This Is Where I Want To Be

196. Aries Goes Home

Soren

Isla was happy to see my parents. We were both coming to a place where we thought Ian was sincere in his own way about the wedding and what he said about how he would treat us in the future. His goals for the four of us in The Tower were more and more appealing. He even agreed with me taking over dealing with Fahan after the wedding. It seemed that Ian would respect the cease-fire. My parents were elated that we were safe and that Isla had agreed to the match. My mother was even talking more, and my father didn’t mind. Our lives were coming together. The women left us to go into the kitchen to prepare a meal so that we could celebrate. My father was watching the women walk away. As he turned, there was only contentment written on his face. He placed his hands on his hips and smiled, laughing a little. Doubt at their ignorance filled all my hopes for the future. I would have to pretend like I never had before. If they were happy, it was all that mattered. I took a seat and relaxed into the cushions of the chair. It was the first time I could breathe. “Come, Soren. You are always talking. Why so quiet?” I would not mention Juliet once! I would not! But she was all I was thinking about. I wouldn’t burden my parents or anyone else with my sacrifices.

“It is a good match. For both of you.”

Was it, though? The war continued, and they had made up their minds, sure that Ian would take over. My father never cared for politics. If neither Ian nor Marcus kill prisoners, the rest of the planet could go on as they wanted. As long as you stayed out of it. If there was peace and an arrangement between the men, I supposed it was a good match, but who got married in uncertainty?

“When is the wedding?” He asked, seeing I wasn’t going to share my feelings.

“End of the month.”

“I was worried about you, but then Ian came, and he gave me all the papers a vampire would give to a camp to get a wife… Can you believe it? He came himself… It was unorthodox. In the end and under the circumstances, it all seems in order. We both know what the requirements are.”

My eyes met my father’s. I didn’t want to bombard him with questions. What was the point? Asking him why Ian was rushing it? No one was thinking it through. Ian was only doing it to use us… me for information.

“The question is. Is your sister comfortable marrying again?”

“Would you believe me if I told you she’s in love with him?”

My father laughed heartily. “We leave Earth for arranged marriages, and then she falls in love.” He laughed even more. “What a story she already has for a life… Now tell me… Will he hurt her in any way? Even in the slightest.”

“The big question is what you would permit… You hid her away for so long on Earth just for her to get taken from a camp here… Have you ever been close?”

My father sat up. “How could you ask me that? Do I have a temper?” I smiled and shook my head. “Does Ian have a temper?”

I thought about all the times he was annoyed and manifested or came back to human when his emotions were in turmoil. I didn’t go out the first week when he was in the midst of the war and didn’t know how he was when no one was watching.

“I don’t know, Baba… I don’t know him…. Any man can reach a limit.”

“You are right. We have to let her go… But this time, no one will come to rescue Isla. Juliet is on the other side… We are back to questioning our way of life.”

“I will not let that happen,” I whispered. Not again. Even if I had to marry Rana to keep an eye on Isla. And when Ian refuses me to visit, it will be all I need to know.

“That’s good. You are a good boy.”

I wanted to get up. “Soren,” my father’s voice was tender. I couldn’t. Please don’t say anything. I stood, avoiding his eyes. “I am sorry.” I pushed back the tears and demons that wanted to be released into the atmosphere. I felt sick to my stomach. There was that love that came once in a lifetime. I was sure Juliet was it, and I was certain when I slept with Rana… It would be over. Completely and utterly. She would never forgive me for being inconstant. Even Michael told me to commit regardless. I had made the choice to walk away. I could’ve stayed. Seen her. Talk to her. Like it was those months on En-gannim searching for Chris. It was too hard, with no hope at the end of the tunnel. I remember what Juliet said that night. “At some point, Marcus, what we love will be taken away.” I kind of understood what she meant. You can only lose something you stopped fighting for. I left the room in a rush. I needed fresh air. I pushed my face into the warm light of Sirius. The rays just weren’t the same as the sun on Earth. My dad’s hand rested on my shoulder.

