“The hell do you think you’re doing?” I growled. Just because I was glad to not be in the position of ‘unwilling comforter’ didn’t mean I’d excuse that lunge.

Instead of immediately answering, or appearing nervous about the knife against his jugular as any sane person would be, the blond stared in utter befuddlement.

“You…are not aroused?”

Disgust blazed a trail through me as the kids all shrank back, their cries adding to the fury building in my chest. Sneering with all the hate I possessed, I pressed the blade closer in warning. “What part of this situation would make me be?”

I’d thought he was an ally, but I’d proven to have a poor judge of character before… The last thing I expected was his calm reply.

“Nothing about this should be arousing, but the child attached to you and the others are incubi and succubi, though young ones.” Solemn gold eyes leveled on me. “And as such, they cannot control their fledgling powers. I take it you are also unaffected by them?”

Apparently. “I don’t feel anything out of the ordinary aside from the adrenaline spike you gave me. Why would them being kids make a difference? If your power doesn’t work on me, why would theirs?”

He grimaced. “Children of my blood are untapped wells of power and, until they learn to control it, that power is without restraint. Thus it leaks out to draw those around them. While you appear to be immune, I refuse to take chances when it comes to them.”

Alright, I could get behind that, though I now had more questions than answers.

“If you’re some kind of sex demon and they are too, then why aren’t I affected?” Not to say I minded that, but the logistics were confusing. The power he’d whammied me with before, I’d had to focus to dispel, but I felt nothing coming from the kids.

Thank God.

He gave a blithe shrug. “You are currently surrounded by four children and me, yet you are calm with a firm grasp on your consciousness. This proves that something about you prevents our power from penetrating, at least not without effort. As for why you are not affected? I do not know. By all rights, you should be, but here you are.”

Interest lit his eyes. “Earlier I saw you put a shield in place to protect me, I take it that was some sort of magic?”

Okay, so he was unaware of the magical world, not surprising since most mages were hermits or snobs who thought ‘prosaics’ were beneath them. But that meant I’d have a lot of explaining to do once we got some privacy. Great.

Shrugging off the resignation, I nodded. “My magic shielded me or so I assume. The other mage was weak, so hers didn’t stand a chance.” I didn’t have a better explanation anyway and we didn’t have time to talk about this right now. The kids needed to get out of here and standing around in the open was driving my instincts haywire.

I’d already been attacked twice, no need to make it three times.

“Alright, you were only jumping at me because you thought I was going to hit some kind of lust craze, right?” I asked, knife still poised at his throat.

He nodded, ignoring the blade even as it dug in further. “Yes, though I see now I was wrong to worry. Do you feel even slightly dazed?”

Digging deep, I tried to pinpoint anything odd, but after a minute I shook my head. “No, not at all, but we can discuss that and what you are later. We have four kids that need to go home and that’s more important than either of our curiosity.”

Slowly, I lowered the blade while leveling a glare on him that promised pain if he tried anything. His lips twitched, the previous glint of approval showing, before he took several steps back. Giving a slight bow of his head, he gestured for me to lead. “My apologies for startling you. Now then, shall we be off?”

In place of a verbal answer, I started nudging the children forward. Keeping him in the corner of my vision, I followed at the rear while my mind wandered to his words.

An incubus…just what kind of powers did he have?

***

Staring up at the towering house in wonder, my previous assumption that he was more than he seemed cemented further.

It wasn’t quite what I’d call a castle, but it was close enough to count. One thing was for sure, the massive three story building was just like its owner. Mysterious.

Towering walls made of brick greeted us as we entered, my eyes flicking over the potential strengths and weaknesses of the place on habit. While it and its base were brick, there were too many windows for it to be considered well fortified. Thick walls were useless if thin windows covered just as much space.

On top of that; palpable energy rolled off it, making my hair stand on end. It was similar to the one that’d come from the blond earlier, but different in a way I couldn’t put my finger on. It all but pulsed off the sprawling estate and despite my instincts screaming that something was off, the urge to inch closer tugged at me.

