by Sydney Addae
"Yes, we interfered," Silas said.
"Damian fought in self-defense," Jasmine said.
Silas looked at the stubborn twist of her lips and shook his head. "The witnesses saw him morph to his hybrid, which kills that line of defense. If anything, it strengthened the coven’s position. Kind of like Goliath and David without a sling."
"What did Barticus say?" Angus asked.
"Nothing yet, his people are investigating. Raoul has taken Ivona and the child to one of Barticus' homes to recover." Silas released a long sigh and looked at Jasmine. "I don't know how to spin this. If I were Damian, I would've done the same thing to save the child, especially since Gem had been informed by the Lamia of her intention to merge with Agatha. They played the hand dealt, neither expected this type of fallout." Damian was justifiably, upset believing he caused Silas and the pack problems. He and Gem wasn’t speaking because tossing Agatha had been her idea. Gem thought it was the best way to save the child, but was upset the covens blamed La Patron instead of her. It was a tricky situation all around.
"For centuries I've stayed out of paranormal and human politics, but lately it seems as if I'm being dragged into those arenas and I don't like it."
Jasmine covered his hand. "This whole thing puzzles me. And I think it's because I looked at the itching problem through the eyes of breeder and wolf instead of the witch's perspective."
"What do you mean?" Silas asked.
"Ivona for starters. Based on what we are now learning about her, she practices white magic, believes in helping people and doesn't dabble in the dark stuff. Well, if I'd filtered everything she did and said through her core principles, I would never have believed the itching serum would kill our people."
"But several did die," Silas reminded her.
"According to the autopsies there were other complications and the serum merely hastened their departure, but wasn't the cause of death," Hawke said. "According to Mistress' premise, if we'd called Ivona's bluff, and searched for a remedy, which we would've found, things may have turned out different."
"Tara's practices changed from white to dark after Ivona's twins died. She blamed her lover, Gordon, for the boys’ death and set things up for Ivona to be impregnated by him or someone else," Jasmine said.
"That's Ivona's accounting, we don't know if it's true," Silas warned.
"True, but given Tara sold the child for half a million, I'd say she's playing on the dark side no matter who the child's father is."
Silas nodded, conceding the point.
"In my opinion, they're the two major players. Light versus dark. Tara will try to claim the child and Ivona will fight with her last breath to save the child. Only one will win and determine the significance of Agatha's departure," Jasmine said.
"What about the child?" Asia asked. "Did she want to be trained to take on Lamia's power? How does she factor into all of this?"
"She's a wild card," Silas said. "We don't know which side she's on. She didn't claim Ivona as her mother. Once she wakes we'll know if she's a spawn of the devil or the innocent we thought."
"If Raoul's mate is still lying, I'm flying over there and kicking her ass," Asia said. "She started all of this and it's turned into a big cluster-fuck." She looked at Silas. "Can't we just pull out and let them handle their own problems since one of their own started it?"
"We could, but it will come back and kick us in the teeth down the line. In the eyes of a portion of the paranormal community I screwed up and killed a gatekeeper, which some believe keeps us all safe from hell vomiting creatures onto our shores." He held up his hands to stop the comments. "As I said, some believe this. We don't. The Goddess handles all that stuff, which is the reason I keep our nations apart."
Angus snorted, drawing everyone's attention. "One thing I learned from this whole thing is we can't tell if witches are lying worth a damn. Ivona lied from day one, and we couldn't detect it. How do we know if anything we've found on them is true? What if the child is Tara and Gordon's love child? What if Ivona is bat-shit crazy and thinks the child is hers? Or vice-versa and Tara's the one who's crazy? What I'm saying is, they've manipulated the truth so often I don't know what to believe. Obviously our sense of smell doesn't work on them."
"Or they've developed ways to mask the truth, their emotions, and other things from us. Remember Damian thought there was someone else in the barn with Ivona, but she was the only one who walked out?" Hawke said.
