Reaver was a kind man who helped her up and she was thankful for it. “Yes, Gabe’s full name is Gabriel Byrkyn.” She blinked a bit and chuckled. Once he mentioned that Gabe was home thought the color drained from her face. “Yeah… Well, he hasn’t really spoken to me since I turned him down when he finally did ask me to marry him.” She rubbed her neck a bit in shame.

“I’m the reason why he’s such a man whore now. Not that Esme and her folks blame me. Gabe used to be like Sergei.” Which was shocking to anyone who didn’t know Gabriel before he underwent the change. “Don’t ask me why though… I didn’t realize I mattered that much to him for him to throw everything away like that. He started to party, drink, and sleep around once it happened. Then he couldn’t stand to look at me anymore and he ran away. It hurt badly because we were such good friends before, he was my best friend.”

She had a really sad look on her face for many complicated reasons but she finally put all of the sadness away and gave Reaver a smile. “Let’s go down for breakfast. I just need to stop at my room for my robe. I forgot it in my hustle to get away from Ivan.”

Celeste stared at Ivan but she could feel her beta still in the house. “I see… So you scared her so badly she might have become a ghost? How are you going to explain that you killed Yelena to Nemesis? When he shows up from Angela’s for breakfast… You are going to have to break the news that you turned her into a ghost!” She hid her emotions. “Now, let's go-to breakfast… You have explaining to do.”

Once in front of Nemesis she patted Ivan on the back hard. "Go on. Explain to Nemesis what you did."

Celeste took him by the ear and brought him down to the dining room where everyone was gathering. Ayla and Nemesis were already there. Moments after they got there Yelena came down with Reaver in tow. “Sorry, we’re late. I hurt my ankle good yesterday.”

“Geesh, talk about drama.” He supposed that he could imagine Gabriel as being better than what the rumors had said about him. But the comparison to Sergei nearly made him burst into tears laughing. He managed to calm himself down to a few snickers but then he saved face and shook his head, “You shouldn’t blame yourself for it. You were both young and that was likely his first heartache. I get it takes some time to get over it, but that long?” He would have gone on but then he had to remember the case of Nemesis and how long it took him to get over Andrea’s death. Compared with that, Gabe’s seemed much more understandable. “Are you positive that he dislikes you now? Boy doesn’t seem to be the sort to hold grunge if that’s the case. Besides, the families know each other well enough and sooner or later he will know that you are back as well.” He could see that she was upset and tried to push it aside for now as he came around and helped her move. First to her bedroom to retrieve her robe and down the stairs.

Ivan had already made it downstairs with Celeste, scared out of his mind with the possibility that he had turned Yelena into a ghost. Heaven only knew that meant that Nemesis would turn him into one too, and it was going to hurt. “Please, mama. Don’t make me tell him.” Nemesis had already returned and sat at the helm of the table, and Ayla was a few seats down and he collapsed onto her leg, holding tightly. “Save me! I didn’t mean to turn her into a ghost!” He wouldn’t remain on her for long before he was in front of the father, who was confused with what he had done this time. Nemesis looked up to Celeste and then back to Ivan. “What did you do…”

“I scared Yelena until she turned into a ghost! She disappeared and is nowhere in sight…” He paused when he saw Yelena and Reaver join the room and nearly screamed his head off. “She came to get me! She’s gonna turn me! Someone help!” He hid behind Nemesis’ chair and he sighed before pointing at her. “Does she look like a ghost, idiot?”

“Well, mama said that she was…”, he said, peeking out to see his sister not looking much worse for the wear other than her ankle. “Are you still alive?” Reaver shook his head and pulled out her seat for her. “She is…I’m surprised that you still are, on the other hand.”

She knew it was hard to see the tree in the forest. Gabe could be a good man and a great husband if he ever got fixed from where she broke him. She cracked a smile and nodded. “I hope not… I hope that he actually comes around instead of avoiding me. I swear I saw him in the market a while back while traveling but the person double backed and ruined a food stand. I didn’t chase after so I’ll never know for sure if it was him or coincidence. I was studying abroad for techniques to improve my silent footing.” She was really quiet that not even a lycanthrope could hear her.

