Amber's PoV

I clicked another picture but this time, it was for my collection. In early forties and running the newspaper of the city, I didn't have to work as much. I had skilled employees but taking photographs was still my hobby.

The flash from the camera alerted the white tigress and a puma in front of me. My look apparently scared them enough and they turned back to their human forms. Daniel, my elder son had a scratch or two on his arm while my younger daughter, Emberly had more wounds.

"Where is your father who put you up to this?" I asked in a pretended strict tone.

They were hoods, it was natural for them to be warriors.

But Emberly was born with something more. We suspected that our kids will be different and that shows in Emberly. She was a healer as well. Like I held the power to control Hood emotions and thoughts, she can heal them.

Her eyes went to her brother's wounds and she placed her hands on it curing it like magic. Her healing worked on every hood except herself.

"He went away with uncle Leo," Daniel said.

"And where are you going?" I asked as he looked at his watch as if he was late for something.

"Dan has a date," Emberly said with a grin.

I always thought Dan will take up after Laserian but I guess with Marc and Leo as a mentor he turned out fine. He was humorous , fun and flirty. Emberly, on the other hand, was Laserian female, she was aloof to all others except me and Ian. She had the same icy glare and rude personality.

"And who is she?" 

I teased him for the fun of it. Everyone perfectly knew he was smitten by Heather and Marc's daughter, Claudia. She was mini- heather, super shy and I can't even imagine how she managed to be even friends with this mischievous son of mine.

"Mom, I am going." He looked flustered and I saw a sly smirk on Emberly's face.

Even though not same in personality , he looked like Laser, except his eyes which were hazel green while Emberly had those Amber eyes I happen to love. I blame Laser for giving my son the good looks and Marc for making him use them.

He hurried off before I could say something else planting a small kiss on Emberly's cheek.

"Is Leo okay?" I asked Emberly as she sat down on the grass.

At seventeen, she was the right hand of Quantum leader .

"He is fine. Our soldiers returned last night from another council meeting. Few more groups have agreed to combine Quantums and Hoods but mom they don't have you."

I sighed at the slow attempt of changing rooted traditions.

"Where were you last night?" I asked in a strict tone.

Her silence made me even more curious.

"I was in some trouble." She finally said.

"What trouble?" I tried to keep the obvious panic in control.

"I followed dad and others to help them with the rebels." Her voice held guilt and I was glad that she told me the truth.

I was not one of the most honest kid with my parents.

"So these wounds are from last night?" She nodded .

"Your father doesn't know about this, how did you escape?" I asked her suspicious at her silent behaviour.

"A Quantum." She mumbled.

A slow smile formed on my face. My loner daughter had a helper.

"Is he handsome?" I asked and she her eyes fluttered at me in surprise.

I am a mom after all.

"He just helps me sometimes." She was embarrassed and that was a good sign.

"Sometimes?"

"MOM!"

"Okay, okay, " I raised my hand in a giving up gesture.

I let her off the hook for now. 

"Just alert me before you bring him home, I have to handle your dad."

She rolled her eyes and nodded at me. I was not against Hood/ Quantum thing. My own in-laws were a beautiful example of this. But Laserian was a different case. He was still careful of Quantums, after he did saw his family die at their hands.

***

I entered Liquid Hearts and found Ian there with his song book. The band Hoods was not working right now but he was the lyricist for the company they worked for. I serenly gazed at him working. The age did more good than harm or maybe because I am his wife, I still found him gorgeous.

"How is the rebel situation?" I asked and sat down across him.

He lifted his face a smile grazed his lips. His face the stubble I loved with a little greys in them.

"Handled for now. Might need your help soon."

"I am ready whenever you need my help."

"You know my daughrer trains harder than my son." He chuckled holding my hand in his rough ones.

"Because your son lives with Marc and Leo most of the times."

"But people still believe in prophecies." He sounded grim and troubled.

"It is like our life is meant to be interesting." 

When Emberly was born, another prophecy was laid and this time Marc was the one to hear it first being the leader. In simple words it said that one sibling is warrior too brutal and one is the healer of us all. If one has to win other shall fail.

It made no sense till now because Emberly was the healer here but there was nothing brutal about Daniel. 

"Do they fear our son?" I asked and Ian nodded confirming my fears.

"It's like me all over again." Ian sounded worried.

I lifted his hands and kissed it gently.

"It's like you all over again but it doubled now." I chuckled.

"Huh?"

"Your daughter took your loner, intimidating trait." This made him laugh.

Suddenly the phone rang.

"Dad, how are you?" I asked getting up from the seat.

I needed to have a secret talk with him.

"I am great. Everyone is here for the surprise party planning for Ian's birthday. Where are you?"

"I will be home. I miss you too." I hinted him that I was with Ian.

"Oh, okay then see you soon."

Well, my dad knew Ian was panther and his reaction was...epic. I will just leave at that.

"Is everything okay?"

"My sister misses me, that's all." I hurriedly picked up my bag ready to leave.

"Where are you going?" He looked confused.

I bent down and kissed his forehead.

"I will home tonight. Don't worry, I will be coming with Daniel." I said because both my kids will be there for the planning.

"Go on then. I will act surprised at the party." He said stopping me short in my tracks.

I scowled at him, of course he knew.

"You do this every year Amber." And got up to give me a deep, passionate kiss.

"And you love me for that." I said feeling a bit disappointed.

"That I do."

Even now I love you from him made my heart fluttered like a teenage girl.

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