I could hear the world around me, but other than that my body wasn't working. Where am I?
"He's going to lose it." A female voice said in hushed tones.
"He'll manage. He's tough." Another female voice responded.
"Ow!"
"Are you okay Gin?"
"The baby agrees with you apparently."
"Aw, how's the little guy?"
"Pretty sure it's a girl."
"What makes you say that?"
"This time is completely different than with… Augur."
I could hear shuffling and soft sobs. "Everything happens for a reason Gin."
A long pause in conversation. Who is going to lose it? Me? What happened? I already felt like I lost something. Something extremely valuable to me.
*Sleep Aether, I'll explain when you wake up.* My wolf said in a deep rumble.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Nix was pacing in my head when I woke up.
*Finally! You little humans take so long to heal sometimes.*
*Good to hear you too Nix. Why can't I sense the magic anymore?*
*You depleted your energy. It'll take a day or two for you to use it again.* Nix grumbled.
*Augur's alive! We've got to tell Gin!*
*I'm more interested in the blood red magic cast over that room.*
*Think I could crack it?*
*Maybe if you had your full strength.* Nix shrugged.
*So all we do is wait?*
*You're healing pretty quickly Niveus, but yes…we need to wait.*
A faint echo of a door being opened had me sitting upright. It sounded like it was a few doors down from mine. The pitter patter of footsteps abruptly stopped outside my room. I could faintly make out voices.
"Why is this door closed?" A boy said.
"It has a new guest." A woman responded. It sounded as though she was trying to disguise her annoyance with the question.
"I want to meet the guest." The boy says a tone of authority in his voice.
"Orders are to take you outside upon your request. Nothing else." Her tone severe in response.
"Why can't the guest join me outside?"
"They're asleep."
I moved toward the door and kicked the pail intended for bathroom use.
"Liar! I can hear that the guest is awake." Someone stomped their foot impatiently.
"Little one, you have 10 seconds to climb the ladder or I will have your outdoor privileges revoked."
"What are privileges?"
"They're things you get to do if you're good."
"What does revoked mean?"
"It means taken away."
"So why didn't you just say you'd have my outdoor time taken away?"
I heard a growl and a giggle.
"Now it's 5 seconds, little one." She snarled.
"Okay, okay, I'm climbing the ladder." He kept giggling all the way out of earshot.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Indy has been gone for a week now and the baby is making my life torture.
"When he brings that bitch back I'm going to rip her throat out!" Aqua fumes.
"Casia betrayed us. The law is clear. Indy will kill her on sight." I say rubbing my stomach with my feet propped up on the couch.
Aqua growled in frustration. "When Aether wakes up we will get Niveus back. They've got a bond."
I growled. "They're like my own kin. I don't want to think about their potential destiny together."
"Call your witch friend to come back."
"She's not at my beck and call. I can reach out but there's no guarantees."
"That's fine, but at least she's on our side." Aqua shrugged deep in thought. "Maybe we should reach out to Clan Inlustris. They're the biggest pack and have the most resources. Their Alpha is level-headed and would be a great asset to have in uncovering the different elementals!"
A knock sounded on the door. Thank goodness my office is soundproof. I glared at Aqua when she mentioned elementals. They're like finding a microscopic needle in a haystack. I'd given up on my purpose, destiny, fate or whatever when Augur was taken from me.
*Let whoever in.* I mind-linked the guards.
A woman with long wavy brown hair entered. Her warm brown eyes found mine and she bowed.
"Please stand. How have you been Dono?"
"Much better. I still can't thank you enough for -"
"Please, you never have to thank me again." I say waving off her usual spiel.
As usual she replies, "Then just this one last time."
"Thank you for joining our pack. What can I help you with today?"
She looked to be doing better since the attack. Apparently she'd been attacked by a vampire while rescuing a child. Her hand fidgeted with her neckline. I noticed her scar, from the collar she once wore, peaked out from under her button up shirt. I'm glad I was able to save her from her abusive mate. Since joining out pack, Dono has been in charge of the children's ward and daycare at the hospital. I was worried something was amiss.
"It's an emergency or I wouldn't have barged in unannounced without an appointment." She cut her eyes to the floor in submission. "It's quite hard to explain Alpha. Can you come with me to the children's ward? I'll have to show you."
"Of course! No one's hurt severely are they? Aqua bring some tissues I can already feel my heart aching." My hormones were all over the place lately. Better safe than sorry.
"No, well, not really…not yet at least." Dono chewed on her bottom lip. "These newborn babies have…abilities? I don't even know what to call it."