“Soren, you’ve given up enough! I don’t want to see you unhappy for the rest of your life. You don’t have to consummate the relationship until you are ready. It is not law here. Or even a custom. It is all up to the man. If it takes you a hundred years to build any type of affection for her. Take it! If we are going to live in this place. Use it!” His fist clenched in the air. “Use it till the last drop drips down.” My eyes met his. So, he was thinking about everything. “You are responsible for your life.” He pointed at me. “You can not blame it on others. Or think you are doing anyone any favors. You are allowed to scheme and work just as hard as you want… For what you want.”

What I wanted… I would never have. And yes, it was about the sex. The intimacy. I wasn’t a f-ing werewolf who was going to sell my soul in service and not get a whole life with children and a sense of family. Marcus would never let me touch her if I ever got to see her. No… “I have no pride left. Nothing to fight for.” The first tear rolled over my cheek.

My father’s chin quivered. “Oh boy. All you have is a broken heart. She has already let you go. No, she didn’t fight for you… It’s been months since you came back with our emblem… Maybe it is time you made a choice… I have made mine. You think I have too much apathy. You are mistaken. We have been tossed around. Used. I am sick of not having any power. We will never be in the inner circle if we do not make moves upward…”

I didn’t really know what to say.

“Has anyone come to check up on you and Isla?” I shook my head. “You see. They put Isla there and left her there when the fight broke out. You will always be last on their minds.”

My father was right. Chris knew where we were. It would have taken them one trip to come and talk to us. It is what I had been waiting for… Hearing my father say that we are being used… Both sides were using me. Using my family… It was time I accepted the fact and made some decisions about what I really wanted.

***

Fahan

It had been too many days since Dimitrios came to save me from that stinking ship. Jade was in my arms, and some peace had settled in the atmosphere of the home and in my heart. Who knew all I needed was a good beating? Bring me down off that throne I thought I was on. I stared at the green plants growing along the wall. The growths on the vine gave off soft lights, dimly lighting the room. They made my mind wander. I needed to get Aries back. Nothing Avrio told me wanted the teleporter to activate again. I had time to deal with my fate that my five scientists were dead and, in some way, accepted that Marcus didn’t kill me. Why didn’t he kill me? I couldn’t understand it, but I had to give the boy credit. I thought he was weak. It had brought me down lower because I was too arrogant in my own estimation. Yes, we had a new home, but I had put us in danger of invasion and starvation, only relying on five men.

Out of frustration, I sent another message to them.

Me [ Have you decided what to do with Aries? ]

Marcus [ All the men here would bring him back today ]

Me [ What do I have to do? ]

Marcus [ Here, talk to Juliet yourself ]

Slowly, I let my arms slide out from under Jade. She mumbly complained. I ran my nails over her skin. It got the reaction I craved from her body. Her skin prickled and moved under my touch.

Juliet [ I will bring him back today ]

Me [ Why now? ]

Juliet [ If you don’t want him. I’ll keep him. The little guy is so cute ]

Me [ No, I do. Thank You ]

Juliet [ Sure ]

I couldn’t believe it. What was wrong with them? They did not kill me. She takes my child and keeps him… And suddenly agrees to bring him back. I had no information about their war. Ian was not communicating with me, and it was frustrating to wait and wait.

“Sure,” I whispered into the cool air. What does that mean? The breeze from outside was pleasing. The curtains swayed in and out of the doorway. Palmyra had so much material. Everything was covered and adorned in some way to make it aesthetically pleasing. I had learned all this from the Vampires. Had to learn all the words we didn’t even know existed.

Juliet appeared before the bed, and Michael was right beside her. “It’s slang for, yes,” Juliet whispered. I drew in a breath as Aries fussed. He was so close. I glanced at Jade, wishing she wouldn’t stir or wake up. If she did… It might make them leave. Juliet stepped forward to Jade’s side of the bed. She nudged her head. I lifted Jade’s arm, and Juliet placed Aries against her chest. He was not fully awake, only making small noises in his sleep. Irritated by being picked up and moved. Juliet laughed lightly, stroking his head. He quieted down.

