Chapter 43
Abe couldn’t remember the summit room with this many bodies, not even when the other realms had come over for the last meeting. This time his family, all their guards, and Solrelm royalty with their guards were present.
He watched Mitz pat Ira on the chest and then walk out of the room. Uncle Leone sat beside him, “have I missed anything? I had to bring Bohdi over.”
Abe looked around, “where is he?”
Leone shrugged. “I left him with Welsley at the entrance; he’s a little overwhelmed being here.”
“Understandable, to hear about it and know everything this long, but never meeting anyone.”
Leone nodded, “Troy told me about this morning.” He grimaced, “I feel for them to find out it’s your brother.”
Abe smirked, “been there, remember?”
Leone leveled him with a look, “like I could forget.” He looked at Abe’s dad, “At least he’s on the right side now.”
Bastian came through the door with Uncle Victor. They were carrying two boxes. “Is that the information from Elyas?”
Leone nodded. “we’re going to be busy.”
“A good busy. Finding those dads and the families.”
They set the boxes down, and Bastian reached in and pulled out a notebook. He turned around and went to where Liri and Aunt Reagan were talking.
“Do you know what that’s about?” Leone watched Quinton go over.
“No.”
Liri put her hand over her mouth and looked right at Abe.
“Be right back.” He got up and went over.
His aunt looked upset. “What’s going on?” He put his arm around Liri and waited for someone to tell him.
“We know exactly where Rae’s father is.”
He gave his uncle a questioning look, “that’s good, right?”
Uncle Quinton nodded, “Yes. Hopefully, the Fa Terra Princess is able to help him.”
“Where are we going to take the fathers?” Liri glanced from his uncle to her cousin.
“I hadn’t—” Bastian rubbed his hand over her hair, “we can’t put them with the women and children.”
“Do you have somewhere in Solrelm the men can stay until memories have been restored?” Abe couldn’t even comprehend someone making you forget that you had a mate and child. How powerful would the magic have to be?
Liri turned to Bastian, “There has to be somewhere.”
Bastian turned around and looked at Trendan, “I have a few ideas. I’ll have to talk to Dad about them.”
“Are there many others?” Raegan still looked shaken.
“The list is long.” Bastian waved the book around. “We’re going to be rounding them up for a while.” Looking around, he looked worried until he saw Nova talking to Aunt Alona, “I’m a complete mess.” He hissed out a breath, “Worried they’ll get their hands on Nova.”
“We can help.” Raegan nodded and then gave her mate a look, “we are going to help keep her safe.”
Quinton crossed his arms over his chest. “Just as long as your hair stays brown, I’m all for it.”
Raegan rolled her eyes at him and then looked at Bastian. “We can take turns making sure she’s not alone.”
“The Geminis will help.” Liri nodded. “I don’t think the dark-souled ones will mess with them.”
Trendan shrugged. “We have enough people we don’t need to bother them.”
Bastian glanced at his brother sideways. “Talk to them when you get a chance, Liri.”
She nodded.
“I know it all now.” Crissy came rushing into the room, waving one of her notebooks. Right on her heels was Bronx with an armful of books. Crissy slid to a stop, “they wanted to take over Interealm,” she nodded and turned to look at Bohdi when he came in, “but to do that, they had to get rid of Alterealm, stop the justice from policing,” she smiled at Victor, “to do that, they had to stop Solrelm from having too many babies,” she scowled, “when there are no watchers left…”
“Humans die off.” Paisley finished.
“Yes. Yes.” Crissy nodded, “when Alterealm was no longer the police for all, the circle was no longer used,” she waved the notebook and then stopped and spun around and went to Bronx and pulled one of the books from his arms, leaving him to catch the others before they hit the floor, “FaTerra was involved because they wanted to be free to do whatever they wanted in Interealm,” she turned around and looked at a few of the others, and then darted back to Bronx and exchanged the book for a different one, “the fairies think playing with humans is fun,” she said quietly and then was animated again, “Veiltide,” she zoned in on Prince Art, “wanted more water and Interealm…”
“Has vast oceans and lakes.” Prince Art crossed his arms and nodded.
“Yes,” she paused, “I don’t think I like water after the cave.” Jolting, she shook the worn journal, “Aridon wanted to go anywhere but the hot realm,” she shrugged, “I guess some don’t like it hot.”
“Wait,” Emil put his hand up and walked over to Bronx and took the book off the top of the pile, and opened it, “all of this,” he motioned to Crissy, “of that is…”
“Ridiculous.” Bastian came over to him and took the old book from his hands, “Honestly, if there are no watchers and humans die off, there is no elixir to extend the life of my people,” he turned and looked at Prince Art, “are you people hard up for water sources?”
Art shook his head, “No. As long as there is rain or snow, there is water.”
“I can’t believe they wanted to do more in Interealm.” Princess Aireese walked over to Crissy, “did you see any of this?”
Crissy puffed out her cheeks and then blew out the air, “Some of the pieces, but there are so many, and this,” she looked over at Bronx, “has so many parts, I can’t put all the pieces and parts together in my head, or out of it.”
“I know I’m new to this party,” Bohdi came over closer to the others, “but for that to happen, someone from every realm,” he snorted, “many someones were involved.”
“Even humans,” Daxx shook her head, “stupid ones, clearly, they missed the meeting where the others said, ‘let’s kill off the humans and have fun.’”
“Yeah.” Bohdi put his hands on his hips and shook his head. “There are many branches to the Interealm teams,” he looked at Troy. “Where do I start looking?”
“I don’t think,” Princess Oriana stood up, “the humans will be a real threat, not once those with the abilities,” she motioned around the room, “from the other realms are found.”
“She has a point,” Daxx nodded, “we can’t take souls, control water,” she shrugged, “or whatever else.”
“Okay, everyone,” Troy went over and took the books out of Bronx’s arms, “let’s sit down and start going through this,” he set the books on the table, “and through the records Bastian brought and start tearing all this down.”
Everyone agreed and moved toward the chairs. Abe took Liri’s hand and started for the chairs.
“I don’t think we’re getting out of here any time soon,” she whispered and looked up at him.
“Don’t worry. We have to feed, take breaks. We’ll find some quiet time.” He grinned down at her, and her cheeks flushed.
“Her water broke.” Autumn jumped up and waved her phone around. “What do I do?” She gave Daxx a panicked look.
“Uh,” Daxx turned and looked at Alona.
“Go.” Alona nodded, “it might be a long wait, but you should be there.”
“Right.” Autumn hopped over the table, then the other side, and started for the door. She came to an abrupt stop and looked over at Michael.
“Oh,” he looked around, “I’m to be there?”
Autumn gave him a hard look.
“Right then.” Michael glanced at Troy and nodded. “Keep me posted on the progress.”
Troy chuckled. “You as well, brother.”
The room was silent for a moment as they watched them leave.
Liri leaned closer, “you’re going to be an uncle,” she frowned, “or is it cousin?”
Abe hadn’t thought of the logistics of it before now. “I’m not sure, but as long as the child is loved and cared for, does it matter?”
Liri smiled at him. “No, the title is not important.” She cringed. “Don’t ever say that to my mother though.”
“Noted.” Abe took her hand in his and then looked back over at his family. His very big, slightly crazy family and decided he didn’t want it any other way.
The End.