It's a long, dead life!

by BDE

We join the Volturi in 1663 when Carlisle was turned for his long, dead life and family drama. Aro, Caius, and Marcus are trying to rule the world. Felix, Demetri, Jane and Alec are creating havoc as child vampires and the Denali sisters soon join them. Mature scenes - Corporal Punishment (spanking/discipline) and offensive things, but its the Volturi, so what do you expect?

139. 1688, December - I'll be Home for Christ

AN: New set :) We're jumping forward to December and our mission crew returning from fighting werewolves in France...

Had a few messages about getting onto It's a Long, Dead Life on the Amnio App, here's the invite code to paste into you're browser: /invite/B2Y2NUVLFS

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1688, December - I'll be Home for Christmas

Atia floated into the guard hall, the happy bearer of good news. "Our beloved warriors return, would someone spread the word around the castle?"

Chelsea bolted out of the door at the news, having missed her mate terribly, but a few other guards took the time to agree to Atia's request before following.

Freyr sank into her seat at the bar as a wash of contentment took over her being. "I knew he'd be back for Christmas." Magnus had promised as such and she had faith her mate.

"He never lets you down," Atia agreed with a warm smile.

Guards flooded into the great hall just as the mission crew started to enter. The pristine vampires of Volterra were astounded by the stink that filled the room!

"What is that smell?!" Corin asked, unable to hide the retch that followed.

Her state wasn't helped by Odi, who gave his fellow guard a hug.

"Get off, get off, get off!" she screamed, pushing him away before she vomited.

"Curing werewolf pelts is not for the faint hearted," Magnus announced.

Corin briefly hugged Magnus, gagging again, before they returned to the usual formality expected of them.

Chelsea couldn't care less about the smell. She was used to Afton going on missions without her, but the werewolf cull had taken longer than anyone had anticipated. The mated pair forgot the covenmates around them and wrapped up in each other's arms.

Richard wheeled in a cart full of werewolf pelts behind the pair and crashed it into Afton legs. "Can't you wait until you get to your dorm?!"

"It's alright for you, Rich," Afton replied, shoving the man away with decidedly more force than necessary. "You took your stress relief with you."

"I'm your stress relief?!" Chelsea looked down her nose to her mate, but soon broke. "It's a good job I missed you."

Magnus had seen the exchange between Richard and Afton. They are only the tip of the iceberg, he reminded himself. It had been a stressful mission and seeing the fractions continue between the few guards that went was the last thing he needed. Richard was about as affable as the came, so if he was being pissy Magnus knew he was in for a tough time bringing his guards back together.

"They are so snuggly!" Tanya and Jane had already dived into the pile of pelts, the former pulling a brilliant white one free and wrapping herself in it. Unlike the mission crew, the pelts had been cleaned! The giant wolves made impressive blankets and it easily wrapped around the girl twice over. "Feel the fluff, Irina!"

"Yeah, great, Tan," Irina sneered at her sister's traitorous happiness. It's wonderful that you can be bought so easily!

Tanya barely noticed her sister's ire. It was so commonplace that it rarely registered with Tanya or Kate anymore. She was far more interested in the snowy fur encasing her body. "Carmen, I want this one," she burst cheekily. "It's fit for a princess, don't you think?"

Carmen was still getting used to the Denali girls. Irina's obvious displeasure was hard to contend with, Kate was pleasant, if quiet - both understandable, in Carmen's mind, after losing their mother. Tanya, however, baffled her. The girl seemed to think of Sasha so infrequently and was mostly a happy little thing. Carmen worried the child was storing up her grief for future release, but Tanya had settled into Volturi life beautifully. She was quite taken with the idea of being a princess and managed to shoehorn her new title into every available opportunity. Indeed, she had an ego to match Felix on that score.

Carmen attempted to unravel her young ward, but Tanya wasn't giving up her rug easily. "It's mine!"

"You will have to ask Magnus, Tanya," Carmen insisted through gritted teeth before smiling nervously to Magnus. She had seen Sulpicia suffering for years with the kind of parental embarrassment only a child's rudeness can provide, but it was still a struggle for Carmen to endure with it being so new.

Magnus smiled kindly to Carmen, having experienced her feelings himself in his human life. Thinking of Caius and Odi and their recent behaviour, those feelings were still present in his daily life! He got down to the girl's level and explained she would definitely be getting one, once he had sorted through them.

Tanya relented and handed over the fleece, though she stood guard over it protectively.

Magnus chuckled seeing the girl glare at any who attempted to touch the white fur. "It will be yours, don't worry," he told her with a wink. "Should keep you warm through these winter nights."

"She's a vampire," Irina stated, blunt and terse. "She doesn't get cold."

"No," Carmen agreed. "But it's nice to feel cosy on cold nights, don't you think?"

"Irina likes everything to feel as cold as her icy heart."

Irina didn't have to even turn around to know the comment came from Felix. The pair had been rubbing each other the wrong way since the start of the very long day involving Basileus' storytelling. Judging roughly where he was from the sound of his voice, Irina slammed her elbow backwards and caught Felix in the ribs.

"We do not hit!" Carmen told her sharply, pulling Irina away before she could do anything else.

Irina shot Carmen a filthy look for daring to touch her, let alone admonish her in the great hall, and flounced from the room.

'We do not hit' - It was a phrase she uttered with alarming frequency. It was frustrating the hell out of her how physical the girls could be between themselves. Carmen was breaking up cat fights on a daily basis.

Sasha hadn't involved herself too heavily in the girls' conduct, from what Atia had worked out through searching the girls' memories, so it shouldn't have come as such a surprise to Carmen that they policed themselves (or rather, didn't!).

Carmen had been full of ideas for her nephews' conduct and was falling flat on her face with the Denali girls. She was ever so grateful that Sulpicia was kind enough not to point out her faux pas. She and Aro had been seen giving each other the odd knowing smile when the girls were ripping into each other whilst Carmen and Eleazar floundered trying to control them, but nothing more than that. Not to Carmen, at least. Aro was taking great delight in winding up his brother.

The best parents are those without children … managing the real life little bastards was always much more complicated.

