Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
T he four of them walked into the kitchen to find Peyton, Cade, and Dane were already there talking.
“Hey,” Puff managed to get out.
Peyton looked at him in concern. “Maybe you shouldn’t talk for a day or so.”
Puff sighed, barely able to voice his words: “You might be right, but not sure that will happen yet. Help me make dinner?”
Peyton nodded.
“Peyton, Cade, Dane, this is Han,” Atticus introduced.
“Hi,” Peyton said, turning to Han. “Do you have a favourite food?”
Han looked startled for a moment. “I don’t, I like everything.”
“You’re easy to cater for then. I’ve called everyone through the pack link,” Peyton said.
“In that case,” Puff got out, and the table was suddenly filled with food, the scents filling the air, “we’ll have dinner and then go and visit General Delinga and then the injured guards.”
“Puff, you really need to stop talking,” Baylan remarked, walking into the kitchen with Blake, Alex, and Tudor.
“Han,” Blake greeted him warmly, “I hope you’re staying for dinner.”
Han gave a shy smile. “I am indeed.” As he spoke more of the pack filtered in.
“Sit anywhere,” Baylan said to him.
“Who catered? This looks and smells amazing,” Oz commented, sitting down.
“Puff did,” Peyton answered.
“Looks like I’m out of a job,” Oz said smiling at Puff.
Puff laughed but didn’t say anything.
“Alright folks, listen up,” Blake called out and silence descended around the table. “This is Han, our new friend and family member. I’ll let you introduce yourselves over time. Also, don’t rush off after dinner. That’s it, dig in.”
Chatter was heard once again and everyone handed around dishes and ate.
“Does anyone know where Brook and Demi are?” Forrest wondered when there was a lull in the conversation.
“They’re both helping Ajax in the hospital,” Blake told him.
“We need to leave some food for them,” Tobin said.
“Don’t worry, we’ll make sure they eat,” Martha replied.
Considering all that had happened that day, talk around the table was lively and fun. Blake was pleased to see that both Shiloh and Han were being pulled into conversations. In no time at all, dinner had been eaten. Devon was trying to coax Symon into eating, but the youngling wanted his daddy more than food.
“He’ll be here soon. You don’t want him worrying about you while he’s helping the injured, do you?”
Symond shook his head and sniffed, his eyes filled with tears.
Devon picked him up and put him on his lap, hugging him.
“Devon, what’s Symon’s favourite thing to eat?” Ares asked from next to him.
“Chicken nuggets – he’d live on them if I’d let him,” Devon replied.
Symon looked at Ares and, smiling at him, nodded his head as hard as he could. “Theys the bestest!”
Ares laughed and suddenly in front of Devon was a plate full of chicken nuggets.
“Thanks,” Devon said to him. “Look, sweetie, Uncle Ares made you chicken nuggets.”
“Fank you,” he said, grabbing one and eating it.
“We’ll remember for next time,” Peyton told him.
“Thanks.”
Once they finished talking Blake stood up. Everyone fell silent and looked at him.
“So today was a day of extremes. We started the day with the announcement that in three months Brook and Demi will be dragon parents, and then the explosions happened and people died. I want to thank each and every one of you for jumping in and helping where needed.
“Oz, Saxon, if you both can find a way to stop the dream walkers from striking again, that would be helpful.”
“Black tourmaline,” Gentzin said. “It’s the most powerful crystal to stop dark forces. If we can get enough of it, they can be handed out as necklaces to everyone, including all the guards. I’m sure one of the magic users can bespell the necklaces so they don’t break when someone shifts.”
Saxon agreed, “That would work.”
“For added protection, we could add amethyst and black obsidian,” Gentzen added.
“That would definitely work,” Oz replied.
Ash tilted his head. “Do we just order some online?”
“I can get you all good quality crystals.” Hades appeared in the kitchen holding a tray filled with chocolate balls.
Frederick smiled and jumped up, pulling Hades into a kiss. “Welcome back,” he said, pulling away. “You’ve seen Decker,” he said, nodding to the tray.
Hades smiled. “I did and there’s enough for everyone.”
“My brother makes the best sweets,” Tatum boasted proudly.
Hades handed the tray to Ares who took one and handed the tray off to Jason. Soon it was being passed around the table.
“You can get us the crystals we need?” Frederick continued, pulling Hades down next to him.
“I can. They’re all found in the earth. I can get them for you and fashion them into necklaces and make enough for all our pack mates and guards.”
“That would be most helpful, thank you, Hades,” Blake said, smiling at him, before closing his eyes in delight. “This chocolate is amazing.”
“Decker makes all the sweets he sells in his shop,” Tatum said.
“I think Decker needs to come for a visit and bring all his sweets for us to buy,” Ash suggested, happily licking his fingers.
