Chapter Nine

Karl

"What do you think of this?" Wolf shoved a folder in my face. "Do you think this plan would work for that age group?"

"Honestly." I scrolled over the outline and frowned. "Maybe we should ask one of the teachers downstairs. Perhaps Peter would know if preschoolers can handle that courseload."

"All right." Wolf put down another folder and leaned back in his chair. "You would think that being a father to kids myself, I would know. But every single one of my kids is different. I would trust my son to understand this part, but I'm not sure if my nephew would, although they are close in age."

"Then maybe you should keep the group outline broader and consider that kids at this age need one-on-one training for the more intricate spells. Perhaps a group class on the history of magic, the safety precautions, and the fundamental rules of shifting and magic craft, like do not attempt things you haven't done in class yet, at home." I jotted down a few questions to ask Peter and Georgi later. "But when you start actually to get into practice, the groups are smaller if not individualized."

"That makes a lot of sense." Wolf opened another folder. "Rayne wanted to start with our kids downstairs and see if it works before opening it up nationally. We need to see how long the program would run per session. Should we do it like a summer camp and spring break? Or should it be a long-term program and treat it more like a school? So along with magic, we will teach math, social studies, science, and language arts as well."

"Once we plan an outline and try it with a few of our older kids, we will better know. But if it is a school, do we have space on campus for a new building and staff for it? And will it be local only, or do we need dorms?"

"Thank the goddess I asked for you to help us because we need to consider those questions." Wolf picked up his phone and texted something. "I just asked Rayne to meet us here and bring some snacks. We are going to have a long day."

***

"How was your day at work?" Peter lay curled up in my arms after a very satisfying but tranquil session of sex. It was interesting being a parent and having to find ways to be quiet when you felt like your mate was sucking your soul out of your dick.

"Busy. But I think we are coming along with the plans for that special program they want to start next year." I rubbed a hand up and down his back, loving the feel of his naked skin under my fingertips. "I think it will take longer for them to open it to the public. But by next year, they should be able to get Georgi and Xavier into the first session and be taught how to use their powers and when to pretend they don't have any."

"That sounds amazing to them. And for us." Peter snuggled closer to my body. "I found Georgi talking to a spider the other morning in the backyard. He said the spider was mad I cleaned away all his webs."

"What did you tell him?" I was still amazed at how easily our boy could communicate with animals.

"I told him to tell the spider that he and his friends could have that small nook under the east end of the porch."

"Perfect. Was the spider agreeable?"

"Do you know how insane we sound right now?"

"Not at all. We are connected to the land and all that dwells on it. Honestly, I'm envious that Georgi gets to talk to them. Does he have any other cool abilities?"

"He also communicates with tree spirits and plant life—any living thing. I was freaked out the first time he told me the big willow outside our old house told him where to hide so his father wouldn't find him. Georgi accidentally broke some stupid vase that Alessandro's brother had gotten him. I understood why he was upset; his brother had just died, and that was one of the last gifts he'd gotten from him. But our son was only three." Peter wiped a tear from his eye. "He never hit Georgi, but his voice could be scary to anyone, let alone a small child. So, Georgi ran outside, and we couldn't find him for hours."

"Where was he?" I hated that my little buddy had to be so frightened by the man whom he should have only felt love from.

"The trunk of the tree had a small hollow opening but the grass around the base was too tall to see it. Georgi said the tree guided him there and then sang to him until he fell asleep. When Alessandro had given up and gone to bed, and I was out searching alone at dawn, the tree woke Georgi and told him it was safe to come to me."

"That's amazing. But I hate that he had to experience that from his father."

"I know. He wasn't always that way. When we met, he was out of his family's business. They had allowed him to leave because his brothers were in it and they didn't need him as the family heir. We only had to see them on rare occasions, and for the most part, we were left alone. He was always smiling and laughing. We had all these plans about raising our family away from the crime and never looking back."

"Then what happened?" I knew only what was in the file about the man Alessandro was today. "What made him change?"

"His brothers died. There was a huge war between his family and one of the other crime families in the city. An attack was made on the Del Marcos by the Santana clan and there were no survivors. Someone on the inside had tipped off the enemy because no one should have known that they all would be at the same place at the same time. After that, Alessandro was pressured to come back. It happened slowly. A little favor here for his mom. Take his dad here to a meeting. Eventually, he figured out what was going on. By that time, he had already been sucked so far in that he couldn't get out. That kind of life sucks the goodness right out of you. He was no longer the man I fell in love with. He became a monster."

"And so, you finally left."

"I didn't think I had a choice any longer." A shiver ran through Peter's body, and I tugged him closer, pulling the cover over us. "He had kept us out of it, for the most part. But that night, he brought it home. His men came into the house where his mate and child slept, and they tortured and slaughtered a man in Alessandro's home office. Luckily, Georgi was asleep and didn't see a thing. But I did. And I knew at that moment I had to leave, and my son had to get away from that family, or he would be sucked into that life just like his father had been. I refused to let my sweet Georgi become anything like those men."

"I understand entirely." I kissed the top of his head. "And we will never let him near you or Georgi again. Trust me."

"I do trust you. I feel safe here. For the first time in so long, I don't feel like I must look over my shoulder or watch what I say. I'm free."

"And I'll make sure it stays that way."