André stood by his desk in his office listening to Theo, Tom, and Luc argue about tactics. Yvonne entered with a tray of tea and soup. Phoenix and Eevi where asleep on the couches in one corner. With Celeste and Lorenzo playing on the floor near them. One day and sixteen hours had passed. They should be waking up soon. He kept a sharp eye on Phoenix's still face. Having watched her wake twice now he knew there would be no warning.
Yvonne had set the try down on the table between the couches when Phoenix's eyes snapped opened and scanned the area.
André was across the room kneeling by her in a blink. He was startled by her reaction to seeing him. She flung herself into his arms. Wrapping hers tight around him and tucking her face into his neck. Fine tremors shook her. He closed his eyes, the tight feeling in his chest loosening. She slowly pulled back and her hands cupped his jaw.
"I am so sorry." Her eyes serious, her mouth unsmiling.
At those words the last of his anger drained away. "I know. It's over and done. But Phoenix. you have a mate now. You can't make life threatening decisions without me anymore. Or even normal ones."
"I do know that. And I'll try. But. André," she tried to smile, "please understand, I haven't had to include anyone in my choices for years."
"Not even your Alpha Rouge?"
"Not really. When he realized I could take care of myself and we realized that always being together put us at a disadvantage. No. I mean he cared. And would check up on me. But more than eighty percent of the time it was just me."
"Stop." He touched his forehead to hers. "You're breaking my heart."
Before he could say more Celeste push between them and flung herself and Lorenzo at Phoenix. "You saved Yvonne! Thank you!" Phoenix fell back with a laugh and returned the hug, kissing Lorenzo on his nose and grinning at Yvonne over their heads.
"I don't want to be a bother." Luc's strained voice caught all their attention. "But Eevi isn't waking up?"
Phoenix stretched. "It's alright Luc. She was my tether so she's more locked in the spell. I need the stone that was on Yvonne's forehead. It turned black, right?"
"Yes."
"Good. There's no danger, then. Where is it?"
"There could have been a danger?" Luc paled.
"But there's not." Phoenix smiled. "So why worry about it?"
Theo handed over the box, Phoenix nodded to him in thanks. Running the tip of a claw from her right pointer finger along the engraving's path on the lock before slipping it inside and yanking down. The lock opened with more of a pop then a click. She pulled the stone out and held it up to the light with a grim smile. She placed it between Eevi's eyes. They snapped open instantly and narrowed with satisfaction. Phoenix reclaimed the stone.
"It's done." Eevi almost purred. "Give it to her."
Phoenix held it out to Yvonne. "This stone is the only good thing about that spell. You now have a talesman that keeps negative energy from you. We need to make it into a nice piece of jewelry for you to wear. Eevi's mother made hers the front of a pendant. The Alpha Rogue wears his as a pinky ring, right next to another ring he favors." She winked. Yvonne began to laugh.
"Now, feed us please." Eevi said softly.
Yvonne handed them each a bowl of Boeuf bourguignon. Phoenix sat on the floor near Eevi and scooped up a spoon full. André sat on the couch behind her and she leaned back against his legs, smiling at him over her shoulder. Luc stood staring down at Eevi. She took a long drink of the tea Yvonne handed her and chewed two bite slowly before looking up at him from under her lashes.
"Let me finish this, then act like you've just seen me for the first time."
His grave look disappeared and he sat down to wait with a smile.
The meal passed quickly as both girls inhaled it. Phoenix finished first and climbed into André's lap. Once there she sighed and relaxed. He looked down at her to find her sparkling eyes watching her still-eating friend.
Evie finished her last bite and calmly patting her mouth with a napkin, looked at Luc. He was grinning back at her. A slight blush colored her pale skin. And her cold eyes warmed.
Luc stood and reached his hand down to hers. She looked at it for long enough that Phoenix began to stiffen. Then slipped her hand into his. He pulled her onto her feet and into his arms.
"Mine." He growled.
Phoenix gave a happy bounce then turned wide eyes to André. She tilted her head. He growled and tucking his face against her throat whispered, "mine," feeling her shiver as his lips moved against her skin.
"Well, our lives just changed," Eevi said as she pulled away, looking at Phoenix, who grinned back.
"For the better." Luc growled, tightening his hold.
"I'm sure. But they have changed. Phoenix is no longer a rogue. Instead a mother and a Luna. I am no longer a New Yorker. Hmm. I'll have to contact the counsel and resign." Her cold golden eyes sought André's, "or have they already been contacted?"