The only saving grace in Carmen's day was, oddly enough, Dora! Irina had really latched onto the woman whilst Caius was away and Dora was at a loose end. That meant free time for Carmen and Eleazar with just Kate and Tanya. The younger Denali girls were much more pleasant company. The four of them made a family unit. The girls still argued and fought - breaking old habits would take time, after all - but they were manageable without Irina in the mix.

Carmen and Eleazar divided their feelings between being glad Irina was out of the way for a while and feeling guilty that they couldn't console the young woman who had lost her mother, her confidant, her friend. The guilt dissipated quickly enough when Irina returned home with the ever-present storm cloud over her head.

Basileus strolled into the great hall to meet the returners, going straight to Magnus. The juggernaut offered a hand shake but Basileus wasn't having that, he was too glad to have the man back in the coven for a hand shake. Instead he embraced Magnus properly, as old friends should.

"Come on, then," he said, looking to the single cart of pelts. "How many?"

"Ninety-five." Magnus stood tall and proud. "I killed one hundred, not bad, lost five pelts because the skins were too torn up."

Basileus looked to the cart. "You didn't kill a hundred werewolves."There's not ninety-five pelts there.

Unfortunately for Basileus, Phillipe and Alexander brought in more carts, one a piece, both stacked high with pelts.

Marcus had arrived just in time to hear Magnus' announcement and see the disappointment on Basileus' face. After greeting and congratulating Magnus, Marcus turned on the creator.

"I will see you in the south tower tomorrow, my friend, be sure to bring our winnings."

"Bastards!" Basileus was going to have to visit his vaults to pay up on the bet. "One hundred?" he checked with Magnus again. "No, it's not possible!"

"Maybe for you," Magnus laughed. "I'm a machine!"

"He's an animal," Caius called over, not exactly good naturedly, either.

Now all of the mission crew were in one room, Basileus caught onto the tension. Magnus shook his head and sighed. 'I'll explain later' he told the creator through his thoughts.

"The way he ripped through those packs turned my stomach," Afton added, agreeing with Caius.

Odi flopped into the cart of pelts, like the others, exhausted from his travels. "Afton actually threw up," he announced gleefully.

"Shut up!" Afton broke away from Chelsea to knock Odi off his perch. "I skinned half of those beasts without breaking a sweat whilst you cried in the corner."

Odi managed to save himself before he crashed to the floor. "I wasn't crying. I've just never been that close to the process before."

"It was mushing up the brains." Alexander's face paled as he thought of the 'process'. "Eugh!"

Basileus was surprised to hear their fiercest guard talking in such a way. He had seen the volatile vampire wrap the entrails of his opponents around his neck and carry on fighting in battles the coven had fought. "Surely it didn't bother you, Alex?"

Afton was only too pleased to add to Alexander's falling image. "He was in the corner, crying with Odi."

"I was nowhere near the coward," Alex shot back, squaring up to Afton.

On a good day Afton would have backed down but having just returned from a long mission full of bad days, he was up for the fight if Alexander wanted to go there.

"Coward?!" Odi repeated. There was nothing worse than being called a coward in the Volturi coven. Hardly any of them blinked at being called a cunt but being called a coward? There was nothing lower. "At least I got involved! You were so wrecked you didn't even know where you were!" Taking leave of his senses, Odi went for Alex!

Magnus caught Odi before he could do himself any damage - because just about every other guard in the coven was capable of squashing the kid if he gave them the opportunity - and gave all three a hefty swat to their heads for the arguments.

"You all had your chance to expend some energy when we were away, you've lost the opportunity now we're home." Magnus stared at them all until they lowered their glares. It took longer than it normally would have, the pent-up aggression coursing through them all. "Am I understood?!"

Afton, Alex, and Odi all agreed, though Magnus knew their hearts weren't in it. Merry fucking Christmas, he told himself, knowing he hadn't heard the last of their petty bullshit.

"You shouldn't be fighting each other," Caius hissed as he passed Afton and Alexander, his eyes darting to Odi.

Pulling his son aside, Magnus said, "Odi go to my chambers, I'll meet you there."

Magnus wasn't sure what was going on, but he caught the smirk Caius offered Afton and Alex and he caught their returned rolled eyes, too. It can wait, whatever it is, he thought, before dismissing the rest of the weary travellers. "Hit your dorms, guys, it's been a long couple of months."

"Hit the baths, first!" Chelsea may have missed her mate, but he wasn't getting into their bed in those soiled clothes.

Basileus caught Magnus' eye. "Problem?"

"Many," Magnus replied, his eyes fixing on Caius as he spoke.

Freyr and Atia were the last to arrive, with Freyr feeling like a lovesick teenager heading straight for her mate. Like Chelsea, she didn't care about the state of her man.

"Are there any werewolves left in France?!" Atia asked, surprised at the cart loads of skins the warriors had brought home.

"Not in the south," Magnus replied. "The remaining packs have moved to Normandy. Hopefully Henri will start proving his worth and finish the job."

Freyr gently tugged at the beard on Magnus' chin. "Have you been showing off, love?"

"Just putting the youth to shame." Magnus heard Caius scoffing behind him - he was ready to knock out the petulant brat.

Freyr sensed the tension between the pair. There had been a few choice words between them all after Basileus had revealed Magnus' affinity to Odi, but she had hoped being away together, fighting out their stresses with werewolves … well she thought they would come back in better moods, stronger bonds. From the look on Caius' face, Freyr realised how foolish those hopes had been.

Atia sensed it, too. "I'm glad you're all back for Christmas," she said quickly, trying to distract the two men from their obvious gripe.

"I promised Freyr new pelts for Christmas," Magnus explained. "I'd die before breaking a promise to my wife."

Another scoff from Caius, believing the juggernaut was having a dig at him and his failure to keep the promises he had made. He had, of course, but it wasn't for Magnus to comment on. Cunt.

"You promised fifty," Basileus complained, still sore over losing so much money. To be fair, he would have lost had Magnus only brought back fifty, let alone ninety-five.

"Going above and beyond is my duty. What kind of husband would I be if I didn't strive for that?" Magnus managed to maintain his control but hearing yet another pathetic scoff from Caius had the bile rising in his throat.

"Couldn't you share him, Freyr?" Atia asked playfully. "We are good friends, after all."