"Yes," Silas said, thinking through all the inconsistencies. "Staying away from other groups may not have been the wisest decision. We are working in the dark with their abilities." Jasmine squeezed his hand.
"The pivotal question is, who's the mother of the child?" Asia said, looking around for confirmation. "That would explain motive."
"Unless both women want the child for the same thing," Jasmine said slowly. "Didn't the women say the child trained with them for two months and was really good. Gem said that there were residual effects from the time the Lamia entered her, right?"
Asia nodded. "Right."
"What if it's the child they fear? Kinda like Rosemary's baby." Jasmine looked at him. "Long shot I know, but since we're throwing out angles, this one isn't that bad."
"But why would Ivona risk it all to get the child if she wasn't hers?" Angus asked.
"The same reason Tara risked it all to get the child into the gatekeeper's coven for training," Jasmine said. "Power, prestige, and more power."
"If we look at Ivona's motivation through the lens of a good witch," Silas said, looking at his mate. "Those wouldn't be her motives."
Jasmine nodded slowly. "Good point, I'm learning this group, but it's slow going. So many nuances and shades. Is there anyone we trust to contact for a consult?"
"Jacques has been researching, and Maheegan, the pack historian is helping, but going outside of pack is hard. Before this happened? Yes. Now, the good ones won't. There’s a show of solidarity and I won't push."
"Understood. But two women claim to be the mother of the same child, which is impossible no matter what," Jasmine said.
"We've made that point clear," Silas said, ready to move on. "Angus, is there anyone you know who can fill the void?"
"What is expected of the replacement? The ability to keep a portal closed? Or is there more?"
"That's primary," Silas said. “The rest will be on the job training I suppose."
"I'll make inquiries and get back to you," Angus said.
Silas rubbed his neck. It was too early to deal with these types of challenges. He'd much rather listen to Adam explain and demonstrate how he'd protect the compound with his two fists. Just thinking of the conversation with his pups from the day before brightened his mood. He understood why Jasmine spent so much time with them and decided to set aside time every day talking with them.
Jacques walked in holding one of his daughters. "Morning everyone," he called.
"Hello, Jacques, Diamond," Jasmine said, smiling warmly at her step-father and sister.
"How do you tell them apart?" Asia asked.
Jasmine shrugged and stretched out her arms for the child. Jacques placed the child in her arms and sat across from Silas. He pulled out his tablet from the diaper bag and placed the bag on the floor. After a few clicks, he glanced at Silas and started reading. When he finished, no one spoke.
"Are you sure that's accurate?" Silas asked. But knowing Jacques, the man had verified the information through several channels before bringing it to him.
"So Tara and Agatha are sisters who hadn't spoken to each other for years?"
"Yes, according to Maheegan and the records she accessed, there was a huge fight over the handling of Lamia. Tara moved away but always maintained a home in Europe. Recently they sold their ancestral home, guess Tara's share?"
"Half a million?" Silas said.
Jacques nodded.
"So she didn't sell the child," Jasmine said.
"It doesn't look like it, but Tara did have a daughter. T
here's not an official record but what the midwife logged in. Seems there is a private book where they do these things," Jacques said.
"I read a copy of the fake birth certificate for Ivona and it's not Tara," Hawke said.
"The mother's name on the birth certificate is Cilantro Arat. The last name is Tara reversed, she's Ivona's mother. It's possible she didn't want her sister to know about the child and hid her for years." Jacques shrugged.
"Ivona said she needed to rescue her mother, maybe she was speaking the truth," Jasmine said. "Is it possible this whole thing is a sibling rivalry? A family matter?" She looked at Silas. "Can you tell the councils we don't get involved with family stuff?"
"I'm sure they know a lot more about it than we do," Silas said. "If Tara wanted her sister out the way so she could rule, she has a vivid imagination to have pulled this off. I'm not sure how much was planned and how much was luck. The Lamia being tired, wanting rest, the timing, Ivona and Raoul, all of those things went into bringing us to this point." Silas looked at Jacques. "Who does Maheegan suggest we approach for taking Agatha's place?"
