Days had gone by, and it was Wednesday. Kids were in daycare when Number One announced that they were coming home. He seemed tense, but I had my plan ready. Little did I know what it would start and where we would end up, and as normal, I was truly surprised we were part of this lifestyle.
They would be home in the evening, as discharge took a bit of time when there were so many of them being discharged and paperwork was tedious. Kids had been given okay, and they now had immunity.
Wulfe had been making big bottles of protection potion, and it was in our kitchen and a few other places; if infection was suspected, a tablespoon of that potion would give you immunity, enabling you to care for sick kids. He could not do potion for kids, as their immune system needed to encounter germs and learn how to deal with them.
As I had told number five, and Adam, or reminded him how I got my immune system, we now had Wulfe's bonemarrow taken as well, if needed, and it was in our medbay. Number five was planning a myriad of tests to study how kids' immune systems worked. And if marrow transplant was needed.
For me, Wulfe had also made a protection potion. Well, it was a potion made out of his blood, fortified with some heavy ancient magic, and layered with spells to keep me safe, meaning, as he explained, one of the spells would be that it would transfer all germs capable of doing me harm to him, and as he had a protection potion too, he would be fine.
I was currently in the kitchen, wearing a bright red leather shirt, which was nice, thin leather with fringe, and then I had pink jeans and tight sneakers, as I had been outside chopping meat in our outside lockers. My hair was again a masterpiece, and I had quite a bit of makeup.
Girls had found again something that fleas had left behind, meaning magazines, fashion, and women's magazines. And oh boy, did they have makeup styles and hairstyles, and of course, girls eagerly gave those to Salvatores, who then might browse them a few hours per day, getting really inspired.
So my makeup styles changed too as men tested this and that, read the articles, read the hints and tips, and so on. I was not always so keen to be their model, but then again, I had not much choice here. I had to teach daily those who were at home. About pheromones, everything else, and the hive, and also my vampire powers usage, as they had gotten some as well, so they wanted to test this and that.
And Wulfe, well, he truly cared, and as he took care of me, it did not mean he asked of me or told me what he was planning. Nope. First, each Salvatore who was home now had a magic symbol, so they could draw power out of me. As, according to Wulfe, I was bursting out of seams, and since number one was rarely sincere, meaning he literally saw me just as a battery to get power from, he could not draw enough, as it was once again all connected to feelings and energies like pure love.
And of course, my magic symbol was upgraded as well, making men as well Wulfe easier to draw power out of me. And then I felt just how fucked up number one was, as Wulfe explained this via Hive to other salvatores. He was jealous, and he wanted all power to himself so he would distribute it as he wanted, not so every male could come and take some. But Wulfe was adamant; this was needed. No matter, he would draw power from me. It would not be enough.
I had been a bit catty as well. Well, as I had plenty of interesting energy mixes still left, I did not say anything to Salvatores as I asked my girls to find different ornaments from downstairs for me, which I would load up. And then we would put them in strategic places. I was giving my dear husband a few selected gifts; well, it was kind of a test kitchen, as I had no fucking clue how my mixes would hit him.
For example, I loaded up one table lamp with some mix with my bloodlust and water energy, then one mix had my love as well as my rage and my lust; it was put in a bourbon glass. Girls, good with their magic, hid my gifts so Damon would not sense them nor Mariella.
For her, I had gifts as well, like in her coffee cup, which was actually stone. My mix contained my alpha power, my satisfaction, my pissed-offness, and my hate. Again, I had no idea what I was actually doing, but it was fun to use my little gifts.
I was about to slice a big roast, which I had done last night, when Number Five came to me, wrapped himself around me, kissed my neck, and not let me go. He looked over my shoulder, his breath fanning on my cheek, and I leaned into him.
"My baby, what is this, roast? and what you are planning on doing with it, this could be dinner; no need to carve just yet."
"Hmm, my love." I turned to look at him, craning my neck. "This is for kids, lunchboxes, and for their rolls. Wulfe promised to select cheeses, and the girls have taken care of juices; I just have to make meats."
"Oh really? Well, let me check this out."
He unwrapped himself and came by my side. I had sliced a few thin slices, and he ate one of them, grabbing my knife and saying, "Give me butter, eggs, and those boiled organs."
I raised my brows as he reached for spices, and I went to the fridge to get what he wanted. This was our game. Well, usually I was planning something, and he or some Salvatore, even Adam, came and elevated whatever I was planning.
I was learning to let go, let them do this, and not get pissed off. Mentally, I was flipping the script, making my manservants work for me. After all, I was a queen; it was hardly my place to be in the kitchen all day long. I had a few hidey holes in my mind where I could do this, or else I would end up in the bedroom for fucking therapy to get rid of my attitude. Not a bad idea either.
I gave him what he needed, and well, next on my list was to make fruit boxes, meaning we had a lot of chopped fruits and again lists of who got what and on what day. We usually prepared them in advance, as it would be faster on days when the mornings were really busy, as lunchboxes had to be put together as well.
I also helped the kids to dress and put their hair up, which was again a bit of a war with Sadie and now with Evie as well. Sadie was a very good big sister, but her example was not always the best. I took the boxes ready and opened the fridge, prepared to pull out the fruit cubes when Wulfe walked into the kitchen with Number Eight.
He had a certain expression on his face, and I knew what this was all about. Sure, I was just right now doing something, and since he was coming to do his daily check for triggers, he might see that I need to take a nap. It was inconvenient and made me irritated; well, "pissed off" was a more accurate term.
It was just a simple reminiscing moment. He had the skill to ask me to describe pretty much any situation where there might be triggers, and more than 60 percent of the time, he was right on the money. It was one thing that really messed me up.