My breast glowed so brightly seeing him safe in her arms. Aries’s little chest did the same. He knew he was home. How wonderful it felt. I could not understand… I looked up at Juliet to ask her again why? What had made them all so different from the Vampires I was used to dealing with. Juliet was regarding us both at what must have seemed an unfamiliar display of affection. Her eyes flickered from Aries’s little chest to mine. Her head tilted and roamed my body. The lights dimmed behind my skin. Her eyes came up to mine. I nodded my approval. Her eyes drifted down my body. She nudged at my crotch with a curious smile around her mouth. I pulled the sheet further up my waist. She laughed softly and shrugged. It was strange to see so many emotions. You could read every movement of every muscle if you concentrated. Michael stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, and they were gone. My eyes darted to Aries. I sighed, touching his face and playing with his ears. I gently touched and shook Jade’s arm. “Uhuuu.”

“Jade…” I said softly.

Aries stirred again, making more noises. Jade’s arms enveloped the baby and pressed him to her breast. “I thought I was dreaming.” Her body shook as the emotions took hold. Jade turned to me, and I gathered them up, letting all my feelings show. Aries complained. His arms moved all over the place. I laughed. “You will smother him. Give him to me. Let me hold my son.”

He was waking up as Jade passed him to me. His eyes slowly opened and closed. I moved back into the bed and held him in one hand. “Please forgive me, little one.” Jade rested her head on my chest, touching him as much as I was. I had my family back, not that I would ever tell Jade how far I had gone down the path to sacrificing them. I promised myself that I would put them first from that moment forward. The plate lit up next to me. My first reaction was to pick it up. It could be Ian coming to my rescue. If my day had begun that well, would it not only get better? I curbed my urges and left it be. I thought about letting it go altogether, not dealing with them at all, and trying to make it on our own. Boarding those ships and sending men into the waters to find other places to live by themselves. I glanced out at the view over the planet. But first, we had to celebrate. Aries was back.

Dimitrios opened the door. “Are you…” His eyes widened with the shock of what it meant. I motioned for him to come closer. He stepped forward, and I handed Aries to him. He lifted the boy in the air, moving him here and then there. Jade was amused.

“Thank you both,” I said.

Dimitrios gave the boy back to his mother. They exchanged a look, and he nodded at her like I had done to Juliet. It meant nothing. I picked up the plate and gave it to him. “You will deal with whatever is on there.”

Dimitrios gave one solid bob and quit the room. Jade kissed me. “He is back.”

“Yes… And so are you.”

***

Juliet

Michael took us back to the embassy on Palmyra. We stopped to see the caves Marcus and Caleb had unearthed. The ones Chris had been so busy with until he went back in freaking time… He was still hiding, and I was burning with curiosity about how he had done it and what it meant. After Ian got the stone, the cease-fire had stopped. It was a short few days of confusion. We were all waiting for them to use it, but they never did, and the men had to get back to fighting like they did the first week. After not seeing or hearing anything but a few words from them, Michael appeared and kissed me stupid for only a few seconds and then handed me the plate. I knew my answer to Fahan’s question when I started typing. Marcus had provoked me with his sarcastic, chauvinistic retort. I laughed and couldn’t wait to see him again. He was reaching out in a way. Aries was in my arms, and with the war going on, we didn’t need another attack of any kind. It was already too stressful all around. I was going to do it for Marcus.

I could hear the men still trying everything they could to get the stone to activate somehow. “Still no luck?” I asked as we walked in.

My eyes devoured the space and all the writings on the wall. It was as magical as the rest of the planet. I picked up the stone and played with it through my fingers. I still had those same feelings about Palmyra and En-gannim. It was mine, and another species occupying my space was not satisfying my equilibrium of how everything had worked out. It had been hard giving Aries back. Bittersweet. Chris still didn’t have his powers back. But keeping Aries was not going to make that day turn out any differently. Louis and Chris believed the full moon would bring him back, and if it did… What was the point of giving away Palmyra? I lost it without even knowing or being asked. It was Chris’s choice to give it away, and then he and… Selena. I was a little ticked off at the man.

Mindlessly, I walked out of the cave and up the narrow stairs to the docking area. I took in how calm the water was. Those fish were never meant to be there in the first place. In the distance was the massive stone structure, creating a barrier to the ocean. It had come up out of the water. If only we had that when we all fell in the water. The pink pebble was smooth under my touch. The pink glow was peculiar. Ahasuerus’s stone shown different greens and blues. I glanced over the vast water to the gate in the distance. I thought about the power Ian held in his hand if he could bridge the gap instantly and send thousands of men over a bridge.

