Page 64 of The Aether

He laughed. “Come, Kass. I’d like you to meet my wife.”

CHAPTER22

“You’re hosting team meetings in our bedroom now, darling?” Vivian asked Damian as she joined the others.

Damian shot her a wry look. “Not intentionally. They all felt the need to seek me out.”

“How many more are we expecting?”

“In here, none. In the living room, five for sure, possibly two more. We can adjourn downstairs, but we’ll take the children with us.”

“Of course.” There was no way in hell she was leaving Sabrina alone now that she knew they were preparing for the battle of their lives.

Ronan stood and scooped up Sabrina, who burrowed closer to him and smiled in her sleep. “I’ve got the wee wild beastie. Lead the way.”

When they were downstairs in the main living area, he shooed the newcomers, Fintan and Narissa, off the comfy sofa in the corner, then settled his charge and tucked the blanket around her. Formidable Guardian that he was, Ronan perched on the arm of the couch and crossed his arms.

No one was harming her daughter on his watch.

Vivian touched his shoulder to express her gratitude, and he nodded to show he understood.

Sitting so she could keep an eye on Sabrina, she placed her sleeping son beside her and laid out pillows around him to keep him from rolling. When Vivian was done, she glanced up to find Kassiani watching her.

“You’re welcome to hold him,” Vivian said softly after seeing the fleeting longing on the woman’s face. “Nate loves the attention.”

“I thank you, but no. Perhaps after our business is settled.”

“The offer stands.”

“What about me?” Castor asked, dropping down on the opposite side of Nate. “Can’t I hold my godson?”

“Who made you his godfather?” Damian asked with a short laugh.

“Are you saying I’m not? Who is? I’ll fight them for the right.”

Vivian half suspected he was serious as he gazed down at Nate with adoration. “It’s good to know that if anything ever happens to Damian or myself, we have a line of friends willing to care for our children.”

“Which brings us to this meeting,” her husband said, and there was no denying the grimness in his tone. “Future Castor paid us a visit earlier. For those who don’t know, Morcant Thywyll is back and going by the name of Morgan Black. He’s determined to destroy my family and gain an endless battery source in the process.”

Narissa uncrossed her legs and leaned forward.

“Battery source?” she asked. Her accent was Deep South, as if she were born and raised in Georgia or South Carolina. At any moment, one would expect her to say,“Bless your heart!”Mixed with her large, challenging aquamarine eyes, her endless waves of blonde hair, and a stripperific body with its form-fitting clothes, the effect was pure femme fatale Georgia peach.

“Sabrina.” Damian gave each person a lengthy look, as if sizing them up. “Castor said we have a traitor in our midst.”

The news didn’t surprise Vivian as much as she suspected it might have had she been in possession of all her emotions. However, knowing the truth, she studied everyone with new eyes. They all appeared either surprised or outraged as they viewed each other with suspicion.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s anyone here,” she said, gaining everyone’s attention. “With the exception of Kassiani, I’ve known all of you for a while, and you’ve had Damian’s back at every turn. Whenever he’s called, you all have come running.”

Moving to stand behind her, Damian laid his hands on Vivian’s shoulders. “I’m in agreement. Based on Castor’s information, I get the impression the source is higher up.”

“Sure, and my money’s on the Authority or the Fates,” Ronan added. “They both love to fuck with the lives of others, as if we’re nothing more than pawns in their feckin’ chess match.”

“Aye.” Fintan nodded, and as much as he resembled his cousin Narissa with his lion-mane coloring and light eyes, he was the opposite of her in many ways. His Irish accent and gruff, single-syllable replies being the primary ones. “So what’s yer plan, Aether?”

“I don’t have one.Yet. That’s why I’m turning to all of you for help.” He moved to the center of their circle. “Please assist me in keeping my children safe.”

Narissa met Fintan’s hard stare and nodded once. Facing Damian, she said, “We’re in, sugar.”

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