storm elemental attack flew upwards into the clouds. The winds didn't touch them, but rather hit the shield barrier that the Pareya had cast earlier. The sand swirled angrily around them for a moment, before blowing onward, the obstacle ignored.

Scant seconds later, a bolt of golden light struck the beach, several feet away from Greta's little mini-crater. The light faded to show a taller, more muscular version of the Lady Ilsa striding towards them, her broad, plated wings stretched out behind her, a familiar young man perched on one broad, armored shoulder. She carried several short, covered buckets in hand and there was an indescribable look on her face. She wore a more modest outfit in comparison to her fellow Gheyos and she was barefoot.

Greta stared up at the sky and then held up an arm for a something. "Duck, loveling." She called out.

Ilsa promptly let the young man slip from her shoulder to stand on his own two feet. Her figure shifted, subtly shrinking back to her natural height, nearly shorter than the young man she'd been carrying. She reached over and pressed him down to the sand, dropping to her knees as a long, cylindrical object hurtled down from the sky.

It was caught by Greta's magic and hefted easily in one hand, crosswise. The missing pavilion, neatly rolled up.

"Greta!" Ilsa barked.

"Sorry." Came the unrepentant reply.

Ilsa snorted. "Liar." She handed off a few of the buckets to the sandy-haired young man and rolled up to her feet. "Take it to Bahn." She instructed, shading her eyes with her other hand. "Dahlia? Do not spend all day up there. Come quietly."

Greta stifled an audible snort.

Ilsa ignored her.

Three more flashes of light announced the arrival of three more Gheyos, younger, smaller figures.

Harry recognized them at once, Dahlia, from the clinic, with Mimei and Wikhn trailing behind her. He certainly hadn't thought that his guess had been right, but it appeared that his luck occasionally extended towards good things. This was a very pleasant surprise in more ways than one. He remembered Dahlia as being friendly and kind, Wikhn as being interesting and Mimei as being somewhere in the middle.

They'd streaked down in flashes of golden-purple for Dahlia, pink-blue for Mimei and blood-red-white for Wikhn. They all walked with their wings extended, fluttering and stretching in the wind, with glistening sword sheaths, knives and various assorted weaponry that disappeared as they walked, until each figure was appropriately attired in beachwear instead of custom armor. They were playfully pushing and shoving each other, netted bags of produce in hand.

Dahlia's swimming costume was reminiscent of the other Deveraine females, her trademark scar showing plainly on her tanned skin. Mimei's costume was slightly more revealing, but there were only two identically shaped scars on her left thigh. Wikhn wore the expected black swimming trunks, with a fine line of burgundy running down the sides. Like the others, he was barefoot, but like his fellow Gheyos, his pale form was adorned with various scars across his entire body.

Harry swallowed, hard. The scars were almost a warning sign, screaming to him that these were dangerous creatures with powerful magic within them. His eyes strayed to each of them in turn and then back, before his attention was diverted elsewhere. A lingering feeling of respect and interest settled inside of him as he understood just a little bit more of what it meant to really have a Gheyo as yours.

CHARACTER SNIPPET : QUINN KALZIK : KALZIK FAMILY HOME

When Quinn returned home, he was hot and sweaty, his jogging clothes clinging to sweat-slicked skin. He hunched over in the entry way of his Sire's workroom, catching his breath. Bharin had already left and the room was cleaned and cleared, a fresh crisp scent lingering in the air.

"Did you have a good run?" Patrick came over to inspect him, running one large-fingered hand through the golden waves of sweat-dampened hair. "It looks like it."

Quinn bobbed his head, leaning up to enjoy the feel of the fingers carding through his hair. It felt nice. His lips twitched in an approximation of as mile. He was not looking forward to the lecture that was sure to come, but he was glad to see his Sire once more. He had definitely missed him.

"Strip." Patrick guided him into the room and waved a hand to lock it. "Throw them in the hamper in the corner. There's fresh things over there." He gestured. "Water or juice?"

Juice, I think. With ice. Something with electrolytes and such. Came the quick reply.

"Fruit punch?" Patrick suggested. He now stood in front of the tall cupboard in the corner, where cooling and preservation charms held shelves of vitamin water and nutritional drinks.

Pink or red?

"Red."

Mm. That's good. Quinn shucked off his sweaty, dirty clothes in a few hurried motions. He chucked them towards the laundry hamper at one barely lit corner of the room and selected a fresh pair of pants while his Sire was otherwise occupied. Happy with the clean, light feeling, he then trotted over to hike himself up on the wide, flat rock table. He knew better than to avoid it. His Sire would have him stretched out on it before the night was over. Resisting would only bring them both a headache.

