144. Arnulf

CHAPTER 144

Arnulf

Watching over my family is one of my greatest joys. Each one of us has a specific skill set that makes us unique in our roles. I have taken the place of Andre, in the sense that I am the family's eyes and ears. I also take care of and protect the family on a mystic level. Alaric and Nicodeamus have come to me requesting to call forth Anca from beyond the grave.

I've done it once before, and I'll do it again for them since it'll help Aurora decide about her mother's castle. It's been almost a month since her last battle with the Wyvern. Her new babies are just about a month old and spend a little more time as their animals to have a sense of independence. Tonight is a full moon when the veil is the thinnest between the land of the living and the dead. We have gone out towards the lake in the clearing.

Water itself is a wonderful conduit for the spirits to pass through easily. Fire works as well, but it's harder to maintain their form in flames. Water itself can easily change to mist that they can hold and shape for themselves.

I watch Aurora with her five gathered children playing with each of them and having some fun by the water's edge. Her great dragon protectors Marco, Dante, and Edgar, stand guard in their dragon forms. This isn't the life Aurora had pictured for her children, but she's doing her best to ensure their safety. After the assault and the capture of the Marelup Castle, we were able to attain more physical items that belong to Anca. With these new items, I should be able to maintain her presence longer.

I watch Aurora look to the sky as we start to notice the haze around the edge of the moon, signaling that it's time. I gather everyone around in the designated area at the edge of the water. Slowly, I start to combine the herbs in the mortar and grind them fine with the pestle. Once they are properly combined, I signal for Aurora and Nicodeamus to add drops of their blood. I gather up the paste and put it in a small, thin, silk satchel. I take one of the lead fishing weights that Dimitri had given me and tie it to the strings that close the satchel.

Carefully, I pitch it into the water and start reciting the spell that I need to call forth the ancestor in question. It takes a good ten minutes of chanting before the water starts to bubble. I keep at it, pouring my intention into the words, trying to draw forth my mate's mother. Finally, a silken form starts to rise up out of the water. It slowly takes shape, and it's Anca. Even though she appears to be whole before us, the liquid form she has taken cannot leave the water's edge without dissipating back into nothingness.

The only thing that appears to be solid on Anca is her face. The rest of her body is see-through because of the water. We watch her smile and look to those gathered. Her eyes light up, noticing three new babies in the mix. She starts clapping her watery hands, sending sprays of water over all of us. Aurora can't help but giggle at her mother's actions. "Welcome back, Mom. As you can see, I've made a few additions to the family." Aurora brings each of the new babies over to her mother one by one for a closer inspection.

"What a glorious surprise. But I sense this is not why you called me here," Anca says as she tilts her head, looking at the last baby that Aurora has lifted to her. It just so happens that the last child is Kirra. Her little baby Lycan form has the same fur color and pattern as her father—grey and white. Anca smiles, looking over the baby. "She's just like you," she says gently. "When her time comes, she will seek her mate or mates. As of right now, she is the last heir to my throne."

Aurora smiles and then sighs deeply. "Mother, that is why I called you here," Aurora starts to say, so she hands Kirra back to Klaus. "The castle is in a horrid state of disrepair. Vladimir allowed those leeches to flood the lower half, thus weakening some of the foundation." She stops pacing long enough to gauge her mother's reaction before continuing.

"I've taken down the walls because they were destroyed not only by time but by us trying to get in." Aurora holds her head high, looking at her mother. "There's generations of beings that see the castle and the Lycan race itself as a blight because of what Vladimir had done." The look of horror that crosses Anca's face makes my heart clench in my chest.

"Do they not believe that you're different?" Anca asks, rushed. She clasps her hands in front of her, still the ever stoic queen. "Is there nothing that we can do to change their minds?" She looks to everybody else gathered, trying to discern their stance on the subject.

Dimitri steps forward and bows his head to his former queen. "My lady, many died at Vladimir's hands after your death. The forest and the villages stained with years of blood from his conquests." Dimitri looks back and motions to Klaus.

"His pack is one of the last few pureblood Lycan packs left in Europe. There are several other smaller packs but none of the old blood." Dimitri clasps his hands in front of him and bows, backing away after having given his report.