In the dining room, Ayla just quirked her eyebrow. “…He was missing late into the night last night so I just went to bed.” It was more peaceful that way and no one could blame Ayla for wanting a few moments of peace. Celeste was shaking her leg a bit as Ivan spoke to Nemesis. Finally, he was off of her and speaking to the head of the house.

Yelena tightened her arms against Reaver as he piggybacked her into the room. Her eyes were large in shock as Ivan began to scream towards her. Celeste started to laugh so hard she nearly missed her seat when she sat down.

Once she was off of Reaver’s back she thanked him and sat down in her chair as he pulled it out. “I left because you were banging on my walls until late into the night. I figured I wouldn’t make a noise or tell you so you were stuck there most of the night.” Yelena commented on it and smiled towards Reaver. “So I went and bothered Reaver since he was tasked with taking care of me when it came to matters of YOU. Plus my ankle didn’t let me get too far.”

Celeste wiped the tears away from her eyes from laughing so hard and looked at her first beta. “That should teach you to pick on your sister. What if something HAD actually happened to her Ivan? You would have felt terrible or you would be dead.”

After the food came out Yelena dished herself some healthy eats and began to dig in. “Oh, Yelena. We’re having a meeting today with our partners. Esme is bringing Gabriel,” Celeste was delicate with it as Yelena started to choke on her food.

She beat her chest and coughed hard. “ARE YOU SURE THAT’S A GOOD IDEA?! You know how he feels about me, Mama.”

Celeste sighed a bit and rolled her shoulders, “It’s not something we can help and besides I think he’s moped long enough. After all, he has that pretty little girlfriend of his… You shouldn’t be a reason for his fright any longer.”

For a moment Yelena was shocked and taken back. “He actually got a girlfriend?”

Celeste thought about it for a second before shrugging. “She’s interesting… She’ll probably tag along. We’ll hold the meeting after breakfast so Reaver can join us. Angela is finishing up her own things so she’ll probably show up too. I want you there Yelena, this meeting is on what you discovered and did so it’s important.”

There was a frown from the young vaewolf. “Yes, Mama.”

Ivan was terrified; he actually believed that what his mother said was true. After all, he knew that she would never lie to him. Not to her most loyal beta, she wouldn’t. And yet, she was laughing while he was scared, it didn’t make much sense to him. Reaver rolled his eyes and started to fill his plate with food while Yelena explained her case. Just as she said, he would handle Ivan if he couldn’t keep himself in check. A couple of beating and he was sure that his fellow beta would get the message. If not, then at least he would feel plenty better about the situation.

Ivan whined a bit but knew that his creator was right- now that Yelena wasn’t running away from the family now, she was to be treated like family, or else it would be his head. He pouted and silently ate his meal. Everything seemed to be fine right before Celeste announced there would be a meeting afterward and Gabe was mentioned. Reaver was taken in slightly with Yelena’s reaction, but after last night, was it possible that he still had a grudge against her? And who knows what would have happened once those two were in a room together.

“A strange one she is, but when she was raised in the woods, then I guess that would do things to people”, Nemesis replied. “Paulina is part bog witch from what I was told, though she doesn’t look the part. They have been together for a while now.” It would at least help to tell her of this so that she would ease more into the idea, especially since the meeting was to share her foundings, even if she wasn’t too thrilled with the idea.

Once breakfast was over, the entire family waited in the foyer for their guests to arrive.

——

Esme had to look up and down the manor, before she found Gabriel and Paulina in the back, doing gods knows what. Fortunately, Gabe was napping on his back before he felt a foot kicking him and behold, it was his annoying little sister. “Get ready. We have to go to the Volkovs’. You too, Paulina.”

“Another meeting? What’s the occasion?”, he said, with his eyes still closed. “We had one a fortnight ago.”

“…Well…”, she started hesitantly, which was rare for her, “Yelena is back.”

Gabe’s eyes snapped open and he lifted himself upward, “W…what?”

“Yeah, you heard me. She’s back now and is reporting on the family she infiltrated.”