Patrick glided over, a bottle of the red liquid in hand. He threw it lightly. "Only a few sips," he cautioned. "I want to stretch you out. You look and you felt tense. That's not good."

I know. Thank you. Quinn caught the bottle and unscrewed the top. He took several small sips, swishing it around in his mouth and enjoying the fruity flavor. I ache all over… He grumbled.

Patrick chuckled. "Then you needed that run, I'd expect." He took the bottle back and set it on a small cart nearby. "How is your magic?"

Fine, I think. Quinn scowled, subconsciously hunching his shoulders forward. His Sire had Aurasight, it was one of the inherited gifts he'd gained. You can already see for yourself.

"True, but I much rather you told me yourself." Patrick lightly slapped one shoulder. "Lie down and relax. I'll wash you off first." He waved a hand in the air and a bowl, with fresh towels materialized on the small cart.

Quinn wrinkled his nose, but eased his tired, sticky body down on the cool, smooth rock. The temperature was a mild shock, but welcome. He felt warm and hot in alternate moments. He wriggled for a moment, unable to settle down. It was hard to find a comfortable position to lie down on a rock of all things.

But it was black, volcanic rock, hewed by healing flames and carved with the kind of air elemental magic that wrought a special kind of effect on the one in contact with it. The table was special and one of his Sire's prized possessions as it allowed him to use his talents to the fullest.

Quinn huffed a sigh.

"Settle down." Patrick chided, dipping a towel in the bowl of tepid water and squeezing it lightly. "I will not strangle you nor eat you alive. I happen to like having your annoying presence around." His lips twitched faintly as he spoke. The dripping towel was settled on one of Quinn's arms and he began to rub briskly, a variation of a sponge bath.

His silent son relaxed even more as the towel scrubbed over him in careful motions. …feels nice. Thank you.

"You're quite welcome." Patrick chuckled. "But don't thank me until after I'm through with you." He set the towels aside when he'd finished and then poured the remainder of the herbed water over Quinn's aching feet. He then rubbed and massaged them, checking the muscles and tendons with flickers of his magic and hints of his special talent, Aurasight.

…is Bharin alright?

"He's fine." Patrick answered, quietly. He did not answer anything more.

Quinn squirmed for a moment. …I wasn't gone long enough…is he-?

"Your father is handling his aftercare."

A pink tinge blossomed over the pale body. Quinn looked to the side, staring into the faint light, trying to make out the shapes of the different shadows. He was glad for the warming glow of the sunstone that hovered over the rock table. It warmed his skin enough for him to adjust to the changing temperatures. Thank you.

"I seem to be receiving a great deal of your thanks today," Patrick said, dryly. "Is there anything in particular I should know about?"

Quinn blushed. No.

"Hmm." Patrick hummed. He didn't press the issue. He finished with Quinn's feet, then held up one up in hand, gently rotating and stretching it. "Relax, Quinn." He admonished, a moment later. "We will discuss it later."

Ow…ow, ow, ow-! Quinn's silent protests were punctuated with a grimace.

Patrick frowned, gently easing the elbow back to the rock table. He'd been helping his son stretch out the sore, tired muscles, but from what he could see, Quinn definitely hadn't been taking care of himself as of late. "Ow indeed." The blond man scolded. "Quinn, really! You're tense all over and your hands—you've been channeling far too much of your magic through them, haven't you?" He sighed. "Then again, you've been Soul Casting and I know what that takes, but in all honesty child, you know fully well you can't simply use that kind of magic without the proper aftercare."

Quinn's lips briefly formed something of a pout, before he looked away, embarrassed.

"Ah, ah!" Patrick paused in his movements to catch his son's chin with one long finger. He gently turned the head back towards him until teal eyes met blue. "You know better." He said, firmly. "You honestly know better. I can see Bharin's work here, he's tried and he's done a decent job, but nowhere near as much good as it could have been, if you'd been keeping up with your routine." He sighed. "Are you sure there is nothing you have to tell me?"

Quinn bit his lip. Apart from the last case at the clinic, no Papa…I am sorry for being a disappointment.

Patrick released the pale chin and lightly tapped the pointed nose. "You are not a disappointment." He murmured. "I may be disappointed in your handling of recent things, but that is only because I know that you know better. Please remember that." He then shifted, circling the room to break back one of the magical restoration oils. "I'll have to work on your shoulders for a bit, sit up, if you can."

