I woke up mad... my blood boiling and my hair slick with sweat.

The runes across my body sizzling on my skin, illuminating the carnage that surrounded me.

Signs of fighting... Of war were strewn across the cavern, cracked stone and broken rubble littered the ground everywhere you looked.

Shadows quivered in every corner, as if scared to move in any direction, yet unable to flee.

Arkos knelt before me, half his torso reduced to nothing but wisps with a broken blade at his side.

“Thank you.” I said after a calming breath.

But the ache still remained in my heart, the pain that passes by all defenses, the pain of hurting someone you care for.

I let out another weary breath as I stumbled towards a nearby basin of water and submerged myself, letting the air escape my lungs and my body sink to the bottom.

I had no more rage to draw on to shield myself from the errant thoughts that soon came flooding into my mind.

Of what could have happened to Tessa should she have strayed from my words the smallest amount or what could happen to this clan if I failed or the costs a single mistake would incur.

Of what my relationship to Sophia had been reduced to, and to the weight Natasha had to bear...

Of what the world would soon turn into, the fear and mourning that would fill the lives of every person beneath the sun and moon.

But before my worries could weigh me down any deeper, the shrill sound of the waters above being disturbed brought me back, and I kicked off the bottom of the pool of water.

As I breached the surface and squinted the water out of my eyes, I found Katya standing at the edge of the water, holding an oil lantern in one hand and a large rock in the other.

“You’ve been hard to reach.” Katya said disapprovingly.

“How long?” I asked, fearing the answer.

“A week. The gala is tonight.” She answered flatly.

“Sophia?” I inquired, fearing the worst.

“It’s... Complicated.” Katya said with a weary sigh. “You should get ready. I brought your clothes along from Almino.”

“Thank you.” I responded, getting out of the water.

“Aleks... The shadows around the valley protecting people such as myself... They’ve been staying clear of this place while you’ve been gone, to the point of abandoning their charge should they try to enter... Many have expressed sensing fear from them.” Katya asked, conflicted.

“Ask your question.”

“What happened here... to you?” Katya asked cautiously

“I’m afflicted... with darkness and rage, I’ve tried my best to turn that darkness into something useful and good, and in many ways I’d think you’d agree I’ve accomplished that goal. But I have yet to find a use for the blood boiling fury that rises in me at times, only ways to manage it. This is not the first time since I’ve returned either, but it is the first without an enemy to direct it at.”

“And what enraged you to this point?” Katya said, sweeping her hand in a gesture towards the destruction behind her.

“Myself... My own faults and failures as a person... You know... The usual.” I snorted sardonically.

“Well, pull yourself together. We have work to do.” Katya said as she turned and walked away.

***

The drive took almost an hour, even while taking the restricted roads as every visitor moved up the valley. Checkpoints and security measures didn’t exactly help to lessen the congestion either.

I ran my thumb down the smooth fabric of the tuxedo, enjoying the craftsmanship and smooth design, allowing for the carrying of my weapons.

“We’ll meet Sophia and Natasha at a private staging point, as we wouldn’t want to arrive at the same entrance as the guests.” Katya informed.

“Understood.” I replied.

The car pulled to a stop behind a massive building styled after the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A dozen people awaited our arrival and more than a few wore a sleeve design similar to my own, showing off their mark of allegiance to the oath Katya and I had sworn to.

I turned to Katya in askance, but the woman was already looking at me with barely contained mirth.

“It seems someone may have leaked your design choices. Anyone with a sewing needle and thread has no doubt had plenty of business during the last week, altering clothes for this event.” Katya said, covering her mouth and letting out a small chortle.

After stepping out of the car, I turned to the closest Sentire, a young male not more than a decade from his rebirth.

“If you’re gonna do it, you’ll do it right.” I said, locking eyes with him sternly.

“When you greet an ally of authority, make sure your mark is angled outward. Before a superior or someone you respect, you turn the edge of your weapons away from them, or in your case, you place your sidearm at a cross-draw... And you never ever kneel.” I explained, as the oath mark began to sting on my skin and by the slight wince on his face, his did too.

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Connections like this can’t always be described, and the mark had no doubt changed since Katya and I made our oaths.

“U-Understood, Sir.” The young man stammered out.

I gave him a sharp nod and continued forward, Katya easily following beside me.

“Are those the Customs of a Titan then?” Katya asked, merrily.

“No... Of a Huntsman.” I explained as we were led into a large drawing room filled with many other officials of the clan, a large amount of which were clustered around a certain corner to which I felt a connection.

“Sophia...” I muttered in a barely audible whisper, but somehow the room went quiet and people turned to look. A direct line of sight through the crowd allowed us to lock eyes.

Sophia looked at me for a moment. She wasn’t surprised, but shock was still on her beautiful sharp features, Natasha beside her whispering something into her ear before giving her a gently shove forward.

People quickly stepped out of the way as she approached me, wearing a snow white sleeveless form fitted dress sparkling in the gentle light, every other step revealing her slender and elegant legs through a high slit side.

“Mind if we speak for a moment?” She asked, her voice ringing softly in my ears.

“Lead the way.” I said, unable to take my eyes off her.

***

Sophia stepped out onto the stone balcony overlooking the gardens behind the gala, Aleks following closely behind her.

She had imagined a more strained greeting, but the big fool hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her, she hadn’t received the same connection Natasha had, but judging from her wife’s enjoyment, his thoughts mirrored his actions... Which was kinda flattering and sweet, making the butterflies in her stomach change from ones of worry to ones of joy.

“I’m sorry-” Sophia started.

“I was an idiot-” Aleks simultaneously said.