Anca looks to Aurora. "What do you wish to do about this, daughter?" Anca studies Aurora, she's standing tall, and shoulders erect, head held high. Whatever is going on in her head at this point, none of us are privy to.

"That is exactly why I called for you to be here, Mother. Several revelations were made after we finally gained control of the castle." Aurora drew in a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "The first is the damage to the castle is far worse than we had expected, but not beyond repair."

She turns and looks back at us, and I move up slowly to take her hand just to offer my support. "The second revelation is that I was supposed to have a twin." She drops her eyes immediately after saying that, tears start to roll down her cheeks in earnest.

I look up, watching for Anca's reaction to what Aurora had just said. Tears stream down her face almost as quickly as they do her daughters. "I did not know. You have to believe me, baby girl, I did not know." Anca says those words between sobs, drawing out tears from all of us. There's not a single dry eye on the beach except for the children who don't understand.

Aurora draws another deep breath and nods slowly. "I would not expect you to know, Mother. Back then you did not have the technology that we do now. We will never know what happened inside your womb other than whatever it was that caused me to shift and rip my way out."

She sighs softly, unable to keep her mother's gaze at this point. "I'm sorry I killed you; I didn't mean to," she says as her voice breaks with the weight of the emotion that she's carrying. Quickly, all of her mates run up and lay a single hand on Aurora, trying to soothe her. And this is exactly why I am so adamant about maintaining the entire family's health and well-being. She carries the burden of regret and guilt that she may have been the one responsible for her mother's death.

"Shush, little one, it was not your fault. I started feeling odd halfway through the evening." She lightly runs her hand over her head and then looks back down to Aurora again.

"To be perfectly honest, I think I was poisoned. It's probably what prompted you to be born early." She looks over to Nicodeamus, staring at him almost intently. "Do you remember anything odd that night? Do you remember me through the bond feeling off at all?" She decides to try to probe Nicodeamus's memories, prompting him to hopefully remember parts of that night.

He raises his hand and strokes his beard, and begins to pace. "Come to think of it, you did feel a little more lethargic than usual. You started out the night feeling okay, but towards the end you started feeling like all you wanted to do was sleep." He furrows his brows, still in deep thought, trying to remember all of the details.

It's now that it dawns on me what might have occurred. "If I might interject, it sounds like either deadly nightshade or hemlock was used. Both have an odd effect on those of wolven blood." I hold tightly to Aurora as I look at her mother.

"Symptoms would be lightheadedness, dizziness, sudden weakness, and fatigue. All of these things and the change of Aurora's internal environment would have prompted her to shift and try to survive," I say as I kiss Aurora's temple, trying to reassure her that none of this was ever her fault.

She looks up between her mother and me, then back over to her father. "Do you think it's possible, Father? Why would Vladimir try to kill the child that was supposed to be his heir?" Aurora poses a great question with that one line.

Nicodeamus starts to pace again and then stops in front of Anca. "Vladimir had many enemies; I'm almost certain that your father's the guilty party."

The look of shock crosses Anca's face as she stares at Nicodeamus. "Let's look at it this way: your father was not thrilled with how Vladimir took you as his mate. In my heart, I believe he was only trying to rid himself of Vladimir's seed."

Nicodeamus mouths the word sorry to Aurora. "Unfortunately for his plans, he did not expect the child within you to be mine. Fortunately for Aurora, she was strong enough to remove herself from the poison. Unfortunately, killing you in the process, Anca." Several tears roll down Nicodeamus's cheek as the full weight of the revelation hits him. Anca's own father was responsible for helping to end her life as well as Aurora's twin.

I could feel the rage bubbling underneath Aurora's skin as it all sinks in. Her eyes whip frantically between myself and her other mates and then over to her mother. "So it seems I'm not fully responsible then. Grandfather has a lot to answer for," Aurora says in a very hostile tone.

"Don't worry, little one, I will handle him when I leave here tonight. The killing of babies is frowned upon by the Elder God's. Somehow he managed to make it into Elysium." Anca's rage is almost as palatable as her daughters. The water begins to churn almost violently. It looks as if it's the waves upon the ocean crashing upon the shore of the lake.