Quinn tested his limbs in turn and then wearily raised himself into a comfortable sitting position. He tugged his legs closer, settling into a cross-legged pose as his head lolled forward and he worked on relaxing his aching arms.

His Sire warmed the oil with a nonverbal, wandless spell and then dipped his fingers in the golden substance. He drizzled it liberally over Quinn's twitching shoulders and began to knead the taut muscles with expert hands. Gently coaxing his own magic into his son, Patrick set the work with single-minded concentration.

"…I see." Patrick said, after a time. "That is disturbing and I can understand why you reacted in such a way, but Quinn, really. You have a brilliant mind and you failed to think beyond a few complications?"

It wasn't a few complications! It was—it was-!

"So you've said, but still you cannot give me a clearer answer than that." Patrick sighed. "Surely that is a hint to your own self that there is something else at play in the situation?"

Like what?

"Do not take that tone with me. I was merely making a suggestion. Any sixteen year old could figure it out. You've a few years over that, make use of them." He lightly slapped Quinn's sides with his oily fingers. "I'm almost finished with the bowl. Be ready."

…I know what you mean, Papa, it's just that—it's not that simple!

"Then make me understand it."

I can't!

"Can't or won't?"

…I…I didn't think that…you saw it, I showed you the memory, what would you have done?

"Brought him home. Asked the entire family to lend a hand." Patrick said, simply. "And you had the same option to do so, you simply didn't think that far ahead." He banished the empty bowl and circled around to face his son. "You could have died, Quinten. I don't know to put it any plainer. You could have died and lost your life completely—not even a caspered existence!"

…I wouldn't want to be a casper.

"Enough!" Patrick frowned. "That isn't what we're discussing here." His angry blue eyes drilled into Quinn's shimmering teal ones. "Your mother is not ready to lose her youngest son." He drew himself up. "And I am not ready to lose my only child. Do you think either of us would have taken your loss any differently?"

Quinn shrank back. I wasn't…it wasn't on purpose!

"I didn't say it was on purpose, I simply said that it didn't have to happen. Bharin's Death Seal, Quinn? His Death Seal? Do you even know where he was and what he was doing when you called that in?"

Quinn blinked. What?

Patrick pinched the bridged of his nose and turned away for a moment. "Did you know where he was when he 'ported in?" His voice was deceptively light and calm.

The blond shook his head, slowly. I didn't feel anything different from him and-

"I also wish to inform you that I have released him from whatever bans you may have pressed on him." Patrick's frown deepened. "He is a Gheyo, Quinten. They live to fight, you cannot forbid him from it. He'll listen to you, because as his mentored child, you are his world, but you are killing him inside by demanding that he doesn't fight. He can't help it. Fighting is in his blood!"

Quinn bristled. If it is, then he's not very good at it! He comes back covered in blood and reeking of death magic and so exhausted that he can't even stand on his own two feet and-!

"-and that's his choice." Patrick interrupted. He caught Quinn's chin once more, holding his son's face steady, so their eyes would meet. "That is entirely his choice. We've had this conversation before. I thought you had learned after the last time. Bharin is a Gheyo. He was on the fighting circuit before he stumbled across you. Fighting was and is still, his livelihood. If the blood bothers you that much, then remember your cleaning charms. It doesn't bother him."

Quinn jerked against the hand holding his head steady. You don't understand, he-!

"I understand just fine." Patrick said, firmly. "And I'm not saying this as just your Sire, Quinn. I'm saying it as a Beta looking out for his Gheyo. Do you have any idea what you are putting him through?"

If it's that troublesome then he should have said something!

"You are not troublesome to him so he will never say anything." Patrick countered. "Answer me this, did you know where he was?"

No…

"Tone, young man." Patrick warned. "I know you better than you remember. Bharin was with your mother when you called."

Quinn paled. Horror painted itself across his face and for a brief moment, those teal eyes shimmered and then his hands clenched into fists. His mouth opened and shut, a reflex that he still couldn't quite fight even after the years of silence to his name. I…he…they…I didn't…

"Shh. You didn't know." Patrick said, softly. "I know."

Papa, I-! Quinn shivered, violently. Memories, unbidden floated to the forefront of his mind. Times of dark days and tortured moments where death had seemed like a better option than being mute. Better than being the outcast, ugly healer in his family. Before his mother had discovered how tormented he'd been. Before Father had become involved. Before his Sire had come in a panic. Before Bharin had caught up to him and Kyle by the beachside.

Before everything.

His mouth opened and shut and the tears welled up straight away.

