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Caden smiled, his heart squeezing three times in his chest in recognition of Nero's hand squeezes. Caden loved the subtle way Nero told Caden they loved him like that. Caden pulled Nero's hands to his lips and kissed them several times before squeezing Nero's hand back three times.

"We'll bring everyone in on it tomorrow. Maybe we will be able to find something if we have more pairs of eyes on it," Caden said.

---

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Avery peeked over his shoulder to look at the top of Kimiko's head. "Do you want me to throw you over my shoulder?"

It was easy to catch the hesitant tone in Kimiko's voice, but Avery couldn't help but wonder if that was something he wanted her to do because she was right. It was a move Avery could easily do, but he wasn't sure how Kimiko would respond to being thrown around like that. To be cradled in his arms was one thing, but over his shoulder was completely different.

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Nero can’t help but smile brightly when Caden squeezes their hands three times back. They aren’t sure if Caden’s figured out what they mean with that “Maybe Nic can convince Cassi to come along to work out.” Nero says but they’ve heard enough from Nic about how much the sorceress hates early mornings.

“But that’s a good idea.”

---

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Even though she feels Avery’s eyes on her, Kiki refuses to look up and admit it out loud. “N-no…” She closes her eyes as she curses the flustered stammer. She’s not sure how many of her depraved fantasies Avery will actually be into and refuses to find out the hard way.

“Are the sandos ready then?” Kiki asks instead. “I’ll go grab the water.” Still draped with her blanket, she moves to basically run away from Avery’s question.

---

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Caden chuckled. "If Nic can get Cassi here that early in the morning and ready to help, I'll buy him a house," Caden joked and pulled past the Chicago city limits into the countryside.

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Avery was finished with the sandwich making but he still had to put everything away. However, when Kimiko let him go, he turned around to look at her.

"Uhh, nuh uh," Avery said and snaked his arm around Kimiko's waist. He pulled her back in, her back flush with his chest. "Now, tell me more about how you want me to pick you up," he said into her ear. "Because I can do it with you standing on the ground like this, or I can flip you in the air first, or I can set you on the counter and make-out with you first until we can't keep our hands off each other and I have to take you upstairs. Or...maybe you want all three at different times..." He mulled the ideas over while he placed kisses along Kimiko's neck.

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Nic grins lopsidedly, happy with the compliments. “I’m good with my fingers.” He says with barely any humility before licking his lips. He follows Cass’ eyes as they take him in and his expression turns more wolfish when she suggests it’s his turn.

“I was hoping you’d feel that way.” Nic says excitedly just as a loud commotion is heard downstairs. He straightens, climbing out of the bed before treading softly and slowly towards his door. He tilts his head to see if he can hear anything when the loud cursing from his father can be heard.

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“Not that he’d take it.” Nero points out with a smug smirk. It seemed only the human nurse could resist Caden’s money and influence. “How does that make you feel, by the way?” The demon can’t help but tease.

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Any symptoms of being sleepy quickly evaporate out of Kiki when Avery grabs her and pulls her against him. She wiggles in his grasp, his whisper tickling her ear as he talks. How many times has she wanted him to basically manhandle her? Her face grows red quickly and she squirms more as he kisses down her neck.

“Uhhhhhh.” Kiki can’t find the words, her mind drawing a blank on the English language and instead filled with images of what Avery’s described.

---

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Cassiopeia smirked and hooked her finger into the waistband of Nic's joggers to bring him closer. She found his cocky confidence a turn on in this moment, and it was well deserved.

She was ready to start pulling down his joggers when there was a crash from downstairs. Cassiopeia turned her head to the door then back to Nic.

He moved away from her and she pulled his shirt back on before moving to her backpack. She opened it, ready to grab one of her knives when she heard Ren cursing.

”Is your dad drunk?”

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Caden looked at Nero and smirked. ”I'm fine with it. Leaves me with more money to spoil you,” he said with a grin. ”I've been around for a while. The people who refuse my offers or who blush every time I bring them something more, are the ones I want to look after. I know Nicholas makes decent money, but gifts are generally how I show my appreciation. His refusal doesn't bother me. It just means I have to find some other way to say thank you.”

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Kimiko's lack of vocabulary has Avery chuckling.