It's now that I step forward and start to silence the lake. Unfortunately, when a spirit gains too much power, especially using water as a conduit, it could be quite dangerous for those who are living. "Anca, it's time for you to return. Before someone you love becomes mortally wounded."

She looks around quickly and sees what is happening to the lake around her. Immediately, she assists with silencing it. "I am truly sorry; my temper got away from me. Do what you will with the castle and the title, daughter." She looks down and back at the water and then back over towards Aurora again. "If that part of the monarchy must die with you or me, then so be it. Speak with those who still remain living around the castle and see what they think."

She opens her arms wide and sends a cool breeze towards us. "I will always love you, little one. Now I must go search for your sister in Elysium." Now that liquid form of Anca falls back into the lake. The lake itself is calm and flat as a sheet of glass. The moon's reflection dances on the light ripples of the water as we stare at it, waiting to see if anything else was to occur.

"Well, my love, I'm sorry she didn't exactly give you an answer, but at least you know that no matter what you decide she will support you in it," I say softly just before I kiss her cheek and release her. The typical game of pass Aurora occurs as each one of the mates takes their turn. Each male is hugging and kissing her and reassuring her that she has their full support.

I turn around and smile, laughing that the three new babies are surrounded by Tia and Ladon. They have their own two little personal dragon sentinels. It's a beautiful sight to behold. We know that no matter who's born in what order, they will always have someone older than them watching over them. Nicodeamus starts to usher us all back to the house, saying it's time for us all to sit and have a long, serious conversation.

I love and hate these meetings. Mostly because they all set my bird on edge when tempers start to flare. I honestly know nobody will hurt me, but it's just pure instinct. Dominik and I both grab one of the new babies. I take Luna, Dominik takes Kirra, and Nicodeamus takes Odette. We take them all downstairs to the nest that had been prepared as their birth site. Dimitri has replaced all the soiled pillows and linens with brand new extra fluffy ones. We get Tia and Ladon dressed for bed and have them curl up in the nest with the other three babies. At least with those two there, if something goes on, they can reach out to their mother, father, and grandfather to alert us to what they need.

We stay on the lower level and move to the sitting room, leaving the nest room door wide open for us to hear. Aurora stands at the head of the table with Alaric and Nicodeamus at the two closest seats to her. The rest of us file in, taking random seats. "I haven't come to a decision lightly. I want to rebuild my mother's castle and the town that used to surround it." She pulls the map out in front of her, looking over the land. "I want to reestablish a Lycan stronghold near the castle. Klaus's brother, Kaden, will move into the castle for now.

"Love, have you spoken to Kaden about this?" I tilt my head slightly as I study my mate. Aurora smiles and looks down at the map.

"I gave Kaden and his new mate a permanent home in the castle. I told them to choose which suite they want on the third floor to be theirs." Aurora smiles as she looks between Klaus and me. "I couldn't think of a better pair to watch over the castle for me." Aurora shrugs slightly, then looks back to the maps.

Klaus wraps Aurora up in a big hug and kisses her silly. "We can move the American Lycans to the village by the castle. I do have some fantastic news." Klaus smiles broadly. "Between the once rogue Lycans and the American Lycans, more mated pairs were made." Klaus moves to go stand near his twin as he enters.

"Thank you, Aurora and family! You have made the European packs whole again." Kaden bows before taking a knee before Aurora and gently holding her hand. He presses his forehead to the back of her hand. "You have my undying loyalty and gratitude for what you and your family have accomplished for all of us. You saved us from an eternal war that has ravaged these lands for over two hundred years." Aurora gently runs her fingers through Kaden's hair.

"You are most welcome. Without your pack and your brother at my side, I may not have made it this far," Aurora says softly as she watches Kaden look up at her slowly.

Aurora assists Kaden to stand. "Let's usher in a new life of peace. Please take your mate and the others to the castle and start the reconstruction." Aurora smiles sweetly. "I'll send Edgar with the plans in a few days' time. Dimitri's people will join you shortly to assist."

"Thank you, my Queen." Kaden bows and leaves as swiftly as he had arrived. Aurora disperses the meeting for tonight. Tomorrow is a new day with a ton of changes on the horizon.