That was confusing, but she nodded again. “Continue, then, and tell me what he said.”
“He has begun to seek assistance and alliances with other packs all over Europe. Six other Alphas have already joined him in Spain, including three Earthborn packs, two Skyborn and a Forestborn from east Germany. He is gathering leaders for a council to rival that which you sit on. And he is gathering them quickly.”
That was surprising, but honestly, she didn’t know what she felt about it. She didn’t know if she was more disappointed in losing her place of power, mainly because she felt like she could really make a difference, or if she was happy that someone was doing something about the Council she sat on. Finally, though, she looked at the boy. “I need you to take one more message for me, young one. Then you are free to go. I will pay you well, of course.” She gathered her payment and then handed it to him before she spoke. Teresa knew he would agree because it was too much to deny. “I need you to tell him that he has friends here. And that we will do what we can from here.”
“I…but, my lady…” He was looking at the money in his hand and then back up at her, but that kind of message was against everything he had grown up believing. He lived his entire life in service to the Council, been apprenticed to them when he was barely old enough to run. And now he was being asked to bear a message that stated his lady was willing to change sides against her own people?
Teresa went up to him and she placed her hand in the middle of his chest. “Those we rule deserve a Council that will cherish its people over its power. One that thinks you are as important as anyone else.” She then placed her hand on his cheek for a moment so that she could force him with his similar dark blue eyes to look up at her. “You have many years of life to live. I want you to have that chance. Do this for me. Trust in me.”
He gulped heavily, but at that kind of insistence, all he could do was bow. “I do, my lady. I will deliver the message, and be back as quickly as I can be.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it once, then backed away and left quickly, though his heart was still heavy with the collapse of the world around him.
V
With the situation tense, both Candra and Orlando, (since they rarely left each other’s side anymore) decided to stay in a makeshift hut just outside the perimeter of the Ironborn settlement. They weren’t fully a part of the expansions that were made for the people coming in, after all. They were also being monitored so that they could be protected, but together, they didn’t really need protection. Orlando certainly didn’t, and Candra had Orlando, so they were pretty well off without any guards. Weeks passed as they learned more about each other and what they could do together.
It was a new experience for Candra every day, but she liked having him near. The Fulness was coming up, and they hadn’t really talked about it, but Candra didn’t know what to expect. Her whole life she’d been told to stay away from males, anyone really, but the more time she spent with Orlando, the less she could even bear to imagine being without him. She had thoughts about him that she was sure were improper, but she never voiced them, and never felt pressured into anything by Orlando, which was contrary to everything she’d ever read about what to expect from men in general. She did know, however, that the Fulness was especially dangerous, but she wasn’t sure how to get around to asking about it.
The physical side of their relationship hadn’t gone any farther than their constant need for some kind of contact, which usually amounted to holding hands or Candra hanging onto Orlando’s arm as they walked. They slept together, and their first few nights had been exceptionally awkward for the both of them, but even then, all they did was wake up in each other’s arms exactly the way they’d gone to sleep. After a few nights of such rest (in a bedroom that had been specifically made without any windows for Candra’s sake), they had finally reached the point where Candra actually needed to turn on a nightlight, but it was still only a very dim one.
Since the house didn’t have any windows, she could get up at any time she wanted, and that particular day she noticed that the clock said three AM. Candra got out of bed and went into the small kitchen and pulled out a recipe book that Orlando procured for her. She knew it wouldn’t be more than an hour before Orlando woke up because of her absence, but she hoped she would have something edible made by then. She’d been practicing with scrambled eggs, bacon and French toast, but she’d yet to accomplish making them all in a way that was tolerable to eat. It was a process, but she was trying, at least.
It was closer to an hour and a half before she heard him stirring in the other room, and she could tell by the flicker of the time display on the kitchen appliances that he was awake. Orlando didn’t exactly trouble himself with light switches. Not anymore, anyway. He just zapped whatever he wanted to turn on, but it did always announce his presence to the rest of the house. He came out into the kitchen wearing his pajama pants and leaned on the door frame. “I smelled burnt bacon but not smoke, so I figured that