He wasn’t too thrilled with this idea. Not with everything that happened between them. This was not ideal at all. It would have been equally strange to see him behave like that. She looked to Paulina, “Yelena Volkov and Gabriel used to be best friends. They knew of each other since they were small children and were inseparable. Then some things happened, and…”

“Just stop”, he said before he got up. “We are going, go and get ready.” He wasn’t in the mood to relive history, not that it mattered. He was ashamed over how things went and for the life of him, he wasn’t sure if she wanted to see him. He marched back inside, and Esme waited until he was gone. “He had planned on marrying her back when they were a few years before adulthood. He had once promised it before when they were ten and everyone thought that it would come to be. But she had second thoughts and told him that she didn’t love him in that way. Since then, he had changed into the Gabe you know.”

She felt like Paulina was owed an explanation before accompanying her to get ready to change. Fortunately, she wouldn’t have to worry about getting dolled up and wear more comfortable clothes. When the three were ready, she had the carriage waiting for them and thus started the long, quiet and awkward ride to the Volkov manor.

They reached their destination within an hour and she led them inside and greeted their hosts. Gabe looked passed them and saw the young vaewolf and lowered his eyes. A hand went to the back of his neck and he spoke in a sheepish voice, “Hey, Yelena…”

Paulina was taken back by the way Gabriel was acting. He had never acted like this over any other female but herself. Instantly, she was threatened but she calmed down once she heard the story. It was sad… “That’s why he hurts. He always hurts. I can tell just from looking in his eyes. He wouldn’t tell me what was wrong or why our relationship hurt him at the start.” She must have been special to him… Why wasn’t her Gabe good enough for this Yelena?

Paulina didn’t say it though before Esme helped her get ready. Once they got to the Volkov Manor Paulina laid eyes on Yelena. She was one of the only people that she didn’t know and she certainly fit what vaewolves were. Yelena was in a short black dress that’s top crossed over almost like a kimono. Her sleeves were up to her elbows and were wide and flowing. Her long brown waves were lightly pulled back at the top and she also looked not to be a fan of the pointy sticks as Paulina looked at her feet.

On Yelena’s neck was a chain with a river rock on it. It looked so out of place but it almost looked like a child had made the pendant. Yelena prized the necklace since it was the first gift Gabe had ever given her but the old rope it used to be on had broken a long time ago, she was surprised the pendant had held up this long.

Celeste watched the exchange from the side and was pleased it wasn’t imploding. “Hello… Gabe.” She was so awkward as she waved. Everyone was watching them it seemed.

“Let’s go in the sitting room to discuss everything,” Celeste finally butted in and escorted everyone there. Reaver helped Yelena with her ankle which she was thankful for.

Paulina had enough of the awkward silence as she approached Yelena and put her hands on her hips. Yelena realized who this woman was and stared into her odd eyes. “Yes?” Yelena squeaked out.

“I have questions.”

“…I… may have….” She paused and hesitated as she looked away. “Answers.”

“Do you know what I want to ask?”

“There’s only… one thing we have in common,” Yelena’s eyes went to Gabe. “You want to know why I told Gabe no.”

Celeste got up from her seat. “We don’t have to discuss it in front o-” Yelena put up her hand.

“It’s alright Mama. I think we’ve hidden it long enough beside it’s fitting I tell him today…” Yelena looked uncomfortable as she looked around at everyone. She felt all their eyes. “Don’t leave until I’ve said my peace.” She demanded it of Gabe as she looked back at them.

“I…” Her voice broke and for a moment she hesitated. “I was going to marry Gabriel when we were just barely adolescents. Everyone expected it of us.” Finally, her hand went to her neck and Celeste held a concerned stare since it looked to be stressing the girl. “On the night that Gabe finally asked me to be his wife I told him no and told him I didn’t love him. That wasn’t true. He was the air I breathed, the light in my darkness, and he was my hero. I had been practicing saying my new name Gabe would give me over and over since I was like ten when he first brought it up.”

