As they walked along the hall, he said, "You seem to be rather proud of this place, almost like it was your home."
Elora smiled and looked down for a minute before she slid her eyes back to his. "You're very observant for a werewolf."
He looked at her sideways. "How many werewolves do you know?"
She laughed. "Busted. I know a total of two.
"In an odd way, at the end of a very long story, this place really is like home to me."
"Does it have something to do with the Interdimensional Something Defense Thing?"
"Do you have security clearance?"
"Five."
"Okay. Consider it just between friends and off the record for now. Here's the nutshell version. I came from another dimension very similar to this one, which is why I'm strong enough to put you down without breaking a nail. I arrived here, at Jefferson Unit, as alone as a person can be. I went from prisoner of interest to Black Swan knight, which is why my name is Lady Laiken. I made friends who are my family. I fell in love and mated. And it all started here. So it does feel like home base. I guess it always will."
Arriving at her temporary quarters, Elora looked back at Stalkson and grinned. "Beyond this door lies the center of the universe." He cocked his head slightly to one side then looked past her when the door swung open.
Elora waved at Ram. "I brought Stalkson to see Helm."
Ram nodded at Grey and waved a hand toward where the crib was sitting in front of the window. When Helm saw his mother come into his field of vision, he pumped his little arms and legs like he was training for an Iron Man and gurgled excitedly. She laughed at him and he cooed at her adorably.
When Stalkson came into his field of vision, Helm grew still and studied the newcomer with intense interest and the suggestion of a scowl on his brow. Then he took a deep breath and gave Grey the longest, most perfect raspberry Elora had even seen rendered.
Grey blinked a couple of times like he was trying to decide if that had actually happened. Then he laughed openly, seeming to enjoy the baby's rebuke immensely. "The center of the universe has spoken." He looked at Elora and smiled. "I sense problems with authority. No doubt he's your boy."
Ram used his hand to wipe the laugh off of his own face. Elora gave Ram a cool look.
"On the contrary, problems with authority, should they develop, will be laid squarely at the feet of the elfling's father."
Grey smiled. "Whatever you say."
Counterintuitive as it may have seemed, Litha and Storm returned from their New York weekend loose, relaxed and prepared to thoroughly enjoy time together alone at the vineyard. It was Litha's turn to clean up after dinner. She was just finishing and planning to join her husband by the fire for a glass of sweet red when her cell played a few bars of "Devil Inside".
She looked at the caller ID. Unknown caller.
"Don't answer it," Storm yelled from the living room right on cue, like he had seen the caller ID.
She considered letting it go, but she had a strong suspicion that the caller, who'd prompted the mysterious ring tone that she did not have on her phone, was the furthest thing from unknown.
"Dad. How did you program a ring tone into my phone?"
"You noticed! Did you like it?"
"I haven't gotten that far. Answer the question."
"Magic."
"Really."
"I have to get off this plane."
"Okay. First, why are you calling me on a phone when you could just show up here if you have something to say and, second, why are you on a plane when you could just ride the passes?"
"Okay. First, I'm calling because the last two times I popped in I got in heap big trouble because you were boinking. Remember? Because you're shy about that. Remember?"
"Yes. Thanks for reminding me and for using such delicate phrasing."