Children of the Moon

Break In

Alain's POV:

As I came all the way down the stairs the door bell rang and I smell her scent. I closed my eyes for a moment before I walked to the door and opened it. And there she stood in front of me. She had changed into civilian clothes, added some make up and had let her hair down. I swallowed hard and looked at her seriously. She looked so beautiful with her platinum hair falling to her waist. I reached out to her and she took my hand. I then pulled her close to me and kissed her passionately. She stiffened at first but then relaxed in my arms, responding to me kissing her.

"My mate," I whispered against her lips. "Mine!"

"My mate," she whispered back to me. "All mine!" We kissed again.

"Wow, guys," Chamdra's voice said behind me. "Get a room." Sarah blushed and tried to pull away from me but I would not let her. I held her close to my side and turned around.

"Sarah, this is Chamdra, one of my companions and my friend. Chamdra, this is Sarah, my mate." I said. Chamdra came up to us and hugged Sarah.

"I am so happy that he has found you," she said. "He is the best man I know and I hope my mate will be like him." I kissed Chamdra on the cheek and smiled at her.

"Thank you for that," I said. I saw others gathering around, watching us. Chamdra stepped aside and I held on tightly to Sarah.

"Don't be afraid," I whispered to her. "They are just curious about you. And happy for me. I have waited for you for a long time." I turned to the crowd gathered there.

"Everyone listen up," I said loudly. "This is my mate, Sarah. Please let her be for now as this is all new to her." They smiled at me and her, bowing to her.

"Can we talk?" she asked me in a whisper. I nodded to her.

"Come with me," I said and took her hand, leading her to my office as I knew there were a lot of people in the common room right now. I took her to the couch and asked her to sit down. I sat beside her, holding her. She looked up at me.

"How old are you?" she asked.

"Two hundred and seven," I said.

"Are you a vampire?" I laughed when she asked that.

"I am not a Vampire," I said, smiling at her.

"I thought only vampires lived that long," she said quietly.

"I swear to you that I am not a Vampire," I said to her and looked her in the eyes.

"What are you then?"

"I am an immortal Arch Magus," I said to her. "Just as the Celts, some of whom you have just seen greeting you."

"If you are immortal, what happens to me?" she asked. "Will I just grow old and die, while you live on?"

"No, you will never grow old and die," I told her. "When the time comes that we will get married, there will be a blood exchange between us at the altar. This blood exchange will make you immortal."

"How will that happen?" she asked. "Will you bite me?" I laughed out loud and hugged her closer to me.

"Not at all," I said. "It will be done with a blessed knife. Both of us will get a small cut on our left hand and we will hold our hands together. When our blood mixes, you will be like me." She nodded and rubbed my chest while I held her.

"What is this place you have here?" she asked me after a while.

"I have been chosen by the Moon Goddess to gather her children, the new Gods and Goddesses," I said, looking at her closely. "I gather everyone that I feel a pull towards to me."

"Like a mate pull?" she asked, stiffening a little. I smiled.

"Not even close to that," I said and Sarah relaxed against me again. I still could not believe that I had found her. I put my nose in her hair and inhaled deeply. She smelled like a summer storm and neroli.

"What happens now that we have found each other?" she asked. I smiled and felt proud of her. She was very smart.

"That is up to you, Sarah," I said. "I know what I want but I want you to be happy with me."

"What usually happens?" she asked.

"Whatever you feel like," I said. "Would you like to meet one of the Celts? He is an immortal Arch Magus, just like me. He also has a mate and they have been mated for seventy two years. He can tell you more than I could. This is new to me also." I looked her in the eyes and she nodded.

"Can I meet his mate?" she asked.

"I can ask him to bring her," I said and linked Attila. He responded immediately and agreed to let our mates meet. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. I told him to come on in and they did. Attila held Sue-Ellen's hand lovingly in his. She was heavily pregnant. My eyes widened and I jumped up to give her my seat. She smiled at me and thanked me before she took a seat next to Sarah.

"I totally forgot about her pregnancy," I said, flustered. "I feel like I'm an ass for making her do a jump with you."

"Don't worry about it," Sue-Ellen said and smiled. "You have some questions?"

