Beastmora- The Golden Six Read online

  “Oh, he would be so lucky,” Callan butted in. Valeria covered her mouth in an attempt not to laugh as Florence made a halfhearted swipe at the wolf, but he just moved to avoid her pale hand.

  “How is he?” Florence asked.

  “He got into the program too!” Demetri answered, a look of pride taking over his face as he spoke of his best friend.

  “Oh good, the Dragon Core will surely burn down with you two attending it,” Florence teased, but she was clearly pleased with the choice.

  “Thanks for joining us, kid,” Callan snarked standing up to bring her twin into a side hug.

  “I hear congrats are in order,” Xander said with a smile as he hugged a beaming Demetri after the wolf released him, “Ivan sends his congratulations. He would’ve come, but you know, house arrest.”

  “Oh please, I could’ve cleared him to come, but he said no because he’s terrified of Florence,” Callan snorted falling into the couch beside Emalia, his arm slinging over her shoulders. Callan was Ivan’s parole officer. Her parents had never told Valeria and her siblings what Ivan had done, but he was under house arrest for the next century. She’d always wondered what crime he’d committed but had never summoned the courage to ask about it.

  “As he should be,” Florence said a sly smile on her face. Valeria couldn’t imagine anyone being afraid of her mother; she was just too soft. She noticed Xander, Callan, and her mother all sharing amused expressions. Demetri sent Emalia a questioning look, but she only shrugged and leaned into her mate’s side. It was always funny to see the size difference between her sister and her mate. Callan was just so tall and built while Emalia was short and tiny. When they hugged Callan completely covered the smaller wolf.

  “Dinner is ready,” Derik said suddenly appearing in front of the fire. Emalia hurriedly sat up, no longer looking tired anymore.

  “Finally, I’m starving,” She said an eager smile across her lips.

  “Cheeks, we had meat skewers like an hour ago,” Callan said coming to stand by Emalia. She gave him an exasperated look.

  “That was an hour ago, I’m hungry again,” Emalia responded as they all shuffled into the dining room. The room was just as spacious as the sitting room, with much of the same decor, the long wooden table, and crimson rug making it seem very grand. The white, porcelain had delicate designs dancing on the edges of the plates. For the vampire’s in the room, there was beautiful crystal glasses and a crystal decanter holding blood. Soft music was emitting from the harp; most items in Beastmora were enchanted, musical instruments could either be played or would play themselves depending on the need of the owner. Once they had all sat in their seats, Florence at the head of the table with Derik to her right and Xander to her left. Callan was beside Xander across from Demetri. Valeria sat next to Emalia across from Nova who sat next to Henrik. The buzz of conversation filled the room, Xander, Derik, Florence, and Callan discussing the opening of the new war museum exhibit, Nova, Demetri, and Henrik talking about the merits of levitating, leaving Valeria and Emalia to make their own conversation. Valeria immediately brought up the Grey Academy. Her sister had been one of the first students to attend when it became a school all those cycles ago.

  “What was it like when you went?”

  “Well it was rather small when I attended, only a handful of kids were there at the time. We were separated by species and paired up,” Emalia supplied cutting into her meat with a focused expression. This was one of the only wolf traits that Emalia acquired naturally. The bottomless pit of a stomach, “I met some good beasts there. Mamoru, Freya, and Serafina. You remember her, right?”

  An image of an outspoken wolf with short dark hair popped into her mind, “You guys were paired up?”

  “Yes, she is a griffin trainer just outside of Kalissa now. Callan and I had dinner with her four nights ago.”

  “Mom,” Henrik called, stopping all conversations at the table.

  “Henrik!” Florence said, imitating his tone as she turned her gaze to her youngest.

  “My finger feels weird. It’s tingling, and it’s itchy,” Henrik replied, rubbing at his pointer finger of his right hand. Demetri grabbed his small hands and gazed down at it before gasping.

  “Your mate was just born, little dude,” Demetri explained with a grin and Henrik’s face lit with excitement.

