Dark Lycan (Carpathian)

“Sara and Falcon have a few people who help them out during the daylight hours when they can’t be there. There’s Maria, who is their full-time nanny. Slavica and her daughter both help as well. Slavica and her husband, Mirko, own the local inn and she’s very busy as a rule, but when there’s need, she comes. If there’s trouble during the afternoons, we have Jubal and Gary and Slavica’s husband to guard them,” Savannah explained.

“The oldest boy, Travis, is eleven now. He’s the oldest of the seven,” Mikhail said. “He’s Falcon’s shadow and he’s already learning how to fight. Falcon and the other adults work with all the children. They have to know our enemies, just as all of us were taught. Travis looks out for the others. The little girl he has his arm around is Emma. She’s the youngest girl.”

Fen could see the boy was older beyond his years. Even while he seemed to be taking in every detail of the story, he was watching his siblings. When two of the boys began punching each other and then knocked into one of the girls, he pinned them with a very adult look and both stopped their antics immediately. One whispered an apology to the girl seated beside him.

He indicated the byplay with his chin. “He definitely has their attention.”

“That’s Peter and Lucas. They’re both ten and a handful. Jase, the youngest boy, is sitting very close to him and keeps scooting closer,” Raven told them with a little laugh.

As the story progressed, Fen could see the littlest boy with a mop of blond hair inch closer and closer to Travis. “Chrissy is the one Lucas bumped into and Blythe is sitting beside her. They’re all human, but the psychic talents they possess are extraordinary.”

“Where in the world did Sara find them?” Tatijana asked.

“She read an article in a magazine about children living in the sewers because they had nowhere else to go. These children are all throwaways. They had to scavenge for food. There were much older children who also lived in family units or gangs, whatever you prefer to call it, and they robbed this group often. It was Travis who protected them and stole most of the food for them,” Savannah explained. “They’re extremely loyal to him.”

“Travis is still a little shy around me,” Mikhail admitted. “A couple of years ago, he was used by a vampire to spy on us.”

“Worse,” Raven said, “he was possessed. The vampire used him to try to kill Mikhail. He blamed himself when there was nothing he could have done.”

“That’s why he works so hard to learn everything he can about the vampire and how to fight him,” Mikhail continued. “It’s hard to convince him it wasn’t his fault.”

“How sad,” Tatijana said. “He’s just a little boy. He shouldn’t have to contend with monsters at his age.”

“Unfortunately,” Mikhail said, “None of us have a choice. This is our world. It would do no good for Travis and the rest of the children to be kept in the dark about the existence of vampires. They come under attack every time we do. When they’re older, we’ll give them a choice to convert, but for now, it’s better to train them how to fight.”

“I agree,” Tatijana admitted, “but it’s still sad.”

Savannah smiled up at her. “Don’t be sad tonight. Those children are happy and are very loved. We help raise them as a community and they know they can come to any of us if they’re in trouble or upset about anything.”

“They’re beautiful,” Tatijana said. “How’s Sara’s pregnancy coming along this time?”

“So far, she’s hanging in there. We’re hoping she makes it to full term, although Gregori says it’s doubtful. Nevertheless, he says the baby is strong and has a good chance of survival. She’s taking it one rising at a time,” Raven added.

“Are the children excited about the baby?” Fen asked.

Mikhail nodded. “We’re a society that believes every single child born is a gift and they believe that as well. So far even Jase hasn’t shown any anxiety, just excitement.”

Fen noticed how all the Carpathians, men and women alike stopped by the storytelling circle, dropping a hand on a child’s shoulder or affectionately ruffling their hair. The gestures brought back long forgotten memories of his own childhood and the fire circles with the elders telling the stories and the warriors and lifemates assuring the young children by those silent gestures that they were safe and surrounded by those who loved them.

Time might have marched on. Centuries had gone by and tremendous strides had been made in technology. Huge changes had taken place in the world. Still, he found it comforting that his people held certain things close to their hearts. The trappings around them may have changed, but the love for their children remained.

Raven and Mikhail were called away by another couple and Savannah laughingly rushed to go to the aid of her lifemate as the twins, the prince’s son and nephew all tried to topple him so they could use him as a jungle gym.