"According to Maheegan, it has always been someone in Agatha's line. That biological connection to link with the land is imperative, which means Tara, Ivona, or the child Daphne. Someone in her line is the only one who can fill the gatekeeper’s shoes."
Chapter 33
Damian sat in the living area flipping through channels without seeing anything. Just when he thought he had the hang of how pack worked, he did something stupid that kicked him in the ass and put everyone in danger. No doubt Hawke and Asia were with La Patron right now trying to think of a way to clean up his mess.
I killed a woman and started a war just like a filch.
He shook his head, thoroughly disgusted with himself. He hadn't thought of the consequences or anything, he just went along, followed suggestions... and fucked up. Gem's scent reached him before he heard her. They hadn't had a civilized conversation since the wicked three blamed him for ruining everything after he tossed Agatha into the water.
Initially he blamed Gem, but it didn't take long to realize it wasn't her fault. The plan to save the child was solid, on the surface anyway. Raoul had been grateful. Ivona cried and apologized over and over for trying to kill him. They ignored the women who hurled curses at Daphne and Ivona as they got into their vehicles to leave. Raoul took his mate to another property Barticus owned after he understood the ramifications from saving the child. Everyone agreed it was best Ivona stayed away from full-bloods for the foreseeable future.
"Are you hungry?" Gem asked.
"No." His stomach growled in protest and he ignored it.
"You don't have to eat with me, I'll leave the food in the microwave. You can't starve your wolf."
He pressed the channel button on the remote and turned up the volume. A few moments later the aroma from her food increased his appetite. He stood, walked into the kitchen and took the plate from the microwave. When he closed it he noticed a note taped on the wall above it.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me. I miss you, Gem."
Unsure how he felt about the apology, he tried to dismiss it and couldn't. She'd apologized before, taking the blame for everything, which ticked him off. He was no pup led by a teat, he made his own decisions. But this simple note touched him because he missed her too. Leaving the kitchen, he returned to his seat.
"Can we talk?"
The last thing he wanted to do was talk about what happened, so he remained quiet and continued eating.
"I was wrong to implement Lamia's plan without discussing it with you. We've discussed the differences in our priorities and I made a bad call. La Patron and La Patroness forgave me; I'd like you to forgive me as well."
He looked at her over his shoulder. "You spoke with them? They were angry with you or blamed you?"
"No. She said she would've done the same thing, so did he, but they can make those decisions and if a war breaks out, it's okay because they're in charge, not me. That's why I apologized and offered to quit working at the clinic."
"What? Why? Why would you do that?"
Gem shrugged and he read the pain and sorrow in her eyes.
"Sounds like overkill if you ask me," he said, and continued eating.
"Glad I didn't ask you then," she snapped, and started laughing. "What are we doing? We made a mistake, a bad call, and instead of offering La Patron suggestions on how to fix things, we're pouting."
"I'm not pouting." He didn't look at her.
"No, of course not. I'm pouting because my feelings and pride is hurt. But I'm over it and ready to be proactive in finding a solution."
He grunted.
"Raoul called, he wanted to come over."
Damian stopped eating and looked at her. "What did you tell him?"
"To ask you."
He nodded. After everything that happened he wasn't up to dealing with a newly mated full-blood and his lying mate.
"He said you blocked him and he'd like to discuss some viable solutions." She paused. "So he contacted Lord Barticus, who will be contacting La Patron. And you know where I'm going with this, right?"
Damian scraped the plate with his fork and stood. "What time is he coming over?"
She glanced at her watch. "Any minute now. I left your blocker on the table so we can smell their lies through the BS."
He groaned, took the pill and rinsed his dishes before sticking them into the dishwasher. When he strode out the kitchen, Gem sat next to his spot on the sofa with the remote in his hand.
"Damian?" La Patron called.
"Sir?"