”Right, dealers choice then.” Avery kissed Kimiko's cheek before he moved his arm and spun Kimiko around by her hips.

Once Kimiko faced Avery he picked her up by her hips and tossed him over his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her legs and started to put the ingredients he used to make the sandwiches away.

”You're right, it's a lot easier to get things done this way.”

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Nic looks back at Cass, a completely perplexed expression coloring his face as more clattering is heard. “I… think so?” This would be a first for his dad if he is drunk. Nic pulls Cass close and kisses her head. “I guess we’ll take another rain check on this. You can take your time coming down if you want - as much as you need.” He smooths down her fly-always as he speaks.

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Nero squeezes Caden’s hand, shaking their head. “One day you won’t have an answer for something, I swear.” They say before leaning over the console to kiss his cheek. “Maybe make a donation to his hospital or something.” They suggest offhandedly, not sure what exactly the human would accept.

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“Huh?” Is all Kiki can get out before she’s tossed over Avery’s shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “Avery!” She’s wide awake now as she squirms and her face turns completely read. “Hey! I take it back! Put me down!” She starts smacking his butt, her embarrassment starting to take over her senses.

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Cassiopeia kissed him back as deeply as she could, even with how brief it was. She felt bad for Nic, but she was more concerned for his dad.

”No, I’ll come with you.” She squeezed his hand before adjusting his shirt she wore and her shorts. Thankfully Nic’s shirt was long and baggy enough that she was decently covered despite not wearing a bra.

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”I’ve been around for a long time, my little imp. There isn’t much I don’t have an answer for,” he said.

He mulled over Nero’s suggestion. ”That’s not a bad idea,” he said, thinking it over. Caden wasn’t sure if he would do it, only because he didn’t believe Nic would appreciate it or see it the same way as Caden would want it to mean.

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”Hey! Quit wiggling. You’re going to make me spill the water,” he stated as he filled a large water bottle that they could share.

He grabbed the sandwiches once he was done and started to walk out of the kitchen. He carried the water bottle in one hand and the sandwiches in the other. The one with the water bottle rested against Kimiko’s legs. He tapped her butt with the water bottle.

”I can do that, too,” he said in response to her continuing to smack his own butt.

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Nic smiles, very appreciative of Cass in that moment. He readjusts his own self, tucking some things away that are still calming down from earlier before he opens his door. Grabbing Cass’ hand, he makes his way downstairs with her as his father slurs another string of curses in Mandarin.

“Bàbà! What’s going on?” Nic asks, using English for Cass’ benefit so she could understand him at least. From the state of things, it seems his father had managed to trip over a couple of the rugs on his way into the apartment.

Ren leans against the wall, only just now trying to take his shoes off. He speaks more Mandarin as he throws his shoes towards the still open front door.

“He’s just complaining about his shoes being hard to take off right now.” Nic translates for Cass as he lets go of her hand to go retrieve his father’s shoes from the hall and close the door behind him.

---

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“You forget I’m older than you, even if I haven’t technically been alive this whole time.” Nero corrects Caden with a smirk. “You can always ask him what he thinks his hospital needs the most or something though,” They say, continuing with their suggestion. “Because what I’ve managed to learn about him is that he loves his patients, his family, and possibly Cassi more than anything else.” Unknown to Nero is the fact that the human and sorceress have already admitted to being in love.

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Kiki makes a noise akin to a steaming tea kettle as Avery just continues on with his tasks. In response to him tapping her butt with what she can only guess is a water bottle, she heaves a sigh. “I have so many regrets…” She says with a dramatic tone before mustering all she can into one slap on his ass.

“I should have just fallen asleep on you.”

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Cass held onto Nic’s hand with both of hers, feeling nervous for some reason. When they finally came across Ren, she watched him throw his shoe. She swallowed and squeezed Nic’s hand before she let him go.

”Ren? Can I get you some water?”

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”Mmm, are you sure? Sometimes I wonder,” Caden teased Nero. He turned the corner onto their road and slowed to take in the countryside more. His head moved slowly from left to right as he scanned, looking for signs of anyone or anything watching them.

”I could do that, try and bring it up casually. I just have a feeling Nic might think I’m trying to buy him off, even though that’s not why I do it.”

---

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Avery yelped and laughed. ”Damn girl! That stings.” He had to admit, though, he was impressed with how hard she managed to hit him from that angle.

