Ana

Christian and Dante returned home after their trip and gathered everyone in the kitchen.

"What did you find out?" Erik asked.

"Besides, Silas can kill anyone, not much," Dante said with a shrug.

Erik glared at Dante.

I stepped between Erik and Dante. "Will you two behave?"

"Tell this bloodsucker to watch it," Erik said.

I rolled my eyes and looked at Dante. "Behave."

Dante rolled his eyes.

"What did you find out, Dad?" Martin asked.

"Silas produces a venom deadly to the supernatural world. Any bite will kill a supernatural creature. As a wolf, he will need to mark his mate but kill his mate if he does."

"What happens if Silas kills his mate?" Erik asked.

"There's been a few times when a wolf killed his mate, and it didn't end well for the wolf."

"What do you mean?"

"Our mating creates a bond. If the wolf destroys the bond, it will become rogue and turn on its pack. We have had packs decimated because a wolf turned on its pack. I had to kill the rogue wolf since I was the alpha."

"Is there anyone who can stop an alpha?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"A king."

We looked at Silas as he slept on the floor with his butt sticking up in the air.

"Wait. Are you telling us that Silas is a king?" Martin asked.

Christian nodded.

"How is that possible?"

"Because Erik is one."

We looked at Erik with raised brows.

"Erik became king when he and Ana had Silas. Since Silas is a tribrid, it makes Erik extremely powerful. Erik's word became law amongst the packs."

"That still doesn't answer our question. How do we keep Silas from killing his mate?" Erik asked.

"I need to investigate more to figure out a way for Silas to keep Silas's mate alive." Christian retreated to his office, leaving us with more questions than answers.

*******
Abigail

I worked with Rory, teaching them right and wrong. As I trained Rory to adapt, I cast a spell to determine its supernatural powers.

"What did you find out?" Hilda asked me.

"Rory is half vampire and half Dreamweaver."

"How is that possible? Dreamweavers can't reproduce. They're dead."

I walked to a bookcase and pulled a book as Rory played with their toys on the living room floor. After flipping to a page, I handed the book to Hilda. Hilda took the book from me and scanned the page.

"The powers that be had created a world to receive the supernatural dead. When a supernatural creature dies, they get cast into an alternate world. They became the guardians of dreams while people slept. Their job was to protect humans from harm or death while slumbering."

"So, what happened?"

"A witch cursed a man after he raped, pilfered, and slaughtered her coven. He became a void of darkness and despair to live eternity that way. Tempus found a witch, hoping to reverse the curse. When the witch failed, he created the Tempus witches. A single touché transferred the curse to the witch."

"But black magic will drive a witch mad. The witches prohibit the use of black magic."

"Aye."

"It still doesn't explain how the dead can reproduce."

"When Tempus consumed the Dreamweaver world, the curse allowed them to reproduce. Only Tempus creatures are aware of this supernatural loophole."

Hilda furrowed her brows in dismay. "What do we do, Abigail?"

I glanced at Rory playing on the floor behaving. "We protect any supernatural creature who derived from this supernatural loophole."

Jane burst through the door, alerting us. Rory got to their feet and sped toward Jane. I held out my hand to stop Rory and walked toward Jane and Rory. Rory's eyes changed to blood red.

I hoisted Rory into my arms. "There will be none of that. We don't feed on people."

Rory hissed at me.

I carried Rory into the kitchen, set them at the table, and prepared a blood meal. Rory devoured the food, curbing their bloodlust.

Jane and Hilda walked into the kitchen and halted in their tracks.

"What is it?" Jane asked.

"Rory is half vampire and half Dreamweaver and intersexual," I replied.

"How is that possible?"

"Tempus created a loophole with the Dreamweaver world so he could control that world. Dreamweavers can reproduce, but it causes issues."

"What issues?"

"A supernatural creature can enter the Dreamweaver world and vice versus. It makes it more difficult to track them."

"We have another issue."

"What?" I cleaned Rory's mouth and placed the dirty dishes in the sink.

"Cain is searching for something."

"What is it that Cain wants?"

"Cain wants to sire supernatural creatures to destroy the King's pack."

Hilda crumpled her brows.

"That's impossible. An alpha becomes king when he produces a powerful heir," I said.

"The alpha produced a tribrid," Jane informed me.

"I want you to gather information on the tribrid and inform me. Cain is messing with the laws of nature by siring supernatural beings."

"Aye, Abigail." Jane nodded and left my home.

"What do we do now, Abigail?" Hilda asked me.

"Gather the others and meet me at the circle. We must protect the supernatural world."

Hilda gave me a nod and left.

Rory looked up at me.

I crouched next to Rory. "Don't worry. I shall protect you and your kind."

Rory smiled as I returned it.

*******
Erik

Silas awoke from his nap, and Ana fed him. My ears pricked as I detected branches snap. I got up and left the house, and scanned the area. A twig broke as I took off running and shifted in mid-air.

My paws hit the ground with a loud thud as my speed increased. I picked up the scent and followed it deep into the woods. Someone gasped as I halted in my tracks.

A woman stood before me dressed in a long dress and bonnet. Her eyes expanded as her body trembled. "Please do not hurt me, my king. I come in peace."

I cocked my head as my eyes trailed around her. Then I detected a familiar scent and turned to find Silas standing behind me.

"Silas!" Ana yelled.

Silas walked toward me and held out his hand. I shifted into human form with clothes. I lifted Silas into my arms as Ana reached us.

"Sorry. I was feeding Silas, then he disappeared on me," Ana told me.

"It's the tribrid," the woman gasped.

We turned to the woman.

"Who are you?" I asked.

The woman took tentative steps toward us. "I come in peace. Someone sent me to gather information about the tribrid."

"That's great and all, but who are you?" Ana asked.

"Pardon my rudeness. I'm Jane. Witch of the Tempus Coven," the woman introduced herself.

Silas squirmed in my arms. I set him down. He walked toward Jane and waved.

Jane crouched before Silas. "Do you speak?"

Silas nodded, then pointed at me. "Daddy."

Ana and I glanced at each other in disbelief.

"And who is that?" Jane pointed at Ana.

"Mommy," Silas said.

Jane studied Silas, then looked at us. "How old is Silas?"

"Not old. Silas's gestation was weeks," I said.

"Your son has aged immensely in a short time." Jane stood up.

"My father is trying to decipher his acceleration in growth."

Jane scrutinized us. "You're a wolf, but your mate is half witch/half wolf."

"That's correct."

Jane looked at Silas. "Your son is wolf/witch/and something else."

"Dreamweaver," Ana said.

Jane's face snapped in our direction. "What?"

"It's a lengthy story. Can we not rehash it?" Ana asked.

I arched my brow.

"I have news regarding your son," Jane said.

I crouched. Silas walked over to me and climbed into my arms. I hoisted him into my arms. "Follow me."

We turned and walked back to the house as Jane trailed us. One wrong move, and I would rip her limb from limb.