Finally, alone to deal with this overwhelming urge to take both of my boys to bed, I stand with my head under the running water. It’s calming and soothing and I get myself under control. Stepping out, I grab for a towel, but pause in front of the mirror. Turning, I look back over to see the one-inch diameter has increased now to nearly five inches.
Huh. It’s currently dormant. No flames of pain. I guess Cole and Devon are no longer bonding. Grabbing my comb, I pull it through my hair while pondering this bizarre chain of events. Not bothering to dry it, I just clip it off my face as I move to the bedroom to get dressed. I close my eyes. I reach out and sense Devon in the bar. Concentrating harder, I sense Cole with him.
Dressing quickly, I concentrate on Cole and swirl out of existence and down to them in the bar, making them both jump a mile.
“Seem to be getting the hang of that. Everything okay with you two?” I ask and they nod in unison.
“Everything okay with you?” Cole asks pointedly.
“I’m good,” I say, sitting next to him and take his hand. “This Power Surge is exaggerating a lot of my feelings, especially in regard to the two of you.” I look over at Devon. “Every time the mark grows, it gets worse. I just need to get it under control.”
Cole nods, wondering if I’m going to add more.
My phone buzzing interrupts the growing silence. It’s CK.
“You’re home safe?” he asks before I can even say hello.
“Yes, it’s all fine,” I say, irrationally irritated by his concern.
“Good. The ceremony has been arranged for a week on Wednesday. Be in Milan on Tuesday so I can go over some things with you,” he orders.
“Yes, sir!” I snap as he, in usual fashion, hasn’t bothered to ask.
He growls at my tone. “Aefre,” he warns.
I falter in my anger suddenly. “I’m sorry. I’m all over the place. This Power Surge is driving me crazy!” To my absolute mortification, I start crying.
Two seconds later, CK has blinked to my side and is holding me tenderly, crooning to me in Italian, much to Cole and Devon’s annoyance, which I can sense rather than see as my face is buried against CK’s chest. Sniffling like an idiot, I pull away, wiping at my eyes. CK hands me a monogrammed hanky, which just sets me off even more.
“Aefre, my sweet. Talk to me. Tell me what you are feeling,” he says, still in Italian.
Having the presence of mind to at least switch to English before Cole blows a gasket, I shrug and say, “I don’t know. Everything just feels ‘more’. I don’t really know how else to describe it.” I sigh as both Cole and CK take my hands, while Devon just looks at me at a loss. The last time he saw me cry was in 1746 and that was for an exceptionally good reason. He kneels in front of me and places his hands on my knees. I smile weakly at him. He smiles in return, reassuring me.
“I’m sorry,” I say, suddenly feeling more idiotic than I have ever felt. “This is ridiculous.” I pull away from them all and stand up. I take a step towards the bar, but then realize I don’t have to. I might as well use this Power that is making me a sniveling mess. Thinking of a glass of Scotch, it appears in my hand and I thankfully take a big sip, feeling the peaty heat slide down my throat. Turning to face my sire and my boys, I force a smile on my face. “I’m fine now.”
Cole doesn’t believe me though. “Liv, you’ve been saying that for days now. Clearly, you aren’t fine,” he snaps then shrugs apologetically when I glare at him.
“I have to agree,” CK says. “Come to Milan with me now, where I can look after you.”
Cole glares at him and clears his throat. “If she goes, I go,” he states.
CK just looks at him mildly.
“Same here,” Devon says.
“I’m not going anywhere!” I blurt out in frustration. “At least not yet. I, no we, will be in Milan on Tuesday next week as ordered.”
CK glares at my defiance, but I really don’t care about offending him right now.
“Look, Cole needs stability, not to be dragged halfway across the world and back again. I am fine. I will deal with this,” I insist. Not to mention, I’m less than enthusiastic to spend any more time with Gregor and Eloise. Who knows what other Powers might reveal themselves, and the last thing I want is those two beasts seeing me go into a further meltdown.
“Fine,” CK grudgingly concedes to my surprise. He turns to Cole and Devon, and adds menacingly, “If anything happens to her between now and then, I will blame you. Both of you.”
Devon just sneers at him, while Cole nods quickly.
CK stands and comes to me. He takes me into his arms, and I relax. He pulls back slightly to kiss me chastely and whispers, “Take care, my sweet. I will see you soon.” Then he Teleports out.
“Liv, are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Devon asks. With a quick glance at Cole, he continues, “I think you need to be with him.” He understands better than most, a charge’s need for their sire.