Lamech

-----

"Do you have a map of the pack land?" Crimson asked.

"Certainly," Darren answered and I could see his eyes brimming with curiosity as to what Crimson had in mind.

One of the Gammas took out a map that they spread over the table. Then at Crimson's request and Darren's approval, the Gamma went through the boarders, explaining the terrane around it and also the spots that were harder to oversee.

Crimson listened intently and asked questions for clarification when needed. It seemed like she was mainly interested in understanding how large the area was, which had my curiosity peaked as to where it all was going.

"When you brought up the issue of the rouges being able to identify security cameras yesterday, it got me thinking of magical solutions to it," she finally said and a light instantly lit in Darren's eyes. "I have in the past, made a magical device that is able to detect magical beings close by. The ones I have made have been rather weak and only for personal use, but I should be able to make stronger ones. Not one that would be able to cover the whole pack area, but I could make a few that can be placed around the boarder. They would then be able to warn if rouges approaches and approximately from where."

"That sounds marvelous!" Cassie exclaimed and it looked like she was about to jump up and down on the spot.

"There would be some issues with them though," Crimson hurried to add. "I can make them to specifically detect only shifters, but that then would include all shifters and not just rouges. Making your pack members an exception wouldn't be an issue. They all swear a blood oath to you, right?"

Darren nodded at her question.

"So then by using your blood, the detectors would be able to distinguish the pack members from other shifters. But if some visits, the detector wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them and the rouges. And you would have to remember that they would only be able to detect shifters, so any other unfriendly magical being would go unnoticed by them."

"Still sounds marvelous to me," Cassie smiled and Darren mirrored her.

"It really does! One of the main issues we've had is not noticing them until they've been too far into our land. So this would help a lot. But are you certain it wouldn't be too much trouble for you to make them?"

"It would take me some time, but it really wouldn't be any trouble," she smiled.

"And as for compensa..." Darren started to say, but Crimson quickly cut him off.

"I'm not interested in any form of compensation. Lives potentially saved is all that matters."

Darren looked taken aback at first before he beamed at her and I felt myself do the same.

Everything with her had been so chaotic and we honestly hadn't had much time to properly get to know each other. Even so I knew already that I cared deeply for her, that I loved her and would do anything she asked of me. But it wasn't until she said that, that I found myself imagining what a potential future with her would be like. How we would share in responsibilities, support one another and together work towards the same goal, guided by that one sentence.

Lives potentially saved is all that matters.

I felt myself be in a daze as Crimson went into more details about how many she would make, where they would be placed, and the area they would cover. I was vaguely aware of her explaining how it would work, that she would connect them all to one stone that could easily be carried around and that would make a sound if one of the detectors picked up on something.

I couldn't take my eyes off her and for each word she spoke, I felt my love for her intensify. She was fierce and could have quite the attitude. At times she was thoughtless and brazen. But in truth, she was kind and protective. And I knew I would love her until the end of time if life let me.

I didn't come back to reality until they started packing things away, obviously done discussing all that they needed. It also wasn't until then that I remembered the conversation that had been interrupted before the meeting, nor that I had told Aideen that Crimson would eat in the dining hall.

I looked down on the watch on my wrist. "Lunch should be about ready in the dining hall. Unfortunately, I have some more business to attend to, so I won't be joining you."

"Don't worry. We'll have some to eat and then get ready to return so we can start putting things in motion on our end," Darren smiled.

"You'll eat with us though, Crimson, won't you?" Cassie asked and took hold of Crimson's hand. I couldn't help but smile at that considering that it had been less than twenty-four hours ago since Cassie had insulted Crimson.

My mate definitely is amazing, I thought to myself as I watched her leave the room, arm-in-arm with Cassie.

When she was at the door, she turned slightly and caught my eyes. It was the first time since stepping her foot in there that she looked at me. I let out a relieved sigh as I saw the faintest trace of a smile on her lips.

"I've been thinking about it, and I don't think she can be a hybrid," Olivier said when it was just us, Alair, and Stuart left, successfully making me crash back down to reality.

"Why not?" I asked with a heavy sigh.

"Simply because of the fact that I can't come up with any type of hybrid that she could be that would make sense. However, her eyes and the conversation from yesterday got me thinking. Perhaps magic was used on her, when she was a baby so she wouldn't know, meant to strengthen her that altered her nature somehow. It likely would have required the power of a whole coven. Question is why. Which coven is it that she's from?"

"Starlight," I said darkly and the room filled with a tense silence.

"How old is she?" Stuart broke the silence.

"Too young to have been around for what happened to Lolek. That happened around three hundred years ago, right? She's only 239," I answered the unspoken part of his question. Lolek was the vampire that had been mated to a witch from Starlight. I hadn't given that much thought in regards to Crimson, as it had happened quite long before she was born. But I couldn't help but wonder now, especially with the new information Crimson had given me about her parents having been killed by a vampire from us. Could that have been an act of revenge?

"It could be related," Alair verbalized the thoughts that I had. "Starlight could have felt scared after what happened, worried about retaliation and performed some magic on Crimson to later be able to use her as a weapon in case we sought them out. Would explain also why she specifically seems to possess powers of a vampire."

I felt my anger rising at his words. Just the thought of that they would have wanted to use Crimson in such a way had my blood boiling and the more I thought about it, the likelier it seemed.

"Crimson said her parents were killed by a vampire. Specifically a vampire from here," I informed the others while fighting to remain calm.

"Does it matter much though how she became who she is?" Stuart said, shocking me out of my anger. "What's in the past is in the past. Whatever happened has made her into a true asset for us and if Starlight would come seeking trouble for her, we'll just protect her."

"Asset?" I hissed at him, not liking the word at all.

"I meant it as a compliment, Lamech," he said calmly. "I'm glad that your mate is someone like her and not some dainty girl that would be afraid of breaking a nail. Crimson is someone that I'll be proud to expose my neck to."

I stared at him for a long time before I rubbed the back of my neck and looked off to the side. I felt all my blood rush to my cheeks.

"Does everyone know she's my mate?"

There was a moment of silence before Alair and Olivier burst into laughter while Stuart just raised an eyebrow at me.

"Were you trying to hide it?" he asked.

"If you were, then I suggest you stop looking at her like a love-struck puppy wagging its tail," Olivier continued.

"Don't worry about it, okay? Everyone likes her, albeit that she sometimes needs to learn to think before speaking," Alair said and patted me on the shoulder. "And Stuart is right. It is what it is and if any problems arise, we'll deal with it then."