Avery reached the top of the stairs to the main floor before he pulled Kimiko off his shoulder and plopped her onto the ground.

”You can carry your own sandwich then,” he said and handed her one.

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Nic hears his father slur together a response in Mandarin to Cass. “He more or less said yes.” Nic tells her as he sets the shoes down by the door and locks it before heading over to his dad and girlfriend.

“Did you go out drinking with Eddie? You know he can drink you under the table,Bàbà.” Nic gently chastises as he leads hi dad over to one of the chairs at the table. “Talk to me, what’s really going on?”

Ren seems to finally take notice that Nic’s in front of him and reaches to hold his son’s cheeks in his hands. “Nicholas, my boy!” He says with a joy that only someone drunk could have before his expression turns to one of guilt. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know… I should have known…”

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Nero doesn’t miss what Caden’s doing as he scans around them. They wish they could help, but they can shift their eyes or other senses like Caden can. “Who knows, with you and Cassi making up, he might be more accepting of gifts from you.” They say, thinking outloud.

“I think we’re okay though, Mein Drache - you said yourself that Avery didn’t find anything.” Nero pulls his hand to their lips, both hands still holding it.

---

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Kiki levels a glare at Avery as he sets her down, her lips in an exaggerated pout. She doesn’t want him to start thinking she liked that for fear he would use it against her again in the near future. She looks more like a drowned cat though, not in the least bit intimidating.

“Gladly.” Her tone bratty, Kiki snatches the sandwich and starts eating it, turning and walking towards the bedroom as she pulls the blanket back over her head.

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Cassi smiled gratefully at Nic when he translated for her. She turned around and scurried into the kitchen to pour Ren a glass of water. She poured herself some juice and Nic some water as well. She carried the two water glasses to the table, smiling a little from the joy in Ren’s voice when he greeted his son.

Cass turned back to get her glass of juice when Ren’s tone switched, and he apologized to Nic. Cassi frowned and turned, looking at Nic and Ren, wondering what Ren meant by his statement.

---

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Avery rolled his eyes and shook his head at Kimiko’s reaction. He bit into his own sandwich and took a step forward to follow her when his phone vibrated. He stopped to look at it and saw that the security camera had picked up on a car pulling into the driveway. He zoomed in before he relaxed.

”Caden and Nero are back,” he informed Kimiko. Avery redirected his path to the front door and opened it.

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”I know…but it doesn’t hurt to be extra cautious,” he whispered, appreciating the comfort Nero provided.

Caden pulled into their driveway, glad it was lit and drove a little faster down to the drive to the house. Once he reached the front of the house, the door opened, and Avery stood there half-dressed and eating a sandwich.

Caden shut the car off and got out. ”To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing this little show?” Caden asked.

Avery grinned cheekily. ”Figured Nero would want to see what a real black man looks like,” he joked, making his pecs dance.

Caden laughed and helped Nero out of the car. Caden kissed their hand before meeting their eyes.

”Give me a minute,” he said. Caden walked away from the house and onto the lawn. He knelt and placed a hand on the ground.

Caden’s eyes shifted and held that strange purple glow from before. Purple mist seemed to pour out of the ground, and hundreds of golden lines shone through the yard. The purple mist flowed from the ground and from Caden as it wrapped around these golden lines. The gold grew in size, and several new strands formed, overlapping the old with the new.

Caden started to speak, his voice low and not his own, as it took on an ethereal cadence, speaking a language no humans had record of. The golden lines seemed to vibrate for a couple of minutes before everything disappeared, and Caden stood.

---

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Nic exchanges a look with Cass, a pit starting to form in his stomach at his father’s tone. “What’s going on, dad? Talk to me, I’m listening.” Crouching by Ren’s chair, Nic places his hands on his father’s knees and look into his eyes pleadingly.

“I thought it would help, I didn’t know it would kill her!” Ren starts blubbering, tears cascading down his face before he puts his head in his hands. “He said it would help!”

Nic shifts his gaze back to Cass for a moment, the pit in his stomach now filling with dread. “Dad, what did you do?”

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Kiki turns around immediately at this news, interest piqued at possibly finding out some more information about what’s going on. “Wait for me!” She calls to Avery as she trots after him.

