Freeing the Slaves.

Belial had walked back into his room and sat on his bed with a heavy sigh, this was going to be so difficult, he had grown to love each of them and now he had to say goodbye for an undefined amount of time.

"You three, come sit on the bed."

He muttered, he had summoned them all here on his way up through the mental link.

"I have just been talking to Giacinto and I have some bad news which effects all of us.

I promise you this isn't something I want to happen but it can't be avoided and I need each of you to be stronger than ever alright?"

He added, his darkened purple eyes looking over at each of them, he didn't want to do this, not now, not ever.

The three were curious.

Why had Belial called for all of them at the same time? He rarely took the three of them in one Session; Belial much preferred to take one or two of them together at one time.

The three of them moved almost hesitantly onto the bed; the men flanking the small woman, all three of them pressed together.

Silver and green eyes flashed to each other. Bad news. That sent a chill down all of their spines. What bad news could affect Belial? He was powerful; not much affected him.

"What is it, Belial?" Zakhar asked, silver eye now trained on the Fallen.

"The Fae know about the coven and they are sending two very old, very powerful and very cruel Fae to inspect the Mansion 'fixing' any problems that they find.

It's an excuse for them to cull hybrids and those in mixed relationships, they despise the idea of species mixing and will not hesitate to kill in order to preserve their ideals."

He replied, laying back on the head board, his head slumping slightly as his hand ran through his hair.

"I'm not beyond their reach, the Fae despise me and I them, they will do anything to ruin me and that includes coming after you, your family and your Elder's.

Normally I can out run them, and if need be kill a few off, but that isn't an option now, not when there is an entire coven who would be effected if I did.

As such, Tony, Lycus and myself have decided it is best to separate all mixed couples until the Fae are gone.
That includes us, until they leave I need to release each of you, you can't have any affiliation with me, don't talk to me, don't try to find me, don't even try to help me if they have me crippled on the ground.

With that said, Zakhar and Coilean will be roomed together, during mating season you two are to look after one another, I need you two to remain close, unfortunately Asher they will take a great deal of interest in you, during this time I need you to be strong because there is no one you can be with."

He replied, looking up at them gravely.

The three of them linked hands and gripped each other tightly.

They'd be fine. They'd be able to look after each other. Just like they had been doing for the past few months.

Asher shrunk back when Belial's eyes turned to her, her own eyes widening in horror.

She couldn't be with Coilean and Zakhar? Her gaze turned to both Lycan who were looking back at her with the same shocked horror.

"But... why?" she breathed, willing her moist eyes not to tear up. "Why will I get their interest? Why will I have no one?"

No one.

The thought was heavy in her. She'd have no one. She felt like she was being abandoned again. Just like Hendrika had done to her.

Her expression tore through him.

"Asher I'm so sorry that I have to do this to you, please know that it is not my choice.
You know I love you and would never want for you to be alone.

But you're a fairy, the closest species to the Fae, they will know what you are as soon as they see you.

Fairies never travel far from their nests, they stick together and rarely interact with other species, seeing one in a coven like this is unheard of, they will ask you questions, a lot of them, and you will need to give them answers.

You can't mention me at all."

He muttered, he hated doing this to them, it made him feel sick.

"Your parents live close to here, hopefully you will be able to go visit them often, I don't want you to be alone.

You can still talk to Zakhar and Coilean but you can't touch them, no holding hands, not even a kiss or hug, you can't, it's not safe."

The Fallen cleared his throat, this ordeal weighing heavily on him.

"Zakhar no one can see you naked, not out in the woods, no where, if they see my mark on you, you will be slaughtered immediately."

He added, his eyes turning over to his mate in absolute sorrow.

The woman's tears finally welled up, streaking down her cheeks.

She was being left alone; thrown in the deep end with no one to help her and no ability to swim.

Her lips parted a little before she bit her lip harshly.

She didn't know what she was going to do. She felt empty now. Already, even with the collar on and her Master in front of her, she felt lost. The woman began to shake a little. This was an exact repeat of Hendrika. She was being lumped off with nothing but the promise of going back to her parents.

Coilean's arms slid around her, pulling her closer as she sobbed.

