Chapter 23: Home is Us

  June (Lest)

  By the time Tyler arrived back at Manor after their fight with his parents, The Nest's awareness was heavy with dread. Everyone was anxious. Donte had slipped into his thoughtful reticence, causing Alex to hover in a state of jittery concern. Akierda was skittish. Justin, who was also upbeat and full of laughter, was tense.

  The big family emergency was worse than Tyler thought. Mark Anthony had managed to get a message to them through a mutual contact. Tyler found Miza sitting in the study, staring stiffly at the computer screen as she read the email over and over.

  Little bird,

  We've discovered your secret. We will find out which one of your pets is still here. We are so much closer to finding you. Your presence is so loud. You would think my mentor would know better. Or just maybe he's done it on purpose. Maybe he's sick of losing for you. With love and light, my pretty little Goddess.

  Lihte sat opposite, trying to calm a hysterical Mavrick. Tyler still had not adjusted to the fact that Maverick was so tender in comparison to the other Lestanian of the family. At this moment, though, he understood why the elders had been so willing to fight for Mavrick to be under his sister's protection. He wasn't a soldier at all, not that Tyler had ever thought he was a soldier as well. He could feel in his bones that he had no choice but to adapt.

  Valon was agitated. Tensions were high throughout the house that evening, and they argued late into the night about how to handle the situation. In the end, Valon restricted all of their movements. He almost refused to let Tyler return to his parents. He only relented, understanding that it wouldn't help the situation in the human realm if Tyler's parents called the authorities, especially since they accused Valon of being a predator. That was trouble they could not afford.

  The rest of May (Pyol) was laden with heavy security everywhere they went, so they didn't go out often to avoid drawing too much attention. During this time, Valon would spend hours reviewing security cameras and ensuring that the Lestanian protections they brought from home were set in place and that their aliases had not been compromised. Donte and Valon were adamant that they needed to know if Mark-Anthony had an idea where they were or if it had just been a coincidence that the person recognized the Hydolshi name.

  Not only did they have the mess with Mark-Anthony, but the issue with Tyler's parents wasn't letting up. Tyler was miserable because he had never been at odds with his family, but he kept trying. He actively stressed that Valon would never harm Sara and that things escalated so quickly because there was a safety issue for Sara they could not share with them, or she and they would be at risk. They didn't believe him, though, so he attempted to be more deliberate about his time management between both parts of his family.

  He did eventually get his parents to listen to him as he explained parts of their secret the Nest agreed to share. They gave them the half-truths about their family, telling Tyler's parents that where Sara's family came from, arranged marriages happen, and Valon took her away so that she wouldn't be forced to marry at a young age despite being seen as an adult. She wanted a life like her American mother had. Tyler also told them the others were her brother and her other partners, who served as protection in case someone came to send her back to her home.

  While his parents were familiar with non-monogamy, they felt the entire relationship was disgusting. He swore them to secrecy, emphasizing if anyone came snooping around, the family would have to move, and he would go with them. They didn't want Tyler to be a part of it, but they realized that the family did have the resources to disappear, and Tyler would disappear with them. He was trapped in his infatuation with the girl, and they didn't have a realistic way to get their son away.

  Tense perhaps didn't begin to cover the atmosphere surrounding them. It was definitely no longer a happy summer for The Nest. Tonight, though, was Tyler's official confirmation in The Nest.

  The ceremony was prepared at the Nest's home.

  The Specter's 3rd team, led by Felix Alvarez, was on site for their training rotation. After their first week there the idea that his team be offered a chance to glimpse the power Miza had was discussed. So tonight, the team was there to witness this ritual before they finally agreed to become part of L'aube du Loup, as well as seven of the new prospects Miza had taken to. Raynoldo Diaz and his wife were present as they had long taken to honoring the Goddess Leana.

  The air was thick with anticipation as the guests gathered, curious but eager to witness the power of their new Mistress. Mavrick stood silently beside Lihte. Tyler's parents had reluctantly agreed to attend in a bid to understand their culture. They were there to reassure themselves that their son wasn't being inducted into a cult. They no longer trusted any of them, but they feared their son disappearing. Even now, they stood there with nervous glances, still unwilling to accept what they'd been told.

  The yard had been transformed, invoking the sacred atmosphere of the Temple Compound. Heady incense wafted through the air, mingling with the warm summer breeze. Candelabras were sat throughout to add light to the dark space as the flames danced. The Nest had added a moveable stone altar to their yard, and it sat at the top of the circle towards the far walls of the outside gardens. On that altar sat a bottle of Anomie blended with the Chavalier's poison and wine, a large chalice for the ritual drink to be mixed in, and the ceremonial knife.