I stretched out my hand, and Michael took it. I crouched down and pushed my fist into the water with force. The earth shook beneath our feet, rumbling, making the water move and part around my fist. The scientist came running up the stairs, taking in the scene. At first, there were small waves, and then they grew and grew. Michael held my arm as I hung over the water. The men behind me were astonished. Rocks appeared from the deep blue depths, moving up and out of the water. It was sporadic across the length of the harbor, and then the structure solidified with only small slushes of sound. It extended until it was near the gate. I quickly pulled out my arm. In one giant crash, the whole formation sunk into the depths, swallowed by the water. We heard the blare of an alarm or, rather, voices creating one. I had an audience. I wasn’t happy, so I did it again. That time, I waited till it reached the rocks that form the main island on the other side, right up to their gate. The one they thought protected them. I pulled out my hand, and it didn’t sink away. It was about giving it a tether. “Michael. Will you do me a favor?”

“He stepped forward and picked me up. “If you ask so nicely, how can I say no? But it will cost you.”

“After the other night? I still owe you?”

Michael leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. “The other night… was… an unforgettable experience.” I laughed lightly. That was the understatement of the year. It was one of the best nights of my life. “I… just… feel that it didn’t really bring us together. If you know what I mean.”

“I do… So what’s your plan?”

“There are two things you’ve promised to do. And you haven’t made good on those promises.”

I bobbed my head and smiled from ear to ear, resting my head on his shoulder. “Michael.”

“Yeah?”

“What happened between Chris and Selena?”

Michael placed a kiss on my hair, contemplating telling me. “I wouldn’t have said anything.” He sighed. “If it were not for…”

“What happened?”

“While Selena and I looked for Iku’s wife, Selena went into one of their rooms. She remembered everything that happened.”

“Their rooms do hold a lot of power, don’t they.”

“So yeah, before we meet up with Chris tonight. We should talk, and I have an idea to lessen the blow for you. But right now, we have to get off this bridge… How long do you think it lasts?”

“I’ll show you.” We traveled to the other end and stood staring up at the guard tower. It was so high I could barely see the outline of figures in the glaring light of Sirius. I lifted my hand and placed it on my brow. Fahan and Dimitrios leaned over the railing, looking down at me. A proper audience. I opened my hand and wished they could see the little thing that could create so much power. I bent down and did the same thing in another direction. The new bridge connected to the harbor wall. I stepped onto it, Michael following nervously. Once we were off, the previous one disappeared. Michael picked me up under my arms and twirled me in a circle. I planted a kiss on his lips. He stopped moving and looked down at my mouth. “Juliet, hon.”

“Yes, Michael.”

“Even though the other night was awesome. I was wondering if we could do it again.” My eyes widened at the challenge. “No, what I mean is. When all of this is over. When I’m not tired. When we’re not drugged.”

“Why don’t you just ask for time? We will take a few weeks, maybe go to Zoreah again when no one is in the village. Do all the things you want to do?”

“Yes! Please.”

“What did Louis say about the other night?”

“Nothing yet. It’s making me nervous.”

We heard yelling. Fahan was desperately trying to get our attention. It was probably not the right time to have the discussion we were having. We both laughed. “Can you imagine what they could do with this stone?” I said between my laughs.

“I am glad we brought back Aries. With this stone… even Fahan will be putty in our hands. Can you imagine what we will do on En-gannim?”

My smile fell. “Save Soren?”

Michael stepped back to take in my features. “Honey, you’re going down a road that will break your heart. I meant to stop, Ian.”

I huffed. “Ian is screwed. He thought he had the right stone. But at the same time, we can save Soren. Can I not just once get what I want when I want it?”

Michael got a smug look on his face. “You do sometimes get what you want when you want it.” He stroked my arm, sending chills over my body, gooseflesh that always appeared when he touched me, covering my arms and spreading down into my loins. Memories of the other night were not helping. He sighed. “I... don’t know what will happen with Soren. I don’t want to jinx it.”