Paulina’s glare narrowed and it was clear she was confused but Yelena continued. “The night of the party… I got cut off by Walter Medvedev, he is a trade of fine wares in Kurayo for most of the families. He’s always got his money by marrying his children off. I knew he had been discussing with the Byrkyns with no success about Gabriel and his daughter Scarlett. I was always weak especially when I wasn’t part of the Volkovs.” Her eyes came up and she stared at Gabe. “Scared of not being good enough because face it I wasn’t raised in that great of a noble house. I was told how much of a failure I was for most of my childhood until Celeste and Nemesis adopted me.

He knew that somehow and he played into it badly. Told me I wouldn’t do the Byrkyns justice and I should just stay with the Volkovs and benefit them someway I would be capable of. He said so many nasty things and my heart was hurting because I felt like I failed Gabe. I was trying so hard to be everything he needed me to be and I was torn down so easily. I lost my resolve. Gabe proposed just a few minutes after everything happened and I reacted poorly. I had fresh wounds and I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone about it… and I didn’t. I continued to hide it until…”

“Until the day I turned her,” Celeste spoke up and finally got up to comfort her daughter. “We share the memories but Yelena was clear with who she wanted to do the honor. She picked me and asked me to take her someplace quiet. She knew about the turning and she knew what might happen. The pain, the anger, the obsession.” Yelena nodded and felt herself tearing up just a bit. “She cried for Gabe during the turning. Told me that it felt like she must have faced that moment a dozen times before she took to the blood. I knew why she did it. Why she asked for me. She knew that Nemesis would have waged war for her. She knew I would enable her.”

Yelena patted her mother’s hand and looked up at everyone. “Vaewolves come into things that make them… Some get obsessions. Some get stronger emotions… And some hold grudges so strong it ruins them. I wanted to destroy that man so strongly that when Gabe came back and asked me a second time I refused because I wasn’t woman enough to accept… and I wasn’t sure if I ever would be able to achieve what I wanted to. The complete dismantlement of the system Walter was using and had been for a long time.

It started with some things. I checked married records, I checked with others, and I began to piece together a web of lies, death, and dream shattering.” She rubbed her neck. “It was a circle of twenty-some family members with Walter at the head of it. I came across girls who had killed themselves over their shame. Other women were so broken they are barely alive at the whorehouse. Everyone was effected… and the men didn’t fare much better. They target weak people or what they perceive as weak. I was weak but I am not weak anymore.

Mama would get hints every once in a while from listening in and would send me on missions to deal with it and see what I could find. We would tell Papa that these things were for trade deals and I would make sure to set up and dismantle trades so that the story fit until we could come out with it. We did this for forty years setting up schemes and… we found information on Walter and his plans. The Liones and the boy I was masquerading with as his girlfriend.

The Liones are actually a victim of it and their son doesn’t know what happened. He just said she just changed before he asked her. Suddenly his new wife was forced upon him by the Gusev family, not that he doesn’t care for her now but she was a stranger then. It happened so fast that he wasn’t sure how to deal with it. The man I was courting for the last three years was a brute and a scoundrel but he was a Kotov. His mother was also one of the girls forced into this and she resented him for it.”

She sucked her air in. “And… I stayed until I couldn’t stand it but also because I got cut off by Walter before the man proposed to me. The same story but I am wiser now. I noticed the scent he had around him. It’s a drug from Abed that can make a person more vulnerable to suggestion. I tried to get myself immune to as much as I could when I was abroad and luckily I was sound of mind. I ran away though like it had worked and staged a carriage accident.

I used the body of Merridith Meknikov, Mother hates her but up until now people didn’t know why. She’s the one who scouted out the girls… Well one of them. The reason why I went to spy on this family wasn’t just for information on Walter… It was because of an interesting rumor. Someone who was interested in Sergei. For his safety and Cinder’s we took the initiative and stuck me somewhere where I might have been vulnerable to Walter. It worked and while I didn’t find out who placed the offer, I did find out he’s still doing it.

Furthermore, to set all of this up I asked Mr. Nikolas,” she pointed out their ally in the room, “to be my husband when I shape-shifted. I used the form to get close to the people before I knew everything the man liked and then I proceeded to shift forms and take on the form of someone he would like.

