Chapter 11.

ROSE.

We helped get the kids filled up with sugar, then read them books until they couldn't keep their eyes open anymore. We put them to bed in the servants quarters. That area had better locks, less windows, and the police had left several men to stand guard until morning.

We said goodnight and clung together as we made our way back into the house.

Jenni walked up to us, her eyes still red from crying. "Is Mom, okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine," I told her, grabbing onto Jenni's hand. She was the only one of all the kids who'd known what was going on at the time of the attack. Most of the others had thought it was some sort of elaborate game.

Jenni's lip quivered and I said, "How about you come down with us so you can see her yourself?"

Jenni wiped at the tears on her cheeks and nodded her head. I clung to her hand and we walked along the corridor with Bella and Chrissy on our heels.

Angelique was standing by the front door, waving the police off. "Thank you so much for coming so quickly."

As soon as the door was shut, Jenni ran for her mother, practically knocking her over in an embrace.

"Oh, my big girl," Angelique crooned. "You did so well, I am so proud of you."

Jenni promptly burst into tears and my own eyes welled up.

Bella touched my hand to get my attention and inclined her head towards the living room. I nodded and followed. All the men were sitting on the sofas and I joined Nate, wanting nothing more than to climb into his lap and pretend this day had never happened.

"How's Bill?" I asked, tucking my legs under me and leaning my head onto his chest.

Roman, who was sitting opposite us answered, his white shirt stained with blood, "He's alive. But barely. They... whoever they were, killed half the security team and left the rest for dead."

I nodded, gulping painfully. "Poor Bill."

"And Anthony," Rafe said from the other couch. "He came while we were putting everyone in ambulances. He jumped straight in with Bill and went to the hospital with them."

I blew out a ragged breath. "That's... horrible. I don't even know what to say."

Nate squeezed me tightly, pulling a blanket off the back of the sofa and draping it over me. "You don't have to say anything sweetheart. None of this is your fault. We resolved your family issues already. These men were most certainly those who have been hunting us for years."

Rafe nodded. "It's true. The men who came to destroy us called me a freak."

"And they did everything they could to not hurt us," Bella said. "They had orders not to harm us women, according to what I heard from their walkie talkies."

"That's true," I admitted, having heard the chatter on their radios.

We all went silent while we mulled over that information.

"Do you think they're... dead?" Chrissy whispered into the quiet.

Roman shrugged, running a hand through his already roughed up hair. "I hope so, or at least those that are in charge are gone. I'm not sure how many attacks I can withstand in gargoyle form."

"We should leave," Angelique said, "Tomorrow, or even tonight. I'd already organized to rent a private plane. I can call them up and we can just... get out of her."

I smiled at her. She was so determined to fix everything all the time. She was the best. "I'd love that, Angelique, but what about Bill, and everyone?"

"We're not going far." She said. "Just over the border. We could pack a bag right now and be there by sunrise."

She sat on the edge of her sofa, her eyes wide and expectant. "I'm serious. We could all go now. Please. I can't..." She swallowed hard. "I can't go through that again either. I don't want to lose any of you."

I looked up at Nate. "We could, you know. Won't take me long to pack."

Bella turned towards Angelique. "What about your kids?"

"They can travel up tomorrow morning," she said. "I'll send the private plane straight back for them and Sharon will bring them. The policemen are staying all night to watch over the house, and if anyone is watching still, they'll see us all leave."

I looked around the circle of my family, waiting for someone to say something.

"I'll be happy to get away from here," Rafe said, looked down at Bella. "Count me in."

Nate reached for my hand. "Us too."

I grinned up at my man as we all agreed. Despite everything that had happened, there was no reason to put off our lives any longer.

"I'll call the pilot and tell him we're still on," Angelique said, "And I'll go speak to Sharon."

Jenni, who'd been hovering nearby, grabbed Angelique's hand and together they went in search of the nanny.

I got to my feet, a little shaky after the day's events. "It's cold in Whitehorse, right?"

Bella laughed as she jumped up also. "Oh yeah, we're gonna need to go shopping I think."

"Not a problem for you all, I'm sure," Gabe joked and as a group we all went upstairs to pack and get ready.

The guys put together their clothes and grabbed their stone circles. The other women and I packed up our winter wardrobes.

I pulled on my warmest jacket. "I know this is going to sound weird," I said to Nate as I sat on the bed so I could pull on my leather boots. "But part of me thinks we're all dreaming."

"Or the attack was just a nightmare and we all imagined it," Nate said, shaking his head, "Trust me, I know what you mean. This is all so... surreal."

I zipped up my second boot and slid my cell phone into my pocket. "I can't believe we're really leaving."

"I can't believe we're getting out of here in one piece." Nate grinned at me and my ribs squeezed tight.

There were too many emotions hurtling through me to handle at the moment, grief and excitement. Anger and happiness. So, I pushed away the wave of overwhelm then followed Nate out of the room and down into the foyer.

Angelique was on the phone and the rest of the family was waiting with their bags.