I turned to the men on the tower, surveying all the glory of Palmyra. “This was supposed to be mine,” I whispered. “It’s not.”

“Who knows. Maybe someday it will be. Just not today.”

“Everything always comes with a cost.”

“Well then. Decide. Is the splendor of Palmyra worth it?”

His large paw extended out towards me. I pushed down on it and flung my arms around his neck. He placed one arm under my legs, catching me mid-air, and held me close to his body. Michael traveled us back to Earth, where we had a long talk and afterward placed me down outside Chris’s cabin in the woods of France. “You have about two hours before the sun sets. I would’ve said take it easy on the guy.”

I hit him on the shoulder. “As easy as you made it for me the other night? Making me beg.”

“Fair enough. Make him beg.”

“Come for me when you see no more light in the house.” Michael wrapped me up in his arms. We waited for the door to open. I turned to see Chris leave the cabin. “See you soon,” Michael said. He didn’t turn around, keeping his eyes on me, and disappeared.

I spun around. “You’ve been hiding, Mr Rheed.” I pointed my finger. “Haven’t seen you in almost two weeks. Last time you were going to erase the feed, I should never see. How did that work out for you?”

Chris averted guilty eyes to the ground. Nevertheless, he opened his arms, inviting me to come closer. I would have jumped on him, wrapping my legs around him, but Chris was still too weak. I also remembered Zoreah and my promise. I didn’t want to fight with him, but it was too hard to let it go, so I walked away from the Cabin into the mountains. “Where are you going? You just got here.”

I ignored him.

“Juliet, nothing happened, I swear. Do you want me to follow you?”

I said nothing, with a slight smile on my lips. Why was he asking? He knew he should. I headed up the path, walking briskly. He stumbled and fumbled behind me. “Juliet! If you’re going to torture me for two hours, I would have brought water.”

“Are you going to tell me what happened?”

“NO!”

I shrugged and kept climbing every small hill. After a few minutes, he was out of breath. I slowed down the rest of the way. We were almost there anyway. I had to test the stone on Earth, and I wanted to share it with him. He worked so hard. It was such a big win for us.

“Where are we going?”

“Why are you asking these inane questions today. Especially if you can’t even tell me something important.”

“Are you going to be able to let this go?”

“NO!”

The Lake came into view. It was beautiful up there. I missed France so much. The peace and Louis’s room. The snow, the clear water where you could see the bottom. That particular lake was the most extensive on Louis’s land, snaking into the distance of the surrounding mountains. I walked to the edge, bent on one knee, and pushed my fist into the icy water. The Earth rumbled under our feet. The loose soil vibrated on the surface around us. Chris stretched out his arms, trying to balance. It aggravated me that he needed to at all. With all my heart, I hoped the full moon would push him over. If it didn’t work, I was stealing Aries right back. Fahan got off easy after all he put us through. Yes, my brain was a little muddled and back and forth. But I was pregnant, and I gave myself some leeway to be batty.

The bridge formed a little slower on Earth. I waited until it extended over the massive lake, coming to a quiet stop in the distance. I pulled my arm from the freezing water, stepped over the small gap, and turned. Chris was amazed. His features conveyed all the feelings I knew he was having. “They switched the stones?” He said after it all sunk in.

I nodded and walked over to him. I opened my palm. “This one is pink. You should’ve known. En-gannim is pink. Palmyra is green and blue… Your team has had this for weeks!”

He shrugged but didn’t smile. “I had other things on my mind.” His eyes met mine. We stood staring at each other. There would be no more screaming matches or reconnecting through fights. “Nothing happened.”

“That’s the problem… Up until nothing happened, something did happen! And it’s that something I have to let go… Chris, do you remember just before you left for Zoreah. I didn’t want to tell you what happened while you and Marcus were gone.”

Chris bobbed his head and turned away from me, his hands on his waist. He took a deep breath and sat down on the ground. “I had a line,” Chris said softly.

“Would you have left if I crossed it?”

He nodded again, tearing a sheath of grass out of the dirt.

“Do you remember what you told me in the Cabin and on Zoreah?”

