"There are some things that
it is worth taking risks
to protect. It all means
too much. Too much for us
now. Too much for the future.
Too much for everything."

~~Kailin Gow
-- 'Fade (Fade #1)'

****************

~Hatter~

Standing at the top of the tower, the moon bright and the stars glistening like diamonds overhead, a reluctant smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Hours had passed, afternoon sliding into night, and I could still feel him on my skin. If I closed my eyes, I could picture the moment perfectly in my head. Nova's skin flushed with arousal, violet eyes incandescent with magick and a determined heat that drove my own lust higher. 

Thankfully, I was drawn out of my thoughts by a breeze and the scent of August's cologne. Without taking my eyes from the tree line in the darkness, I acknowledged his presence with a nod. I knew that he had come up here for a reason, and letting me off watch duty wasn't it.

"Perimeter is clear, and the previous camps are still untouched," August informed me in a neutral tone. "It's possible they gave up."

I thought back to the mixed groups we had broken up or killed over the last several weeks. Fae and various types of shifters we had found camped out around the border that had been whispering plots, planning attacks all with one goal in mind: to take the siblings. My gut told me it hadn't been by accident that they had been discovered either but one thing I had noticed was that some of the more powerful races had yet to enter the fold.

"No, they're testing us, gauging our defenses and looking for holes," I replied. It was a move all too familiar and I didn't like what it suggested. "On the surface, the Folmorian fae have gone to war with the Braelyn, but I think you and I both know what's really beneath it all."

I glanced at August as I spoke. He stood with his arms crossed as he surveyed the grounds at my side, silver eyes hardened with anger. The muscle in his jaw ticked but otherwise his emotions were locked down as always.

"It will come to light in time because Torch has too large of an ego to let it all go unnoticed for long," August finally replied in disgust. "Whatever plan he has, it's been set in motion and there's only so long that his pride will allow him to remain behind the scenes."

"Are you sure about that?" I asked skeptically. "He seems to have been just fine with it for… how many centuries now?"

August scowled. "He's waited too long already."

"Don't be so impatient," I admonished, my voice holding an edge. "Nova and Nevada aren't ready to go to war and you know it. They're both extremely powerful, but they didn't grow up preparing for war everyday, not like we did."

"That's why it's imperative that they train," he snapped.

"Why are you acting like it's my fault they haven't been training?" I replied, rolling my eyes and unbothered by his irritation. "I'm pretty sure I was the one voting for interference from the moment you brought me into this, was I not?"

August remained silent and I smirked to myself because he knew I was right. After I had gotten control of my vampire side, August had introduced me to the protection detail for Nova and Nevada. I had suggested then, and afterwards on more than one occasion, that we get the two of them to prepare themselves. August was determined to keep them out of it, ignoring the inevitable and now they were paying the price.

"They should have worked on hand to hand or honing their abilities today but Edith took the spotlight." August's words darkened my pleasant mood considerably but he either didn't notice or didn't care. "In the morning, we'll get them started again. They were doing good before they left."

Anger slipped through my nerves, silky and familiar as it had always been but with an edge I recognized as jealousy. August was referring to the night that Nova had run from me and straight to Michael, the fucking warlock that had been drooling over him for years it seemed. The memory congealed and spread in the back of my mind like sludge, temporarily blocking out everything around me.

Michael stood before me, a cocky smirk on his boyish face as his eyes flicked from one color to the next. His cheeks were slightly flushed and his lips pouty, Nova's scent coating his skin like a blanket. If the barrier hadn't been there, I would have stripped it away until nothing but muscle and bone were left. Michael's verbal claim on Nova sent me into a boiling rage because I could still taste his kiss on my tongue and this power-hungry asshole believed it belonged to him.

"Don't go there, Robbie," August demanded without looking over, snapping me back to reality. "That night is over and the warlock is gone."

"Just because he disappeared doesn't mean he's gone," I growled. "Don't worry about me though. I think you have your own problems to deal with."