"Shh." Patrick dropped his hand and instead tangled it in Quinn's hair, tugging him forward to allow him the moment of privacy and comfort. "Easy, little one." He hummed, softly. It hadn't been his intention to have his son reliving old, painful memories, but perhaps they were not as old as he'd thought, if his only son reacted to them so powerfully.

The mute healer immediately buried his head in the available neck and shuddered. His fisted hands rose up to push, weakly against the strong, broad chest. …Papa… The mental plea was filled with anguish, shame and a touch of fear. …I didn't…I reacted…there wasn't…I had to help him!

Shush. I know.The mental caress whispered through his son's head as Patrick carded a hand through those tangled waves. He was starting to piece together a better mental image of the situation his son had been sharing. A situation involving an interesting little dragel with dark hair and very green eyes and more seals than years of life, almost. A young dragel submissive with the power of the Earth clan's name behind him. Patrick filed the information away for later perusal. He'd have to speak to Surajini about it—and probably Hiram too. Quinn was the strongest among their own when it came to mental strengths and powers, his own rare talents were made even rarer by the fact that he held not one or two, but three individual talents for healing.

Quinn rarely formed any attachments to his patients and yet this one young dragel—a wizard-raised one, apparently—had managed to draw out such fierce compassion and protectiveness from his son, that he'd been willing to let himself fall-back on the shared death seal gifted to him by Bharin. Patrick was not happy. He remembered all-too-clearly the past years when his only child had lost his voice in that wretched fight. The Accident had brought about so many changes for their Circle, the least of them being Bharin's induction.

The earlier years had not been kind. Quinn had fallen into a depression that wasn't easily shaken and there was nothing that would draw him out of it, save for Kyle and Bharin. His little boy had struggled with thoughts of suicide and darkness before, somehow, he'd fully accepted the Healer's path and forsworn his Alpha's rank.

It had to have been the most painful thing Patrick had ever known Quinn could do. To recant a rank was not an easy thing. Though there were members of their Circle and extended family who had done so, it was not a thing to do lightly. Patrick sighed. He pressed a kiss to the side of his son's temple. This was half of the reason he always hated it when disciplinary matters fell to his shoulders.

Hiram hated to do anything to upset Surajini, who was always too upset to ever trust herself as far as punishment for Quinn was concerned and Bharin, while able to shoulder the role, shouldn't have had to do it. All in all, the duty would default to him. Patrick ran a firm hand up and down that quivering back. He would never tell them what he did that would always end in a thoroughly repentant and entirely subdued Quinn. It was their secret.

Of all of the children, only Quinn could suffer worse from a mere scolding, than anything else.

And scolding, well, with a Circle as large as theirs, Patrick was very good at it.

It was much later when a dressing-gown clad Quinn cuddled into his Sire's side as they sat on the large balcony overlooking the woods of their private estate, that Patrick finally scolded him. A miserable Quinn was safely wrapped up in a thick, warm dressing robe and together, they sat, with warmed blankets around them, staring up at the starry, night sky.

Quinn had wriggled once, to find a good position, then settled, when his Sire's arm draped around his shoulders. He was dreading the talk that was coming up, but knew he deserved what was coming anyway. He much more preferred his Sire's method of handling things—not that they were any less painless than Hiram's punishments.

"Comfortable?" Patrick recast the warming charms on the blankets, setting an acceptable temperature. The nights on Nevarah could be cold, the closer you were to the Merrow Waters or the Dark Forests.

Comfortable enough…. Quinn allowed. Now, who's stalling?

His Sire's lips quirked into a sad smile. "Your mother thought you were regressing."

Quinn winced. Definitely not stalling… He fidgeted. I wasn't. I didn't. I-!

Patrick ignored it. "She panicked and since she's been working with the twins, her magic was not prepared for what it took to stabilize a Death Seal—not one of Bharin's depth and casting."

Quinn froze.

"…so she called in your Father. He was not happy to be disturbed, but then again, he rarely ever is and this time, he found himself caught up in supporting the manipulation of a Death Seal."

Quinn swallowed.

"He recalled the entire Circle and they controlled and fed the energy back to Bharin, which in turn channeled into you." Patrick took a breath. "I don't suppose you would care to tell me what happened next?"

Bharin picked me up…and brought me home. I was…I don't really remember what happened. I-I was out of it.

"And?"

And I was—oh Arielle, mother did that, didn't she?

"The ritual and the candles?" Patrick quirked a brow. "Yes, that was her."

I-I don't know what to say.