He nodded again and sighed. “I asked you to always tell me…”

“The truth.” I interrupted him. “And now you want to do precisely the same thing as always. You are the one who wants to repeat patterns that I had moved on from.”

“This is different. I wasn’t myself, and I don’t think it will be enough of an excuse if I say I am only human… right now, it isn’t really…”

“Let’s leave it for now. We don’t have much time.” I extended my hand and pulled him up. “Go for a walk with me.”

We walked side by side over the water, not saying anything. “Juliet,” he said softly, holding me back from walking any further. “I get it now. This tension between us. I created this. It’s just hard to accept that I went back in time to stop you from finding out… If I tell you now… Louis told me never to say anything… Because this…” he gestured between us, “will change. Even more than how it feels right now. We will never go back to the way it was.” He let go of me and rubbed over his face with both hands, continuing raking his fingers through his hair, peering up into the sky.

“Chris! I am this, remember.” Dumbstruck, he stared at me. “You might be the male lead. But f- be it. I won’t be that girl. I’ve never been and never will be! Not again, anyway. I am not Selena! I am not Sita!” I turned around, lifting my shirt. “You put this f- thing on me. You didn’t give me a choice… You made me believe we were special and all that was in the past. Promised me she wasn’t a problem. You told me you don’t love her.”

Chris was quiet. He took a breath and pressed his lips together, a tightness around his mouth. His eyes darted down and up. The veins on his head bulged. “I… I am… in a way… I hurt you! Again.”

“The worst is… that I look like the fool. Selena remembers everything that happened.” Chris’s eyes shot up in surprise. “You talked about me as if I was… What?” Chris was visibly uneasy, sniffing once before moving closer to me.” “I am still… just something you fall back on! How can you be such a coward? You don’t even know yourself!” He gasped for air, trying to hold the tears back. “Do you even see me as a person?” Chris’s shoulders shook, letting the emotions flow. I glanced at the horizon. The sun was not there anymore. I peeked at the sky on our other side. The moon was high above the horizon.

“I am the third wheel in this picture, Chris. You let me go for Sita. You…” I felt the wetness in the corners of my eyes. Chris’s heartfelt display of remorse overwhelmed my anger. “You would have left me again…” My voice broke. “For what? What is it? I don’t understand.”

“Juliet, that’s enough!” Michael said from the shore. “The only reason it happened is because Chris doesn’t have the connection with you that we have. He was the reason we all had to lie to you last time. He is the problem… He’s never wanted to get that close to you. It’s time you let go of Chris and… Soren.” Chris was out of control by this point. Michael was fast. He was next to me, and then we were standing in Louis’s living room.”

Michael held me for a second. “Go. If Chris doesn’t change, he’s in that freezing water by now.” He didn’t linger any longer.

I let my eyes drift over the room and the rest of the house. There was a fire lit. The lights flickered on the surfaces of the furniture. I picked up the remote and pointed it at the TV. I was not expecting it to be on a news channel. My fingers formed a fist around the black plastic. Michaels’s transformation after the branding was playing on the screen. My mouth opened to make it stop. The feed followed him as he moved from planet to planet. Killing everyone. Even Bertram died on national television.

My breathing deepened. I feared there would be more. The reporter ended the clip and moved to another topic. I changed the channel. Marcus branding me the first time made me involuntarily step forward, hoping I was dreaming. It was a clip of everything that happened. My father appeared in the doorway. He looked so broken as he closed the door. Marcus plummeted down next to me. It ended with both our limp bodies on screen.

I dreaded what would play next. “F-,” I yelled. Louis looked at the sky for strength before I begged him to do it. “Lyla, I am going to kill you myself.” The footage of me looking in the mirror at my ass and the glowing tattoo sparkled on the screen. “How?”

My head snapped to the window. Chris’s roar echoed through the mountains and the valley, rolling out over the darkness. It was the same sound he made the first night he manifested on Earth. I felt a tear on my nose. It tickled my skin, and I rubbed it off. “If we all had to run. Charlene would be our haven.”

Chris stood in front of me, soaking. I laughed. His giant form filled my vision. I had forgotten how vicious he looked on a full moon, but... he was drenched and soggy. Chris’s lips twitched. I stepped forward and fell onto his stomach. He sighed deeply, “Thank You. I needed that.”

