Chapter 7

Abe looked at himself in the mirror and smirked. He looked as badass as his uncles now. Black leather from his boots up. His uncles wore vests, but with his fighting style, he was thankful for the sleeves on his jacket. Raising his arm, he thumped his fist on the forearm. He didn’t know what Mitz used for padding, but it would take the brunt of any blade that caught him off guard.

Turning, he checked out how his short swords sat behind his head. The scabbards for them were perfect, although that didn’t surprise him. His family in Alterealm had thousands of years with weaponry to perfect any placement on the body.

He might not look as scary as they did with big blades crossed on their backs, but it was a huge change from the suit and tie he wore before finding out other realms existed. Was it weird that he was hoping for a fight? Throughout his life, he’d used fighting and the human wars to distract himself from everything. Finding out you needed to bite people to live and could likely live forever without knowing the why’s of it tended to create a lot of confusion and frustration.

Images started to fill his head again. There was that to contend with. He scowled and put the chain and pendant around his neck. He didn’t need to be seeing any trees and horses in his head right now.

When someone knocked on the door, he was thankful for the distraction. “It’s open.” Good thing he’d tidied up.

Uncle Michael stuck his head in, “We’re having a quick bite before we go over.”

Abe tilted his head to the side, “I’m going to get fat with the amount you all eat here.”

His Uncle Michael grinned, “rarely is a meal not interrupted, so you eat whenever it’s offered.” He paused and looked at him, “looks good on you.”

Abe ran his hand down the front of the jacket. “Fits great.”

“At least with sleeves, you have less skin exposed for them to touch.”

“Who?”

“Solrelm residents, Bastian said it’s unlikely any at the research facility will have that ability, but you never know.”

Abe looked down at his sleeve. “I guess the rest of you had better move fast then.” Grabbing his phone, he zipped it in the pocket and went toward his uncle, “Uncle Arius said if they have any type of bracelet on to take them off as soon as they’re subdued. What are the bracelets for, Uncle…”

“Just Michael. Adding aunt and uncle isn’t necessary, especially when you didn’t meet us until a few centuries after you were born.”

Abe nodded. That would simplify things.

Michael waited for him while he closed the door, “Illegal porters, similar to ours, and Bastian was just explaining that they’re making illegal link bracelets too,” when Abe glanced at him, he shrugged, “To go back and forth to Solrelm.”

“Seems to be much illegal manufacturing going on.”

Michael snorted, “Yeah, we dropped the ball for centuries. All realms.”

“Even if you had been paying attention, if something is wanted bad enough, you find a way.”

“That’s true. Not to mention they had the most powerful mage that’s ever lived on their side.”

Abe chuckled, “Not a fan of magic.”

“Quinton would back you up on that thought.”

Abe nodded but didn’t say anything. That was the one thing he had in common with Uncle Q; he smirked and looked at the floor.

“Something entertaining?”

“Nah, just thought of Uncle Quinton as Uncle Q for a second.”

Michael grinned, “Oh, please, let’s start a thing and call him that.”

Judging by the amused look on his otherwise serious uncle’s face, he shook his head, “Pass, I like my teeth in my mouth.”

“So much for entertainment,” Michael cringed, “I just sounded like Chase. I need more sleep soon.”

“Might want to catch up on it now. You’re going to have a baby soon.”

His uncle stopped walking, “I had forgotten that part of it. I’m going to have to start taking naps.”

“You should, you’re getting old.”

They turned to see Chase behind them.

“Dinning room,” he pointed, “food and caffeine requirements.”

“We were discussing how new babies will keep us awake.”

Chase’s step paused for a second, “I think I need to declare a new law—the entire realm naps from two to four in the afternoon.”

Michael grinned, “oh, great idea. Criminals will love knowing when everyone is asleep.”

Abe started laughing and walked between them. His crazy family was something.