Tenelle: Children of the Gods Book 2

by Patricia Halladay

  “Very well done my dear niece, you are as brilliant a puzzle solver as your father!” Ares says giving me a hug, “But now I must go, you have a starting point, so I best let you and Nimara get to it. I will see you later little Owl.” Ares leaves to go have his meeting with Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. They are discussing Apollo’s plan to help keep the Birds of Prey around for millennia to come.

  Our trip back was quick. Elder Mirmay and her mate, Dundral accompanied us, so that we could let them select their living quarters for when they stayed. I now understand where Enox gets his blue color. Dundral is a black dragon, with brilliant blue eyes, almost a sapphire blue and Enox definitely takes after his dad when it comes to being a loving, caring, and compassionate mate. Enox’s blue is a combination of his mom’s light sky blue and his dad’s black, a perfect blend. When we get back to the Great Theater, the place is in an uproar and we have unexpected guests.

  “Tenelle!! Oh thank the gods you are finally back!” Vera says rushing to give me a hug. She is met with growls from Levi, Nazareth and Elder Mirmay.

  “It’s ok, this is Vera. She and her brother Lox are the youngest of the Royal Gargoyle family from Ireland. They took over the Royal family’s territory in Dartmouth, when Queen Emily moved to Maple Mountain with her dragon mate, Jax.” I says giving Vera a hug and introducing everyone to her. “Vera what’s wrong? Why are you here?” I ask with panic realizing her brother isn’t with her and she is heavily guarded by her warriors.

  “After you left, we started to do more repairs to the territory. That den Ella closed up wasn’t that last one, and now what Zed and his Shadow Walkers found in there makes sense.” She says looking flush.

  “What do you mean? What did they find? Other than Ella.” I ask trying to get everything I can.

  “The medical equipment and beds when they found Ella, because there was an outbreak of Grava, it’s like a human flu but for us it is deadly. Well, I guess there were some children that were born when the outbreak was at its peak. They were separated from the others and kept isolated to keep them from getting the Grava. Like so many others, when they were old enough and cleared they were allowed to leave the isolation.” Vera says looking worried.

  “Ok so what does this mean then? Was one of them still carrying the virus and now there is another outbreak? Are you all going to be ok?” I ask panicked because this could mean we will have to help evacuate and quarantine the sick gargoyles and help find a cure.

  “Oh no, we’ve created a vaccine to help with that, but we found one of the isolation dens and there was still a gargoyle living in it. She was never cleared and those that were doing all the work have since either died or left. She’s alone, and her clan has all but died out. We need Ella to come back and close the last isolation den, Lox has accepted her into his clan, but I think that you and Nimara should come speak to her.” Vera says looking a little less panicked.

  “Ok why do you think that Tenelle and Nimara both should talk to this young gargoyle?” Dundral asks, his interest in keeping Nimara and I safe comes to the fore front. He told me he lost his family too when he was only 5 years old, so he wants to make sure our children get to keep theirs.

  “Because there’s no file on her, nothing. All the others that were in isolation have extensive files. So we know who they are and that they are all healthy. I was able to get in contact with their new clans to send the files over, but there’s nothing on this female. And to be honest, I think there’s something really special about her.” Vera says, causing everyone to give her a weird look.

  “You saw something in her aura didn’t you. Like you did with me.” I say as my eyes grow with excitement. Vera smiles giving me a nod.

  “Ok, we’ll come see her, but I can’t come until after I have the fledglings. Everyone is getting super protective. Mom almost sent Zane up with a letter telling the council to come to the Great Theater instead of me going up to the heavens. Nimara should be back at the clan village, go over and speak with her also. She might be able to do a video call with the gargoyle and start the ball rolling.” I say, I turn to look at my family to make sure they are ok with this decision.

  “Ok, I just talked to Kai, he knows what you were talking about Vera. He said to go over there immediately, and he’ll help you. Seems there was a problem in the Tiger Lily Pride, and Nimara went straight there to help.” Mitchel says after his phone call. Dundral let out a low growl and his skin shimmers showing off his dragon scales.