"There isn't anything you can say." His Sire frowned. "Quinten, when we agreed to allow you to work at the clinic, you made certain promises according to a certain set of rules, yes?"

…you won't make me quit, will you? Papa, I can't. There are people there who need me. I have—this was an accident! It was a long day, I was more drained than I usually was and I shouldn't have-

"You're right, you shouldn't have. And if you'd been following the Healer's Code, son, then you wouldn't have. If you are not in good health, sound mind and body, it is your duty to step aside and allow another to work in your stead or suspend your patient until you can properly attend to them."

This was an emergency!

"All the more reason for you to have stepped aside. You know how volatile our natural talents are, it is part of what comes with being a Kalzik. The moment you continued in this self-destructive vein, you not only endangered the life of your patient but your own health as well. What we do, Quinn, is not something to take lightly. You released a Blood Seal. A casting of malicious and dangerous magic that you unraveled while at your lowest point, under duress at the expense of your own existence."

Quinn shivered. He could literally feel his Sire's disapproval rolling off of him in tangible waves of angry, disappointed magic. It made him focus on his hands clenched in the thick duvet, instead of the face he knew would say so much more than those simple, precise words. I didn't plan for it to turn out that way, Papa.

"No one ever plans to die, Quinn." Patrick shot back. "No one plans to find their own selves hanging by the last thread of their lives. They expect to survive on ingenuity and raw power. They forget that the only way such circumstances ever resolve themselves is through sheer, dumb luck."

The silent healer slipped forward, his head now resting in his Sire's lap. He didn't react when his father's hands found their way to his neck and shoulder. The hand around his neck squeezed gently, a warning that his Sire knew what he was doing. …I wasn't trying to die. Everything just happened much quicker than I'd anticipated.

Patrick squeezed lightly, again, his fingers stroking along the corded neck muscles. "And the reason you didn't use Kyle as your catalyst?"

…I ordered everyone out of the room.

"So I heard, but that's not the excuse I want to hear."

That wasn't an excuse!

"I was under the impression that you were on friendly terms with your assigned Gheyo. Why not have them escort the rest out of the examination room and keep Kyle with you the way you're supposed to?"

…I needed to concentrate. Kyle would have been a distraction. It was better that he was outside.

"Kyle is one of the main reasons you're allowed to practice at that clinic, Quinn." The fingers around his son's neck, tightened involuntarily. "He is more than simply your voice and a convenient interpreter. If you cannot rely on him, then who else can you depend on? Do you know how he felt to see you like that?"

…he's seen me worse before.

"Don't you dare speak of that!" Patrick snapped. His hand released Quinn's neck and caught his ear, twisting gently in mild reprimand. He ignored his son's squirming, holding the appendage firmly until Quinn reluctantly stilled. "Kyle is all but your brother in blood, he did not deserve that. You are always championing him and his presence in our family and yet you treat him the same way you claim that we do. He's been beside himself ever since!"

He seemed fine to me!

"Ah, I see and you know this because you obviously sat down with him and had some measure of uninterrupted conversation in which you were both able to speak and share your hearts in equal parts?"

Quinn flinched.

"I thought so." Patrick smoothed his hand overly the slightly pinkened ear. "You owe him an apology and Bharin one as well, a formal one. I will not even attempt to explain to you what you did to him, that is between you and Bharin alone. But I will have you know that if you continue to push him like this, then the trust that he has in you will fade over time. A Gheyo's loyalty as a mentor, is for life, Quinn. It's a rare and precious thing to be treasured. If your promise to your mother was so easily broken, then at least consider myself or Bharin. Surely we mean something?"

You do mean something! Quinn protested. I didn't do this on purpose for-!

"I am not saying you did anything on purpose." Patrick tapped his cheek, gently, knowing the action would disrupt his son's mental puzzling. He wanted Quinn to be focused and listening to him. "I am saying there were other choices and you chose not to take them. Am I wrong?"

There was silence both physical and mental for several long minutes.

Patrick tipped his head back and stared up at the inky sky with its pale dots of stars. He began to rub a hand up and down Quinn's slumped shoulder.

…Mother's really upset, isn't she?

"Upset would be putting it mildly." Patrick chuckled. "If your father wasn't here to wear her out, I daresay she'd be chewing my head off right about now."

Quinn grimaced. I did not need that mental image!

"I had no idea your mind was particularly inclined in that direction." Patrick retorted. "Your mother has been sparking raw energy since she revived Bharin when you pulled your little stunt. Then of course, you did it again today."