August let out a frustrated sigh to which I rolled my eyes. 

"I'm not getting in the middle of anything, but that shit needs to get sorted and fast. For two thousand year old fuckers, neither of you know how to deal with shit," I shrugged lazily. "Besides, Dom has his own issues with me although I'm not sure why."

August glowered. "You're a dick, that's most likely the reason."

I laughed in agreement despite the anger that still lingered but it had once been my closest ally.

"Just deal with your shit, old man. I've faced mine, now it's your turn before everything goes to Hades."

"Have you faced it, Robbie?" August asked quietly, any remaining fragments of irritation gone. "Something tells me you've barely scratched the surface."

I didn't say anything, mostly because there wasn't anything to say. The first step had been taken, letting Nova in on pieces of the most painful parts of my life. But August was right and we both knew it. There were things that could easily turn Nova away from any semblance of a relationship, even one such as friends with benefits. Although, I knew that wasn't even a possibility for me anymore and some hopeful part of me prayed to the gods it wasn't for him either.

The visit from the moon goddess, Selene, was a constant reminder in the back of my head that kept me from turning him away completely like I had before. It was her words that had pushed me to accept what Nova was offering and finally give in, at least in part. I didn't want to think about what the rest of her words could mean, but telling Nova about James had lifted some of the heavy weight that had rested on my chest. Again, that hopeful part of me couldn't let Nova go, not after he had continued to ask about the first man I had ever loved, the soulmate lost to me forever.

●●●●

"I'm so bored of bagged blood," I complained as I tossed the empty bag into the trash can.

"There's alternative options," Nova chimed in casually as he walked by me to grab the orange juice from the fridge.

My eyes followed him across the room, his gray sweats hanging loose on his hips and his white A-shirt clinging to his torso like a happy glove. When I got to the hated rainbow athletic shoes, I looked away and my eyes clashed with August's as he sat at the kitchen table.

He had stayed in the tower with me for nearly an hour the night before, neither of us speaking but the silence companionable. We hadn't needed to and, while I often berated him for his overbearing sire tendencies, it was nice that I didn't need to say anything to be understood sometimes. August wasn't one to speak for no reason on most occasions.

Unfortunately this morning, with Nova's not so subtle hints at letting me feed on him, August decided it was just fine to remain silent. Tossing him an exaggerated glare, I grabbed a pack of PopTarts from the cabinet and slid into the seat across from him. I did my best not to acknowledge Nova's offer, stuffing my face in place of the words that threatened to spill out.

"So, what's the plan, big boss?" I asked with a mouthful of pastry, accidentally spewing crumbs on the table.

August frowned at the mess I made. "Nevada isn't up yet, so I don't want to start anything without her."

"Of course you don't because that would be rude," I smirked, forcing the breakfast treat down my suddenly dry throat as I watched Nova moving around the kitchen behind August. Nova snorted a suppressed laugh but otherwise pretended he wasn't listening. 

"You're a dick," August retorted without much conviction. 

"Yeah. I thought we established that last night?" I laughed. "So, after Princess wakes up and cries about the pea under her mattress, then what?"

"Now you're just being obnoxious." August shook his head and looked down at the tablet on the surface in front of him. "Things are beginning to escalate but not exponentially, at least not yet. However, we need to jump in head first."

The sound of the blender roaring to life blasted in my ears, grating across my eardrums. Neither August or I spoke, our muscles tensed against the onslaught of noise that abused our sensitive hearing. When the racket finally cut off, the contrast in sound was almost disorienting and I couldn't help but throw my last remaining PopTart at Nova's head.

"The blender? Really?" I asked in exasperation, rubbing my ears as if that would help. 

Nova smiled sheepishly and held up the blender that held some sort of purplish liquid. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. Do either of you want a smoothie?"

"No, thanks," August and I answered simultaneously. 