"This is my mate, Sarah," I said. "Sarah, this is Attila's mate, Sue-Ellen. I will leave you two to talk. She can link me if you need me." Sarah nodded and Attila and I walked out. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Attila patted my shoulder.

"Are you nervous?" he asked and I nodded. "Don't be. Sue-Ellen will tell her the truth. We couldn't stay apart from each other for too long without touching. We got sick if we were not near each other. That was before I married her and made her into what we are. After we got married it got a lot better since she could link me and I could link her." I did not want her to be sick and I didn't want to get sick either. We went into the common room and everyone cheered for me. I smiled at them and waved. I then sat in a chair in the corner and waited for her with Attila by my side. After a half an hour, I jumped up and I saw Attila go into battle mode. I waved him down.

"I forgot to finish my rooms upstairs, that's all," I said and he gave me a dirty look.

"Not cool, Alain," he said. "I thought something happened to our mates."

"I have to get up there and store all my stuff," I said and headed up the stairs followed by Attila. An hour later everything was in magical storage until I could get it safely to my mound in Faerie. Everything was clean and neat. As you come through the magical door, you entered a common area. To the left was another magical door leading to my suite. To the right was a magical conference room and my private office beyond that. I sighed and looked around one last time.

"Well, that is done," Attila said and turned to me. "Anything else you need done?" I shook my head. I felt a little nauseous and I swallowed hard.

"I think you need to touch your mate," he said. "You are looking kind of green there, my friend." Sue-Ellen linked me then that I needed to come down and hold Sarah for a bit. I smiled at the thought of her in my arms.

"Let's go to our mates," I said and he smiled at me.

"I know... she linked me too," he said and headed out of the door. I followed him out and magically sealed the door behind me. I almost ran down the stairs trying to get to her as fast as I can. I heard Attila's laughter behind me. I took a deep breath as I got to the office door and walked in. Sarah ran into my arms and kissed me, holding me tight. I was surprised but I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her back. I pulled back and smiled at her.

"Did you have a nice chat?" I asked and she nodded, smiling.

"Sue-Ellen explained everything to me," she said, blushing a little. " I know what I have to do and what I can't do. I just dread my mom when I pack my stuff and tell her that I am moving out."

"I can move all of your belongings in an instant," Altewen said behind us.

"Could you please?" she asked and her jaw dropped as she looked at him. He always had that effect on women but this time I felt a pang of jealousy, a fierce protectiveness of my mate. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I took another deep breath and let it out slowly. I nodded at him and his eyes flashed.

"It is done," he told her and I gave him a sheepish smile. He patted my shoulder, turned and left. She turned back to me.

"Was that who I think it was?" she asked. "Prince Altewen of the Seelie high court?"

I frowned.

"How do you know him?" I asked her back.

"There is a missing persons flyer at the station of him," she said.

"What did you say?" Altewen asked as he came back in with refreshments.

"There is a missing persons flyer of you at the station," she told him.

"Do you know who issued it?" he asked her intently.

"It was issued by the Seelie high court Senate," she answered him and he paled.

"I am not going home," he said. "Ever." He looked furious and stormed out.

"You better tell him not to show his face to strangers or outside of this property then," she said. "They are offering quite the reward for him."

"s**t," I said. "I have got to defuse this situation soon then." I sighed and smiled down at her. "Thank you for telling us. Come with me and I will show you to our suite."

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I had given Sarah a crystal that allowed her safe passage in and out of our suite. Since she wasn't a Magus yet I couldn't teach her the symbols. As soon as she got upstairs and saw the bathroom, she decided to take a bath and get ready for dinner tonight. I walked into my office, sat down and sighed. There was still so much to be done. I knew I had to come here for a reason and I hoped that what was coming would be soon. Altewen knocked and came in, looking at me curiously.

"What are you doing in here, my friend?" he asked as he leaned against the wall. He was in his natural form, wearing soft black knee high boots, black woolen trousers, a gem studded belt, a forest green loose shirt and a black hunters vest. His knee length hair was bound back with a leather thong.

"Not sure," I told him. "I just had a feeling that something was coming and I had to be here. And I am so sorry for reacting to you the way I did."

"Interesting and I forgive you. You just met your mate and then she stares at me like that," he said. "By the way, have you decided about where to put the gates?" I sighed and shook my head.