"Raoul and his mate believe they have a solution to this problem and ran it by Barticus. He thinks the plan could work, but they'll need your help. They are on their way to talk with you and the doctor. Let's get this settled so the two of you can return home."
"Yes, Sir." He sat next to Gem and took the remote.
"Hey, I had that." She reached for it.
He blocked her arm. "Just to aggravate me." He flipped to a reality show on survival.
Gem chuckled and pulled her legs beneath her. "Think he's bringing Ivona and Daphne?"
"Don't know or care, just want to get this over with."
"Humph, he's your best friend, this has to be hard on him. I bet he's thinking all kinds of curses on the Goddess for his mate. That woman can't speak the truth if she tried."
Damian glanced at her and nodded. "I'd rather be alone, without a mate, than have one I can't trust."
Gem nodded. "Or someone not in your corner when you need them, or who won't stand with you or for you... better to be alone."
He thought about what she said. "Not everyone finds their mates."
"I know. The odds are in my favor I won't ever be mated, at least I can have kids. Not having a family would suck, and that's something I plan to have one day." She looked at him. "You?"
"What?" He deliberately avoided looking at her.
"Plan to have a family?"
"I'm not sure I can have pups." He glanced at her. "I had lots of surgeries. Could be broken or something."
Gem nodded. "Your father must be a great man to have beaten the odds, eh?"
Damian smiled and then stopped as he heard the sound of an approaching vehicle.
"La Patron says they have an idea how to fix things and need our help, I hope whatever she wants is legal," Gem said.
Damian grunted and crossed his arms over his chest when he sensed three heartbeats. Raoul entered first, and held the door open for Ivona and Daphne, who waved shyly as she walked toward the chairs.
"Hi and thank you for saving my life, I appreciate it," she said with an open smile.
"Hi and you're welcome," Gem said.
Damian nodded. "No problem." He looked at a totally recovered Raoul, stood, and accepted the offered embrace.
"Thank you for everything, I know it cost you to have my back and if you ever need me, I'm there. Brothers for life, man."
Until that mo
ment, Damian hadn't thought of the underlying reason why he'd tossed Agatha into the water, it had been to protect Raoul's mate, his den. With that memory came a release of all the anger and self-doubt he'd experienced over his action. Slapping Raoul on the back he nodded. "No problem, I got you."
Damian nodded at Ivona and re-took his seat. Raoul sat in the chair to the side, while Ivona and Daphne sat in the love seat. "What's the plan?" he asked.
Ivona exhaled, glanced at Raoul, and then back at Damian. "I'll take Agatha's place, fill the void. She was my aunt, my mother's sister." She cleared her throat and met Damian's gaze.
He shrugged. "Okay, take her place. Is there a problem?" There had to be, no way this could be as cut and dry as it sounded.
"My mom won't allow it," Daphne said with the certainty of a child who'd overheard too many adult conversations.
"Your mom is sitting next to you," Gem said.
Daphne looked at Ivona and then back at Gem. "That's my sister. My mom is Tara and she wants to take control of the coven."
"Should I push this issue, find out what's true?" Gem asked him.
"In the long run, does it matter?"
"It could. If Tara's the child's mother, Ivona has no rights at all and I don't want to get caught in that web."
"Challenge her then," he said.
"Who's her mother, Ivona?" Gem asked, looking at the woman.
"I am, or at least I think I am. Mom and I each had a daughter around the same time, there's no records, but I've always believed she was my daughter even though mom claimed her. I think my sister died a few days after she was born, crib death. Mom swears Daph is hers and my child died, and has treated Daph like her own ever since." She looked at Daphne with love and sorrow. "So sorry you're caught up in all of this, Daph, but we'll get it all straightened out soon."
"She really doesn't know," Gem said.
"How can you be my mother and my sister, silly? Was Gordon from the Liege your father, too?" Daphne frowned at Ivona.
"No... not my father." Ivona glanced at Damian and then back at the child. "We'll talk about that later. Let's explain the plan first."
Daphne nodded.