Magnus beamed at the playful banter, especially seeing Basileus floundering for words.

Freyr loved her man, but she never stoked his ego, it just wasn't the way they worked. "I believe Renata has dibs on him if anything happens to me."

"Freyr!" Renata was so shocked by her master's comment and the embarrassment it brought her before her giggling covenmates that she momentarily forgot the informality of her address. She tried to recover, bless her, "I mean, master … eugh!"

"I'll get in line, Renata dear," Atia promised, joining in on the fun. "Don't worry."

It did little to save Renata's blushes.

"You are mated to the creator of our kind, Atia," Freyr reminded her friend, trying to pull Basileus back into the conversation.

"I know." Atia turned to her beloved mate. "When was the last time you went above and beyond?"

Basileus floundered in an entirely different way, coming up short with a single example. Instead, he thumped Magnus in the arm. It was childish, but it was the best thing he could come up with.

"Do you set out to make me look an ass in front of our women?"

Magnus rubbed at his bicep (which again, didn't help Renata at all!) and laughed. "A happy coincidence, my friend."

Freyr and Atia left their mates to inspect the goods in the great hall. It wasn't just pelts the mission crew had brought back, there was an array of goods from France - books, wine, and weaponry making up much of the haul. The return journey had to be taken on horseback pulling the wagons of pelts, which was a painfully slow way for vampires to travel. But as they had the wagons anyway, Magnus had made sure to fill them to the brim with whatever goods he could lay his hands on. As Magnus and Odi had been the only ones to collect it up, the haul was theirs and theirs alone.

Basileus had waited for Caius to approach him for long enough. You're hiding something, he thought, calling over the young master. "I imagine Henri is very appreciative of your efforts?"

Caius barely grunted in reply. His eyes were red and bloodshot, he looked tired. Not that that in itself was unusual after a long mission, but something was off about him, Basileus was sure of it.

"Henri was off his face when we arrived at his coven," Magnus answered. "We had to wait a few days for him to come down from his high before we could get started."

"Just him?" Basileus pushed, glaring at Caius. Now it makes sense.

"Yes." Magnus threw an arm around Caius to bring him in close, though it wasn't for friendly reasons. "Caius didn't join in on the drug binge until we were out on the field, did you?"

You absolute cunt! Caius screamed at the man inside his head, not caring for the moment that Basileus could hear him. "I had a few sociable shots with a coven leader from the alliance. As was expected. I even looked after the guards."

Magnus sneered at Caius' attempt to make his behaviour sound in any way reasonable. "You encouraged the guards to get as fucked as you."

Caius worked his way out of Magnus' grip and turned his back on the man. "Not all of them."

"Oh no, you're right there. There was one you made damn sure to leave out." Magnus paused to mouth 'Odi' to Basileus before hissing his annoyance at Caius. "Pathetic."

Basileus took a quick tour through both of their memories and was gob-smacked at what he found. "So you fought the werewolves on your own?" he asked Magnus. "All of them?"

Magnus merely nodded. He was trying to keep his own spirits up, but, frankly, he was livid with Caius and the shit he had caused on their mission. Seeing Odi being treated with such scorn by first Caius, and then the other guards following Caius' bad example, had been infuriating. He could feel Basileus' guilt over causing the tension between them all, but Magnus wasn't letting Caius off with such an excuse. 'He needs to get his head out of his ass', he thought to the creator.

It was unusual for Basileus to hear anything from Magnus about Caius that wasn't spoken in defence. He truly hoped he hadn't blown their newly formed relationship to pieces with what he had revealed during his storytelling. This won't do at all, he thought. Even though he felt guilty (and he really did) Basileus, like Magnus, wasn't prepared to let Caius' abominable behaviour go without calling him out on it.

"You usually get stuck into battles," Basileus directed at Caius. "What happened this time?"

Caius grunted something non-committal again. If he didn't find his voice soon Basileus would be dragging it out with a fist down his throat!

Magnus was only too happy to reply on Caius' behalf. "Apparently he and Henri had so much to discuss that he couldn't tear himself away until I had finished the job."

Are you trying to bury me?! Caius looked the juggernaut up and down. "You barrelled in there like a crazed bull and ripped them all to shreds before the rest of us could get started." Caius spoke barely above a whisper - he didn't need the guards hearing if he was about to take a public dress down.

"You can speak, then?" Basileus noted. "Is it just me you're ignoring?"

Caius barely looked at Basileus, but he heard him. You're a cu… He cut off his own thoughts just in time to save his neck. He didn't have anything to say to Basileus that wouldn't end in causing him more grief.

"That's because I don't need to wait for dungeon blood to hit before I can take out our enemy." Magnus wasn't making any attempt to keep the matter between the three of them.

Caius shushed the man through a vicious hiss. "I had to keep the shots up what with watching you on the battle field. You went down under packs of those dogs and I thought you were dead at least three times."

"Didn't think to come and help though, did you?!" Magnus was even louder in his reply than he had been to start with!

"I wanted to see how you'd do on your own, having been the one to train you, after all."

Caius shrugged like it was no big deal, but truthfully, even though he was too fucked to help, he had been a nervous wreck seeing Magnus in the field risking his life alone. Not that he was going to let Magnus know how regretful he was, or how scared he had been. He had his pride.

Basileus heard his thoughts, naturally, which gave him some hope for repairing the damage to their relationship. "The student became the master a very long time ago," he told Caius sternly.

He didn't say it out loud, but Magnus' thoughts were screaming. Don't get cocky with me, boy, I've let a lot go while we were away, but I can find us somewhere private in the blink of an eye now we're home. He wouldn't say it, because he didn't believe it was his place. It was one thing dealing with Caius at Basileus' request, it was okay in Magnus' mind to remind Caius of the single time he had taken the man to task, and even the occasional slap he had given the younger master in private … it was quite another to take over and discipline Caius properly without being asked to do so. It wasn't his right, Caius wasn't his.

What the fuck have I done?! Basileus berated himself hearing Magnus' thoughts.He's yours! I gave him to you! Fuck! Although his head was screwing, Basileus maintained a perfectly passive stance, if a little stony faced. "Sounds like you two had fun."