"Not yet. I was thinking about putting in a hall way down below and making the doors into gateways," I said and looked up at him. "Would that be possible?"

"Of course it would, if I made them," he answered and I grinned at him.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, my friend," I said just as the phone started to ring. I picked it up.

"Alain Deveraux speaking," I said and put it on speaker.

"This is Alyssa," a young woman's voice sounded. "We will be there in a few hours. We can't wait to meet you, brother." I looked at Altewen and he raised an eyebrow at me.

"How many of you are there, Alyssa?" I asked.

"There are twenty-five of us and our belongings," she said and laughed, making me smile. I looked at my watch. It was 7pm.

"By nine then?" I asked and she confirmed.

"One bus and five tractor trailers," she said. "And a two more trucks for our vehicles."

"We have the room, so don't worry," I told her. "We have an otherworldly home." She laughed out loud at that.

"We will see you soon then, brother," she said and hung up.

"You forgot to ask her if they are all your kin," Altewen said.

"Unless she is part of the multiple birth ones, probably not," I said. "We will see when they get here. But I did not expect some of them to show up so soon." He shrugged.

"All in time," he said and left the office. Since I didn't have the urge to stay there, I left and headed to the dining room. Everyone was already there, even Sarah, except for Jessie and Brad, talking to one another. I headed to my seat, leading her to sit beside me and clapped my hands together. Dinner was served.

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Later on that evening I felt my power being pinged. I was in the living room with Sarah watching TV, some ocean documentary that we were enjoying. I stood up and walked towards the front door, with her right behind me. It was already open and Altewen was on the front steps, watching as a bus with a line of trucks behind it came into the circular driveway. The bus stopped at the steps and the door opens up. A small red headed woman stepped out and smiled at us. She raised her arms to the sides and grinned.

"We're here," she said, smiling. "So where do you want everything?"

"That would be my job, Alyssa," Altewen said. "Would you all be so kind as to step out of your vehicles?" She nodded and waved at everyone in the bus and the trucks. Slowly people stepped out and gathered at the bottom of the steps. As I looked at them, I noticed that there were three more ladies that looked like Alyssa and my eyes went wide.

"Quads?" I asked and she nodded. The other men and women were different. Some of them were shy, others looked uncertain and one woman was unconscious on a stretcher. I frowned at seeing this.

"What happened to her?" I asked.

"We did a raid on a black market auction," she answered, looking angry. "This young lady had been abused and she was being auctioned off. We did not get there in time to save the others."

"The worst thing is that the son of a b***h got away," one of the other sisters said. I nodded.

"Come on in," I said. "This is Altewen and he will take care of your belongings." With that he waved his hands and everything disappeared, except for three young children.

"I think you have some stowaways," he said, pointing at them. Alyssa turned around and blinked. The oldest one pushed the others behind him and growled uncertainly. I felt a strong pull towards them and I touched their minds. All three of them were some of the new Gods. And they were orphans, having run away from foster care and living on their own. I winced at that and slowly walked towards them. The oldest one growled louder, but was still uncertain. I crouched down in front of them and opened my arms wide. Alyssa took a step but Altewen held her back. He shook his head at her as she glanced at him. The oldest one of the children stopped his growling and whined. The little girl behind him rushed me, throwing her arms around my neck and started to cry. I held her and rubbed her back, trying to comfort her. The two boys came to me and the youngest one held his arms wide. I took one arm off the little girl and waved them over. They threw their arms around me, holding me tight. I just held them close to me. When they stopped crying, I smiled at them.

"I bet you are hungry, right?" I asked and they nodded. "Come with me and welcome to your new home." As I passed Alyssa, she put her hand on my arm.

"You know what you are doing is illegal, right?" she whispered to me.

"These children are mine now," I said to her. "The Moon Goddess does not lie to me." Her eyes went wide and she nodded, letting me go. I turned to the others before the steps.

"Welcome to your new home," I told them and smiled. "Follow me, please."

"Do you have a doctor here that can help her?" Alyssa asked.

"We do but he is indisposed right now," I answered her. "But I can have another one here in an instant. You men carrying her follow Altewen to the clinic here. You can then join us in the dining room if you are hungry." I turned around and walked inside leading the way to the dining room. I went to my seat, Sarah beside me, clapped my hands and the food was laid out. I noticed Chamdra at the entrance to the kitchen looking hard at one of the men sitting at the far end of the table. She walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. He flinched away from her touch and started to shake.