  Miza stood at the center of the circle in her ceremonial robes, pale linen and intricately detailed in the moonlight. Miza watched as Donte, Valon, Justin, Alex, and Akierda took their places along the edge of the circle. She felt the weight in her heart of those who could not be present, but this ceremony would proceed as it must. Tyler joined her in the center of the circle, eyes shining with love and resolve. He was ready for this. Her robes swept the ground as she faced her consort. Miza nodded and began to speak; her voice, soft yet commanding, reverberated through the night air like an ancient song.

  They all turned their gazes to Miza.

  "We gather to witness a sacred binding. We stand here to confirm the bond between myself and a new Consort, Tyler Carlisle. In this ceremony, blood and spirit become one, bound by love, by purpose, and by destiny. Love and loyalty must be as firm as a stone and as constant as the stars above us."

  Miza exchanged a brief glance with Tyler as she felt his nervous energy shiver through the Awareness as the tendrils of his tether gathered to bind him to her completely. Beneath that was a solid core of strength. He had watched her closely these past days, guarding her when the others were otherwise occupied. He knew, as the others did, that this ritual would solidify their connection. This was about power, about her claim over him and the Nest. It was palpable.

  Miza stepped away from Tyler and grabbed the chalice and the blade. She approached each of them one by one, the air thick with the scent of iron and incense. She cut her mates' palms, allowing the crimson liquid to trickle into the vessel.

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  "For a Chevaliers' Nest, with each binding, more knowledge is gained, more wisdom gathered. Let us remember this—love is before life, after death, and primary to all creation." She continued.

  The spectators watched in silence, their curiosity and awe growing with each step. Tyler's parents exchanged uneasy glances, the gravity of the ritual beginning to sink in.

  "I come to you of my own will and accord to bind my consort to me by spirit, by blood, by name." Mizarmonie professed as she stopped by the altar, placing the chalice down. "And you, Tyler Carlisle. Do you come of your own will and accord to join with me? To serve me?To protect me? To pledge your life to me and my cause?" She said as she poured the bottle of anomie, allowing its contents to empty slowly into the chalice.

  "This is true." He said without hesitation. She paused to face the men staring back at her.

  "Now I call upon those already bound to me. Do you accept this new addition into your bond, as a brother to you all, as a servant to your Lady?

  "We accept him." Their voices rang out in unison.

  "Consorts join hands." She said.

  Miza took the knife to her palm, allowing her blood to drip into the chalice, and then she took both the chalice and knife back to the center, her movements deliberate. Tyler held his palm out to her, ready to complete their bond.

  "Let your love be as firm as the Earth's stone beneath us, your loyalty as constant as the coruscant hearts of the cosmos. The strength of your will binds you, and the power of your dedication makes you inseparable."

  He flinched when the biting slice ripped through his skin but stayed still as the blood pooled.

  "When you are ready." She said, holding the chalice so that he could pour his blood into it. He lifted his palm, tilting it so that the blood could spill. She swirled the chalice to allow the mixture to blend before holding it to his lips. "Tyler, Drink. If you are faithful, You may join this circle."

  Tyler drank deeply, the heavy taste of iron flooding his mouth. His eyes never left hers as he swallowed the thick liquid, the weight of the ritual pressing down on him. With each sip, the connection between them deepened, and the tether between them solidified. He drained the chalice, sealing their fates together.

  Suddenly, his body wavered. His heart pounded, the world spinning around him as if his very essence was being pulled into something far greater than himself. The air hummed with the weight of their combined celestial power as their circle was completed, the force of it vibrating with the energy of the ritual.

  "We are bound in blood, in spirit, and in purpose." He heard her saying before his body dropped heavily to the ground and into the darkness, overwhelmed by the presence of Miza's power.

  ~

  When Tyler woke, he felt heavy and dazed. He looked around and realized he was in the Nest's room and it was still dark, but no one else was there. He looked over to the clock and realized he hadn't been out for more than 30 minutes. He lay there trying to reconnect to his body and get it to work the way he needed it to when he heard muffled yelling.

  "Oh, shit," he thought.

  He forced his body to respond and rolled out of the bed, practically dragging himself to the door. As he reached for the handle, the door opened to Akierda. He gave him a sympathetic look before reaching out to him to help him walk out into their main room.