"Are we really sure about this?" Roman asked.

I smiled up at my man's oldest brother. "We can always come back. Like Angelique said. It's not far."

"True." Roman said, reaching out and grabbing hold of Chrissy's hand. "As long as we have our stone circles, we can go anywhere."

Lights in the driveway indicated that the cars had arrived. The butler opened the front door with a nod and smile. "Wishing you all safe travels."

"Thank you," I said as I walked through the huge front door and made my way down to the stretched limousines. "This is a bit luxurious."

Gabe jogged down the stairs behind us. "Angelique is overcompensating I think, but hey, why not? It's not like we don't have the money."

I shrugged. "You're right. And since tomorrow's my birthday I guess I have money now too."

Nate put his arm around me, and Gabe grinned at me. "That's right! We'll have to throw a party."

"At our new house in Whitehorse." Chrissy said, stepping up beside me.

"Knowing Angelique, it's already arranged." Bella said with a wink.

The driver came around the limousine and opened the door for us. "Westfield private airfield?"

"Yes, that's us." Roman said and encouraged Chrissy to get in first.

The men loaded up the second limo with our bags and brought their stone circles with them for security.

Angelique came last, but as soon as she slid into the limo with us, Gabe grabbed her up in his arms and hugged her tight.

"Thank you for doing all of this," I said to her once Gabe had released his grip on her.

"Of course." Angelique replied. "You're my family now too."

We didn't speak much on the way to the airport, nor on the flight. The plane was expensive, and lovely, but all I could think about was getting to safety before the sun hit.

"How long is the trip to Whitehorse?" I asked.

Angelique's grimace was embarrassed, "We're flying to Vancouver first. I underestimated the flight time to the Yukon. It would take us too long to go direct, and with the sun coming up soon I thought it best to do one layover."

"Oh no problem." I said, sinking back into my leather chair, feeling relieved. "That sounds good."

We landed in Vancouver and were taken directly to a large house on a huge country estate.

"Where are we?" I asked Angelique as we got out of the limo once more.

"At a friends house." She said simply. "I didn't want anyone to be able to track us, so instead of booking a hotel, I called in some favors." She walked off to speak to the housekeeper and Nate swept me into his arms.

"We're safe, my beautiful Beloved. You can relax."

I chuckled, putting my hands against his chest. "I'll relax when we have our security team back."

"Soon." Roman declared, "I'll have people waiting for us when we get to Whitehorse."

We all tumbled into the house and found our bedrooms, but Nate didn't set up his stone circle by the window.

"What's the plan?" I asked, "Where are you sleeping for the day?"

"My brothers and I thought we should stay together while we're here. We've always been within a few feet of each other, except at Angelique's home. It was great waking up to you and only you every day, but there's a certain... I don't know."

I reached up to cup his beloved face. "It's totally fine. I can imagine it gets lonely when we all go out."

He kissed me softly, then we headed out into the huge living room with it's floor to ceiling windows.

"Hmm..." I stared at the glass. "Is this really the most appropriate room?"

"Glass is reflective," Angelique said. "No-one from the outside can see in. I promise. I've been here before."

"Okay." I said, feeling a little relieved but unable to shake the feeling that something else was about to happen. I glanced around at the sofas in the room. I hadn't slept in too long, but I wasn't leaving Nate. Not tonight. I'd sleep on the floor if I had to.

The brothers all took their stone circles to the edge of the room and set them up close to the windows. It must be close to sun rise, though I had no idea what time it was.

I yawned loudly as I reached for my phone. It was already six, the sun would be up soon. The sofa closest to me was calling my name, so I curled up in a corner and hugged a pillow. I'd snag a blanket from somewhere and sleep here, no problem.

The men were looking at each other with strange looks on their faces.

"Something wrong?" Bella asked, sitting next to me. I didn't bother telling her that I was going to lie down there soon. I was pretty sure she'd let me sleep with my head in her lap.

"We... ah..." Gabe tried to explain but didn't seem to know what to say.

I frowned at Nate. "What's wrong?"

Nate held up his arm and stared at his hand. "There's no tingle."

"Well, we're much further north." Angelique explained. "The sun won't rise for a bit longer."

But even as she said it, the night sky began to lighten, the darkness chased away by the sun.

I waited, wanting to see the transformation as I did most days.

The men all stood on their circles, crouching into position when the sun hit them.

Thump, thump, thump. The room was so silent I could hear my heart beating inside my ears.

Bella was on her feet first. "What the..."

All four men remained human, though they weren't moving.

I tossed my pillow to the ground and staggered to my feet. "Are they... why aren't they..."

My heart was still pounding, too hard, and too much. I crept forward, stretching out my hand to Nate, who was closest to me.

"Be careful." Bella whispered.

Angelique and Chrissy were moving towards the men too, but I reached Nate first and gasped. "He's real."

My hand grasped his shirt and he moved suddenly, standing up.

I cried out and jumped back as all four gargoyle shifters turned around to look at us. Still human. And the sun had risen.

What the hell was going on now?