  “Wow like father like son!” I say and Dundral gives me an intimidating dad look. “Enox does that too when he gets angry.” Dundral nods his head and look at his son with pride.

  “What problem?” Nazareth asks looking angry. “Kenneth, Rachel and the cubs are ok right?” He questions further. I found out that Kenneth’s parents are Levi and Nazareth’s god parents, because of a long family friendship that actually goes back four generations.

  “Yes they’re fine now. There was a small group of rogues that targeted the twins and Rachel. The twins are ok, but the group had Rachel. I imagine, that didn’t last too long, since Morgana portalled Nimara right into the middle of the rogue camp for her to have some “fun.” He tells us, and I know what that means, lots of blood. With the news of the attack on Tiger Lily Pride, we all get into the Great Theater and double the guards.

  We are close to 600 in the clan now, a lot of the original pack have found their mates, and the others that were Solar Celestial but from other factions, have made their way here to join us. When I bonded with Snow, it bonded everyone. Including people I hadn’t met yet, and once they were bonded, they said there was a pull that brought them here to the clan.

  We waited two days, while Nimara got everything cleaned up for Kenneth and Rachel. Kerith was introduced to the pride as Kenneth’s second mate. She and Rachel are actually best friends and have known each other since they were cubs. Nimara was bubbly and babbling with excitement that Kenneth took Kerith as his second mate. She has known both girls since she was 4 years old and couldn’t be happier. Although Nimara said that these will be Kenneth’s only Queens. He doesn’t think he could handle any more women in the house, but the reasoning behind taking Kerith as his second mate was not just for himself. Her pride was auctioning off unmated or rejected female mates, and when Rachel heard Kerith was on this month’s list for auction, she asked Kenneth to help. He put in a private bid of half a million dollars and won. He then went to the council with all the information he gathered from being an inside man as it were and made them aware of what this pride leader was doing. What is being done about it is still unknown, but many of the female cat shifters that had been auctioned off were doing well and many of them had found their second mate.

  Also during the two days, Surrey came to do another checkup on me and the fledglings, as well as induct our new clan Doctors. Twins, both women and they have just as much attitude as I do when it comes to overbearing males. Meaning, they have a beat the hell out of them first, ask questions later personality. It’s refreshing, and Xander is learning his place because Joanna, the older twin is his mate. Oh boy that is going to be interesting, Nadia just keeps laughing at her brother-in-law, especially when he gets into trouble. With all the new additions to the clan, the high ranking officials and the amazing support of our new community, the den has grown. At least 75 per cent of the clan village is completely underground, and it’s where we have expanded out another 2 kilometers away from the Great Theater. The living dens now occupy an area of roughly 6 kilometers, and we added in as many alternative entrances as possible, just in case of an attack. Each member was given the opportunity to choose their place within the clan, from O.G.A.P (Olympian Guard and Protection), training, childcare, and farming. Each member chose what major role they would work to help support our clan. The members that weren’t comfortable living in the Great Theater, were able to get living dens set up above ground, but that didn’t mean they became the farmer and growers of our clan. Some did when it came to livesto
ck, while others built and works shops and stores that both human and supernatural’s were able to purchase handcrafted items from. All in all we have an amazing clan community, that I don’t mind saying it was inspired by Nimara and each of my clan members!

  “Hey Tenelle, am I interrupting?” Nadia asks as she waddles into my office.

  “Oh no, you are ok. How are the pups? How did your appointment with Ginny go?” I ask trying to get up from my chair. Watson laughs at both of us, his mate is expecting twin boys, and those two pups are causing a massive weight gain for poor Nadia. They are constantly driving her to eat, and I am just a beach ball because I am carrying seven little ones. Not that I would give them up for anything, because I wouldn’t, but I too have experienced a large weight gain in the 3rd last week of my incubation.

  “Oh it was good, Ginny said that my sudden weight increase was because she figures the pups are going to be early, at least a week early. So the little monsters are trying to grow as quick as possible.” Nadia says rubbing her baby bump.