At Avery’s cheeky comment, Kiki feels an intense urge to shout that the wolf belongs to her. If she had still been sleepy, she might have actually called that out. Instead she sidles her way into his side and nibbles on her sandwich, bumping Avery surreptitiously with her elbow.

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Nero takes a moment to glance at Avery after Caden helps them out of the car, amusement curling their lips at his weird little chest dance. When they spot Kiki take a rather possessive position next to the wolf, they chuckle. “I don’t think your fox will appreciate it.” They tease before their eyes follow Caden.

Eyes widening, Nero takes in the atmosphere that starts to gather around Caden with amazement of their dragon. Purple fog and gold lines start to appear, Nero moving so they aren’t standing on one as it shifts in size. They keep glancing at Caden in wonder at this power he possesses. Why am I even worried about anything when I have Caden?

Once everything disappears and Caden stand, Nero bounds over to him and hugs him. They rest their chin on his chest and look up, their eyes practically sparkling as they admire Caden. “Was that dragon magic?” They ask with wide, curious eyes.

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Cassi kept her distance after Ren’s next statement. No, no, no, no. Please no. Cassi met Nic’s eyes, panic clearly in her own.

She set her glass back on the counter, not wanting to show her shaking or drop the thing. If Ren made a deal…It would make sense that a monster from Hell came after them, but it wouldn’t line up with the other kills. Of course, Caden and she hadn’t looked into why the Chimera showed up. Just that it had and how to kill it.

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Avery glanced over when he felt Kimiko’s presence next to him. He was half surprised she didn’t completely stand in front of him to block the others from looking at him. He chuckled softly and wrapped his arm around Kimiko’s waist, the water bottle he still held hitting her hip lightly.

When Avery made the comment, he hadn’t been expecting Kimiko’s possessive reaction, but he would be lying if he didn’t say he enjoyed seeing that side of Kimiko. It comforted Avery to know she cared for him as he cared for her.

Avery swallowed his food and kissed Kimiko’s cheek. ”My little fox,” he whispered in her ear, low enough that the others wouldn’t be able to pick up on it.

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The purple in Caden’s eyes took a minute to dissipate before his eyes returned to their normal blue-green shimmering colour. He smiled down at Nero and brushed his fingers through their hair.

”It was…Each dragon has a different power set. Mine is the ability to create barriers. The ones on my land alert me to when outsiders step foot on any of my properties,” he briefly explained before he kissed Nero softly.

Caden didn’t kiss Nero for long, aware of eyes on them, and looked up to Kimiko and Avery.

”I believe we have something to discuss, maybe a couple of things,” Caden noted.

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Nic tries to keep his expression calm and reassuring for his father, but he can only think of the worst case scenarios of what Ren could possibly mean by his admission. He can’t help the crease in his brow as his dad continues. “I swear I didn’t know that the blessing was real… I didn’t know!” Ren returns to speaking in Mandarin, starting to ramble as his son listens with rapt attention.

Trying to pick out the most important parts of what’s being said, Nic looks up at Cass when Ren stops to sob some more. “He… Sorry, I’m trying to find the right words for translation…” He runs the Mandarin through his head a couple more times to make sure he’s getting it correct.

“My… mother was diagnosed with cancer…” Nic stands up, running his hands through his hair before running one down his face. Any remaining emotions from the encounter he had earlier with Cass were snuffed out. He rubs his chin, unable to stop clenching his jaw as tears spring to his eyes. “My mom was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer… Jesus.”

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Kiki hides her smug smile behind her sandwich when Avery wraps his arm around her. What he whispers in her ear, however, makes her blush and she tugs her blanket to help aid the sandwich in hiding her face. It’s almost infuriating how easily he can do that to her, but she tries to ignore it. “Damn straight.” She mumbles into the sandwich.

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Nero’s eyes watch Caden with awe as he talks, only responding after he pulls back from their kiss. “I am once again pleading for some way to become a dragon. You’re truly a wonder.” They whisper before Caden addresses the other couple.

“Maybe a throuple of things even!” Nero chirps with amusement, just wanting to have the last word.

---

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Whatever Cassi had been thinking, it was nowhere near what Nic revealed to her. She looked between Ren and Nic before she closed the distance to wrap her arms around Nic and hold him close. She inhaled his scent, finding comfort in it even though Nic’s life had just been thrown another curveball. When Cassi exhaled, a sort of glow enveloped her but also Nic. She mingled her aura with his in an effort to comfort him.

