Page 126 of He Who Sleeps

"We should order her some tea," Easton said absently. "She usually has one around this time. It might help reset her body clock."

"That's really thoughtful of you, brother." Finn squeezed his shoulder, still hesitant at the previously unwelcome form of contact, but Easton leaned into it.

"I'll go," Leo said. He hadn't been doing anything important anyway.

Emerson nodded and dropped two books the Kildare had handed him. “Found the rule books. Kildare had them in his quarters holding up a table.”

"Of course he did," Finn chuckled ruefully. "Did you get a chance to page through them or is that a now job?"

“I did.” He smirked. “It’s fucking nuts what we don’t do. What rites we are missing, the ones that are dual rites.”

"Well, I guess the good news is that the women seem to be on board with going back to the old ways," Finn said with a tired smile. He'd barely slept for days, but they were close to hammering it all out. They were all looking forward to going home and sleeping for a week.

"Carter said something about the main women's compounds being in Idaho," Easton said. "I think that confirms it's a good idea to move HQ to the US. We're there and the ladies are there. Makes sense to have the governing council there. Did you ask the priests about setting up a chapter house in the US?"

"Not yet." Finn rubbed his eyes. "I wanted to speak to this matron they've brought back first. There's no point organizing us and the priests if the women want to resettle here."

“This is the original temple,” Jack said thoughtfully. “So they might. Either way I don’t think Kildare is moving.”

“Hey...” they heard as Petra walked into the room. “Miss me?”

"Like you wouldn't believe." Easton was the first one into her arms and the others all shared a soft smile. It was so good to see him breaking out of his shell.

"I made you tea," Leo announced, returning to the room with a large tray and dropping a kiss on her cheek as he passed. "We hoped it might help the jetlag."

“What’s going to help the jetlag is a cuddle.” She giggled and snuggled into Easton. He let her go, and Jack went to her, hugging her.

“Missed you, baby cakes.” He winked.

Emerson watched her go to each of them, himself, which he kissed her and grabbed her ass, and then to Finn who she wrapped herself around.

“You look awful, my love,” she said softly. “You and me, nap later?”

"There's so much to do," he sighed. "But sure. If we have time. I could do with some sleep."

“I’ma make sure you have time, love.” She kissed his cheek. “You are no good to anyone dead on your feet.”

“So what did you learn?” Jack said as she detangled from Finn and went to Easton and hugged him again. It was clear she missed him very much, and she was receptive to things progressing with him.

“Wait ‘til Carter gets here...let’s talk about what you guys learned?” she asked.

"Emerson was just telling us about the books he found about all the rites we should have been doing over the last several decades," Finn said. "We were musing over the possibility of whether it would be a good idea to move headquarters to the US since we're there. Where's the matron?"

"With Kildare seeing the women. I suspect she will be in shortly to meet you all. She was enraptured with Carter."

"Who wouldn't be?" Leo smirked. "Wait until she meets the rest of us."

"Before she gets here, maybe you could tell us your impression of her," Finn said. "Does she seem legit? Are they happy we ousted the old Elders?"

She nodded. “She seems happy. I mean she’s resentful of what happened within the organization, especially the fact that they had to hide, but...” She shrugged. “She wants a return to both sides being together, and to bring the feminine together once more.” She grinned. “And she told me something very special. Well, told us...me and Carter. And my friends are going to love it.”

“Well? Tell us?” Emerson asked.

“Not ‘til Carter is here.” She shook her finger at him. It was clear she was enjoying this.

"Tease," Leo accused, but he was grinning. "Where is that fucker anyway? How long does it take to say hello to a dog?"

“Brutus missed his daddy,” she said as Carter walked in with the aforementioned dog at his side. Smiling at the massive dog, she went to him and snuggled him. “Hello, Mr. Man,” she said softly and then took Carter’s hand. “They are pouting I wouldn’t tell them stuff without you.”