  “And you are ok right??” I ask giving her a pointed look. She was having some minor problems and thanks to Joanna and Ginny, she was able to get them taken care of. It’s actually how we found out that the Gorgons were healers. Yes, Joanna and Ginny are Gorgons (Medusa), but they don’t turn people to stone by looking at them.

  “Oh yes, the girls have been on my ass big time, especially since Joanna is Xander’s mate. She doesn’t want pups for a few years, so she said I needed to take care of myself. Or she is going to haunt my ass.” Nadia says smiling but shaking her head.

  “Ok good. So what is it that I can do for you two? Need more baby items?” I ask snickering. The amount of items that have been coming here is crazy, but at least a hundred of the female clan members are mated and now expecting so the items are being shared.

  “Oh goodness no, we came to get you for your meeting with Nimara and the gargoyle that Vera came to see you about. Nimara’s back from Tiger Lily Pride, and Vera has come back with the young Gargoyle they found. Kai gave them permission to come here, since Lox has found his mate now too and according to Vera, is an overbearing pain in the ass. Her words not mine!” Nadia says laughing. I would have to agree, he was protective when I stayed for the night and I wasn’t mated to him. I can imagine it’s a hundred times worse with his actual mate.

  “Oh perfect! So who’s taking me? You’re to go rest missy! I don’t want you over doing it!” I tell Nadia with a serious tone, but I can already see she’s going to argue. “Watson take her stubborn ass back to your living quarters and if you have too, tie her to the bed, the couch or whatever to make her rest.” Watson nods in response and is soon taking an agitated Nadia out of my office.

  “Goddess, Link and Zane said they would take you over. They said they wanted to see their sister before they take on their full duties.” Watson mind-links me just as my older brother and younger brother walk in.

  “Hey guys!” I have finally pulled myself up and go to give my brothers a hug.

  “Wow girl, you’re huge! How many are you having?” Link asks. He hasn’t been around for the last eight years, we get video calls, emails, and other messages from him, but he wasn’t able to stay much after dad’s death. It hit him hard, and I can’t blame him.

  “Seven and I have to do it all in human form too, no owl to assist.” I say hugging him. “So how’s the Royal Elite Guard treating you? Has Mac changed anything yet?” I ask, I found out before anyone, when Link disappeared he joined the service. I was actually the one to sign his paperwork, I knew mom would have said no and had him sent home, so I forged her signature.

  “She’s great! Not even the King gets away from doing what she tells him!! No one, and I mean no one escapes training and combat courses. It’s crazy! Rilyn’s crazy about the hand to hand combat, she makes us train 3 hours a day and no we don’t get weekends off!” Link says getting excited talking about his life and all the hard work he has achieved. I laugh at my big brother; you would never know that he didn’t have an easy life.

  “That’s amazing, I am glad you’re doing well. What about you Zane, have you started the routes yet and got them committed to memory?” I ask my little brother. Both Zane and Link are actual brothers. My dad’s family was hit hard with loss. Link was eight years old when there was an attack on their pack. He was able to get Zane out of their nesting tree before it went up in flames, but the other hatchlings died. Aunt Sophie and Uncle Arnie were killed during the fight, it was a hard loss for my dad learning his twin sister had died. He didn’t stop for a second though when taking Link and Zane as his.

  “It’s going well, and I have memorized all the shortcuts you found to make travel faster. I even found a few new routes that are quicker that you didn’t.” Zane says smirking. I stick my tongue out at him and Link laughs.

  “Come on we need to get you over to Silver Shadow Blood or whatever the hell it’s called now for your meeting.” Link says taking my left side and Zane on my right to help me waddle to the car. The trip over was quicker than normal, but that’s probably because my brothers and I were so deep into conversation that it seemed quicker. Both of the boys helped me out of the car and continued to help me walk into Nimara’s office, well into the front of the clan house. Surrey was waiting for me with a wheelchair and Link pushed me the rest of the way. He told me that he wouldn’t drive me into a wall like I did Zane when he broke his ankle when he was ten. Honest he deserved it for being a smart ass and calling me a fat owl. We get to the Nimara’s office door and Zane knocks.