"He's lucky we had guards with us, Basileus. If he hadn't done such a good job preparing these pelts I might have leathered the little sod." I shouldn't have said that, Magnus cursed himself. He was just so damn angry with Caius … at least he had said it quietly - only Basileus and Caius had heard him.

"You should have."

For a moment, Magnus wasn't sure if Basileus was replying to his spoken words or his thoughts.

"Regardless of the guards," Basileus added, to make damn sure Magnus, and importantly Caius, knew exactly how he felt on the matter.

Caius wasn't having that. Magnus didn't have an open invitation to 'leather' him, whatever that entailed. "I don't fucking think so!" Caius knew he couldn't stop Basileus from punishing him for the mission - he expected him to, although it pissed him off. But he wasn't taking it from Magnus. He wasn't taking anything from Magnus ever again.

The stern lines in Basileus' face furrowed even deeper "You're lucky you were aiming for fur and not leather, or he would have had the resources to tan your hide with one of those beasts you failed to fight."

Failed. Caius knew how Basileus worked - coded messages hid behind simple words. Failure is a very bad thing.

"I hope you aren't going to be continuing your troubles now you are home, Caius."

"There wasn't any trouble, my lord," Caius replied through gritted teeth. "I was just glad of some pleasant company."

Magnus moved himself away. He could feel the stress taking an iron grip at the nape of his neck and if he hadn't removed himself he knew he'd be taking a grip of Caius' neck in return.

"Henri? Pleasant company? Who are you trying to kid?" Basileus couldn't have cared less where they were or who was watching, he took Caius by the front of his not-so battle-worn tunic and lifted him to his tiptoes. "Don't let Henri's bullshit go to your head. You know how much Magnus has done for you, and I know you wish to keep Magnus in your corner. From what I have seen you owe him an apology, Caius."

Caius didn't reply. He was raging inside that Basileus had done that to him in front of the guards. He usually did a much better job of tempering his thoughts around the creator, and his attitude generally, but the dungeon blood was still in his system and working against him. He had drunk the drug to excess in France and regretted it from the first mouthful. He couldn't face the long journey home on a dungeon blood comedown, so he'd taken a bottle of the tar from Henri to sip at along the way.

Caius had done well to only drink the equivalent of a shot a day on the way back. It was just enough to stave off a proper comedown, but not enough to drug him. It had still, however, left him an emotional mess and he knew he wasn't in control of himself. He was soon going to be alone with his mate who would be only too happy to tell him what a complete cock he had been to Magnus, and Odi, too. Caius was most worried about that. He was worried what he would do to Dora, feeling as uncontrolled as he did, if she started on him.

The only man in Volterra who could be of any help to Caius was Magnus, and Caius had spent the last nine months alienating that man. And for reasons only the gods could understand, Caius knew all of this, he knew it whilst they were away, too. But he just couldn't stop himself from picking at Magnus more, like a scab that refused to bleed, he picked and picked. Magnus had done nothing to stop him, either, confirming to Caius that Magnus didn't give a shit after all. All that had gone on between them, it meant nothing. On the mission Magnus had Odi and Caius wasn't wanted anymore, just as he'd feared from the first moment Basileus highlighted the fact that Odi was Magnus' son, proper.

As all that swam around in Caius' head, Basileus followed. I can fix this, I can get them back on track, he thought, somewhat relieved.

"I expect some kind of response from you." Basileus jabbed Caius in the shoulder, hard, but he didn't get a response. Not verbal anyway. "Did you just roll your eyes at me?!"

Caius hadn't meant to roll his eyes, but he wasn't thinking clearly. He did take a step backwards hearing the sharpness of Basileus' tone.

"Not much point backing up from me, Caius, it won't be me you'll face."

Caius knew what that meant. He won't give a shit anyway, he thought, glancing at Magnus.

Basileus took the turn of Caius' eyes to be another eye roll at him. "And again?!" he declared, astounded by Caius' blatant disrespect, as he saw it. "Magnus, my friend!" Basileus boomed. "Now you are home, I have a situation I would like you to 'throw your weight' at."

Magnus turned from his guards and spotted Caius still scowling. He didn't need Basileus to say anything else, he understood exactly what was wanted of him.

"It will be my pleasure."

Magnus may have been resistant to rebuke Caius whilst they were away in front of the guards, but he had decided he would be saying his piece now they were home. He wanted to do much more than that, he wanted to set Caius straight, he wanted to recover their relationship, but he felt he needed permission before he could. Basileus is giving me the go ahead, he thought. That's good enough for me.

"What?!" Caius spat.

He had thought Magnus was just mouthing off his stress to Basileus earlier in their conversation. He didn't expect Magnus to actually do anything!

That's not fair!

Magnus had watched as Caius had thrown himself off the wagon with the dungeon blood and done nothing. He'd watched as Caius had rounded up the guards to follow him into debauchery and done nothing. He'd watched as Caius had taken every opportunity to rip into Odi and done nothing …why care now?!

"He always cared, you fool," Basileus hissed in reply to Caius' runaway mind. "You'd better get home before I have him deal with you in here."

Caius backed away slowly, looking between Magnus and Basileus. The creator appeared angrier than the juggernaut in that moment. Magnus was angry, sure, Caius knew that. He had every right to be. Caius knew that, too. But there was something else in Magnus' eyes as he watched Caius backing away - disappointment. Fuck, that stings!

Freyr started organising her guards to take the full haul back to her chambers. They had pawed at the goods long enough and now it was back to work. As the room began to clear, Basileus held Magnus back.

"Christmas day I would like to get us all together, just the family. We'll use Aro's chambers."

Magnus nodded along, unsure why he was being given such information.

"I've spoken with Freyr already, she's agreed unless you offer any objections."

"Oh!" Magnus clicked. "You mean us, too?"

"Of course I bloody do!" Basileus wondered if one of those werewolves had knocked some sense out of his old friend. He was certain they had knocked some confidence out of him if his handling of Caius was anything to go by. "Dora seemed resistant, I'll let you and Freyr talk her around."

"Thanks for that," Magnus chuckled as they made their way through the halls. "We'll be there."

Basileus bobbed his head. "Now, about Caius …"

…

"Irina," Magnus said with a nod. He held the door wide open to the ground floor suite, waiting expectantly.