…he was fine today!

"And here is where I repeat, do you have any idea where he was?"

…with you?

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

If he wasn't with you, then where was he? He said he was practicing.

"Oh he was practicing. But not in the traditional sense. He was in the middle of a cage match, they slapped three penalties on him and allowed him to 'port out. Your mother nearly had their heads for it, because she knew he needed a fight and she'd arranged for it. She also thought you were home."

Quinn swallowed. Kyle called.

"Hmm." Patrick sighed. "While an admirable reason, it is still something of an excuse."

He called me! I would never leave, Kyle with-!

"Last month you had an altercation with a certain patient that ended in a lawsuit being filed against our house." Patrick said, mildly. "The month before that,"

Alejandro looked into that for me. They were at fault! We'll win.

"That is the least of my concerns." Patrick frowned. "I'm more concerned with your records in the past few months. You have several complaints filed against you by the clinic head, a Matron Olivia."

She's a witch. Quinn mentally snapped. He hunched his shoulders up. And she was picking on Dahlia…it wasn't her fault.

"Before that, there was a-"

Alright, alright! I understand.

"Do you?"

I've been…under the weather and it's showing. I'm sorry. I'll swear a reaffirmation of my Oaths and I'll submit to the board for whatever repercussions I've earned. It won't happen again.

"You're missing the point."

There isn't a point to be missed! Quinn sat up abruptly, teal eyes blazing. I understand. I did wrong, I recognize what went wrong. I know better. I should have reacted differently. It won't happen again. I will do better in the future. There was a tinge of desperation in his voice as the pale brows knitted themselves together. What else do you want from me?

Vivid blue eyes glowed eerily in the darkened moonlight as Patrick stared back at his only son. "I don't want anything from you, Quinn. Except to see you alive and well and happy. To see you succeed, to find a Circle of your own, to have a legacy to your own name. Beyond that, I want nothing from you. Only what a father wishes for his child."

Then why are-!

Two fingers pressed against those thin lips, a physical halting of the mental flow of words. Quinn's gaze dropped to the hand hovering at his face. "I don't think you fully understand why I'm here." Patrick drew himself up, slowly. "So I will make it very, very clear in the next few minutes. Listen. Do not interrupt."

Tears.

Tears upon tears.

Quinn's silent sobs were absorbed by the thick fabric of his Sire's dressing gown. He cried—manly tears, of course—into his Sire's chest in the wake of the worst verbal lashing he'd ever recalled in his entire twenty-four years. He almost wished his Papa had taken him to one of the training rooms and beaten the snot out of him like a disappointed Bharin would have.

The Kalzik family Beta had a knack for words and gift for using them. There was nothing worse than to be on the other side of that sharp tongue, a weapon almost, honed through years of verbal spars. A useful trait he'd brought with him when the Kalizk triad had first formed.

There was plenty that was left unsaid and Quinn knew that he had his mother to thank for it. Surajini probably had requested the right to punish him directly as his Sire offered nothing else on those specifics, but firm redirection towards the only conversation he'd never wanted to have.

Strong, gentle arms held Quinn comfortingly close as Patrick's open, arched wings, curved around them, offering an extra layer of warmth and a touch of shadow, lending privacy to the moment beneath the starred sky.

…I'm sorry.

I know you are. Patrick dropped a kiss to that messy head of hair. You are forgiven.

I'm so sorry, Papa. I swear, I'll never-

Apology already accepted. I expect you to accept your additional reprimands with humility and grace.

I know. I will. I won't disappoint you again.

I shall hold you to that, little one.

A/N: Aaaannnnddd, it's yet another Monster chapter! Whew. I hope no one is mad at poor Bahn. The Guantrells are a really horrible family a currently a "Nevarah Villain" for the moment, so kindly direct all rotten tomatoes and pointy objects at them. LOL.

Apologies for how ridiculously long this chapter took to hammer out. UGH. University is keeping me unbelievably busy! Thank you all for the kind reviews, suggestions and also the well wishes for my Aunty. She is currently in an in between place again, neither doing any better or worse. I'm hoping it's better in the coming days.

I'm a little worried about the Patrick and Quinn interactions, I hope it lived up to expectations. *gulp* Let me know if it didn't...the Hunting Chapter probably won't happen until around 75-ish, but y'all know how horrible my chapter estimates are, so don't quote me on that. I have plenty of romance and action slated to come, once I get these nuts and bolts bits out of the way. It's a-comin'! Thanks for your patience and continued support, this fic is truly a community effort! :D

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~Scion