Bo and Kenzi had no idea what a Garuda was, so they sat waiting for some sense of understanding to come over them. Of course, not knowing anything about the fae, they had to sit quietly taking in the reaction of the others. Lauren's eyes shot open and her mouth opened in surprise, though no sounds came out. Lachlan looked like a deer caught in headlights and even Dyson gaped on, speechless. Kenzi was the first to break the silence, "Ok, whatever this thing is clearly has you all freaked. But for us newbies, could someone please explain?"
Trick nodded and reached over for one of the ancient tomes on the table. Opening the book, he flipped a few pages until he found what he was looking for and passed the volume over to rest between Bo and Kenzi. Both women looked down and frowned at what they saw - a drawing of a bird-like man engulfed in flames.
Trick spoke to the women, and everyone in the room as he explained. "The Garuda have been around since before the fae, they feed off of violence and chaos and have the ability to possess people's minds and control their actions. While they may appear as human, they are really bird-creatures whose talons can slice through flesh and who can create fire to destroy their enemies at will. They are very close to invincible and prior to recently, thought to be extinct."
"If they are invincible, how are they extinct? Or were extinct?" Kenzi asked.
Trick sighed knowing the time was upon him to reveal one of his secrets. "Thousands of years ago, the Garuda were a plentiful species, feeding off the violence between Light and Dark during the Great Fae War. As the war escalated, the Garuda became more and more powerful and would have devoured the fae if not for the peace that was created. A peace that I created with my blood."
Lauren gasped in shock as Lachlan's head whipped up from where it had been reading from the book.
"You're the Blood King?" he asked.
Trick nodded. "I am. I have kept the secret for many hundreds of years, wanting to forget those hard times and be free of the burden of making those choices."
Lauren looked on in awe, her mind running through many scenarios. "So the peace made the fae stop fighting with each other, and the Garuda basically starved themselves into extinction, or so the story goes. So why do you think there is one causing all this chaos now?"
"It's the same pattern. One must have been hibernating all these years, waiting for the right moment to awake. I think the attack on the light fae compound, the one that killed the previous Ash, probably was the moment as I had to use my blood powers to prevent more violence and bloodshed. It was the first time I used them since the peace was forged."
"So if they starved themselves out before, can't we just make everyone hug it out and starve them again?" Bo asked, her mind still a little slow to grasp the situation.
"Unfortunately, no. There is too much violence in this world today, not just amongst the fae, but in the human world as well, for them to starve. Even if they were not hell-bent on creating chaos and the destruction of the fae, they would be well fed."
"So you have this fire-bird god that wants to take over the world, and it's basically immortal…." Kenzi let her statement trail off, wondering how they were going to get out of this one.
"The Garuda's not a god, but he's the closest thing to the devil you will ever face," Trick replied.
"Great. So can anything kill it?" Bo asked. She was getting frustrated with all the doom and gloom. She was more of a kick ass, ask questions later girl and she just wanted to know how to kill the damn thing already!
It was Lauren who answered. "Naga venom."
Trick smiled, pleased with how smart Lauren was. He really was sad to see her with the Dark. She was such an asset to the Light. "Correct. Unfortunately, the Naga are also extinct."
Lauren nodded slowly. "Yes, that is most unfortunate," she said, enunciating her words very carefully, a thoughtful look on her face. Bo sensed something was up, but looking at Lauren didn't give anything away. She would have to ask her about it later.
Silence enveloped the room and as Trick looked around the room at everyone lost in thought he knew they all needed their own time to process the news. "It's getting late and I know people need time to digest this, so why doesn't everyone come back tomorrow evening around 6. The Dal will be empty between the lunch and dinner crowds."
Everyone gave their assent and rose from the table. Lachlan left quickly without uttering a goodbye to anyone and Lauren watched him leave, a strange expression on her face that Bo couldn't read. Walking up behind the blonde, she leaned over and asked if everything was okay.
Lauren turned around, her expression clearing into a small smile as she looked up into Bo's concerned eyes. "Just thinking," she answered, then looking down shyly "do you still want to come back to my place for dinner?"
Bo smiled at the shyness the powerful woman was showing. Reaching her hand out, she gently cupped Lauren's chin and raised her hand so that Lauren was once again making eye contact. "I would love to Lauren."
Her face breaking into a wide smile, Lauren nodded happily. "Great, let me just run to the ladies room and then we can head out. Bruce is outside waiting for us."
Knowing Kenzi was meeting Hale later and that she didn't have to worry about her bestie being out alone tonight, she settled against the bar to wait for Lauren. Immediately Dyson walked over to stand next to her, a glare on his scruffy face. Rolling her eyes, Bo didn't even look at him when she spoke. "What is it Dyson?"
"You are going home with her aren't you?"
"Not that it is any of your business, but yes."
Growling, Dyson turned to her and grabbed her arm. Bo winced at the force of it noticing how Dyson's eyes had slivered and his features had sharpened into his partial wolf shape. "You need to stay away from her, she is a lying murderer" he snarled.
Yanking her arm away and allowing her succubus powers to rise, she stepped around him and got in his face, her eyes glowing blue in anger. "Listen to me closely Dyson. You don't get to tell me what to do or who to see. You don't OWN me. And if you EVER touch me like that again, I will put you down, do you understand?"
His eyes turning back to their normal brown color, Dyson nodded and took a step back from Bo. He could feel the power radiating off of her and didn't want to get himself killed. Honestly, he wasn't even sure why he had just provoked her. He shook his head trying to get his thoughts back.
Bo watched him and as she sensed the threat receding her own eyes turned back to their natural chocolate color. Hissing at him, "I don't know what has gotten into you lately Dyson, but you need to get over it if you want to be in my life at all."
Dyson nodded. "I know, I'm sorry. I don't know what it is either. My wolf has been so restless lately. Maybe I need to go for a run, clear my head."
Bo just continued to stare at the shifter until she heard a throat being cleared behind her. Turning, she saw Lauren was back from the bathroom, watching her and Dyson cautiously. "Ready to go?" she asked quietly. Bo nodded and grabbed her leather off the chair as she followed Lauren out. Slipping into the car Bruce had waiting for them, Lauren waited until they were moving before asking Bo if everything was alright. Bo sighed and leaned her head back against the seat, eyes closed as she thought about how her relationship with Dyson had turned so much in the last few weeks. Something was going on with the wolf and she hoped it was just jealousy. "Dyson just being Dyson," she finally responded not having a better explanation.
Lauren didn't respond and Bo grew concerned so she opened her eyes to find the blond biting her bottom lip and staring out the window. Gently calling her name, Lauren turned to look into Bo's concerned eyes. "Hey," Bo started softly, reaching her hand out to place it on Lauren's knee. "It's his problem though, not ours. I am sorry I am letting him get to me, but please know that I am with who I want to be right now."
Lauren smiled and closed her hand over the one Bo had on her knee, entwining their fingers. The butterflies in her stomach erupted once more as they had started to every time she saw the brunette. She moved in closer to Bo to snuggle against her chest as they both were lost in their own thoughts as the car sped through the city.