Sorry about the shortness of this chapter, it's a transition. The next one is better. Get ready for Carpathian males getting what's coming to them!
Andre fit in quite well with their unusual family. Forrest took great delight in teaching him how to muck stables. Celyn taught him which plants were weeds and which were not. She ruled her herb garden with a firm, but gentle hand.
He began to teach young Raoul how to hunt. In turn, Raoul showed him Mercury, his beloved horse. Raoul's affection turned to hero worship after Andre healed the equines lung trouble.
During all of this Andre was very aware of Annika. He discovered her habits. Every day she took time with her bonsai, pruning and caressing the plant.
Her bonsai was a sugar maple about a foot high. Andre was amazed by how the plant twined it's branches around Annika's fingers. When he asked her about it her response was a shrug.
"Athena," the name of the tree, "just chose me. I've had her for years. We all have our favorites. You should see Danica and Slithe together."
"Slithe?" Andre asked.
"Slithe is a wind. She likes Danica. Forrest has a favorite rock, Celyn can coo to her herb garden for hours. Griffin's got his coyote pups, Fawn has her favorite hollow tree. Natika and Shira both share a den, and Raoul's got his favorite dagger."
"Forrest's favorite is a rock?"
"Forrest can call gems, garnets mostly, out of the ground. He gives them to Oliver and Tabitha and they sell them in town. There's a kind of green marble that washes down the stream occasionally. Forrest's rock is made out of that. We call it 'Waterstone', because the colors come to life when it's wet." Annika explained.
"It sounds like Forrest is a gem-caller. They are very good craftsmen and well respected. Byron would like him." In response to Annika's curious look he went on, "Byron Justicano is the best gem-caller we have. His lifemate is Antonietta Scarletti."
"She's a very famous musician, Oliver loves her music," Annika said turning back to Athena.
Two weeks later they were on their way to the Carpathian mountains. It had been agreed that Tabitha would come with them, leaving Oliver back at the farm. The younger children were excited, the older members of the family were hesitant, but willing to go. Forrest was extremely leery about Celyn near that many males.
Andre admired Annika's organizational skills when she made sure everyone was packed. Andre had an account full of money that he had collected over the years. It was more difficult to procure passports, but he managed.
For a week the house was full of "Annika, can I bring this? Annika, should she be doing that?" Her patience astounded him. Finally the bags were packed. Everyone had an emergency change of clothes, Raoul had his dagger [Andre was prepared to use a compulsion on the airport staff to slip it by their guard], Forrest and Celyn had plenty of diapers and clothing for Kanya.
The airport was a mad house as was expected. They managed to get through the security gates and onto the plane without incidents. Andre and Forrest unashamedly used compulsions.
Once they were on the plane, Annika gave Andre permission to command all of the children to go to sleep.
Annika's head was resting on his shoulder when Andre realized that he should let the Prince know that they were coming. It showed how alone he had been over the centuries, he was unused to having someone to report to.
Mikhail? He said on the common path. I have found several of Razvan's children. One of them is my lifemate. We are coming home.
How many? The prince asked.
Of Razvan's children, there are seven, including my lifemate, Annika. Annika is the head of the family. Her second is Danica, then there are Griffin and Fawn, twins, and Natika and Shira, also twins. The youngest is Raoul. There are also two part Carpathians, Forrest and Celyn. They are lifemates and have a baby girl, Kanya.
A large family. Thank you Andre. I am glad that you found your lifemate, the Prince said. Raven can't wait to meet them.
Annika is extremely protective of her siblings, Andre warned.
I'm sure everything will be fine, Mikhail reassured.