“Are you back?” His black nails pressed into my skin as he watched the screen. It wasn’t stopping. Clip after clip. The bamph sound came again. Michael pulled me out of Chris’s arms. “Do you need a shot? I hoped you wouldn't see it before I was back…”

“No! I don’t! It’s only when you irritate me.” I pushed him off me.

Michael gave me a half-smile, holding my gaze. “It’s all my fault. Everything.” I moaned, remembering how I had felt in his arms doing all the work. Michael’s smile turned into a smirk.

“Should I go back and stop it,” Chris asked.

“No!” Michael and I said at the same time, tearing our gazes apart.

“This might have happened because you did.”

Chris’s fear-filled eyes met mine and counted the cost. His mind reeled. He tried to soothe the growling tone in his voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know there would be consequences.”

“It’s okay. I didn’t even believe you could. We’ll deal with it together.”

“Will you go off-planet if I asked?” Michael stroked my hair.

“I don’t think… I have a choice.” My voice broke. “Every person on this planet is going to come after us.”

Michael’s lips pressed into my hair, and he held me tighter when Charlene and Kubra’s branding played out. I buried my head in his furry stomach. Chris came back to human. He pulled his phone out of his pocket.

“What are they saying?”

His sensitive brown eyes met mine. “Nothing… No one is saying anything.”

I let a slow cuss word roll over my lips.

We heard the running over the gravel. Chris manifested again. My two guard dogs stepped towards the door, loudly thumping on the floor. It flung open. “Julie?” I ran for Marcus’s arms. “I thought they would come for you. It’s not looking good for us.” I threw my legs around him and clutched on like a vise grip. He was taken aback for a moment. It was the first time I had seen him in weeks. Felt him.

“We don’t have time,” Chris said.

Marcus’s hold on me tightened, stroking my back while he took in all of him. I could feel his chest move up and down against mine. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy to see you,” Marcus said breathily.

“Can you imagine how I feel?” Chris answered.

Louis’s leisurely stroll crunched over the gravel. He took the steps one by one. “Michael, take her now. Chris is right. We don’t have time. Louis’s voice carried a stressed urgency.

“What about the vamps and Werewolves on the planet,” Marcus asked, still not letting me go. I kissed him on his neck, licking and sucking.

“They’re already gone. Don’t worry. Sammy, Agatha, and your mom were the first to leave. The rest is being evacuated. We have to go.” The room went quiet. “Now, Juliet.” I dropped down and reluctantly let go of Marcus.

I looked up at Michael and waited. His eyes questioned mine.

“Bend,” Louis said.

Michael bent at the waist. I grabbed onto his horns. He pulled me up, and shiny teeth formed a smile. He shook me slowly from side to side. I laughed, and we left.

***

The field was filled with fully manifested creatures, grouped up and ready to leave. I couldn’t see anyone I knew. We moved through the crowd, looking for my mom. I had to use my plate to figure out where they were waiting. Our whole family was together off to one side. I guessed we were not all going to the same place.

Sammy held her arms out for me to take her from Warden. “Hi, sweety. Did you miss me? You want to go back to Miné” She seemed excited. We had come back for Chris’s test, but we were going back under very different circumstances. “What were your orders?” I asked Warden.

“Nothing yet. I don’t think they know what to do.”

I kissed Sammy’s hair.

“Can I come?” Warden asked barely in a whisper. He seemed almost desperate not to stay.

“I don’t think… You never want to come back? If you don’t wait for orders…”

He glanced at Sammy and took her from me. “I won’t see you for a while, munchkin.”

Sammy threw her arms around his neck. “Warden must come, mommy.”

Carl jogged up to us from the teleporter booth. “What do I do?”

“I… don’t know? We were just talking about it.”

Carl opened his arms, and Sammy transferred to him. He tugged on her hair and stuck out his tongue. She giggled and kicked in his arms. “Why are they staying, mommy.”

“You have to stay, Carl,” Warden said. “They won’t reprimand you. All the generals knew about everything going on. If they threw someone under the bus. It’s either going to be the source or….” Warden glanced at Caleb and me. “I hope they don’t find out about Stevie.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Carl said, irritated. “I can handle myself. I don’t want to stay. I don’t know when I’ll see you again.” Carl pulled me into a group hug.

