You know what I hate, Fires, they burn the trees which means I don't get my paper on time, my work gets backed up and I get slammed with overtime. (Sigh) I'm tired.

A few days had passed since Alec gave his mistress the honest truth about the arc boy but unfortunately it felt like his warnings fell on deaf ears. The meeting room was filled with the few that remained of Salems force's which pretty much consisted of him and Dr Morrilo.

The good doctor adjusted his glasses as he read through the latest reports "we managed to acquire more food and medicine as requested. There is the small problem of clothing and extra materials that you've requested and I must ask if it's truly necessary"? Salems attention had wavered and her eye's wondered to the tiny White bunny crawling on the floor.

She was never one to act like a love struck school girl but the moment jaune lifted his head to look at her with the rabbit onesie on she couldn't help giggle at his cuteness. Alec couldn't believe his ears and for good reason too knowing who his mistress was but the fact couldn't be ignored, Salem had giggled. It was so foreign that Alec exchanged concerned looks with Dr Morrilo just to make sure he wasn't hearing things or going insane.

Salem leaned over the side of her seat and called the baby to her. Jaune heard Salems call and crawled quickly until she was able to pick him up and place him in her lap. The Grimm queen poked the tiny Arc in the tummy with her finger earning a bunch of baby laughter as a result.

Alec felt sick to his stomach at the site of his mistress devolving from monster to a babbling fool when she spoke to the baby. Dr Morrilo coughed loudly to catch his queen's attention, she looked up and realized that she wasn't acting as professional as she hoped. Salem cleared her throat "I'm sorry doctor and yes the requested items are ones I deemed necessary".

"Even the blue bear onesie"?

"Even that" Salem answered with a casual smile. "Jaune is still a growing boy and until he's old enough to be given training I'll use this time to ensure his loyalty and increase the bond between us". Salem looked to Alec "I've decided to take your words to heart but instead of just killing the boy I'll make sure that even if he knows the truth he'll still choose me in the end".

Alec had never heard of such a foolish idea and even worse she was completely serious about it. Her right hand stood from his seat "your grace I must object to this nonsense". Salem hadn't been spoken to like this in some time and she wouldn't allow it now. Her eye's burned red with anger as she summoned Grimm arms to hold and forcibly sit Alec back down.

Salem rose to her feet before using her magic to make jaune float above her. She pushed the baby a little higher before turning to Alec "I don't remember asking you to second guess my decisions, you need only listen and obey". Alec could feel the Grimm claws digging into his arms so he quickly apologized and promised not to step out of line again.

A sinister smile spread across Salems face "good" she said as the Grimm hands receded into the ground from once they came. Salem stepped around the table and held her arms out so the tiny Arc could float back to her. Once the baby was back in her arm's she poked his nose gently with a happy smile on her face "come on jaune time for lunch".

Alec watched his mistress about to leave the room when something happened to catch his eye that surprised him to no end. The door to the meeting room closed with Salems departure just as Alec turned to his colleague "did you see that"? Morrilo nodded "yup and might I say what you did was incredibly stupid".

"Not that you idiot I'm talking about how Salems Grimm marks began to shrink right before she left the room".

Morrilo looked surprised at the news "incredible, in all my years in service to the queen I've never once seen or heard of her marks doing anything but decorate her body. Tell me Alec are absolutely sure her Grace's markings have begun to shrink"? Alec's confirmation had Morrilo massaging his chin in thought "could it be"?

Alec watched as Morrilo pulled out a note pad from his pocket and started scribbling a few thoughts into it. What Morrilo was thinking was beyond him but then again now that he thought about it he really didn't know anything about the good doctor. "Morrilo why do you decide to serve our mistress"?

The doctor looked up from his notes before he broke into laughter "after all these years now you ask"?

Alec shrugged "just thought I'd ask".

"If you must know it's because it's not everyday you meet a immortal being that can control the Grimm" Morrilo said happily. Alec just stared at the man like he couldn't believe that was his whole reason for being there. Morrilo put his note pad away and rose to his feet "I may not be able to share all my findings on the human, Grimm conjoined physiology but it's more than enough just to learn about it".

"That can't be all of your motivation for joining" Alec pressed but Morrilo merely shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe I had a reason when I was younger but after all this time it doesn't really matter anymore" Morrilo said as he left the meeting room. "After all this time huh" Alec said as he looked down at himself to see that he definitely was no spring chicken either.

A sigh escaped his lips before he realized he never reported to Salem about the two new recruits he found. Alec slid his hand through his hair "I'll tell her about Malcolm and Leonardo later" he said before leaving the meeting room as well.

And done!