“Or we could make a trip to this shop and buy all the yummy sweets because we need more Tatum your brother is very talented–” Tudor stopped talking when Alex touched his arm.
“You’re all welcome to visit. Just let me know when you want to come and Frederick and I will take you,” Hades offered.
“Thank you, Hades,” Blake said. “We might need to leave it a week or so to finish sorting today out.”
“That’s no problem, just let me know when you want to come.”
“What about me? Maybe I’d want to come as well,” Zeus said, appearing in the kitchen.
Hades snorted. “You’d just turn up. It’s keeping you away that’s the problem.”
“What can I say, I need to share my awesomeness around,” Zeus joked with a smirk while leaning against the worktop.
Hades wasn’t the only one who snorted at that.
“Awesomeness?” Dask repeated laughing.
“Obviously,” Zeus said, nodding, trying to look serious.
“Maybe you should go see Poseidon. I’m sure he’d love to see you and your awesomeness,” Alex suggested.
Zeus shook his head. “No, Poseidon’s stressing out. Amphitrite is due to give birth any day now and he’s in fusspot mode. I mean, seriously, it’s not as if this is his first child. I’m waiting for him to shut the sea down.”
“Can the sea be shut down?” Cade asked.
Zeus laughed. “If Poseidon gets his way, very probably.” He spotted Han and smiled. “Good, you’re making friends.”
“Frederick’s claimed him as family, not just a friend,” Hades told him.
“Excellent,” Zeus said with a nod.
“So what’s up, Dad?” Baylan asked.
“Nothing, I smelt Decker’s chocolates and came to steal one,” he replied, looking at the empty tray. “Alas, I’m too late.”
Symon held out a very dirty chocolate-covered hand. “Chocolate.”
Zeus laughed. “Does that mean I can eat your hand?”
Symon looked at his hand then Devon, frowning a little.
Devon laughed. “You really don’t want to eat that hand. I’m not sure chicken-nuggets-flavoured chocolate is the best flavour combination.”
Zeus grimaced. “Yeah, maybe not. Instead, I’m going to hug my grandchildren, then head off.”
Maddy and Kieran jumped up and hugged Zeus, and with a final wave, Zeus vanished.
“Does anyone else get the feeling Zeus is lonely?” Atticus asked.
“Maybe when things have quieted down we could find a mate for Zeus I mean he likes matchmaking so how about we have a go matchmaking for him,” Tudor said happily.
Jason touched his arm, grinning. “That would be fun.”
Han surveyed the group in awe. He had never been anywhere that accepted him or even the gods as normal everyday people. Indeed, there was also a demon and an angel at the table with the shifters. He caught Frederick’s eye and Frederick smiled and nodded at him.
Han returned the smile. That feeling of peace settled inside of him.
Tatum looked at Hades. “My lord, I’m guessing by the chocolates you saw Decker. Did he find out the extra powers Barnabus acquired?”
Hades nodded. “He did. He can create fireballs and vanish at will, but the main one is he can mimic others’ powers.”
“That’s how he fought so well against me, how he called a spear to him,” Ares summarised in shock.
Hades nodded.
“Wait, does he only have that power when he’s fighting someone or does he get to keep it?” Willow asked frowning.
“I actually don’t know,” Hades said thoughtfully, twirling an empty fork.
“I’m inclined to say, just when he’s fighting someone. Decker said he can mimic, not absorb,” Dask answered.
“So, how do we stop him?” Blake wondered.
Suggestions were thrown out, everything from attacking him all at once to using a rocket launcher – the latter being Ash’s idea.
“Gah, none of these ideas sound right,” Nick huffed out, pushing his plate away in frustration.
“You send someone in who doesn’t have any powers – no powers, no mimicking them,” Forrest suggested.
Everyone turned to look at him.
“Or not,” Forrest said, ducking his head.
Willow and Tobin scooted closer to him.
“Forrest,” Blake said and waited for him to look up. “That was a really good idea, none of us would have thought about that. Never be afraid of voicing your ideas. Any of you.” His gaze encompassed all the children.
“More chocolate?” Symon asked happily.
Chuckles were heard around the table.
“No, piggy,” Devon said, tickling his side and making him laugh.
“I need …” Puff started to say, but nothing else came out and he huffed.
“I’ll tell them,” Atticus said to him. “We need to see General Delinga. Paris, Puff, would like you to come as well?”
Paris nodded. “I can do that.”
“And we need to see General Gasgoyne Dane can you come as well in case there is anything you need to do I mean there probably is and it might not be very nice and I’m sorry about that.”
Alex touched Tudor’s arm. “Take a breath, sweetheart.”
“I’ll come as well if you don’t mind. I knew the guards who died,” Donovan said.
Tudor smiled at him. “Thanks,” he said simply.