The New World

Demonio stood along the edge of the clearing, watching his niece and the man at her side. Even from here, he could tell they were mated but he was having a huge problem figuring out why. Fire was old enough to have had many lovers in her past and anyone of them would have worked as a beloved for her so why a wolf? What the hell was so special about him for her to choose him? Not that he wasn’t good looking but there had to be something for more for her to say she’d stay with him, especially given she could have had anyone. So even better yet, why wait so long? Yes, there were things he sure didn’t know.

He watched the wolf set his glass down and on a whim, he ran after the guy who was holding the tray and grabbed the glass. Maybe he could go back to Russia and test it. Maybe there was something more unique about him that Demonio wasn’t seeing or wasn’t aware of. His eyes glanced upward to track the movement of the moon so he could track his time. Then his eyes scanned the crowds for Francis. He didn’t have much time and as much as he wanted to approach Fire, he couldn’t, or he would be waiting too long to figure out what Francis learned because Demonio could spend the rest of his time talking to his niece.

Finally, Francis saw him and made his way over. Demonio started walking and Francis fell in step with him. He waited a moment or two before he started talking, wanting to make sure no one could possibly hear them. Not that anyone even knew about him or what was going on, but that was a chance he didn’t want to take, even more so when everyone at this party would know Grayson.

“They are mated?” Demonio asked and Francis nodded.

“Although I’m questioning something.”

“And what would that be, Francis?”

“I think Grayson has heirs but not with the vampire. There are just a lot of questions and things that aren’t adding up. However, we all know that vampires birthing children is very unlikely unless you are a God.” Could part God’s have the ability to have children? If so, why not sooner?

Demonio shook his head, not even able to phantom going down that path. He turned his gaze to look back at the couple. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around them being together, much less having kids but he was quickly seeing anything was possible. He just couldn’t understand the why behind it. And even if he did fully believe it, he didn’t think he would get a question to that answer anyway. Certainly not from them, not like he would ask; and it wasn’t like he had a book that he could refer to, not that Sol would have said anything in there.

“Nothing is ever crazy, I suppose,” Demonio said.

“I could agree. I must look more into them though.” Francis glanced at the God and then nodded to the empty glass in his hand. “Why are you taking that?”

“With your blood, the wolves are living longer but I noticed they lose strength faster when it shouldn’t be happening. I was going to test Grayson’s DNA to see if maybe something can help. There has to be something special about him if they are mated.”

“You think Grayson is special just because he chose to live with a vampire forever?” Demonio let out a breath and shook his head.

“Francis, I know you don’t see it because to you, she is nothing special but Fire is not just any vampire. For her to have a beloved is quite amazing but for it to be a wolf makes me question what’s so special about him. Because believe me, there has to be something. Fire has had enough past experience and she wouldn’t say that it was time to settle down for just anybody, wolf or not.”

“I’ve known Grayson for a few years, we aren’t buddies, but we did talk. The only thing I ever found odd about him was that he was shipped off somewhere every year and finally came to live with the pack when he turned 18.”

Demonio glanced back at Grayson as he thought that over. From what he knew of wolves, most never let their heirs leave. So why would Grayson have been gone for 18 years? And it sure didn’t seem like he was going to some boarding school or something. No, these were defiantly pieces to a puzzle and he had no idea what that puzzle was, although he was starting to get a very vague notion and he wasn’t liking it.

“That is different.”

“Yes, I would guess so.” Francis sniffed and then looked around. “We need to go and now.”

“Why?”

“One, you are low on time and I don’t want you to make a fuss. And two, someone is coming that shouldn’t be here and the last thing I need to have happen is to be seen when that person shows.” Demonio nodded, allowing the Alpha to lead them through the forest.

-----

One set of black eyes looked at a pair of red eyes and they both nodded. What they had just overheard was something that needed to be shared, but how was the big question. They could talk through their thoughts, they learned not too long ago but their vocal skills were something that was slow to develop, at least to them. Maybe they could talk to their parents in the same manner that they talked to each other, through their thoughts?

However, they would have to try it later because there was too much going on still. Right now, everyone was gone and they were left with Derrick, who had so nicely left the door open for them to get fresh air. And when their wolves demanded to leave to be with everyone, they saw no harm in stepping outside, even knowing that many other adults didn’t know about them. Although they didn’t need to go too far to pick up on the conversation the two guys were having. And once they got the vibe that it was bad, they taped into their powers to get a more powerful hearing. However, Rosemina lent her magic to Rayne to pick up as much as she was. They overheard the discussion about their parents, the question was why? And who was that guy to be talking about them?

“You two little ones,” Derrick said as he picked them up and took them back inside, locking the balcony door behind them, “need to get ready for bed and lay down.”

----

I wrapped my arm around Grayson’s waist and leaned close to his ear. “Do you feel eyes on you?”

“You mean besides the ones of all these guests? No,” he whispered back and I sighed. “Are you feeling something Fire?”

“Yes, but when I look around I see nothing and I’m not picking up any strange scents so I don’t know. I know I can’t shake it though.” Grayson ran his hand over my back and cast a quick look around but he gave his head a slight shake, telling me that he didn’t see anything either. I knew I wasn’t losing my mind though. “I’m not crazy Grayson.”

“I’m not saying you are hon, I’m not that brave.” He smiled at me and I returned it. But then we both froze at the same time. He heard her voice and I picked up her scent, another thing we were doing, honing in on each other’s powers. Grayson glanced around before he took my hand and we made our way to the entrance right as Marina was walking in on the arm of another Alpha.

“Oh, Grayson, Fire, I didn’t know we were getting a welcoming committee,” Mariana said, smiling at Grayson as she eyed him and I held back my snarl.

“What are you doing here, this was supposed to be for wolves only?” I asked and she smirked, tossing a roll of the eyes in my direction.

“And yet, you are here, mate or not Fire.” Mariana patted the arm that she was holding onto. “Freddy here needed a date and asked me. I couldn’t turn down one of the major parties.”

“So, you don’t have an invite?” Grayson asked and Mariana smiled at her date.

“Excuse us for just a moment and I will be right there.” Grayson watched the other Alpha walk away but I kept my eyes on her. “Now, why would you think I had an invite?”

“Because Alpha Francis told us that you had one and he was here as your guest, although I knew I didn’t send one to you,” I told her, trying to keep the smugness out of my voice.

“I can’t stand Francis; I have no idea why he would say that. And I can’t tell you how he got in but it wasn’t through me. No, if you will excuse me.” I watched her walk off and had to question if she was still on our side or not.