I’m so sorry Papa we hid this from you but we felt like this was the only way to move with this… Since we know how strongly everyone feels about things like this. When the time was right we would tell everyone but I never thought in a million years that I would be telling Gabe. I thought it would be better if Gabe just believed I was an ass about it all…I feel so guilty for how Gabe has acted and I am so sorry. I fully intend to apologize to your parents. If I had a stronger will… I wouldn’t have fallen for the stupid drug he had. But I am also happy because you have Paulina now and you two look good together.”

And she… She was still by herself by her own hand.

He felt really uncomfortable being in the same room as Yelena, but it wasn’t for the very reasons she must have thought. He felt as though he wasn’t good enough or possibly that she had an interest in someone else. For a long time, he just didn’t understand why she wouldn’t accept his proposal and the more he obsessed over it, the darker his heart became to cope with it. No, he never blamed her nor would he ever hold any malice to her, but he had to escape the pain. He did everything possible- partying, drinking, drugs, and sex among other things to ease himself of the heartache. By the time he had met Paulina, he was all but jaded to the concept of taking in one mate only. He didn’t want to admit it, but he only sought to use her as if she was just another notch on his belt, with power to boot. But it didn’t turn out that way- instead, they grew close, something he swore never to do again. His eyes caught sight of the necklace he made her when they were younger and tried to hold a stoic look but his eyes were two sad pools of water.

It wasn’t too long before the others showed up after, with Aaryona and Eirik first, then Nikolas and finally Desmond and Saffron, although the vampire was grumbling the whole way about being threatened to come and trying to spare their dragon of her dignity as he marched over to the drinks and poured himself one without permission.

Esme watched the situation, mentally sighing as she had hoped that her brother could push through this situation and followed Celeste and the rest of them into the sitting room. Once everyone was settled, She watched Paulina approach Yelena and winced. Oh no.

“Paulina”, she spoke but once that woman got something in her head, there wasn’t much to be done about it. In a way, she envied her for such courage, regardless of the opinions of others and not having to worry about holding her tongue. Everyone looked at the situation unfolding and after the awkward encounter, the elephant in the room was finally brought up.

Gabriel would have stopped her, telling her that there was no problem, but it was a lie. He watched the woman he loved and the friend he would have given everything to have in his arms talk and the discomfort was too much for him to handle. He turned to leave the room but halted when Yelena stopped him and he turned to hear the painful truth.

It wasn’t what he had expected at all.

No one, not even Nemesis, knew the extent of why she did what she had. He looked on as his daughter spilled her heart out and looked to Celeste, the only other person that knew. He wasn’t angry with her- she knew how he would have reacted and it wouldn’t have been pretty. Meanwhile, Gabe had to restrain himself as he learned that Walter Medvedev had been the cause of all of this. That son of a bitch had to ruin one of his chances at happiness and for what? Some stupid deal? Sadness was being angry and before long, rage but as he clenched his teeth together and started to shake, a hand fell upon his and he looked to see that it was Esme. She gripped hard onto him and yet from the look in her eyes, she too, was mad. She had seen Yelena like an older sister and would have welcomed her into the family just as their parents would. The siblings knew at some point, they would make that old man pay, even if they didn’t speak on it visibly.

“A ring…”, Nikolas spoke thoughtfully, “I wasn’t completely in the know about this, but it hardly surprises me. He is a ruthless businessman that would do anything to get what he wanted.” Still, he was left in the dust when Yelena refused Gabe because at that point, Gabe’s reputation quickly plummeted and the Byrkyns continued to refuse business with his family. Esme had more than enough reason to wage a war against them, but that simply wouldn’t do. No, she was scheming something, but it would only bespoke of later on.
Gabriel sunk against the way as he succumbed to all his emotions- anger, sadness, and grief over what could have been had he simply pursued this instead of running away. He would have fought for her with every fiber of his being. He felt himself sweating and watched as his best friend was unraveling to the point where he eventually made his way over to her and took her into his arms tightly. He didn’t say anything, he couldn’t speak what he felt as she had to silently suffer all this time and he wished he could have helped her.

