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P andora sat cross-legged in her slacks and said, So, what is for dessert?

Zhin smiled and grabbed the last basket. Knur said you liked stuff from this bakery, so we made a stop. We also got coffee because you are known to consume it wholesale.

Knur smiled. Said the woman who owns the shop.

Regis would know. She used to be my boss.

Zhin brought boxes out and started to flip them open. Okay, so now is the time to tell us what happened.

Fine, but you are going to get mad. I remember roaring and screaming, and it wasn t me.

Knur raised a hand. That was me.

Zhin lifted his hand. And me. They had us shackled to a wall the moment they took you to play their twisted game.

She chuckled. That didn t turn out right for them.

Knur asked softly, What happened?

He held me over the crevice, dangled me over nothing. I started to claw at his arm and finally made it through that leather armour and into flesh. He didn t like that. He tried to drop me. I didn t let him. I dug both my hands into his forearm, and he tried to shake me off like a dog with a rabbit, but I didn t let go. He tried to lean forward and throw me, but I didn t let him do that either. I caught the crevasse edge with my feet and pushed back, overbalancing him into a fall that seemed to take forever. She took one of the raspberry chocolate cupcakes. He hit the ground hard, and I shattered into fog.

She sipped at her coffee and nibbled at the cupcake.

Zhin said softly, What next?

I learned to see, to feel, and I drained all the moisture out of the corpse because the cave was dry. I was trapped. I remained trapped, learning how to move and how to use the senses I had. I couldn t climb. I didn t move that way. My maximum height is about eighteen inches like that, unless there is a stiff wind. She kept eating and got one of the blueberry lemon cupcakes.

I had to wait, and then one day, the wall cracked. I think that was Win. Anyway, I squeezed out through the tiny crack, and it took a long time to get me out. When I was in the bright light, I realized I had an issue, but then the wind swirled and carried me away. A decade of spinning through the world, continent to continent, until I ended up back here. Regis and Ira pulled me out of a pond, took me in, and let me be human again. They made me family and helped me become me again.

Knur stared at her. So, what kind of gifts does your friend and her daughter like?

Ira is really into drawing and sports, so good-quality sketchbooks are always in demand. As for Regis, I wouldn t think anything but plants she can put in the gardens. She s expecting a lot of guests, so something for them to do would be a good idea.

She looked at them. So, the king is in the world somewhere?

They paused and nodded. Zhin smiled. He s around. He s waiting and said we will know when it happens.

She smiled and went for a third cupcake. He doesn t have to wait much longer.

Knur caught on immediately. That is what you are doing this weekend.

Correct. The strongest Elite omegas are converging on the Stronghold and extracting those who are being confined and those who are deluded into thinking that being a slave is an occupation.

He slowly nodded and then blinked. It is happening now?

It is. More or less. A few more days. Then, if you are still interested, we can form a bond, pick one of these houses, and I can spend my days commuting between my business and Ira and you two.

Zhin cocked his head. What is your business?

I have a small clothing shop that makes outfits for tall ladies. Business has been suddenly picking up. She smiled.

Zhin took his phone out. Pandora Designs .

Yup. That s me. I am not in the big leagues, but I am doing all right. Wait, how do you know?

We are doing the marketing and advertising for the costume competition.

Oh. That. I still have a few to make, but Ira helped with the designs.

Who are your models going to be?

Uh, some of the omega ladies. Why?

What about for the men s costumes?

Ah. I have them, I just haven t thought about who is going in them.

He grinned. I volunteer.

Khur swallowed. Me, too.

You guys are up for some prancing?

Yes. They both grinned.

Fine. I will ask the ladies with attached mates. They are going to be easier to convince.

Zhin chuckled. So, what are we going to be dressed as?

Well, if I do quick changes, then one will be one zodiac, and the other will be one six months away, so I have time to get into the different gown, mask, and accessories.

Knur smiled. I will be Aries, if you don t mind.

Sure. I will put you down for the horns.

He grinned. I bring my own.

He shook his head, and there were thick and wide ram s horns growing out of his skull.

Oh. That looks heavy.

He chuckled. It is part of me. It s the feet that are the issue.

She looked at his feet, and he pulled his trouser leg up. A wide hoof was the end of his leg. Wow. Unexpected. What are you?

Satyr.

Zhin smiled and shifted into dark green with a halo of leaves. Green man. All normal bits, just green.

Cool. So, I can tell you two apart in the dark.

They laughed, finished off their picnic, and took their pros and cons list with them.

She stretched and said, Well, that was interesting.

Knur shook his head. It isn t over. We still need to make a decision.

Shoot. Well, I will ask the ladies if we can pop by and use the gardens. Pandora pulled out her phone and made the call.

Regis s tone was wry. You want to bring two dark Elite alphas here?

Yes, Regis. I want to get Ira s input on guestrooms in case she gets to come and stay over on date night.

Regis chuckled. Right. Thanks for thinking of that. Yes, I can let them in today, but you know that once we get the survivors here, they aren t going to be welcome for quite a while.

I know. Fortunately, we are five minutes away.

Seriously?

Seriously. We will be there shortly.

I will put the coffee on.

Um, how about lemonade?

There was laughter before Regis stopped the call.

Okay, I am going to have to drive for this one, but the other can follow me.

Zhin smiled. I will come with you.

Knur sighed. I will follow closely.

Great. This is not the situation when I want you up my backside.

He laughed. I will restrain myself.

Excellent. Gather up the boxes, and let s go.

Zhin chuckled. You are very direct for an omega.

And you are slow for an alpha. Come on. Shift it.

She got up and looked out over the expansive back yard that had a lake and a creek running through it.

Knur wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. Let s go.

She leaned against him and sighed. Let s go.

They locked up the house and got into the cars. Zhin smiled. So, you had to get authorization for this?

