After hearing Talia so easily mention a high-ranking position to Varya, Damon had to say something.
'High-ranking people should be the ones you can trust,' Damon's voice sounded in Talia's head. 'No matter what their skills are, if you give them power, they could use it against you. The more skilled they are, the more dangerous they will become. It's a double-edged sword.'
Talia looked at Damon sadly. 'Is there anyone I can trust other than you?'
Damon pressed his lips into a line. How can he say that there are people she can trust when earlier that day, they discussed Stephanie as a potential traitor?
Damon was distressed at the possibility of Stephanie working against the pack. If it ended up being true, Damon would suffer a huge blow. Stephanie was always by his side, encouraging him to keep going and filling the gap his parents left behind. She was his emotional support.
If Stephanie was working with rogues, Damon wondered how far it went. Did she start because Lisa was mated to a rogue? Or did it start before? Did Stephanie have anything to do with his parent's death? Damon didn't want to think about it, but a small worm of doubt was already in his heart, and he was unsure if he would ever look at Stephanie as someone he could rely on.
Talia could sense Damon's mood dropping. 'Don't worry, Damon. We have each other.'
Damon wrapped his arms around Talia and hugged her tightly. 'I'm glad I have you, kitten.'
'And I am glad I have you.'
'Why are you talking like it's just the two of you? What about me!?' Liseli shouted in Talia's mind. 'You know I won't betray you because if you die, I'm a goner also. I just met Sapa, and I have no intention of parting from him.'
Talia smiled. 'OK. OK. I get it. I have you and Damon.'
'And Sapa. He won't betray you either because betraying you is betraying me. See? That's three people already. Don't be a sourpuss.'
Talia giggled, and she had to share with Damon, 'Liseli reprimanded me that we forgot about her and Sapa. And she called me a sourpuss.'
Damon looked at Talia. 'Sourpuss?'
His lips twitched, and then they both laughed.
Varya and Grady looked at Damon and Talia strangely. How Varya and Grady saw this, four of them were talking about the Midnight Guardians pack, and then Damon and Talia hugged, and now they were laughing. To call it strange would be an understatement.
~ the Midnight Guardians pack ~
Talia and Damon walked first into the living room, where they were greeted by Axel, Yasmin, Meg, Kai, Sandy, and Tyler.
Axel was ecstatic to see that Talia came, and this time they brought more company.
After new faces exchanged names and old acquaintances greeted each other, Yasmin moved to the sofa to chatter with Cornelia and Amelia.
When they decided to bring Grady and Varya to the Midnight Guardians pack, Talia called Axel, asking him to alert Cassandra that she would need to conduct ceremonies, and she also asked him to prepare living quarters to be arranged for one mated couple (aka Grady and Varya).
It was just over one hour heads-up for Talia, but that gave Axel a full day to prepare.
Axel was curious about Grady and Varya, and Talia explained their unique situation.
The more Axel heard, the more his brows came together. "A rogue?" Axel said while eyeing Grady.
"They are good people, Axel," Talia assured him and continued through their pack mind-link. 'I trust they won't do anything reckless, but just in case, we blindfolded them during the trip. They don't know how to get here or how to leave. Have a few people to keep an eye on them, with a pretense that they are helping newcomers.'
Axel agreed. 'It's always good to be cautious.' He continued with a normal voice, for everyone to hear, "I am not questioning your decision, Alpha. However," He turned to look at Grady and Varya. "You probably don't want to mention that you had any connections with rogues. Many of our people perished because of rogues, and there is a lot of bad blood. If anyone asks you from where you are, say that you are wanderers who ended up in the Dark Howlers pack, and that's where you met Alpha Talia."
Grady and Varya both nodded in agreement. They heard that already. No matter with whom they interacted, rogues were treated like something dirty that should be avoided at any cost.
"Alright," Talia said to break the tension. "Where is Cassandra? I'm sure that Grady and Varya are eager to go through with ceremonies and see their living quarters."
Axel cleared his throat. Talia told him they were mates and still waiting to engage in activities. He remembered his first time with Yasmin in the Silver Flame Coven. It was magical, and for more than just Yasmin being a witch.
"Of course. Just a moment…" Axel's eyes lost focus, and then he said, "The Oracle is ready in the garden. After the ceremonies, we prepared a small feast to celebrate."
Grady and Varya were already on their feet.
"I think they are not interested in food. Maybe we can have something delivered in front of their door." Talia said to Axel and then gestured toward the hallway that led to the garden. "That way."
They all gathered on the terrace in the garden. Cassandra was there with Calla, Remi, and several other healers.
Since Cassandra returned from the realm of witches, she didn't participate in ceremonies, leaving those tasks to Calla and Remi. Now that the Oracle herself was about to perform the ceremony, healers came to watch and learn.
They decided to go with the blood oath first, and Damon handed a paper to Cassandra. "Use these words exactly." He had this prepared in advance. No mishaps will happen this time. He turned to Talia and spoke through their mind link, 'Don't you dare make an oath in return.'
'I will just say thank you.' Talia responded.
'You don't need to say anything,' Damon snapped. 'Just nod in acknowledgment of their oath.'
'OK. I got it. It's starting…'
Cassandra was chanting, and Talia could feel the energies gathering.
'It's nostalgic,' Liseli spoke in Talia's mind, and Talia knew that Liseli was talking about the silvery threads that appeared all around Talia, shooting in different directions, connecting her with the members of the Midnight Guardians pack.
There was even one thread that connected Cassandra and Talia, and Talia wondered if that was a sign of Cassandra's loyalty.
'Maybe it's not about loyalty,' Liseli shared her thoughts.
'What could it be?'
'Control. Alphas have control over their pack members. You can feel their emotions and force mind-link. Your aura has a stronger effect on members of your pack.'
Talia thought that it made sense. Talia and Cassandra shared many moments together, but considering their rough start, Talia didn't think it was likely that Cassandra was loyal to her. The Oracle was probably clinging to the possibility of Talia returning her ability.
But if that's true, then… 'If these threads are about control, doesn't that mean that the Sphere of Power is measuring how many people I can control?'
Liseli sneered, 'Aren't Guardians about power and controlling others?'
Well, Talia had to agree with that one.