Cassi understood Nic needed to feel his feelings and react to the news however he needed to, but she wanted Nic to understand how loved he was.

”I’m so sorry,” she whispered. Cassi kept her focus on Nic, even with Ren making a demon deal poked at the back of her mind. Everything that went with a demon deal…Cass knew Ren wasn’t free of this. And she had no idea how she was going to break this deal. It all depended on what Ren said. If they were lucky, Li dying before her time meant the deal was null in void.

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Avery chuckled, kissed Kimiko’s cheek again, and released her. The other two approached, and Avery took Kimiko’s hand to pull her back into the house. He led her to the living room to take up a seat to wait for Nero and Caden.

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”Traditionally speaking, dragons mostly pick shifters to bond with. Our power sets meld better, but maybe you’ll meet my dragon sooner rather than later in his full form,” Caden said while he escorted Nero into the house.

He locked the door and set the code behind him before walking to the living room. Caden pulled his jacket off and tossed it onto a corner of the couch.

”So, easy news first, and please don’t freak out Kiki, but now that I am in the room with the two of you, I can feel the bond more strongly. So, we should plan some sessions on blocking each other out.”

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Nic barely registers that Cass has wrapped her arms around him as his gaze shifts back to his dad. “Why didn’t you tell me?!” He asks of Ren in a deadly calm voice. Somehow the tears aren’t overflowing and he’s not shouting, but he still feels his jaw clench and his nostrils flare.

“You…”

Ren looks up from his hands. “I couldn’t lose her to cancer too!”

Nic knows that the survival rate for pancreatic cancer is low, even lower with a diagnosis that late, but he still can’t believe what he’s heard. “So you made a deal with a demon??”

---

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Kiki has just gotten comfortable when Caden makes his statement and she sits up as if she’d been electrocuted. “What does that mean?” She asks as she crosses her arms over her chest, watching Nero prance past Caden and plopping down in an empty seat.

“Does that mean you can feel her looooove for Avery?” Nero practically sings in a teasing tone.

---

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”I didn’t know who he was! He said he could help.” Tears streamed down Ren’s face as he looked at his son. ”We were going camping to figure out how to tell you, but then I ran into this man when I was buying supplies…”

Cassiopeia looked up at Nic, feeling his anger thread through her because of the bond she was sharing with him. She pressed her head into his chest, taking steadying breaths to keep them both calm.

She knew Nic had a temper; she had seen it in her shop, and when she stood over his mother's dead body. Cass was no stranger to anger. It was fire and passion, and sometimes, it could focus you. It could give you drive and purpose.

Cass slid her hands up Nic’s back, her hands resting over his shoulders, and she moved her head back to look up at Nic again; to monitor him.

”I wanted to help. I wanted to do something because there was nothing I could do for Kiki.”

---

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Caden smiled at Nero and squeezed their shoulder before he looked across at Avery. Kimiko wasn’t happy, but she had always been quick to anger about most things, and Caden seemed to be the target lately.

Avery met Caden’s stare and sighed. ”I already explained it to her, but,” he shrugged and looked at Kimiko.

”If you’re bonded to Avery, you’ve seen your own bonds. I’m certain there’s one for me as I have one for you. But, because Avery and I are pack, you are now pack. So what I mean is not only have our bonds gotten stronger, but so has the pack bond. When the three of us shift, we’ll be able to communicate mind-to-mind. When we’re human, we’re more hyperaware of each other and our emotions. So, we have to practice blocking each other out. Avery and I have established our blocks to each other well, but well, you are new to this.”

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”It’s not a criticism,” Avery added, worried Kimiko might take everything Caden was saying the wrong way. ”Remember how it felt when the bond first snapped into place for us? How overwhelming it was? Learning to block each other helps to keep that from happening. If we didn’t block, we would constantly be run by what we or our pack members were feeling. Blocking gives us a sense of ourselves back.”

---

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Taking deep breaths in and out, Nic stares a hole into the kitchen table. His jaw feathers in its clench action as the young man tries to process everything that has just been uncovered. “The offering that mom made before you two left China… the one to the fox deity… our family received a blessing of protection because of that.” Nic says slowly, wanting to make sure his father gets every word.