“Carl. Please stay.” Caleb entreated. “You’ll be the only one on Earth we can trust.” He looked at Warden. “And you and Jack. You have to find Lyla. As soon as possible. Try to keep a communicator on you. Michael has to get her off this planet.”

“I don’t know what more she can do,” I said.

Carl hugged me closer. “Protect her if this all goes up in flames.”

“I will.” He and Warden jogged back to the station. Carl looked back one last time, and I nodded. He had handed me a letter for Charlene. I was reassuring him I would give it to her and take care of her. Not that she needed me. Charlene had her own death cloud attached to her ass.

Marcus, Louis, and Chris appeared at the booth door, colliding with Carl. There were man hugs and handshakes. Chris was still in his outfit but a lot less wet. I was so relieved that our plan had worked. With the stone and Chris being able to help, we might get somewhere with the war.

Kubra was moving through the people, splitting the crowd into three sections. Selena and Jamal followed orders to get the vamps off to one side.

Marcus was the first to reach the family. He kissed me and then Sammy on the forehead. His hand rubbed over my belly. “Bye… I’ll see you soon. I’m not missing this for the world.” Agatha and Marcus exchanged words. She told him that she would look after me.

Louis got his turn. I lifted my face to his. He watched me while I said a few personal things to him. He pressed his lips onto mine, pulling me closer and deepening the kiss. It was new and different for us to part like that. “I love you.” He said, rubbing his forehead frustratingly over mine.

Louis turned to Sammy, who was watching us with wide eyes. “Daddy kissed mommy.”

We both laughed. “He seems to be doing that a lot lately.” I eyed him suspiciously. Louis was a little different.

“Daddy also staying. Bye, Daddy.” Louis played with a strand of Sammy’s hair through his fingers. He let go and stepped aside.

Chris was the last to step forward. Sammy reached out to him and almost jumped out of my arms. “Daddy!” She liked him like that. He hugged her as she clung to him. Het little butt in one paw being held up. “Want to manifest.” She said.

Chris chuckled. “You have a few years to go.” She kissed his cheek. Chris pulled me into the family that we were. “Take care of mommy,” Sammy growled at him. “Yeah, just like that.” Chris gave her back and took my hand in his. “We need to talk.” I laughed and bobbed my head. “I love you.” I raised one eyebrow. Selena walked past, and a shiver ran down my spine. I stepped back into our little crowd of family. Soldiers prompted us to gather closer together, separating us from the men. Michael stepped in with me. I glanced around to make sure everyone was there. “Caleb!? Where are you?” Sammy pointed to the men. I drew in a breath as we locked eyes. “I don’t like it.” I mouthed.

“I’ll be careful.”

Marcus cleared his throat. My dad kissed my mom quickly, and then Sammy and I. “Take care of my girls.”

“I won’t let them out of my sight.” Mom said.

Marcus’s voice boomed out through a microphone. “The Vampires are going back to En-gannim. Unfortunately, we don’t have a choice. The Werewolves will join their own kind on Mirach. A new planet where Brylee sent them before she died.” There was a murmur under the Werewolves. It was a giant bomb to drop out of the blue. None of them knew that their home was invaded. Or that most of the Werewolves were wiped out. “There is a lot to tell you. We will get to it once the dust settles.” I glanced at the group of Werewolves. Ben was finally getting what he wanted. He and Francesco were finally leaving. I hoped Jack and Francis made it. I hoped they wouldn’t hate us when they all found out… I was hoping for a lot.

The last to enter our circle were Selena, Jamal, and Jessy. They formed a line in front of me. “Don’t be too severe on my father.” Jessy entreated. Marcus bobbed his head. The three of them had been busy on Mirach to prepare our home away from home, going back and forth to fight Ian’s relentless attacks. I didn’t know where home was anymore. I glanced up at the tall blond, regretting ever giving in to Jessy. It was a mistake. He had made no progress with her. Jamal was still in the middle with me. I kept my eyes on the ground. Not wanting to see Chris looking at her.