The Denali girl turned to Dora. "Is that my cue to leave?"

Dora widened her eyes, begging Irina not to use her usual ire with Magnus. With just about anyone else, Dora found it funny. It was uncomfortable when Irina spoke with derision to Freyr, it was downright incomprehensible to speak that way to Magnus.

"It would seem so," she said quietly, walking her friend to the door.

Once the Denali girl had gone, Magnus scooped Dora into his arms. "I have missed you, my lady," he said, as she hugged him back. Dora was glad Magnus had bathed and changed before he'd gone to see her - Caius' clothes had been thrown to the fire already and even with the windows open she could still smell dead dog.

Caius scoffed from his seat. The scoffing was really starting to get to Magnus. When he set Dora on her feet, he caught the questioning expression on her face. Oh, you will be hearing all about it soon enough, he thought. He offered a tight smile in return for the drink she gave him and settled into his chair. He'd missed his chair. His back creaked a little as he sat. I'm getting too old for such long missions.

Caius did his best to look in any direction that wasn't Magnus. Now, Caius' main living chamber was a large open space, but the seating area was confined to the fireplace so there wasn't much to look at other than those sat opposite you … Caius looked a fool for trying to avoid Magnus' eyeline.

We can drag this out if you wish, Magnus thought. "Have you been dressed like that with Irina here?"

Dora brought her mate a drink and joined him on the sofa. "I think you mean 'undressed'," she said, tugging at his towel.

"I've just got out the bath and I barely said two words to her." Caius made doubly sure he was appropriately covered before he finally looked at the juggernaut. As soon as he did, a rush of regret hit him, soon followed by shame knowing Magnus would be able to read those emotions like an open book. "You know this is my home, don't you?" he snapped.

"I do," Magnus replied. "We can use mine if you would prefer," he offered, cool as ice.

Basileus, you rigid prick. Caius knew he had it coming. A very small part of him needed to repent somehow, but a greater part of him wanted to protect his pride. Magnus hadn't been bothered enough to step in and stop him acting like a twat in the first place so why should he get to step in and wail him now?! Even Caius knew it was nonsensical, but alas, those were his feelings on the matter.

"Well?" Magnus pushed. "Where would you prefer?"

Caius folded his arms. He wasn't going anywhere. "I didn't even do anything."

"You're damn right there, Caius, you didn't do anything, did you?" Magnus drained his cup and set it down on the side table. "Other than sit on the sidelines getting fucked with Henri, you did nothing at all. You didn't even walk by the end of the day - I had to drag you back to Henri's castle because of the state you were in."

"Oh Caius, you weren't that bad, were you?"

There was almost as much disappointment in Dora's tone as there had been in Magnus'. She had been cuddled up to her mate but soon withdrew her affection, hearing of his failure. There was only one way Caius got 'fucked', and that was dungeon blood.

"Maybe," Caius admitted quietly. "The dungeon blood went to my head, I suppose."

Dora felt crushed, though Caius seemed not to notice her reaction.

"Maybe?" Magnus repeated. Leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees, he made sure Caius gave him eye contact. "You suppose?"

Magnus was totally calm as he spoke, which served to make Caius feel even worse about himself. "It did, yes. Happy now?" he snapped. "Dungeon blood is allowed on missions, it's the main reason we keep it."

Magnus ignored the spite in Caius' voice. He knew Caius well enough to know he was covering his real feelings with aggression. "Did you take a bottle of that shit from Henri for the journey home?"

"How did you … Basileus?" Caius threw his hands into the air. "What a cunt!"

"It certainly explains why your abrasion has continued all the way back here." Magnus sat back in his chair. "With the creator, no less!"

"My abrasion is because you insist on treating me like some sort of child." Oddly enough, Caius had never sounded so childish as when he'd said that.

"I wonder why." Dora had moved away from her mate at the first mention of dungeon blood, sitting at the other end of the sofa looking back to her mate in disgust. She was glad when Freyr arrived.

"So will we all be taking this beating, then?" Caius asked, thoroughly pissed off. "None of the guards stepped in to help with the werewolves, either."

From the look on Magnus' face it was clear as day that only Caius would suffer.

"What about your precious son?!" Caius shot out, pointing to the ceiling assuming the cosseted guard would be in Magnus' chambers.

"What on earth has happened between you all?" Freyr asked outright. Having just come from the guard hall, she was keen to find the root of the problems brewing between her staff. "Missions usually cheer you all up - I've got Afton and Alexander arguing with anyone who crosses their path, both are complaining about Odi, you pair are at each other's throats …"

Magnus caught his mate's hand as she walked past and kissed the tips of her fingers. "It's been a very long nine months," he told her, soaking up her love and using it to keep himself in control.

Caius still fumed. It was bad enough that Basileus knew what a cock he'd been. It seemed Magnus was intent on Dora finding out and now Freyr was in for the show. Fucking marvellous!

"Is there any left?" Magnus asked. "Dungeon blood, the bottle you took from Henri …"

"No," Caius snapped, cutting Magnus off, but it was too late. Freyr had heard. She was always going to find out, but he felt so ashamed. The look she gave him wounded his soul.

"Why do you lie to me?!" Magnus asked, sick to the back teeth of the battle he'd been having with Caius.

"Because its fuck all to do with you!"

Caius took to his feet. It was hard to look angry walking around with wet hair and nothing but a soggy towel for protection, but he gave it a good go. He was angry! Not with Magnus, with himself, but Caius wasn't going down without a fight. He was too conflicted, too confused. The dungeon blood bender hadn't helped ... but deep down, since Basileus had shone a light on Odi, Caius had been waiting for Magnus to turn his back on him. You already have a surrogate son, why would you want me, too? Quite simply, in Caius' screwed up head, the answer to that question was that he didn't. Magnus didn't want Caius, too. The mission had been one long test on Caius' part and Magnus hadn't done a thing. What exactly Caius expected him to do with an outside coven present, not to mention the guards, he wasn't even sure of himself. But having the juggernaut fall so seamlessly back into old patterns now they were in private was confusing the hell out of Caius.

Dora, like Freyr, still wasn't entirely sure of what had gone down in France, but of one thing she was certain - she wouldn't be putting up with Caius on dungeon blood again. "If you're drinking that shit you can go back to France."