  “That’s wonderful,” Florence replied a smile gracing her lips and Valeria’s mind went to her own mate mark, the red swirled lines on her ankle. Demetri seemed to have the same thought as she did because he touched his bicep, where she knew his green mark was. Henrik raised his hand to show everyone the purple mark wrapping itself around his pointer finger.

  “It looks like vines,” Nova said, looking at her best friend in awe, “Daddy and Papa’s are all over their backs like big flames.”

  “They look like big flames because they are big flames, Nova,” Callan said, shaking his head at the hatchling.

  “At least it’s not basic likes yours,” She retorted with a huff, sticking her tongue out at the wolf.

  “Yeah, yours looks like a fingernail,” Demetri teased, his lips turned up in a smirk at the looks on both Callan and Emalia’s faces.

  “It’s not a fingernail,” Emalia grumbled looking offended, “It’s a crescent moon.”

  “What’s you and Dad’s mate mark look like?” Henrik asked, turning his attention back to Florence.

  “Your father and I aren’t mates, love,” Florence replied with a patient smile.

  “You and Dad aren’t mates?” Henrik asked, shocked, he had assumed they were mates just like Valeria had.

  “No. Your father and I are not,” Florence responded, glancing over at Derik before turning her red gaze to her youngest.

  “Then where are your mates?” Henrik asked, no judgment in his face only curiosity.

  “My mate, Tatiana was killed in the Demon War,” Florence responded, and Valeria’s mind flashed back to the picture on the desk, could that have been her mate? But no, it couldn’t because the woman in the photo was a wolf. Mates could only be of the same species. Then her eyes flew to her mother’s covered left hand, Valeria never thought anything of the gloved hand, but she would bet her Duchess title that that’s where her mother’s mark was.

  “And my mate, Gregori was killed during the Grey Rebellion,” Derik added, Valeria realized where her middle name came from at the same time that Demetri did too. They exchanged a look across the table, but Demetri’s was not one of surprise but of knowing. Demetri had known that they were both named after their parents late mates.

  “I’m sorry, I had no idea,” Valeria mumbled not knowing what else to say. She’d never met anyone who had lost their mate. It was supposed to be the worst pain a beast could ever feel. Missing the other half of your soul tore you apart, the only pain known to trump it was the loss of a child. Valeria realized how strong her parents were and for the first time, she wondered what they were like before they’d had kids. Before they adopted Emalia. Before Demetri, Henrik, and she was born. Who were they? Did they like each other? What did they want?

  “Don’t apologize; it was a long time ago. Your mother and I have both moved passed it and are very happy now. For if we didn’t suffer then, how could we know how lucky we are now?” Derik said, smiling at everyone around them. Florence nodded along with her husband’s words, but her eyes lingered on the gloved hand, and Valeria’s heart ached for her.

  “Mad respect guys,” Callan said, looking at Emalia with a soft expression, “I can’t even imagine losing Em.”

  “Agreed, Ivan is a huge pain in the ass, but I can’t think of a world where he didn’t exist,” Xander murmured, his eyes moving to Nova who just blinked up at her father.

  “Let’s move on to a more happy conversation, shall we,” Florence said, clapping her hands together, “Nova tell me about your school, how do you like it?”

  As the night went on, Valeria wondered about the wolf in the photo, could that be Tatiana? If she was Ta
tiana, what did that mean for her relationship? Was their marriage just one of duty? She spent the next hour trying to find the moment to pull aside her mother and ask. Valeria couldn’t say why she wanted to know about the woman in the photo. Somehow it just felt like it was important; it felt like Valeria needed to know exactly who the wolf was. The opportunity presented itself as they were all saying their goodbyes, Xander and Nova in one carriage to head back to the Forests of Light and Callan and Emalia in another going back to Kalissa.

  “Mom, do you have a minute?’ Valeria asked once the front door shut. She watched as her parents exchanged a look before her father nodded and walked out of the foyer her brothers trailing behind him. Demetri gave Valeria a questioning look, but she shook her head at him. She needed to speak to their mother alone.

  “What is it, my dear?” Florence said once they’d gone.