  “Come in you bunch of troublemakers!” Nimara yells and I can hear Scott laugh.

  “Well fluff butt, it’s nice to see you too!” Link says to Nimara causing her to protest and Kai to growl.

  “Kai and Scott, this is my big brother Link, and of course you know my little brother Zane.” I introduce my brother, “Link, this is Kai, Queen Emily of the Gargoyles big brother and that’s Scott Bennett. They are two of Nimara’s three mates.” I finish and Link’s shaking hands with them.

  “Who’s the unlucky third one? I feel sorry for you two, having to put up with her stubborn hardheaded ass.” Link says and gets a chuckle from Kai and Scott.

  “That would be me pin cushion!” Onyx says smiling when he sees Link.

  “Hey man, glad to see you! Wow you look good, damn you guys have your work cut out for you with her as your mate!” Link says as Nimara throws a pillow from the couch at him. Just as he catches it there’s a knock on the door again.

  “Come in!” Nimara yells again and Link opens the door. Vera and the mystery gargoyle walk in. To our surprise she’s the same color as Kai, with a deeper blue tint to her skin tone.

  “Hey everyone, it’s great to see you again so quickly. Nimara always a pleasure, same for you Scott and Onyx.” Vera says before her eyes land on my very swollen belly. “Oh great Hera! What have they done to you Tenelle?” Vera asks looking like she’s going to have a heart attack.

  “They all succeeded in getting in on my first heat after finding all four of them. I am expecting seven little ones in about three weeks.” I say smiling at Vera, “Speaking of which, Vera this is my older brother Link and my younger brother Zane.”

  “Oh yes I know Zane, he has been out a few times already to deliver documents to us. It’s nice to meet you Link!” She says shaking hands with everyone. “Everyone this is Echo, the gargoyle I was telling you about.” Vera says bring Echo forward. She waves and gives everyone a bright smile. “Echo, this is the Goddess of the Night, Tenelle.” She directs Echo over to me immediately, “And this is Mother Earth or the Goddess Gaia. Her given name though is Nimara.” Vera says as Nimara gets up and hugs Echo.

  “Welcome child, we’re so pleased to have you here with us.” Nimara says pulling back to get a good look at the young female. “Do you have a human form to shift into? I can have some clothes brought for you to wear.” She asks as Echo smiles at her.

  “Oh yes, that’s ok I brought some
clothes. Leader Vera took me shopping a few days after they found me. Leader Lox almost died when he saw how much we spent.” She says giggling.

  “Almost kill your brother Vera?” I ask raising an eyebrow at her. She smirks at me and nods.

  “I took both Echo and Trisha out. Trisha is Lox’s mate. Neither of these girls had proper clothes for our weather out there. So I made sure they were taken care of, and I bought a few new pieces for myself as well. I think it was La Senza that did him in.” Vera says laughing to the point of tears.

  “Nice, so let’s get on with the meeting shall we. I imagine you want to get home and make sure your clan hasn’t tried to kill your brother off for being annoyingly protective.” Nimara says receiving a growl from Kai.

  “Well, there isn’t really much. The Elders that were looking after the isolation dens, have all passed and no one can find any information on Echo here. Even she doesn’t know where her file went.” Vera says looking from us to Echo.

  “I remember Elder Nattie, she was going to come back to clear me when I was thirteen, but she never did. I didn’t know how or who I was supposed to get in contact with, so I stayed figuring someone would come and check the dens.” Echo says looking like she may have been lost if not for Vera and Lox.

  “Elder Nattie, was killed in a car accident. She was on her way to talk with my mom when it happened. There was an investigation because the files that Nattie was bringing were missing. Whoever caused the accident did it on purpose, it must have been to get to you Echo. There’s something about you that they either don’t want known or they were hoping to get to you first.” Kai says rubbing his chin in thought.

  “I think we need to talk to Queen Nyssa, she may have more information and help with a starting point to get Echo her life back.” Nimara says looking at her mate.

  “I do know that I have no family left. They all died during the outbreak. I was an emergency birth; my shell was leathery instead of hard like other gargoyle eggs.” Echo says looking at us hoping it will help.