"I'm not!" Caius insisted. "I drank some on the way back, it took months … I had a single shot a day, that's it."

Magnus held out his hand and fixed Caius with a stern eye. Come on, he willed. Just hand it over, end this.

Caius knew what Magnus wanted, naturally. He slipped off to the bedchamber and soon returned, now at least half dressed in britches and carrying a near empty bottle of dungeon blood.

"Is this all you have left?" Magnus held the bottle up to the light coming through the window. As the tar settled, it was clear there was very little remaining in the bottle. "Have you seen this?!" he asked his mate, passing her the bottle for safekeeping.

Freyr sighed sadly and nodded. Disappointment oozed from the woman when she saw how much Caius had drank on just the journey home.

"Right." Magnus slapped his hands down on his thighs, startling Caius, and stood. "Where are we doing this?" he asked, slipping his hefty belt from his waist.

Fuck me! Humiliation overload!

"We aren't doing anything," Caius insisted. It was bad enough that everyone in the room knew Magnus had whipped him before. Having the event announced so poignantly by the removal of a belt was just too much!

"In here then." Magnus didn't mind, he was easy. "Basileus has ordered it, to ensure you don't go off the rails …"

Caius backed up to the central pillar with Magnus on the approach. "You can't punish me in advance of going off the rails, Magnus, that's ludicrous."

Magnus placed his free hand on Caius' shoulder. "I'm not going to," he said calmly. "You know I don't work that way."

For a moment Caius thought he might have got off with the last few months … he wasn't sure whether that was what he wanted, but it would certainly hurt less, he reasoned. Boy was he wrong!

"Fortunately I have plenty of reasons of my own," Magnus explained.

All the confusion was doing his head in and Caius exploded. "And what's that?!" he asked, shoving past Magnus and back into the freedom of the room.

Magnus heaved a heavy breath. He had lost his confidence with Caius whilst they were away which had had a disastrous effect on them both. And the guards, by extension. In his brief chat with Basileus, Magnus had come to realise that he was to blame, too, for the way Caius had acted and going through this merry dance with the man to get him back on track would be his own punishment. He kept calm, he stayed cool.

"Drinking dungeon blood again," Magnus began, quickly adding 'socially' when he saw Caius readying himself to object. "Your general shitty attitude, lying to me, and failing on that mission."

He decided to leave Odi out of it. He would have to break that news to Freyr gently - the shield maiden did not take kindly to the guards bullying on a good day, if that bullying was directed towards Odi, Magnus feared what the woman might do.

"Failing?!" Caius repeated.

It was the word Basileus had used in the great hall. Caius knew he was fucked when he heard it the first time, but he had expected to be taking the hiding from Basileus, not Magnus. That would have been easier, he thought. There was no shame taking a whipping from Basileus, little feeling, either, on Caius' part. It was the complete opposite with Magnus. Caius had so many feelings in relation to the juggernaut from both ends of the scale that it felt tortuous to be facing the man.

"As you said, you didn't do anything. Worse than that, you were incapable of doing anything and because you drank dungeon blood, and the guards followed suit."

Dora congratulated Magnus. "Sounds like failing to me, Caius."

"Fuck off, you two faced bi…"

"Conversation over," Magnus cut Caius off before he could say anything too damaging, pulling him away from his mate by a vice grip on his bicep. "Pick a room."

"You can't do this, Magnus," Caius complained, desperately trying to free himself without looking like a coward in front of the women.

"I didn't think I could either," Magnus replied, keeping his hold. "I thought I needed permission, but apparently I don't. So I can."

Basileus gave you permission to whip me! This time, or any time?! Caius didn't dare ask the question, he feared the answer.

"You need to get this over with, Caius," Magnus told him. "We're all going to Aro's in the morning …"

"All?!" Dora shot out. I don't think so! She had told Freyr she wasn't going!

Magnus nodded. "All of us. I've already agreed."

Dora's resistance took over Caius'!

Magnus wasn't in the mood for any more grief. "Why do you argue with me whenever I say we are going to Aro's?"

Dora shot him an incredulous look. "Because you agree on my behalf when I don't want to be there." Obviously!

"I know that you do want to be there, Dora, you just feel awkward." Magnus tempered his tone, he needed to be kinder with such a sensitive matter. "Theres really no need."

Magnus may have been having trouble with Caius whilst he was away, but Freyr hadn't had a much better time at home with Dora. She didn't feel like being too kind on the matter. "Surely you will want to see Irina?"

"Freyr!" Dora shot out angrily before turning away in her seat.

Magnus and Caius forgot their to-and-fro and concentrated on Dora. "You aren't actually hanging around with her, surely?!" Caius asked.

"Sometimes." Dora huffed dramatically, complete with hair flick - a habit she had picked up from Irina that was driving Freyr nuts! "She needed a friend and I am friendless."

"You are not friendless," Freyr insisted - as she had many times in the preceding months.

"Sulpicia and Carmen have each other, they don't need me. They don't want me, either." And I don't want them, Dora told herself. "Irina's only a couple of years younger than I. We get on."

"I don't want you to get on," Freyr said under her breath. "She's vile."

"How can you get on with her?" Magnus asked. It was unfathomable! "How can anyone?!"

Seeing she was getting nowhere with Magnus and Freyr, Dora turned to Caius. "We have similar tastes …" she gave him a wink and let her words hang in the air.

"We do?!" Suddenly Caius was much more interested in his mate's new friendship.

"We do …" Dora nodded very slowly, smirking her pretty little face off.

The pair of them thought themselves ever so clever to be discussing their sex life in front of Magnus and Freyr. Naughty, even. In a nice way.

Magnus may have been old, but he wasn't dead! "Oh hell no!" he boomed. "You can forget that right now."

Caius tutted loudly. "Our sex life is none of your concern."

Magnus stepped up to Caius. "I will be making it my concern if you bring that teenage GIRL into your deviancy," he told him, voice low and dark.

"Deviancy?!" Dora repeated. "She's an adult vampire, Magnus. If Irina's up for it …"

"No!" Magnus boomed. He was so loud that his voice ricocheted off the walls. "You cannot fuck Eleazar's ward. Just no. Neither of you."