Zakhar's hand rested on her shoulder.

His eyes cut up to the Fallen sharply. "That's impossible to ask and you know it is." He'd need to shift on the Full Moon. Nothing could stop him from doing so. He'd have to be naked. There wasn't anything that could stop that.

"I'm so sorry Asher."

He muttered, a lump building in his throat, this was horrible, he wanted to help the woman through this time but he couldn't.

"Once they leave you'll be with us again, as soon as the Fae leave I'm coming back for each of you."

Belial ran his hand through his hair and shook his head.

"I wasn't asking Zakhar, I know you'll need to shift on the full moon but they can't see my mark on you, they just can't, you'll be dead before you even realize they have seen it."

He muttered, taking a shuddered breath as his face rested in his hands.

I'm so sorry.

At least he had the decency to apologise for this emotional trauma she was going through. Hendrika hadn't been so kind.

She pulled away from Coilean and shifted so she was on from of Beial. She couldn't bring herself to look up at him; her eyes were firmly trained on the sheets of the bed.

"Remove it," she whispered softly. "I want to leave."

She couldn't deal with all these gentle reassurances right now. She was being left alone with the threat of being killed if she showed any affection to the men she loved. If they kept coddling her, she'd never be able to get through it.

She... she'd just leave. Go back to the farm and stay there. She really couldn't handle doing anything else. If she was being left alone, she wasn't going to stay here where she could see Zakhar and Coilean still able to do anything they wanted to each other.

"What do you want me to do about it?" the Rus groused. "I can't do anything but be naked. There isn't another option."

Her eagerness to get away from him cut through the Fallen like a knife, leaning forward he pressed a soft kiss to her lips before reluctantly taking off her collar, grasping it firmly in his hands, he didn't want to let go of her but he had to, there was no option.

"I'm going to come back for you, I swear on my life."
He muttered, he said this though he knew there was a chance that not all of them would live through this.

His eyes turned back to Zakhar, he really didn't know, he didn't have all the answers.

"Stay in Wolf form, they wont be able to see it through your fur, just make sure each time you shift you have a change of clothes with you and you are in private."

Belial leaned forward and slowly removed Coilean's collar, kissing the man as the leather left his skin, pulling his tail out slowly for the last time for God knows how long.

Then he moved onto Zakhar, the one who he had owned for the longest, his Mate.
Belial unbuckled his collar and moved it away from his skin, giving him and lingering kiss.

Asher couldn't return the kiss.

When he'd finally pulled away, she almost flew off the bed towards the door, tears still rolling down her cheeks.

"Don't promise me anything." Her voice was almost a hiss; almost angry. She'd been promised many things in the past. She had never gotten her hopes up. But with Belial, he did everything he promised. Always. She always got her hopes up. But this was something big. They could die. All of them. She didn't want to cling to the hope that he'd come back when there was such a big chance of it not happening.

She disappeared from the room, closing the door behind her and almost running down the hall.

Zakhar sighed. "Its not always going to be that easy." But he'd try.

Coilean gave a soft whimper when his collar was removed, leaning into the kiss, giving a loud sigh when Belial pulled away. This was going to be tough for him. Very tough.

Zakhar did just the same as Coilean. He didn't want this to end, either. None of them did.

"While all this is happening; I'm going to take Coilean as my Pet." There was no hesitance in his tone. He'd have Coilean as his. Wearing his mark and his collar until the time Belial came back for them.

The Fallen's eyebrows drew together as she ran off, letting out a long sigh as she left, this hurt, this hurt far too much and now he couldn't curl up in bed with them for days until the pain dulled.

He nodded glumly as Zakhar spoke, if anyone was going to look after Coilean for him he was glad it was Zakhar.

"Everyone has until tomorrow night to be moved into their own rooms and having said good bye to their lover's.

All we have is tonight and then I need you two to look after each other because I can't come to your aid at all and you can't come to mine."

He knew there would be moments, he had been on the receiving end of the Twin's attack before, on more than one occasion they could possibly see him being attacked by them and no one would be able to help him.