“All this sad shit is making me sick”, Desmond snorted before taking another drink, but Reaver was quick on the draw and punched squarely in the face. The younger vampire rolled onto the floor and looked up, “What I do?”

“Don’t you dare apologize”, Gabe whispered to Yelena and he held her close. “I didn’t protect you as I’d always promised. I should have known you better, but I thought I wasn’t good enough for you.”

Nemesis interjected, clearly not only displeased with what happened with Yelena but of what was told now about Sergei facing a similar plight. “Over my dead body will this happen against this family. That fool should be grateful that Angela didn’t hear this …”

Paulina hadn’t heard Esme and even if she had, the big witch had already made up her mind. She had cornered Gabe on more than one occasion and she even had raised her voice at others before. She only did so when she thought it was needed. What Yelena had to say upset Paulina because she could see the hurt that it had brought Gabe and Yelena. While she was grateful for it because it ultimately saved her she was sad that it happened.

Yelena told her tale and she nodded to Nikolas. “Yes, in some cases I’ve found that the girls mysteriously disappeared but through hard work, I managed to locate their bodies. There’s a dump yard not overly too far from the Zima Swampland near the Byrkyn house. Most of the bodies were there but there was another dump yard not too far from Walter’s house. He’s been doing this a long time.”

Yelena was taken back by how fast Gabriel came to comfort her as she leaned into him. Just like when they were kids he was still a safe spot for her. That hadn’t changed even though she hadn’t seen him in forever.

It was Saffron and not anyone else who spoke up to Desmond. She came over and knelt by him. “But… if it was me you would have burned the entire place down Dessie. Try to understand?” Her voice held a serious tone that most of the time it was missing. Her sire for as stubborn and selfish as he was DID care about her.

Soft crimson eyes looked up at Gabe even though they were almost filled with tears. “It wasn’t your fault Gabe. We were young and you were blindsided.” She finally returned his hug and buried herself in his chest. Yelena was thankful for Reaver punching Desmond as he validated her feelings on the matter with that little act.

Finally, the actual silence of the group broke as Angela strolled in. “We heard enough.” Behind her were Sergei and Cinder. “I was bringing them back from their date in Sularia.” Cinder was clearly upset with the prospect that someone would target her just for existing with Sergei and she was sure that Sergei felt the same way.

“I want to protect them, Gabe.” Yelena came out of his hug. “Because I don’t want to watch people go through the same thing we did. You are my best friend and I am happy with just that but for them, I didn’t want them to suffer. We’ve suffered so much, it’s unbearable sometimes. I just wanted to break the cycle.” She looked at Paulina and gave a smile. “Besides Paulina makes you a better person than I think I ever could.”

Paulina was taken back and she tilted her head. “You don’t want Gabe now?”

Yelena shook her head. “That would be unfair to you. I’ve accepted it and he’s my best friend. I love him but I can settle with friends to have him around. Besides, you never know I might find someone else~ Then Gabe can make sure he’s good enough.” She finally laughed just a bit to make herself feel better. She knew that probably no one would ever be good enough in Gabe’s eyes.

Cinder put her hands on her hips. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news for this Walter guy but I doubt he would have an easy time handling me.”

Angela sighed and nodded. “He doesn’t know what family he’s messing with if he thinks Rose women are weak… or not stubborn.”

“We’re the most stubborn and prideful women in the world.” Cinder clung to Sergei now and nodded up to him. “I’m a trained assassin. It would take a lot to get the drop on me even if you guys didn’t handle him.”

Yelena smiled and looked up at Gabe. “That’s good. You are already so much stronger than me.”

“But not as patient,” Cinder put her hands up and waved him. “I lack patience like most of my family. It's a give and take thing with us. Like my Aunt Toya, majoorrrrrr give.”

Esme was already crossed with that family for previous transgressions, but to here that not only did the head belittle her friend and ruin the chance for her and her brother to be happy but, the fact that other girls fell into similar fates or worse made her temper boil. Especially with the dumping grounds being on their property of all places. She was going to make him pay, the whole Byrkyn Clan would. She was barely able to keep a better control over herself than Gabe could; they might not have agreed on much, but they could on this matter. Woe was the person who would be so terrible enough to bring those two siblings together.