Ignoring Nova's noise of mock outrage, August turned back to the tablet. "There have been several… incidents between races other than the fae. No fatalities as of now but a couple of the individuals have been left in near critical condition."

"Any humans?" I asked as Nova joined us.

"Not yet."

August's eyes met mine, the silver pools undoubtedly swimming with the same concerns that were running through my head. Nova looked between the two of us in confusion.

"What's with the look?" he asked, taking a sip of his smoothie.

After a moment, August looked at him with a patient expression. "If humans can stay out of the fight, it would be best. The last time humans were involved, it resulted in a very ugly time for them."

Nova's confusion only grew and I could almost see the wheels turning in his head as if he knew the answer to his unspoken question but couldn't put it together. Taking pity on him, I explained.

"The last time humans were dragged into a species war, it became World War II."

Recognition dawned in Nova's eyes and his face went pale. I understood the shock because I remembered having a similar reaction when I had first learned the truth of that. I had just entered puberty at the time, the morning after my first shift, when my grandmother had sat me down and told me the truths behind many of the wars. 

World War II had been the most shocking as even most of the supernatural races believed that it was just a human war, at least that was how most of the species' elders had chosen to spin it. To give voice to the truth would have given root to the fear of humans and their ability to be brutal in the face of indifference. In a determination to live civilly among them, the human leaders and the elders had come to an agreement after the war's end.

"It was a devastating result and one that doesn't need to be repeated," August spoke into the prolonged silence. "We can only hope it doesn't happen again."

Nova quickly composed himself at the sound of August's voice but his eyes never left my face. "Okay, so what do we do to keep that from happening?"

"Hope? Pray to the gods?" I shrugged helplessly. "There isn't much telling what Torch has planned if you want the truth of it."

"The bastard wants everything." Dominic's voice was low and we all turned to look at him in the doorway. Nevada walked in behind him, her cheeks red with embarrassment. "And we're going to keep him from getting it."

"I made smoothie if you want some," Nova whispered to Nevada as he slipped from his chair and led her towards the evil blender. "You'll need the energy boost for this training session I expect."

Nevada groaned dejectedly while August and Dominic regarded each other in a careful manner. I watched in anticipation as they eyed each other, tension growing thick in the air. Alana slipped by Dominic a moment later, not bothering to look at her husband or even August as she joined the siblings. 

"Oh, smoothie!" Alana chirped excitedly as if nothing else was going on. "Is there enough for me?"

"Uh, yeah sure," Nova answered nervously before handing her a glass. His eyes flicked to me briefly but I could only shrug.

Alana leaned against the counter as she sipped her drink, looking between August and Dominic with nothing but curiosity. I pressed my lips together when I realized laughter burned brightly in her eyes. August's face was carefully blank, his eyes shuttered as if nothing lurked beneath the surface. It was a mask that Dominic mimicked perfectly and I had no idea what either of them were thinking.

Nevada fidgeted nervously beside Nova who looked equally uneasy but also slightly fascinated as he looked between the two men. As the silence continued to stretch on, even my nerves began to fray and I was almost ready to smack them both when Dominic finally spoke again.

"Vampires haven't become an obvious part of the war yet, but they will in the days ahead and it's important to know how to take one down." His voice was quiet and as cold as an arctic breeze. Dominic finally broke eye contact with August and looked over to his children who were openly gaping at him. "I think it's time for our first lesson."

August slowly, and almost reluctantly, stood from his chair and squared his shoulders. "So, we're going to do this, old friend?"

"You knew this was going to happen, friend, so don't act so surprised."

With that, Dominic turned on his heel and left the kitchen, leaving the rest of us to follow or hide. I swallowed hard, wondering what was in store for me if Dominic was willing to go after August for being with his daughter. 

Fuck! Killing his dad definitely won't earn me any points!, I growled to myself as I followed August from the kitchen and down the hall towards the training room.

********************

A/N: Woah, info dump! What did you think?

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