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“Well, they all four share equal parts of power, holding everything in balance. But Uncle Terrus prefers to keep to nature. Where Uncle Lore and Aunt Lucitari tend to shoulder more of the overall responsibilities, leaving Terrus to find his peace with the Earth.”

Delilah smiled, and nodded. “I just want to be sure I’m understanding. Do you mind?” she asked.

“Not at all,” Tempest said.

“Terrus oversees the Earth, nature and the wild beasts — I’m assuming of the forests, and such.”

“Yes,” Tempest said.

“So, your Uncle Lore — interesting name by the way — he oversees what?” Delilah asked.

Tempest understood suddenly what Delilah was asking, and the others were anxiously waiting to learn as well.

“There were four original elemental beings, Wind, Earth, Water, and Fire. They were the first beings, and everyone of us is a result of them in one way or another. Not necessarily a descendant, but existing in today’s world because they cared enough about the world, the universe even, to maintain it and allow it it to flourish.

Lore, Lucitari, Terrus, and their brother who no longer exists, were the original four.

When the fourth lost control, my mother, who is descended from Lore, stepped in and took on his powers.

She is now the strongest of them all. And it’s through her that I have the magics that I do.

And my father. But you already know about him. ”

Delilah stood there in front of Tempest, her eyes wide, her brows raised, with her smile plastered on her lips in exactly the same position it had been when Tempest started talking. She was quite literally unable to do anything other than wonder what the proper response would be.

“You mentioned another Uncle. What does he do?” Bam asked.

Tempest thought about it, trying to remember what she’d said.

“Oh! Uncle Boon! He’s my mother’s brother.

He doesn’t really do much other than hunt and fish, and hope for his mate.

He never really leaves home much. None of them do anymore.

Well, Uncle Enthrall does, but he can pass for human — he and his whole family.

But my family, the males are very easily identified as not being human, so they don’t leave Whispers much.

Which reminds me, if they do come if everything works out and I do have the baby… ”

Delilah started shaking her head rapidly, interrupting Tempest. “No, Tempest. Not if, it’s when. You will have this baby, and positive thinking will make it happen. When you have this baby. Go on…”

“When I have the baby,” Tempest said, smiling gratefully at Delilah, but shifting her gaze to Kaid, “if my family wants to come — in particular my grandfather Carnage, my Uncle Boon, maybe even my Uncle Destroy — would it be a problem? They’d either have to stay hidden here or on our own property, and if they wanted to see more, I could glamour them, as could my mother so that no human could see their horns.

But would it be okay? Would you mind helping us keep them hidden so they can visit me and the baby safely? ”

“We would be honored to host them and make it possible for them to see and experience anything they want to see,” Kaid said.

“I got a question,” Lucien said as he raised his hand, having kept his comments to himself up until this point.

Everyone looked over at him, having practically forgotten he was even there.

“You said horns. They have horns. What exactly do they shift into?” Lucien asked.

“Oh, they don’t shift. They’re gargoyles and the males always have horns. Some more ornate than others,” Tempest said happily. She was enjoying speaking about her family after not having done so in much detail before.

“Gargoyles?” Lucien asked, just to be sure he’d heard right.

Tempest nodded. “And Uncle Enthrall and his family are vampires. Uncle Destroy is a gargoyle also, but he’s mated to a witch.

Aubreigne is a siren, but her father was a demon, so when she gets angry, her skin turns red.

It makes her even more beautiful. Then Brannaugh, he’s a dark fey, but since he found his mate, he’s not so dark anymore.

And we have shifters, too, alligator shifters, too,” she said, shooting a look at Lucien, “and some species you might not even know about. The list goes on, but, that’s it.

Oh, but I have to just tell you this part…

Uncle Lore, his mate, is an Angel. Or she was, but when she chose him, she had to give up her wings.

Which by the way she gave to my grandfather, Carnage.

Because he lost his when he stood against his King. ”

“Baby? Tempest?” Brandt said, gently, slipping an arm around her waist.