They both looked at each other for a moment stunned, then something seemed to dawn on Aleks’s face and he put a gently palm on her cheek and leaned in, planting a subtle kiss on her lips before pulling away.

Sophia felt the warmth travel from her lips throughout her body, and a slight tingling like electricity.

Then the mind before her changed from an endless ocean to a small windowless room and all thoughts were laid bare before her.

Worries, fears, stubborn opinions and regrets of what he felt were truly necessary... And pain, so much anguish, spilling into a deep empty pit with the scents of wrath and fury emanating from it.

Sophia felt a tear form in the corner of her eye and she stood on the tips of her toes to reach up and pull his face back down to hers once more, the two sharing a long kiss under the moonlight and when they pulled away, Sophia hid her face in Aleks’ chest, her body pushed against his as he wrapped his arms around her.

“It wasn’t this hard with Natasha.” She muttered with a sigh.

“I’m sorry.” Aleks said, leaning his head down beside hers.

“It isn’t your fault... At least not all your fault. I forget you can’t see what’s inside our heads the same way we can see what’s inside yours.” Sophia said, her voice cracking momentarily as she tried to wipe the tears from her eyes.

Sophia pushed herself away and looked up at the man in front of her. The height difference was little more than a foot, but at this moment, he looked as tall as a mountain, blocking out the night sky behind him.

She was starting to understand why he spoke in such certainties; it felt as if, should he in this moment tell her, he would pluck a star out of the sky for her. It would stop being a celestial body of fire and turn into the shimmering jewel it appeared.

But her gaze hardened with determination as she remembered the reason she had wanted to speak to him.

“Aleks... I see part of my past in her. My reaction might have been excessive, but my worries were not... One day we’re going to have a child, and I need to know whether you can be relied on, not just to be a force of reckoning, but one of safety and security as well... or this isn’t going to work.” Sophia felt her eyes water slightly as the words left her lips.

She lowered her gaze and bit her lip to keep herself focused.

But before she knew it, she felt Aleks’ hand lift her chin to face him.

“I can’t promise perfection, because I’m not. But I will always do what is in the best interest of those I care about, and if I forget, then you will remind me and I will hear you.” His expression left no room for doubt, his certainty absolute.

The two of them staring into each other’s eyes as if, should they look away, the other could simply disappear.

“Are you two gonna flirt and gaze soulfully into each others’ eyes all night? Or can we get to the party already?” Natasha said, breaking the scene like a glass pane.

She stood leaned against the wall beside the door, her arms folded with an impish expression that screamed trouble, Her dress a perfect copy of Sophia’s except black with ebony gemstones dotting its surface, her stance purposefully exposing her leg through the slit of her dress.

Sophia was about to say something, but her thoughts were halted when Natasha’s expression turned to one of lust and she hugged her chest a little tighter while stretching her exposed leg in an enticing display.

Sophia had the good sense to look away from the seductive temptress, but found Aleks still mesmerized and caught in her web.

“You two are gonna be the death of me.” He muttered as he shook his head as if to break the spell.

“Only if you play your cards right.” Natasha retorted with a wink before heading back inside.

***

Having taken the first step to clear things up with Sophia, I felt a thousand pounds lighter, the dull pain in the back of my head receding once more, allowing me to relax.

We started making our way back into the gathering of Clans-people when something tugged at my domain and before I could reach out and grab hold of him, Fenris sprang from my shadow and set off in the direction of the back gardens.

Seconds later, the grass was pushed flat against the ground as great winds surged and a black helicopter with no lights landed with a surprisingly low level of noise, considering the usually deafening sound.

Before the doors could even open Fenris leapt at the helicopter, turning into a puff of smoke slipping through the cracks and judging from the sudden shift in weight, he materialized on the inside of the helicopter.

When the door was finally flung open a Custodes tumbled out of the cramped space, pushed by a massive tail moving at speeds that rivaled the propellers above and before anyone else could react the massive body turned and sprinted out of the opening, a small shape riding the great beast, laughing like a wildling on the plains.

“They look kinda worried.” Sophia observed sympathetically.

“I tried to grab him before he went off, but he noticed before I did.” I said, staring at the frolicking wolf running at what looked to be fifty miles an hour across the grassy field.

The Sentires by the chopper once more panicked as another curly brown-haired woman in a stylish dress jumped from the vehicle, this one considerably taller and examining her daughter riding around on a giant wolf made of shadows before shaking her head and marching towards the building, several Custodes trailing behind her trying to shield her from the wind.

“I’ve given up trying to control mine, so you gotta learn to control yours or these guys are gonna have an aneurism!” Emily yelled to me as she approached.

She walked past me and hugged Sophia tightly and softly congratulated her.

She turned towards me with open arms and I reciprocated, but at the last minute she side stepped and went to Natasha behind me.

“What about me?” I asked, feeling a little left out.

“I’m a mother. I already know what you contributed to this. Talk to me in nine months.” Emily replied sarcastically.

“Twenty-four.” I corrected, causing Emily to turn and look surprised at Sophia, who just shrugged in reply.

“Wow, that’s gonna suck.” Emily stated in shock before continuing towards the gala building.

Sophia and stared at the brash woman pulling up her dress to stomp up the small hill towards the venue in disbelief.

“A surprising number of women in this clan have a certain...” I started in quiet incredulity.

“Yeah.” Sophia said, mirroring my expression.

“You’re a Ph.D. That’s environmental... right?” I asked, slightly concerned.

“God, I hope so.” Sophia muttered, absentmindedly running a hand over her stomach.

“You two do realize I’m standing right behind you... Right?” Natasha said behind us, sounding offended.