"Why are you hiding yourself from us?" she asked him. He looked startled.

"I don't want people to be afraid of me," he said, looking down.

"Please show yourself to us," she said. "Let us see your true self. Let us be the judge of that." He looked around and saw all eyes upon him. He sighs and closed his eyes. He started to shimmer and the glamour fell away from him. I blinked. He was magnificent. Black hair held back in a pony tail over a beautiful face. Large leathery wings on his back and sweeping horns on his head. Another dragon, I thought.

"You are beautiful," Chamdra said and everyone agreed with her.

"While you are here you don't have to hide," I said looking at him. "But I agree with you that outside of my property you will have to hide." He looked relieved at my statement. Altewen walked in with the two men. He stopped as he looked at the new dragon in our company. He then walked over to him and touched his head. His eyes took on a far away look.

"Enforcer dragon you are and protector you be," he said and took his hand back off of him. "Another new race of dragon, like Chamdra."

"Are we the same ones?" he asked looking at her and she shook her head.

"We are not the same," she said and he looked down, nodding.

"Eat your fill," she said and smiled at him. "You will feel better." He then looked up and grabbed some meat. I watched him closely. When he finished what was on his plate, he reached for more then looked around, his eyes looking guilty.

"Eat your fill," I told him. "None of these plates will empty. Watch this." I took a platter of roast beef and emptied the whole thing on my plate. When I sat it back down, it was full again. His eyes went wide and he grabbed some more meat. I handed him my plate and smiled at him.

"Here no one starves," I said to him. "What is your name?"

"Nemesis," he said.

"I'm Padra," the little girl said. "And they are Sly and Timber." Nemesis smiled at her.

"Nice to meet you," he said, nodding at them. Alyssa turned to me and smiled.

"I am Alyssa and this Bethany, Chloe and Darla," she said. "And we are so glad to finally meet one of our brothers. And an Arch Magus to boot." I was about to answer her when a loud lion's roar shook the manor, followed by the scream of a leopard and a shriek. I jumped up and ran out of the dining room, followed by Altewen, Chamdra and my sisters. I glimpsed guns in my sisters hands.

"Don't shoot them," I shouted at them. "The lion and the leopard are mine." They nodded and put their weapons away, rushing up the stairs behind me to the third floor. As we reached the floor, we saw a beautiful black panther get off of a body laying on the ground. The door to Brad and Jessie's suite was open and a huge lion stood at the door to the bedroom. I turned the body over and looked into the face of a teenage boy. I checked for a pulse and was relieved to find one, although thready.

"Goddess, I am so sorry," Panthera said as she knelt on the ground. "He is just a child." I looked at her and saw tears in her eyes. I turned to Altewen.

"Take him to the clinic," I said. "Looks like Heather will have more than one patient today." He nodded, picked up the boy and carried him down the stairs.

"Do you need me?" Brad asked, stepping forward after he had put on some shorts.

"It all depends on what Heather says," I told him. "If his injuries are minor she can handle it." He nodded.

"How is your mate?" I asked him and he grinned at me.

"See for yourself," he said and laughed. I walked past him and peeked into the bedroom. I was startled to see a beautiful, large lioness on the bed, sleeping. As I watched her, she shifted back into her human form, still sleeping.

"I'll be damned," Attila said behind me and whistled in awe. "I have never seen someone shift so soon after being turned."

"I haven't seen it either," he said. "But I have heard of it. A female that was psychic shifted that early. I wonder if she is psychic."

"She may well be," I said looking at her closely as she smoothly shifted back into a lioness.

*Heather says she can't handle the boy's injuries. They are too severe and very deep.* Altewen linked to me. I turned to Brad and sighed.

"Heather said the boy's injuries are too severe for her to handle," I said to him. "I know I promised at least 24 hours. Can you do it?"

"Of course I can," he said. "Jessie is already fully turned. I just need someone to watch her, please." Timothy stepped forward and put his hand on Brad's shoulder.

"I will guard her for you," he said and walked into the bedroom. Brad then went into the dressing room and dressed into some scrubs.

"Can someone please show me the way to the clinic?" he asked. "I haven't been given the tour yet."