I was sorting through my fruit cube boxes, and I already had a list ready of who would get what; each kid had their color, so we could identify the boxes by color.
Wulfe said to me, "Okay, tell me about the time Derek was born. Give me the story."
I took a breath; sure, it had been a big culmination of my life, and so far, I had not told the Salvatores just how much it meant to me. And I had been a real bitch; it was again something they had no idea of.
"Well, it was very happy for me, despite everything."
I could feel Number Five tensing, and he came to me, grabbed me in his arms, and trapped my hands so I could not continue my fruit cube work.
"I was a real bitch; it was something you had no idea about, and oh boy, did I feel smug."
Number Eight was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, raising a brow and asking, "Tell us, will you, what did you do?"
I smiled as I recalled my very nasty, catty thoughts, and right away, I groaned as Wulfe's will slammed over that feeling.
"Trigger here, let's see if there are more; this is a pretty new one," he muttered.
I could feel Number Eight enforcing the cover over that feeling, and he was also sucking it away.
"Well, I bought the best. First, as you know, I was usually talking to Jarod and also Colin via video chat as I noticed Mariella was moving; it was as our pregnancies had been confirmed. After all, I had been medically just inseminated, not even fucked. But it did the trick. So as I noticed Mariella walking, I started to talk about certain shops and brands, making myself sound like an expert on babies and supplies. There were a hell of a lot of women who had gotten babies in fleas, and of course, we talked, so I knew my way, and I also knew some pretty nasty things."
Number Five kept his arms around me; he knew how to entrap me and keep me secure in case I was resistant or did not want to talk, but it brought a sense of safety, as I had someone who could keep me contained.
"Those brands, I made it sound like they were the best. Well, they weren't, but Mariella heard what I wanted her to hear, thus our trips to malls. She insisted I was with them so I could see how Salvatores would buy all of those brands for her and the wolves. Oh boy, I was almost laughing out loud. Those brands were, well, overpriced, over-advertised, not very practical, and not the best for babies. For instance, wet wipes. I got Mariella to demand that Damon would buy a certain brand with floral notes when I got myself scentless, extra gentle, and caring. And as you recall, Mariella's babies had rashes, irritation of skin, etc. Those wipes were the culprit."
Wulfe was laughing out loud.
Number Five murmured in my ear, "Naughty little bitch, very naughty."
I had been.
I said, "I knew what was best, and also quite a lot; I got myself branded baby clothes, thanks to Ruby and a few other females. Damon did not care; he did not even come to look at Derek when I was around, but as I had surveillance, I saw him over five times, just standing there, looking at my nursery, smelling the air, touching Derek, and then walking away."
Wulfe's will was mapping my memories; I could feel some of them had pretty heavy cover, meaning trigger, especially my feelings of loneliness or cattiness. But my true happiness—he used it to boost our connection, not letting the Salvatores feel it right away.
"I got to care for my kids for four weeks, and it was enough. Then Mariella ran out of nerve, as she had so many problems, and as witches came to fetch them. I was listening; Giselle was giving her stern lecture on baby care, products, how sensitive their skin was, and not being an idiot and believing ads. Let's just say she and Damon remained clueless; it was all my doing. It's easy when you know how to manipulate your blood. I knew that Damon guzzled my blood, so I set a few traps for him."
Number Five was still holding me tightly, grunting in my ear, "What kind of traps?"
"Well, I might have been in the medbay when I was still caring for the kids, as I sensed he was nearby, and I donated my blood with liberal hints. As he smelled my blood, he waited for me to leave and drank my donation."
Suddenly, the hot burn of Number Five's bite hit the side of my neck. He did not drink my blood but flooded his velvet, and I tried to stay awake, but no, my legs gave out, my mind shut down, and I slumped in his grip.
It was the morning sun that pulled me up from my slumber, and I groaned as I tried to open my eyes. Well, well, it seems my triggers were once again on the nasty side, as I could feel quite heavy spell work as well as telepathic shielding in my mind. I sighed in my mind, as during that period, Jarod had been quite a lot with me, but now those memories were really vague and not important. Jealousy is something I have just learned to accept, and it stems from love.
Though, despite being a creature of love, it does not mean I can tolerate it always. My husbands and soulmates are very possessive and loving, and they really despise the times when I was happy with someone else, especially Jarod.
I was still on my bed, going through my memories, and I could not help but smile, as now my old memories of Jake and Rob, well, those times when they were jealous of Jarod, were so much clearer in my mind, and I could almost hear their voices, tinged with jealousy again.
It took me time to get my body moving; it was morning the next day, so it meant the pack was home, so be it; let's just see what kind of pack life we will have. I knew that our evaluation of kids' ages would take place in the next ten days, or maybe faster, so well, I was not sure.
I knew that school was going to start when children would be five years old, but I had no idea how well my kids would pan out. They were pretty damn advanced, talking, playing, running, and even bicycling. As daddies had taught them to ride a bike, so it might be that we might soon have to start to prepare for school, at least for my first lot and then my second ones. Well, they were not so much behind.
It seemed that Reddington had once again been a bit too vague or did not specify just how damn fast these would learn new things and grow. It was wonderful but hectic, and every day was new; time really flew by, but I had taken pictures, videotapes, and recordings, and a lot of material about their growth and what they could do.
And yeah. My vocabulary had obviously rubbed off on them, as they were quite inventive. Hmm, should I say sometimes pottymouthed little mini versions of me or Damon? It was thought hilarious to see that tiny arrogant bastard, as Dash was sometimes, even towards me. But yeah. I was ready to face head-on packlife and all its challenges, as I, Mimi Salvatore, was leader, queen, alphabitch, and a few other things as well.