She released him the moment he felt that he needed to reprise the role he had given up so many moons ago- to protect Yelena. Things might have changed between them, but as he cradled her in his arms, Gabe felt as though they were in their youth again.

He still loved her or at least a part of him did.

Desmond rolled his eyes before he reluctantly looked to his wife, “Damn right I would have. I wouldn’t be mopey, I would be killer…ly.” he got back up to his feet and helped Saffron up. “So when does the bastard die? I see little point in keeping him alive…”

For once, Gabe agreed with him and continued to hold Yelena tightly as he felt her take to the embrace. As far as anyone was concerned, there would be no tears shed for Walter.

“Walter’s not a man. He’s more of a beast than anyone or anything I’ve heard of, ever”, Eirik growled, not wanting for himself or Aaryona to be placed in a similar situation. He would have been ready to tear that man into shreds if possible. Society and wealth gave too much protection for those that relied too heavily on it and it disgusted him so.

The lord of the house was proven wrong as Angela came around, and what was worse was that she had Cinder and Sergei with her. The latter wasn’t too thrilled with what he was hearing- the idea that someone would try to break him and Cinder up for some meager deal? What kind of sick man would pull something like that?

He didn’t quite understand why they would have to suffer and he didn’t wish to know.

Gabe tucked his hands into his pockets and looked towards Paulina. Nothing was going to happen between him and Yelena- that time had long since passed even though he knew that she was hurting. He was conflicted but he wasn’t going to hurt Paulina after everything they’d been through together. She had been the only other woman in his life that he could say that he loved besides his best friend. Perhaps he still flirted and ogle other women because he felt like he wasn’t good enough to deserve love before now. That the women in his life deserved a hell of a lot better. Life was cruel at times indeed.

Once the mood seems to lighten, Esme went over to Celeste and kneed down to her. “My lady, you and Yelena had done so much with this delicate situation. I ask for your permission to let me and my deal with Walter. He had disrespected my house harshly but attacking Yelena, who I consider a sister.”

Gabe knew from her tone and the fire that burned in her eyes that she was going to see that he suffered greatly before the coup de grace. He wanted to be there as well and dish out his own revenge. With the parents arriving in a few days, they would have to be swift in their actions. But in the meanwhile, he moved over and took Paulina’s hand caressed the side of his face against it. “I’m sorry I’ve worried you.”

Celeste looked towards Esme and nodded. “You may. I figured this would be the case when we began to plot so many moons ago. The cycle won’t end with Walter’s demise…” She was about to continue when it was Cinder who spoke up.

“No, like my grandmother it has to be killed all the way around until nothing remains but those who can pledge innocence.” Cinder’s family had been through a lot and Angela held a grimace on her face.

“Your uncle won’t like you getting involved in something like this,” Angela was gentle with the girl. “The Black Court has dealt with enough these past two hundred years. I’m going to ask you to refrain.”

Cinder crossed her arms and looked stubborn for a minute before she gave in. “Fineeee.”

Angela reached up and pat her head gently. “Besides, it’s not a good way to remember the start of you and Sergei. Your aunts and uncles would wish you a peaceful start, let us handle this. Yelena, do you think you could ready a list of the families for us to divvy up?”

Yelena nodded a bit but tilted her head. “I was under the impression that you weren’t a killer.”

“Oh, I’m not but I have plenty of children who would do it for their family.” Almost on cue, Jessamyn strolled in wearing a fancy white fur coat. Her blonde hair was rather well done and she had Amarok with her. “I see you got my message.”

“I know the Volkovs a little bit thanks to Idiot,” Jessamyn pointed to Gabe and shrugged. “Guess it can’t be helped since I know his story now.” She shrugged and looked up at Amarok. “We can spare time to help a friend or two.”

Aaryona nodded and crossed her arms as she thought about it. “I could help as well… but who else would you call on for such a task? Surely, you don’t mean to bring Aellie here? She’s got a big temper and I thought we wanted to be more discrete about this?”