Curiosity that’d stayed with me over the centuries burned to know what the new magic was, even as logic said it was dangerous to run in blind. Forcing the urge to start asking hundreds of questions down, I pivoted to face the blond with a raised brow.

“You said we should bring the children back to your house because it would be easier to have all the parents contacted that way.”

He turned, having not once made a move toward the children after his previous worry soaked lunge, and nodded. “Yes, and I stand by this, why?”

Snorting, I gestured around us at the fortress-like building. “This is not a house, this is a mansion.”

A shrug. “It is home, does the term I give it matter?”

Eyeing everything around us warily, I glanced back at the kids huddled behind me, before heaving a sigh. The air the place gave off wasn’t dangerous necessarily, but not knowing what waited for us was putting me on edge.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Though, I suppose if the guy had Seraphina’s support I could at least give him the benefit of the doubt.

“I guess not. I hope you know I have plenty of questions for you once we get the children sorted.”

At that, he swept an amused glance my way, mouth twitching again as he led the way. “What a coincidence, I was about to say the same.”

The lighthearted expression disappeared then. “But you are correct, they are the top priority so both our curiosities will have to wait. I will answer all your questions then.”

With that, silence came again, allowing me to take in the massive hallways he led us down. Tile floors and fancy carpets lined the ground, stone walls and the occasional suit of armor decorating the hall as we breezed down it.

The kids were following him in a line now–thank God, I’d been ready to snap if they started clinging to me again–and as we went deeper into the building, I pulled magic into my fingers. If things got nasty, a barrier might be needed and it was better to be prepared for the worst case scenario.

Just because he supposedly had Sera’s approval didn’t mean I’d be stupid about this. Seers weren’t gods and their visions were often misunderstood. With children’s lives at stake, I couldn’t afford to be too trusting.

After the first few corridors I lost track of the way back, my memory once again working against me as the seemingly endless hallways came together into a maze. Just as I started considering asking if he’d gotten lost in his own home, the blond pulled to a stop outside of what appeared to be a sitting room.

Moving to let us pass, he waved. “If you would stay here with the young ones, I will make arrangements for their parents to be located and contacted. The kidnappers must have been taking them from nearby as the building was not heavily fortified or heavily guarded. It should require little effort to find their caregivers.”

I nodded, coaxing the kids inside before turning my attention to him. “I have a friend who knows Tina’s grandparents. I assume you want them to pick her up?”

A nod. “That would be the easiest route. You may sit in on the explanation I give the grandparents if you wish. As I told you earlier, all of these children are succubi or incubi. Their caregivers need to be warned of the difficulties that will come from this and what they should be wary of.”

And while he did that, I’d be learning everything I wanted to know. He said I’d get my answers and from personal experience dealing with Sera, I knew that pressing for more was infinitely more likely to result in me getting no answers at all.

So I pulled out my phone and made the call. The blond left with a bow of his head, movements graceful as he eased out the door. Immediately the kids grouped around me, Tina in particular clinging to my pants again.

There was no winning with this kid, I swear.

Why was it the universe at large decided I needed a gaggle of children around me? I wasn’t the motherly type and even if I liked kids I didn’t know how to interact with them.

The phone picked up, pulling me back to the present as Sera spoke. At least she remembered to keep her phone nearby this time…

“Julian?”

I hummed. “Yup. I went with who I’m hoping is my new partner and I need the contact number for Tina’s grandparents.”

Sera answered. “If the man you’re referring to is tall, blond and has the ability to drop people into lust driven fits, then yes he’s your partner. I’ll give you the number now, I’m assuming you have a pen because we both know your memory sucks.”

Pulling one off the nearby table, I scribbled the number on my palm as she rattled it off. Once done, I spoke. “Thanks Sera. I’ll call you later once I know more about this since I’m assuming you won’t tell me anything?”

A knowing chuckle came from the line and I sighed.

“Figured. Alright, I need to call the grandparents, talk to you later.” With that I hung up, dialing the other number and listening as a voice filled with hope and dread answered.

“Yes, this is the Birchwood household. How may I help you?”