"They have." He grinned at her efficiency.
"Paper work done?"
"Yes."
"My stuff on its way?"
"With your mother."
Her eyes widened. "My mother? Oh. We need cell phones, please."
Luc pulled his out and handed it to her without a word. Phoenix wiggled her fingers and Celeste's landed in her palm.
They both dialed a number. Eevi's was quick and to her mother, telling her she was alright and excited to introduce her to her mate.
Phoenix's let hers ring seven times. Hung up. Called back. Rang once. And hung up. The phone then began to buzz in her hand and she answered it.
"So you made it out." A deep male voice sounded loud.
"Yep. Just finished eating. Eevi's found her mate here as well."
"The other brother or the Beta?"
"The brother."
"Tell her congratulation. If you just finished eating... Does that mean you haven't showered yet?"
"No."
"No you haven't showered or no you have?"
"You know the steps so why ask stupid questions?"
"Idiot! Go get that crap off you. I didn't expect you to call until you were completely done."
"Yes, Mom." She laughed at his growl. "Bye."
"Bye, Brat." She erased his number from the phone.
André listen in amusement, if any doubt had existed to their relationship, it was now extinguished. There was such annoyed affection in their tone and words. And when Phoenix called the Alpha Rogue 'Mom' he had to bite back a laugh. He didn't think what their relationship might mean. Instead he focused on the, "Why are you being an idiot? What's on you?"
Eevi looked away from her staring contest with Luc. "A noxious overlay obtained from the creature entrenched in Yvonne's psyche."
Phoenix grinned. "An ectoplasm. Have you guys seen 'Ghost Busters'? That green slime? But less disgusting. Sort of."
"And it's on you?" Everyone else looked at them closely.
Eevi raised one brow. "It's not visible."
"But it's on you? What does it do?"
"Night terrors. Insomnia. If left long enough. Delusions. Hearing voices. Psychotic brea..." Phoenix hand clamped over her mouth, causing Eevi's eyes to widen before taking in the two shaking males.
"André." Phoenix stopped when he turned to glare at her.
"We could have gotten it off you two days ago! Why wasn't it in Yvonne's notes."
"Because it was needed. The guides who had it removed before they woke properly." she paused and blinked back tears, "The one that survived is still in a coma."
Eevi's mouth took a tragic cast. "They were out, too. If we'd just left..."
"Stop it, Eevi. We didn't know. And one day we'll figure out a way to wake her up. But to answer your question, André. From what we can figure out, the ectoplasm is what makes us sleep the 40 plus hours. But without the sleep, our brain coming back from that spell gets a, Eevi?"
"Surge that causes a cessation of the electric activity in the brain and silences neurons, resulting in seizures, comas, and more often than not, death."
Both males paled and Yvonne gasped. Phoenix smiled gently at them.
"We needed it. And now we need to go take a shower. But he was just being overly cautious. We have a good hour before it even starts to be necessary."
"Go shower. Now." André growled, putting weight behind his command.
Phoenix gave a slow blink. "Oh, you went all Alpha on me." A shiver went through her. "And was it sexy!" She bit her bottom lip on a smile. It turned into a grin at their shocked faces. Looping her arm through Eevi's, they walked out. "We'll join you when we're done."
"Eevi? Do you need me to show you to..."?
"Your room?" Eevi's eyes gleamed at Luc. "I can find anything without help, let alone a room that smells of you and has my stuff in it."
The door clicked behind them.
"The first time I met her I put power in my voice and it amused her." Yvonne said softly.
André rolled his neck. "So an Alpha blood. How is her power hidden?"
"Probably a spell."
"I figured that. Why didn't she cancel it?"
"Maybe she can't?"
"Or maybe she doesn't trust me."
"André, she just told you, in a roundabout way. If she didn't want you to know. Would she have reacted like that?" Yvonne raised a brow at him.
André felt his muscles unclench as he thought over the last few seconds. Her eyes had indeed looked at him with desire, but what's more, there had been a mischievous sparkle. His chameleon. "Thank you, Yvonne. I fear I will need your continued support and advise."
"Of course. And I'll give her advice as well, asked for or not."
"Hey!" Luc looked between them. "I want help, too!"
"As if I wouldn't help you."
André straightened and stared at Luc. "Help. Yes. That's what we need."