That was them told!

"Do you still think we should all go for Christmas?"

Magnus had to laugh. "You aren't getting out of it," he said shaking his head at the young woman. "We are going. It's just a few hours, a few drinks, then home. Easy."

Dora eventually relented, seeing no other option.

Happy to have one problem dealt with, Magnus wanted to get on with the rest of his duties for the day - there was dealing with the guards, speaking with Odi, but first, he had to finish up with Caius. "You aren't getting out of what you have coming, either."

"I bet Odi ..."

Magnus' features turned uncharacteristically dark as he turned on Caius. So dark that Caius shut his mouth with wide eyes.

"If you even mention that kid's name again I swear to the Gods I will …" he had to stop, he had to take a breath. Magnus had never issued a threat he hadn't delivered on and he didn't intend on starting then. "You're pissing me off now," he warned.

Caius didn't say anything else. He'd pushed and pushed for it anyway, on some unconscious level, and he knew he wouldn't be leaving his quarters without Magnus taking him to task first. Wordlessly, he headed back to his bed chamber for the minuscule amount of privacy it would offer him.

"Excuse me, my ladies." Magnus followed.

Having said all he'd had to say on the matter, Magnus got straight down to business reaffirming some authority with Caius. Though she wouldn't have wanted her mate's job, Freyr found it difficult to sit through catching the audio from the main living chamber. Dora, however, barely seemed to notice. She was lost in her head thinking about Caius and Henri, Caius and dungeon blood, Caius and all his broken promises. That last part had been the main topic of conversation between Dora and Irina whilst the mission crew had been away.

Irina, worming her way into Dora's life, had been quick to offer her opinion on the woman's husband, primarily that Caius had no right to remain her husband if he so often broke the promises he made. Irina had an ulterior motive, of course - she quite liked Dora and, importantly, being in Dora's chambers. She was just close enough to her sisters without having to suffer living with them and nowhere near the rest of the Volturi family scum she hated most. Caius coming back from the mission had ruined her happy streak and Irina planned to make the man pay by manipulating Dora.

The door knocked just as Magnus reappeared in the living chamber. He quickly fastened his belt before Dora could open the door.

"Where's Caius?" Freyr asked, peering around her giant-sized mate.

"Probably still composing himself." Magnus sounded so tired. "I've got to deal with Odi yet. I need to talk to him, but I have no clue what I'm supposed to say."

"Some fatherly advice will go a long way with him, love," Freyr said, fixing her mate a drink. "It always has."

"Hmmm," Magnus murmured to himself. Freyr was still unaware of what had happened with their son whilst he was away. He knew he had to tell her, and he did, and just as he'd anticipated, Freyr was crushed.

"Odi hasn't done anything wrong," Magnus quickly added. "And he doesn't get why Caius suddenly wants to burn the ground he walks on. The guards are on his back because Caius has been bad mouthing the kid to them."

Freyr didn't say anything for the moment, she was processing what had happened and she knew Magnus would have only told her the minimum to save her stress.

I could happily wring his bloody neck, she thought of Caius. The anger soon subsided when she gave the matter more thought. Odi was her son, there was no question there for Freyr, but she loved Caius, too, in a very similar sort of way. The same, even, she realised.

"Boys fight, love," she said quietly, smile tugging at her lips.

Magnus mimicked his mate, before laughing lightly. It was something they had said so many times in their human days with three boys - Viking boys at that! - under one roof.

"Don't I know it!" Magnus agreed, scooping Freyr into an embrace.

She rested her head against his chest, breathing in his scent. Freyr had missed her mate so much, but his homecoming was not what she had expected. "Will Odi be safe in the guard hall?"

"I'm sure he will be." Magnus kissed the top of her head and rested his chin there. Thinking about Odi and the guards a little more, he tacked on, "I need to talk to Alex, and Afton, too."

Dora had remained at the door, trying to hide the identity of her visitor. Hearing the snide laughter floating across the room, Magnus and Freyr soon guessed it was Irina.

"How close are they?" Magnus asked his mate, voice barely above a whisper.

Freyr spoke softly in return, "Whenever I call around to Dora, Irina is here."

"But why?"

Similarly to Freyr, Magnus had expected an easier return to the coven than the one he'd been handed. Dora and Irina being bosom buddies would only cause him grief, he knew it.

"I imagine boredom," Freyr offered with a shrug. She'd asked Dora a hundred times why Irina was so special but had never received an answer beyond an irritating hair flick. "Neither of them have much to do around the coven."

Magnus winced at the ear-splitting shriek of laughter Irina bellowed out from the doorway. Then we'll have to find something for Dora to do, he thought. Quick!

"Now Caius is back Dora and Irina may drift apart anyway," Freyr continued, sounding hopeful.

Magnus wasn't so sure about that. He'd seen the way Dora had reacted to the news of Caius being on dungeon blood, and he didn't blame her, either. Neither did Freyr, come to that. They didn't want Dora alone with Caius if Caius was still on a come down.

"They do seem to get on well," Freyr finished, fixing herself a goblet of bloodwine.

"Do we want them to get on?" Magnus asked, wincing at the next shriek that came. Disturbingly it came from Dora - another habit she had picked up from Irina.

"You talk like it's our choice, love," Freyr raised an eyebrow as she spoke. "We don't get to judge her choices, just support her in them."

If anyone had asked Magnus that morning what his rights were in relation to Caius and Dora, he would have faltered. But his brief chat with Basileus on his return had bolstered his confidence somewhat and he was feeling far surer of his place in proceedings.

"I think we get a say after all the work we've put in with the two of them."

"Work?" Freyr repeated in question.

"Assistance?" Magnus offered, unsure what word to use. "Whatever you want to call it, love, we're involved."

Neither of them had confessed their feelings for Caius and Dora aloud, both apprehensive of what the other might think if they did. Would Magnus see it as disloyalty to their human children? Would Freyr see it as overstepping their mark in the coven? Many, many questions floated in the air between them, so for the time being they both stayed quiet on the matter.

Caius came shuffling out of his bedroom nursing a limp for full effect, hoping to get Freyr on side before he told her about Odi. Little did he know that Magnus had already briefly filled her in. When Magnus saw the show he was putting on coming down the hall he rolled his eyes to the heavens, took his bloodwine and searched out his comfy chair.