"If you can, stay away from the twins, they are crueler than you can imagine and can inflict physical and emotional pain stronger than you have ever felt before.

Be safe, don't make a scene, act natural, you two are now lover's, let them see that, they have to believe that you two are the only ones in the relationship.

If you see me in the halls, don't even look at me."

"Only two in the relationship? What the Hell are you insinuating? I'm a selfish bastard; I never share my things. If you think you or anyone else can muscle in on my Pet, you've got another thing coming."

The act was far more than believable.

With a heavy sigh he coaxed Coilean into his lap and stroked the puppy gently.

Coilean whimpered softly in his lap.

"We've only got tonight?" It was all so abrupt. This morning they'd all been playing happy dysfunctional family. He'd had Asher against Coilean's cage while Belial ahd his fun with the puppy. It had all happened far too quickly.

"Do you have any idea about the time frame of their visit?"

Belial gave a weak chuckle, Zakhar would be able to pull this off perfectly, he knew how to act, how to be a flawless Master and he would keep Coilean in line.

"We got the letter today, there is not date on their arrival, knowing the Fae they will be here soon, they want to catch us off guard but if we can get all this organized we should be able to get through this with minimal deaths."

The Fallen shrugged slightly, there was no telling when they would leave.

"A few days, weeks, months, if they find anything suspicious they could be here for much longer.

Keep in mind we are not the only ones being split up, the only people permitted to leave were women with children, we've hidden Moe, her boys and Alexis, there partners have to stay here, if we lose too many numbers they will catch on to what we have done and they will hunt for those who left.

The hybrids are in most danger, the children more so, that's why we hid them, then the mix species couples.

If you see a loved one, or friend being questioned or attacked, you can't help them, the Fae can't be stopped, but we are doing anything everything we can to protect anyone."

He moved closer to the boys and held them close, hugging them tightly.

"Regardless we are all in this together, this is no time for grudges, everyone will be suffering, if they are your species, help them.

Zakhar try to be wary of Aodh, he and his new fiance are being split up, he is going to be edgy and upset.

Zeke also, he is losing his wife and his children, Tahir is losing his pregnant Mate."

Zakhar nodded silently.

This was all so much. Why was mixed couple relationships such a bad thing to these people?

Mixed couples created a better genepool. Created mutations; new species.

And why are gay couples the same as straight? They had no risk of pregnancy. No risk of creating a new species. He didn't understand it.

Coielan sat up abruptly. "Fiancé?"

When did Aodh get engaged?

The Fae had their rules, regardless of species or gender, it didn't matter, combining the species was combining the species.

Hybrids had the best of both species, they could create better, more powerful creatures, ones will less weakness, Belial would beat that was what they feared, and uprising of new and improved species.

The Fallen's eyes widened slightly as Coilean spoke, it was a rarity for him to speak nowadays and he knew immediately that he had put his foot in it.

"You didn't know? Oh great."
He muttered rubbing his own face firmly.

"According to Tony it only just happened, I heard about it a few hours ago, to a Vampire, you'll need to talk to him about it."

Coilean pursed his lips.

Things between the twins had been rocky recently. The both of them had been very possessive and that had gotten to the point of them falling out.

He sighed and moved to lay in Zakhar's lap again.

"This is gonna be tough on the entire coven. Poor Aodh."

As jealous as he was of someone else having Aodh's attention, eh was happy for his brother.

"Time to get close to your brother again, think how hard it will be being away from Asher and I, now imagine if you didn't have Zakhar, he is losing his only lover, it must be hard."

He muttered, as hard as losing all three at once...he thought with a slight wince, he was going to become quite lonely, Noam hadn't been around much lately.

"Your daughter and grandchildren are in good hand's Coilean, I am escorting her away from the coven myself the Elf Elder has organized a place for her to stay and people to care for her and the boys.

Aleksandr should be back tomorrow, go to him if you need anything, people know the two of us are friends so hopefully I will be able to communicate with you two through him."

"Yes, he'll need it."

Aodh really had shitty luck. Poor bastard was being torn away from his fiancé. That was rough.

The man nodded. "Please make sure they're safe. If anything happened to Moe and the pups..." He'd never be able to forgive whoever caused it. Moe and the pups were his life. He adored them.