  “Is the picture of the woman on your desk Tatiana?” Valeria asked, and Florence’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “Yes,” Her mother responded, pulling off the glove that covered her left hand, on the top of her hand there was a rose that flourished up but was burned black with death and Valeria couldn’t tear her gaze away from it. She had never seen a black mark before, “It used to be blue, just like her eyes, but it seared black the minute she took her last breath.”

  “But she was a wolf” Valeria blurted before she could stop herself.

  “She was….Tatiana and I were the first recorded interspecies mates,” Florence explained, her fingers lightly touching the mark.

  “What happened to her?”

  “She was murdered because I loved her,” Her mother’s voice was soft, laced with pain and anger, Valeria had never heard her sound like this, “But that is a story you are not ready to hear.”

  “How do you...cope?” Valeria asked her voice so low; she wasn’t sure her mother could even hear her question.

  “Pain can handicap you if you let it, but it also can make you stronger,” Florence said softly, “But Valeria don’t think me wounded because I’m not. I’ve made my peace with what happened to her, and I’ve moved on with your father. Tatiana may have been my mate, and yes, I loved her with my whole soul, but Derik is the love of my life.”

  “Okay good,” Valeria murmured unable to help the grin that formed on her face.

  “Valeria were you worried that I didn’t love your father?” Florence questioned, amusement coloring her tone again, “If I didn’t love your father, I wouldn’t put up with him.”

  “I just thought-,” She opened her mouth to defend herself, but her mother cut her off.

  “Sweetheart, you’re going to love different people throughout your life, and that’s okay. I can guarantee you that it’ll happen to you,” Florence spoke with a smile at Valeria, “Just like there is love between mates, there is also love outside of it.”

  “Awww,” Derik cooed as he appeared in the doorway, a huge grin on his face, “You’re making me swoon.”

  “Ugh,” Florence cringed as Derik picked her up and kissed her cheek, but Valeria could tell her mother was fighting back a smile, “I take it all back.”

  “Oh, no. I know the truth, you big softie,” Derik pestered as he followed Florence from the room, Valeria saw Henrik and Demetri leaning against the doorway with matching grins.

  ◆◆◆

  At moonrise it was the night Valeria was to start at the Grey Academy, her father had left earlier on Thoren as he was the Headmaster for the academy’s Kalissa location. Her mother and Henrik were dropping her off tonight after Demetri was picked up. The carriage for the Dragon Core was arriving in about five minutes or so. The four of them stood outside the gates, Demetri had a bag slung over his shoulder and was shuffling his feet nervously. Soon enough, the large crimson carriage came over the hill, and Demetri turned to their mother, a worried expression on his face.

  “What if I fail?” Demetri asked, his eyes were oddly serious, Valeria couldn’t remember the last time she had seen her twin like this.

  “It does not matter if you fail because you will, the only way we truly fail something is if we give up on it,” Florence said her gaze locked with Demetri’s and her fingers caught his chin with a smile on her face, to reassure him, “and no son of mine is a quitter.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” Demetri expressed with a smile, the nervousness slipping from his eyes and determination replacing it.

  “I love you,” Florence said in Vampiric before she cupped her son’s cheek with a smile, “Now don’t prank the Master’s.”

  “No promises,” He smirked, hugging her tightly, then ruffling Henrik’s hair and flicking Valeria’s nose, “Have a nice punishment, V.”

  “Suck an egg, Demetri,” Valeria responded as she watched Demetri jump into the carriage, waving at the three of them before it sped away. Her mother sighed softly before ushering them into the carriage of their own, saying something about being late. Once they were settled, the carriage began its speedy trek down the smooth roads. The carriage had soft white leather on the inside, and it was spacious enough to fit at least eight people comfortability, even though the carriage itself wasn’t larger than a unicorn. Valeria was silent as she gazed outside the window, her mind was racing with questions, but she hadn’t been able to get her mother alone to ask. Not to mention, the nervousness that churned her insides at the thought of living with strangers.

  “Why couldn’t Daddy come with us?” Henrik questioned, as he shifted in his seat to get more comfortable and their mother turned her gaze to him, “Aren’t we going to the same place?”