Yup. The palace is not for males yet. It is a refuge. We are going to have our conversation outside, and they will bring things out to us.

Things?

Cookies and lemonade. She headed down the drive, and the gates swung open at her approach.

Okay, how does that happen?

The real estate agent is one of ours. So, when we ask to see a house, it opens.

She smiled as she drove down the quiet lane. I guess that is why you were all thrown back ten years.

So, you knew about that.

Yes. Regis discussed it with Poppy, and since most of you guys had been thrown back that far so that you could finally sync up with us, ten years it s going to be.

Zhin nodded. Sensible. It was enough time for us to get modern certifications and set ourselves up. And not to put too fine a point on it, but it gave our mates time to become complete adults with control of their own power.

Yeah. I mean, I wasn t even here until a few years ago. She chuckled. I did make some haunted areas, though. That was fun.

Haunted?

Yeah, tales of mist that rises up and stops date rapes of either gender are now circulating the internet in a dozen countries. She flicked her blinker and made a slow right with Knur right behind her. He really is close. It makes me worry about his sex life.

Zhin laughed. You are his sex life, or you will be.

Yeah, how long do you think I can delay that? He makes me nervous.

He was catatonic from the point where we lost you until they came to send us back. At that point, I got the idea to make an illusion he could keep with him.

Hm. Interesting. So, I have to plant that idea. She shrugged as she pulled into the very long drive toward the palace. No problem.

Knur was still right behind them as they drove the kilometre to the palace and parked in front of the enormous building.

Holy shit. This was here the whole time?

Yup. Well, it was built slowly over the last twelve years, and so was this little minx.

She opened her car door, and Knur was there, helping her down. Zhin chuckled and got out to join them.

She hugged him and walked around to meet her family. Amiraith, also known as Ira, this is Knur and Zhin.

Ira looked at them and giggled. Horns and leaves. You are stuck outdoors, Auntie Pandora.

Regis came out to stand next to her daughter. She was first seen in our pond, so it makes sense. Gentlemen, please come with me. Pandora, go get a tray from inside and meet us in the pergola.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Ouch. Sorry. I need to talk to these two privately for a moment.

Fine. Don t let Rex rough them up. I need them mostly intact. She grinned at the two as they followed the queen around the edge of the house.

Ira waited until they were around the corner and whispered, Why are they so much more than standard alphas?

Pandora put her hand on the little girl s shoulder as they walked through the building and into the kitchen. It is the difference between some alphas and the alphas. This world had alphas, betas, and omegas already, so it was the perfect place to send ambassadors of a sort to help the naturally occurring Elite to train themselves. The mage betas were peaceful in the beginning, but when they saw the kind of power the dark Elite could wield, they wanted it and set about trying to find out how to get it.

Ira got the pitcher of lemonade and glasses. Pandora went for the cookies and found a tray on the counter addressed to her. She grinned and said, Mom said you were going to need more snacks for a serious discussion.

Sliders?

Yeah. The ones with blue toothpicks are spicy the way you like it. Ira smiled. So, the houses are close?

Yeah, I think we can probably bring a portal up and anchor it if you need a place to get some air when the new ones are here. She smiled. Or you can ride a bike or horse there in about ten minutes.

Nice. I am really excited. I get the feeling that this place is going to feel very different with ladies in it.

And some of them won t want to be here.

Oh, right. Why?

They were offered free power, and power that isn t earned by focus and hardship isn t respected. Power that is backed up by the weak or greedy is worse. It lacks direction and control.

Which is why control and growing into power is important.

Correct. She carried the tray of lemonade, and Ida brought the sliders.

The group was sitting in one of the cozy areas, and the guys had seriously concerned expressions. Regis finished, and they nodded before looking at her. Pandora smiled. That isn t suspicious at all.

The guys had removed their suit coats and were rolling up their shirt sleeves.

Regis grinned. I gave them some details of what is going to happen and why they need to be waiting to make you safe after the fact. It is going to make for a very rapid closing, so you had better pick the house tonight and call the realtor.

Ira carefully slid the platter onto the table. Pandora said I can help choose. I know her best.

Pandora sat, and Ira sat between her and Regis. Pandora poured for everyone and blinked as she was suddenly pressed against Knur.

Regis chuckled. He s subtle but persistent.

Yeah, I am catching on to that.

Knur said, It is just so we can all look over our favourite aspects of the houses.

Uh-huh.

Ira grinned and ran into the house, returning with her notepad. You need this one.

She flipped open her sketchbook and slid the pages over.

Pandora looked at the different images and compared them to photos she had taken of the yards and interior fireplaces. You are really good, bug.

Thank you. Your lessons on perspective were helpful.

Zhin looked through the images. These are wonderful. You have a lot of talent.

Pandora found an image that matched the pond and the creek. Zhin found one on his phone that matched the living room and fireplace, while Knur found one that matched the gardens.

So, it was house number three, after all.

Regis smiled. Was it dessert?

Knur nodded. It was.

Dessert is always the best. Regis grinned.

Ira smirked. And it s close, so I can just go over.

Regis smiled. You will call ahead. Adults newly in relationships like to spend time alone together.

Ew.

Pandora chuckled. It might wear off.

Zhin nodded. Might.

Unlikely, but it might. Phoning ahead is sensible. Knur smiled.

Ira said, What about texting?

That will work as well, as long as you wait for a reply. Pandora chuckled.

With the home selected, Zhin went back to the car for a moment and returned with a packet containing the layout and a map of the property.

Knur murmured, Now, Pandora, what is your preferred style?

Ira s hand shot into the air. I know.

Everyone looked at her. Zhin asked, Yes?

Auntie says her style is described as there appears to have been a struggle, whatever that means.

Pandora thudded her head to the table.