"Communicating through Alek will be difficult. We'll have to word things very carefully..."

His silver eyes turned up to the Fallen. "You're going to be alone, too, huh? You said you had a brother once. Can you go to him for company when Alek's not around?" He didn't want his Master - ah, ex-Master - feeling too lonely.

"I'll make sure she is safe, every few days I should be able to disappear for a few minutes and check on her, I'll have to if Alexis goes into labor, hopefully I'll be able to sneak Tahir off to witness the birth of his child."

He replied, there would be a lot of sneaking around, hopefully no one would get caught.

"We will. It will be a rare thing, just so I can make sure you two are safe and well since I can't visit."

The Fallen shrugged slightly, yes he was going to be lonely but he could deal with it.
"I will be, hopefully Noam will want to see me, I haven't seen my Brother is a fair while."

"You should talk to him," Zakhar murmured as he began stroking Coilean again.

"Everyone's going to find it hard while the Fae are here. Especially those that don't usually get to feel alone."

His eyes turned down to the older Lycan in his lap. "We'll try and talk to Asher when we can and talk to you through Alek. You should make the effort to surround yourself with friends, too."

It'd all be much easier on everyone if they had friends to help them through.

"Talk to Achinoam. If you can, get together with him until the Fae leave."

"I'll get in touch with Achinoam, I don't quite know why we moved apart, no doubt I have done something wrong."

The Fallen laughed softly and shook his head, he always seemed to be stuffing up in one way or another, he had obviously done wrong by his brother and they didn't have enough time to waste, sooner or later the Angel would need to return to heaven.

"We will get through this, the Elders and I are trying to save as many people as possible.

The Fae can't stay forever, we will best them this time."

The Fallen was determined, they would win.

Zakhar nodded.

"We need all the friends we can get at the moment."

With a soft sigh, Zakhar moved to stand, ordering Coilean to kneel at his feet. The older man did as he was told immediately.

"We best go and spread the word. We'll try and talk to you when we can through Alek."

He leaned forwards to kiss the Fallen one last time before giving his hair a playful tug. "Keep yourself out of trouble."

Belial nodded softly, he didn't want Zakhar and Coilean to leave yet, he wanted to spend this one last night with them, curled up with one another.

But when Zakhar kissed him and tugged his hair he knew this was good bye for now.

The Fallen gave a weak smile and looked up at his Lycan.

"Going by my track record I think it is safe to say that is impossible for me."

He replied, gripping the Russian's hair and pulling him down for one last lingering kiss, pulling away reluctantly and kissing Coilean the same way.

"Put a collar on him Zakhar, don't draw attention to yourselves and keep each other safe."

He muttered, stroking both of their faces before getting to his feet, he still had work to do, Lycus and himself had to evacuate Moe and Alexis, he'd be doing trips back and forth from Greece all night in order to move all the women's belongings.

"I've got some ladies and children who need me, get going you two."

He added, if they stayed much longer he wouldn't let them leave.

"Don't get yourself killed and I'll considering that you keeping yourself out of trouble." If Belial acted perfectly well behaved, it'd be a miracle. Or the end of the world. Probably the latter.

Zakhar returned the long, lingering kiss. He didn't want to leave.

But he knew that if he didn't leave and stayed the night, leaving in the morning would be much more difficult. He couldn't have that.

"Yes, sir."

His lips quirked. "Lost us for a few minutes and you're already going after the ladies. I should feel insulted."

As one final parting, Zakhar pressed against the Fallen, touching his lips to the man's ear. "As soon as they leave, I'm having you against whatever surface I find you near and I wont stop until both of us collapse."

Belial smiled as Zakhar pressed up against him, a loud purring sounding in his chest as the Russian man whispered to him.

"That better be a promise."

He replied in a low seductive growl, gripping the man firmly through his slacks.

If he had to wait a moment longer or was able to move afterwards he would be thoroughly unimpressed.

"Go on, get out of here before I fuck the both of you so hard you'll be limping the entire time they're here."

He replied giving Zakhar's ass a sharp slap and stroking Coilean's hair softly.