Caius limped all the way to Freyr, but soon stood up to full height and pulled his shoulders back when he saw Dora at the door with Irina! "How long has she been there?!"

"Not until afterwards," Freyr said, making no mention of the smackdown he'd endured. "Don't worry."

"There was no need for it," Caius huffed.

"Really?" Freyr's eyebrows shot up and she turned a stern eye on Caius.

Shit! Does she know?! It worried Caius more than he cared to admit that he might have annoyed Freyr. Annoyed?! Who am I kidding? If she knew she'd be livid.

He watched the woman intently as her stern eye turned to a saddened face, telling him she did know what he'd done to her baby. Caius wasn't worried anymore, he oozed regret in the face of the shield maiden's disappointment.

Magnus picked up on Caius' change in emotions and scoffed from across the room.

Freyr took Caius' hand to keep him with her rather than let him go and start arguing with Magnus. "It hurts him more than you, Caius,"

I doubt that very much, Caius thought, rubbing the sting from his neck where Magnus' belt had bitten in hard. "Why does he still look so pissed off?"

"Have you apologised yet?" Freyr asked, adding quickly, "Without an attitude?"

Caius looked shyly to the floor.

"There's your answer."

Freyr drew a goblet of bloodwine from the barrel and passed it to Caius. She was still annoyed with him, sure she was, but she didn't like to see anyone suffer and the bloodwine would ease his pain.

Caius put the cup to his lips but soon pulled away without taking a sip. An instinctive reaction. He could have drunk the whole cup down, but if he did so without Magnus' permission he would be going against him again. He wasn't ready for that. Freyr's right, I owe him an apology, he thought, schlepping over to the juggernaut.

"May I drink this?" he asked, quiet as a church mouse.

"Nothing to do with me, is it?" Magnus replied, though the expression on his face said differently.

"I'm sorry, okay?" Caius muttered. "I fucked up." Even Caius knew that was a poor attempt at apologising for being a major cunt for nine months. Apologies weren't his strong suit.

"If you keep putting me in this position, Caius, you can't keep blaming me for taking control. You can end this anytime you like." Magnus felt the hackles rising at the back of his neck when Caius didn't respond. "Right," he boomed. "If that's what you want, I'll talk to Basileus …"

"No!"

Dora spun around to see what the commotion was behind her, allowing Irina the chance to get a gawp in the process. Caius looked quite handsome only wearing his britches and a loose shirt, neither of which were fastened, exposing his amazing vampiric abs.

Irina had already laid the seeds to involve herself more thoroughly in Dora's life but seeing Caius in all his glory pushed the Denali girl forwards with her plan. She dragged Dora into the hall to discuss the prospect of a threesome more privately. She didn't know Magnus had already put an end to her play before it could begin.

"No," Caius said again, sounding calmer once the audience had lessened. "I'm sorry. I only kept taking the dungeon blood on the way home to stave off the come down."

"I could have helped you with that if you had asked me," Magnus replied, also sounding calmer now Caius was finally sounding a little repentant.

"I screwed up taking it in the first place, but I wanted to manage the come down on my own."

Magnus leaned back in his chair and rubbed his bearded chin. Caius had always been an independent being, and Magnus didn't want to push him too far. But, then again, he didn't want to waste his time or give too much of his heart if Caius simply didn't want anyone. That was the message Magnus had got from the man on the mission - 'leave me alone, I'm my own man'. Okay, he thought. You don't want to be flung back to Basileus' mercy, but that doesn't necessarily mean you want to be mine, either.

"Perhaps you don't need me anymore?"

"Erm …" Caius stalled.

It sounded very much like Magnus was giving him the chance to walk away, if that's what he wanted to do, (because he was!). Any other day Caius might have taken the swift exit on offer for the mercy of his pride, but it wouldn't have been what he wanted. In a very brave moment for Caius, he decided not to fuck himself over and remove Magnus from his life. Instead, he asked the juggernaut for permission to drink his bloodwine, exuding the sort of deference Caius rarely showed to anyone.

Magnus' heart swelled in that moment and he took Caius' gesture as he'd intended it, to say he still wanted the guy as his … well, Magnus wasn't sure the term he'd use.

Guardian, he guessed. It didn't sound quite right. Father? He highly doubted Caius would go for that! Magnus wouldn't push Caius on terminology, they had time to work that out, no rush. In a bid to keep his emotions in check so as not to startle Caius with the force of them, Magnus reminded himself of what had brought them to their current situation in the first place. Caius had caused him a shit storm on the mission, and he hadn't truly forgiven him for the abominable way he'd treated Odi, either. You aren't getting that bloodwine just yet, he thought.

"I think it's a little soon, don't you?" he replied, watching Caius' shoulders slump. Magnus was pleased he hadn't argued, though. Once Magnus had got Caius alone in his bedchamber, he hadn't argued there, either, which was encouraging. "Sit and suffer a while first," he suggested, to see how far his new authority would go.

Caius huffed and rolled his eyes, as though the request were beneath him, but he flopped into the seat nearest the juggernaut anyway. He soon regretted doing so with such force.

"Jesus!" he whimpered, gritting his teeth.

"Man up," Magnus laughed from beside him. "You know I went easy on you."

The incredulous look from Caius would say otherwise!

Magnus chuckled a little more before he stood. "You can drink your bloodwine," he offered quietly, draining his own cup. "I need to be getting on …"

"Odi, of course," Caius muttered spitefully. He hadn't really meant for Magnus to hear him. Scratch that. He hadn't meant to say it at all, but Caius' jealousy could be just as damaging as his pride.

"On that note," Magnus said, sounding stern again, "I will leave you to explain to Freyr about your little vendetta against her baby boy."

You cunt. Caius damn near jumped out of his skin when Freyr took her mate's vacated seat.

"I've only given her very brief details," Magnus said, kissing his mate goodbye tenderly as he spoke to Caius. "I thought you'd enjoy the chance to explain yourself."

Utter cunt! Caius thought again, watching him leave. It was with a heavy heart that he turned back to Freyr to cover anything Magnus had missed.