  "... Consort?" His mother shrieked. "What are you talking about? He's 17! You're not even an adult. You are 14 going on 15, which is even worse than what we thought when we thought you were 17. How can you even talk about something that serious? " Tyler focused on his mother as Akierda helped him. "Oh my god, baby! Are you ok? What did they do to you?" She cried.

  "You can't hold us here," Tyler's father said. Miza held up his hand just as Valon began to speak to prevent him from expressing his anger at the confused couple. They were humans, and she couldn't fault them for being unfamiliar with their ways, even though they had tried to explain it to them.

  "And I told you after you spoke to Ty, you would be free to go," Miza responded, gesturing to Tyler, who was leaning heavily on Akierda as he helped him to a chair.

  "Tyler, son," His father said. " This is the equivalent of a marriage, isn't it?"

  "No. It's a confirmation. I told you this weeks ago. I was being confirmed into the family." Tyler clarified.

  "That sounded like a marriage." His father said bluntly.

  "I mean, it's a big commitment, but it's not getting married. That is something else, even in their culture. We invited you so that you could start to understand. I thought if you saw her power for yourself, you'd understand." He mumbled, running his hands over his eyes.

  "This looks exactly like a cult." He accused, looking over at Valon and Donte angrily. "George, at least you should have the decency to not involve any more children in this debauchery. How can you even call yourself a man!" He roared.

  "Just because it's a different culture does not mean it's a cult. Goddess bless." Tyler groaned in frustration. "I am exhausted. Can you two please stop being stubborn about this.?"

  "Tyler I just watched you participate in a blood magic cult ritual thing. If anyone is being stubborn it's you. This looks like a cult. It looks like these men have brainwashed you all. You children!" She seethed, pointing widely in the respective directions of Mavrick, Akierda, Justin, Miza, and Tyler.

  "Mom, I am not a child anymore. I know I am your son, but I made my choice. I need you to try to understand me. I have tried to explain to you what is going on." He scowled up at her.

  "That she is in hiding. That she is from another country. A country in which we can find no evidence of these practices. A place that you won't tell us its name." His father interjected.

  "This is crazy." His mother screeched.

  "Tyler," Donte said, clearly losing his patience with them both.

  "No, Donnie!" Tyler snapped, slipping up. The Nest had discussed the option to use his fear manipulation to force their submission on this issue. He didn't want that for his parents.

  "You are ruining this night for me." Tyler lamented, head falling into his hands as he let out a frustrated groan. He was tired. His head ached. He just wanted to nest and go to bed. "This is a good thing, mom. I had hoped that this would help you see. I thought- I don't even know anymore." He sniffed as Miza came to kneel by his side. "You can't disrespect my family. You can't call Greg and George perverts just because they are older and had to care for Sara. You can't just jump to conclusions about my family like this."

  His parents watched as the people in this "Nest" all seemed to gravitate towards him the more upset he got. They were watching their child break over something so wrong. None of this seemed right. Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle looked at each other as the group focused on Tyler.

  "Tyler... what happens if we disagree with this? What if we can't accept it? Are you really willing to walk away from your family forever?" She asked, worried.

  "If you push me to choose between her and you, I will choose my mate. They are my family, too. Forever." He snarled. "Leave our home. There is no point in trying to discuss this if you are not willing to hear us. You've seen her power. I know that you at least believe in that. Now, you are just being stubborn because you want information we can't give you. Leave." He shouted as he walked back into the room.

  "Ty?" Miza called after him, but he shut the heavy doors hard enough for them to slam.

  The rest of the Nest stood awkwardly for a moment before Justin and Akierda went after him. Miza stood up from where she had knelt to soothe Tyler. She took a shuddering deep breath before turning to Tyler's parents.

  "Thank you for spending the evening with us, but you will have to leave now that Tyler has requested it. I would rather you not have to be forced out, so please cooperate." She said following the boys to the bedroom, leaving Tyler's parents with the older members of the Nest.

  "With time, this issue will smooth itself out," Alex said with a placating smile, herding the couple to the door. "It was wonderful to meet you." He said as he gently steered them out the door, shutting it firmly behind them before they could process their son kicking them out of a different place he called home.

  "Wait," Mrs. Carlisle said as the door clinked shut with such finality. "Honey, I think that is the new teacher at Ty's school."

  ~

  Rewrites for OGI will begin in March or April, depending on the feedback. I am considering bringing more of Mark-Anthony into the story for the rewrite. Probably just one scene before they escape.

  kitty