Sending a smile down to Tina, I gave who I assumed was her grandmother the happy news. “Your granddaughter has been found safely, she’s here with me and if you could come pick her up that’d be much appreciated. I’m a friend of Seraphina’s.”

Tina beamed, all but vibrating in place as tears of relief made twin trails down her cheeks. I wiped them away absentmindedly as Mrs. Birchwood called out an order for someone to get the car ready, before she spoke to me again. “We’ll be right there dearie and thank you. I don’t have words to tell you how much this means to us and I will forever be grateful Seraphina intervened.”

I grunted, uncomfortable with the praise, as my mind wandered to Sera. She’d told me this mission had to be done by me and no one else, but why? As of yet there’d been nothing that Sera herself couldn’t have handled, though the Exitium mage probably would have given her a bit of trouble.

Sparing a glance down at the four kids now happily chatting amongst themselves, suspicion niggled at the back of my mind. Four kids, all from the same creature inheritance, kidnapped by people who’d known to hire two magical guards.

Someone had taken these kids knowing their heritage, but that only spawned more questions. And for that matter, I’d had Seraphina point me here, but how did the blond know where to find the kids?

And how did the person who’d tracked them down know?

Sneaking a glance where the blond disappeared, I bit my lip and wondered. Why was he saving them to begin with? Most people wouldn’t put their own life on the line to save a child that wasn’t their own. So what was his angle?

The questions circled one another, multiplying until my head was ready to burst from them all. When I was no closer to answering them after a minute, I let it go. I’d have time to consider it later and with any luck, some of them would be answered soon.

Rattling off the address to Mrs. Birchwood, I listened as the woman promised to be here soon, then hung up. Settling the phone back in my pocket, I crouched to Tina’s level and soothed. “Your grandmother is on her way.”

The girl’s eyes lit up like stars before she whipped around to chatter with the others, exuberance all but pouring off her as I stood again. At least these four were safe now. Though, knowing what they were, I wasn’t so sure this was just a trafficking ring hunting for more victims…

The blond walked through the door again, an easy smile on his lips. “We have begun the search for their parents. It should be settled by the end of the day. I assume Tina’s grandparents are also on their way?”

At my nod, he continued. “Excellent, when they get here we may start going through the things you wish to discuss.”

Considering the questions breeding like rabbits on Viagra, I was more than ready to have some answers. That must have shown through because he chuckled.

“You are inquisitive. Good. It is refreshing to be around one who questions the goings-on for no reason other than the pursuit of knowledge. I am much the same, which is why I will of course be asking you questions of my own when we finish with my explanation.”

Hearing the not at all subtle message underneath the words, I nodded. “I’m no stranger to information exchanges, though you’re the first person who’s been polite during it. Generally, when someone faces the knowledge that there’s an entire world they don’t know, they react aggressively. Your level-headedness is different. Good different, but still different.”

If someone didn’t already know of magic then the usual response to having it shoved in their face was violence, as I’d seen firsthand too many times. While he was mystifying, he hadn’t once given me so much as a bad feeling despite seeming to just realize an entire species of people he hadn’t known existed lived alongside his own.

In short, he was fascinating, and in my three hundred and forty some odd years I’d seldom found truly interesting people. Seraphina was one of them and I hadn’t hesitated in befriending her for that reason. Then there was Vladimir, who was an entirely new tax bracket of fascinating, though for a different reason…

Shaking all thoughts of the man’s ass and other things away, I eyed the blond, noting amusedly that I still didn’t have his name. Today had been hellacious so I guess it wasn’t that surprising. I’d have to fix that soon though. If we were going to work together, I couldn’t keep calling him ‘the blond’.

Before I could ask what it was, a knock sounded and a man dressed in formal pants and a crisp white shirt came in with a bow. “The Birchwoods are here, sir.”

The blond–damn it, there it was again–nodded, gesturing to the door for me to follow. “Now then, shall we ladies?”

Tina and I exchanged a glance, before I nodded. Following the muscled back without question, I kept an eye on Tina as we made our way back through the sprawling mansion.

It was finally time to get some answers.