“Aellie wouldn’t do for a quiet mission at all… but I suppose it has been a long time since I was asked to do a job so I understand why no one thought of me first,” Nerezza came into the room with Kaiser holding Emry in his arms. “Kaiser and I can help. I don’t know what I would do if someone had managed to take Kaiser away from me. I wouldn’t have our Emmy.”

Yelena seemed pleased and looked around. “I think we have enough people to divide and conquer the list.”

The goddess rubbed the back of her neck. “I should do introductions. I’m Angela, Nemesis’s fiancee. This is Nemesis and Mine’s oldest twin Nerezza, her husband Kaiser, and our granddaughter Emry. It looks like some of you know my daughter Jessamyn and her boyfriend Amarok.” Jessa opened her mouth to object but firmly shut it as there was no point in fighting it. “Knowing the names of allies is important for what we’re about to do.”

Nemesis could easily see that Esme's request was not simply for vengeance for the wrongdoings bestowed onto her family, but also for her brother's pain in general. He found himself pitying the boy a bit; he understood well what the pain of heartbreak could accomplish. Unlike the God though, Gabe hadn't become the cruel hunter he had been for centuries and instead indulged in less seedy activities. He didn't speak of it, letting the flames of anger fan themselves among his inner circle. Despite their looks, there were many predators among their numbers and killing came as naturally as breathing for them. One such that went against that grain was Angela, but such was in both her nature and her dogma. He eyed the girl that Sergei fancied for a little while now; still unsure of whether fate or his soon-to-be other wife had been the cause for it. There was just enough skepticism of him to conjure jests about it to her, much to her dismay.

"She has a point", Sergei spoke and while he was a child of both Nemesis and Celeste, he had merely gained his father's looks aside from the elvish ears. His mentality was certainly more of his mother's which was a blessing in the eyes of the Lord. "We should let them handle this, Cinder." He followed up by squeezing her hand a little.

"Aww, ain't that cute?", Desmond said snidely before waving it off. He didn't need a repeat of what happened to him before and now they were talking about exciting things for once. "Just hand me and Saffron some names and we can deal with those ones." It was plain to see that he was more of the ruthless predators in the flock that could kill for the hell of it. He was already annoyed that he would have to oblige to the rules that the houses needed to follow lest the Blackwoods would lose their prestige and end up in the slums where he started out. But this, he could get behind. 

Gabe was still crossed, enough so to ignore Jessa's pet name for him when she and Amorak came. He wasn't as keen on killing as he had been in his past when he was first turned, but Amorak understood what sort of world they lived in and it was for a greater good, a shocking thing for the likes of those in Kurayo. He looked to Gabe, who didn't seem to be as much of an idiot as he thought he was originally thought. A part of him wondered if he had been pushing him and Jessa to avoid what had happened to him and this woman he figured to be Yelena.

His train of thought was disturbed briefly when he was introduced as her boyfriend and stumbled a bit to argue but eventually gave up. 

Kaiser, like Amorak, was both capable and willing to do it if need be. He had a moral code that the abusers clearly didn't and the world would be better off without their evilness. Fortunately, Emry would be kept from seeing such horrors whether be it that she stayed here in the manor or in Arri. 

The God looked over to Gabe and Esme until the latter caught onto what he wanted. After all, it was impolite to learn of one side but not the other when it came to alliances. Obviously, Angela and her small brood were to be inducted into the circle. "Esme Brykyn, the current head of the House Brykyn. My brother, Gabriel", she offered with a hand towards him."

"Ugh, do we have to?", Desmond said, taking another deep taste of his drink, but immediately sank into his chair the moment Nemesis looked his direction. "Desmond Blackwood."  He nodded towards Saffron. "Saffron Blackwood, my sired and wife." He then looked to Nikolas. "The playboy over there is Nikolas."

"Thank you, but she already knows of me", he smiled gleefully much to the dismay of his associate. "Still, all the same, I am Nikolas Crowley of the House Crowley. My friend there, unfortunately, is the head of the House Blackwood. Thankfully his wife keeps him in check", he mused.