“When you made the deal with a demon, our family was viewed as no longer pious and that blessing was revoked.”

Ren looks at his son, guilt etched into every part of his face. “How did you kno-”

“The blessing was real. The daughter of the deity came to Chicago to find out why the names Ren and Lì Wu were erased from the list of blessings. You got my mother killed by a horrific monster!” Nic’s voice quickly escalates again as the tears finally fall. “You should have told me…” His voice breaks as he finally looks down at Cass and wraps his arms around her.

“Nicholas-”

Nic shoots him a glare. “I won’t be able to hold back if we talk right now, dad, and I don’t want to hurt the only family I have left. We can talk tomorrow once you’ve sobered up.” He gives Cass a squeeze before gently pushing himself out of her grasp and stalking upstairs.

“Cassi, I…” Ren doesn’t know what the sorceress would be able to do and trails off, unsure if he should even be asking for her help.

---

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Kiki leans back into her seat with a little bit of a guilty expression, realizing she had jumped to the worst conclusion rather than hearing Caden out first. “Right… Avery did mention that before…” She fidgets with her fingers, wishing the blanket could swallow her up.

“Sorry Caden…” Kiki mumbles like a child who’s been caught starting trouble.

---

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Nero can’t help but snort and quickly tries to cover it up by pretending to cough, not wanting to incur the fox’s wrath. “I’m sure this talk will come up again once our bond is finalized, if that helps, Kiki.” They tell the fox, realizing that outside of Nic, Kiki is the youngest of all of them.

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When Nic released Cassi, the aura she had wrapped around him dissipated. She watched him walk upstairs, a few tears falling down her face as she watched him go. She couldn’t place why, but the situation reminded her of the day she lost her grandmother.

Cassi turned when she heard Ren say her name. She wiped the tears from her face and walked over to Ren. She knelt down and pushed the glass of water into his hands.

”Can you tell me what the deal was, Ren? What did he promise you, what did you have to give?”

Nic needed a moment, and Cassi wanted to make sure Nic wasn’t going to lose his father in nine years.

---

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Avery wrapped an arm around Kimiko’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head. There were several things he wanted to say, but none of them were appropriate. Instead, Avery concentrated on finishing his sandwich.

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”It’s alright, Kiki. For tonight and maybe in a couple of days, I think I can keep you blocked out enough not to receive anything from you unless you are injured or anything life-threatening like that. Of course, other intense emotions might leak through, but I’ll keep that dampened as much as possible. I think we should start practising tomorrow, though,” he said.

Caden walked around and sat down next to Nero. He rested a hand on their knee, rubbing his thumb, and watched them. ”As for the other thing. We keep unlocking more of Nero’s past, including their time in Hell. Today, I think someone from their past came looking, but we are still figuring it out.” Caden looked at Kiki and Avery. ”Nero managed to get most of their things out of Hell, including a series of texts that might have the answers we are looking for. We need your help looking through everything,” Caden revealed.

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Nic goes out on the terrace, needing to pace and feel some fresh air after everything that had just been revealed to him. Downstairs, his father finally gulps down some water. The fight with his son had sobered him up plenty and his words are no longer slurred. Ren looks gratefully at Cassi for not abandoning him right now.

“I… I gave 10 years of my life for Lì not to die from her cancer.” He says, struggling to remember it clearly in his current grief.

---

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Kiki leaned into Avery, ears red with embarrassment as Caden went on with his piece. “Wait, when he says intense emotions, is he referring to…” She twists her head to look at Avery as her cheeks flush to match her ears.

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Nero pretends not to overhear Kiki for now, but they remember that Caden had said that sex was on that list of intense emotions. They angle their body more towards Caden when he sits down and smiles at him encouragingly. It’s their turn to blush when he announces that they needed the help of the others. “Wait, no, I can read them. You all don’t have to get involved… Besides, the books that aren’t in Enochian are probably in the demonic language Xra'mban and I doubt any of you can-”

“I can speak it.” Kiki interjects, coming out of her blanket cocoon. “At least, I’m pretty sure I understand it since I’m technically half a demon.” Nero frowns slightly. They don’t want to get everyone involved in their mess, especially if there’s some unknown enemy lurking nearby.