“Hmm?” she asked, looking toward him with a smile. “Oh, I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”

“It’s okay. It’s like watching a movie every time you launch into an explanation of anything at all,” Brandt said, pecking a kiss to her lips.

“Sorry. I just start talking and the next thing you know, it’s ten minutes later I’m still rambling on with no end in sight. I asked Brandt to let me know when I’m doing it so I can stop myself before people are wishing that I’d just shut up and go away.”

“On the contrary, I’m a little resentful that Brandt stopped you. I’d love to hear the rest,” Everly said.

“Really? Okay, well let me tell you how my grandparents met. My grandmother is human, you know?” Tempest said.

While some listened with interest, Maverik had zeroed in on the fact that Lucien was still there. “Boy, why are you still here?”

“Because I don’t know anybody else, and it hurts too much to shift right now — I’m not fully healed and the salt water hurts like a bitch anyway — and Hellen left. So, here I sit. You want me to leave?” Lucien asked.

“I want you to get your ass up and go after her,” Maverik said.

“Hold on. I thought you were the one to preach to everybody about you don’t have to mate somebody just because they’re your mate,” Kaid said.

“I did. And proudly, too. But I have also learned that you can’t push people away just because they’re your mate.

You gotta feel it out. Consider the person as a whole and see how they fit with your soul.

And if they do, then you gotta have the guts to try it on for size.

Might work, might not, but you can’t just run because somebody’s your mate.

Thing with Avaleigh and Daniel taught me that.

Then Barron and Emmalyn just hammered it home. Speaking of. Where the hell are they?”

“Shopping,” Brandt said.

“For?”

“A new house.”

“What?” Bam asked. “He thinks he’s taking my baby to live away from us? After all that just happened?” Bam demanded, getting to his feet.

“Nope. She’s wanting to build across from Havoc and Analise, but isn’t sure what she wants in the way of a house, so they’re driving around looking at houses.”

“That’s ridiculous. We could build her whatever she wants,” Bane said.

“And I’m sure we will. She just has to settle on what style she wants first,” Brandt said. “He don’t mind, though. He gets to spend hours listening to her talk and sing, and getting more like herself everyday. He said it’s doing his heart good to watch her coming back to herself.”

“What are they going to do with Barron’s house?” Kaid asked.

“I don’t know.”

“I might have an idea,” Maverik said, focusing on Lucien.

“Don’t look at me! I don’t think I’ll be here that long,” Lucien said defensively.

“Boy, get your ass up and come on!” Maverik snapped, stalking toward the front door.

“Does he talk to everybody like that?” Lucien asked.

“Only if I like ‘em!” Maverik shouted as he let the screen door slam behind him as he walked out onto the porch.

“He talks to everybody in anyway that strikes him. Except for me. I’ll make him regret it,” Valerie said.

“I can see that,” Lucien said. “No offense. You keep him in his place, and he’s cantankerous.”

Valerie laughed. “Oh, we’re not that bad. But here’s the thing… we’ll both cut somebody’s throat for hurting our kids. But for whatever reason, he’s decided you’re trustworthy. I haven’t. Don’t prove him wrong.”

“Understood.”

“Are you coming or not?!” Maverik demanded, sticking his head back inside.

“Where?”

“We’re gonna take a ride. See if Hellen’s where I think she is.”

“I’m game!” Lucien said, getting to his feet rather gingerly and following Maverik outside onto the porch.

“He ought to play hard to get. That’d work better than chasing her,” Brandt called out.

Maverik, who was leading the way down the stairs to his truck, hesitated and thought about it. “He ain’t wrong. Want to play hard to get instead?”

“Naw, why make it easy?” Lucien asked.

Maverik laughed. “If it’s worth the fight, it’s worth having.”

“Exactly!” Lucien said.

Inside the house, Riley looked over at Maia and nodded. “Said it before, I’ll say it again. We gotta come visit more.”

“Definitely,” Maia agreed.