  “And have everyone know I’m the headmaster’s daughter?” Valeria scoffed at Henrik, but she didn’t bother to turn her gaze away from the passing landscape, she was too moody.

  “Won’t they know that anyway?” Henrik inquired.

  “Yeah but I don’t want...You won’t understand,” Valeria said with a huff, her gaze moving to look out the window moodily. Demetri leaving this morning and the events of last night trudging up the fact that she failed and made a complete fool of herself. She couldn’t help but take it out on Henrik, she felt so lousy and like a colossal failure.

  “What Valeria means is it would be...awkward to show up in such a manner,” Florence explained, shooting Valeria a look, “Now why don’t you count how many blood trees you see before we get there.”

  That kept Henrik busy for a while, but he was bored of it quickly and soon was asking questions again.

  “Mom, how does the carriage move if nothing is pulling it?” Henrik asked, his head slightly looking out the window. They never took the carriage, mostly riding Nebby or Thoren but since Nebby was out of commission.

  “Just as your communicator does, it uses magical currents from the planet to move,” She explained, then held up her communicator bringing up the blue screen, “I can control the destination from here. We will be going through the Kalissa Portal in about five minutes.”

  Henrik moved to sit by his mother and watch the controls displayed on the projected light blue screen. The controls included speed, the temperature inside the carriage, navigation, and of course, a view screen from the front.

  “How do portals work? Are they the same as the tunnels?” Henrik asked eagerly, and Florence smiled down at him, brushing fingers through his raven curls.

  “All over the planet, there are magical hotspots. They are access points to the planets magical core, similar to your own. These hotspots power the portals, tunnels, carriages; you name it. The power is all recycled, much like the water system,” Florence pulled a map up on her communicator, pointing to the pathways in which the magic moves, “Now the portals transport you from one place to the other, skipping all the miles but the tunnels only increase your speed.”

  “Then why do we always take the Tunnel System and not the Portal System?” Henrik asked, looking out at the passing landscape.

  “Traffic. The portals get quite crowded,” Florence responded, “Not to mention, Nebby would get fat if I didn’t
exercise her every night,” Nebby lifted her head from her spot on Florence’s lap to look at her with a frown causing Florence’s lips to turn up.

  “Mom, can you hear Nebby’s thoughts?” Henrik asked, leaning up to get a better look at the small dragon.

  “I can, but only if we choose to share thoughts,” Florence replied before her gaze moved to Valeria, “That is why your father did not know when Thoren took your sister.”

  “Will Demetri fall off his dragon too?” Henrik asked, glimpsing over at Valeria before turning his attention back to Florence.

  “I hope so,” Valeria murmured under her breath. Her mother gave her a disapproving look before answering Henrik.

  “Perhaps the first time but it is unlikely after they bond,” The carriage slowed, and Valeria could see the carriages slowly going through the portal about two yards away from where they were at. The portal entrance was around an emerald circle that stretched about nine feet wide and twelve feet tall. Beside the portal was a woman with large glasses directing traffic, she held a hand to the line they were in and soon after lines of carriages came through the portal. They waited about five minutes before the woman was waving them through. Going through the portal was different than entering the tunnels, it felt like passing through water, and suddenly they were traveling down the streets of Kalissa, the illuminated flora, lighting their way through the streets.

  “Wow,” Henrik exclaimed as he stuck his head outside the rolled down window again, and Florence gripped his shirt, making sure he didn’t accidentally fall out, “Portals are amazing.”

  “Henrik you’ve been through a portal before,” Valeria stated irritably, unimpressed by Henrik’s enthusiasm, how could he be this upbeat when Valeria was a mess of nervous energy.

  “But that was so long ago,” Henrik replied, his red gaze taking in all the lights and differences from VT. Valeria leaned her forehead against the window, reminded of the mysterious drawer and all the questions she had when her eyes fell upon the GSI building. She wanted answers but knew even if her mother would tell her she wouldn’t tell Valeria in front of Henrik.