Chapter 3

Two days after finals were over, the five adults and one baby boarded a private jet and set out for San Francisco. They had fact sheets that Tyler had stolen from the mainframe of the Empire then the sheets that the Golds presented every time they went to Court. They were obviously framing the Silvers for their loss of money when it was clearly the bad investments that were the cause.

They discussed their plan of attack once they got there. Aiden had called her brothers in because Andy was a lawyer and could be very diplomatic when he needed to be. The other two were there for muscle because family always trumped politics.

Dylan was sleeping peacefully on Keldin's lap as the plane steadily glided through the air. Aiden watched her friend closely. It was almost Christmas and the young man was having a hard time getting through the month.

It had been a year since his significant other had been killed and he was still in the grieving process. They all were because not only had a good friend died but one of their own had been killed as well. It affected them all because they had been a solid team since they were kids.

The pilot called for their seat belts to be fastened because they were coming in for a landing. This was going to be one interesting meeting. The last time any of them had been within the bounds of the Court was when they were pulling away from the Empire.

The Council had decided that they would be the assassins because they were the most trained soldiers. Running for your life did that so they accepted the few cases they had each year. One case had forced them to rethink everything and they had stepped away, opting for a life of exile. Now that exile was being challenged and they were going to fend it.

A car was waiting for them when they walked off the tarmac. Dylan was still asleep but Clint fastened him a car seat anyway. The driver took them onto Bayshore Freeway until it merged with James Lick Freeway. That one merged to Central Freeway before he started going down the smaller streets. By the time they reached the Sea Cliff area, they were all zoned out or asleep.

"Leave it the Council to decided where they live," Austin grumbled as he crawled from the backseat. He stretched, his bones popping back into place. "Oh, that feels nice."

"You're so weird, Aussie," Tyler muttered as he pulled the diaper bag from the middle seat.

Aiden passed Dylan off to Clint as the double doors opened. A blond headed man that was all too familiar came out. Aiden smiled as he approached. She knew his gate rather well. It was the one he used when he meant business. He always meant business because he was the oldest of all the grandchildren.

"Welcome, Aiden," he said. His voice was thick with a foreign accent even though he had lived in the US for five years.

"Alex, thank you for having us," she replied.

He grunted and shook his head. "It's better having you here. Anyone else would have made the this even worse."

She cast him a knowing look. It was almost a pitying one, but she knew who he was thinking about. "Are you talking about Mum Mum?"

"Unfortunately so. She wants to reclaim what she once lost even though she agreed she never would again. She's going back on her word." He crossed his arms across his huge chest, making himself look bigger than he had previously.

"We knew she would. It was only a matter of time."

Alex thought about that for a moment before nodding. "Come. Mikey is waiting on you."

He turned and went back into the house. Aiden followed without second thought and everyone fell in behind her. Clint caught up to her and walked beside her, making it known that he was her equal.

They walked through the kitchen to the backyard. People were assembled already as if they were actually having a Council meeting. With a touch to Clint's shoulder, Tyler successfully moved him behind them just in case someone jumped stupid and decided to go after him and the boy in his arms. Austin and Keldin formed a semicircle around the lone human.

The lone blond -haired woman in the group smiled warmly as Alex stopped. She stood from her seat and moved towards them.

"It's good to see you, Aiden," she said as she hugged her.

"It's good to see you, too, Katy. How have you been?" Aiden replied as she pulled away.

Katy smiled. "Rather well actually. Jamie's been running around like a normal two-year-old should. He had a bout of sniffles the other day and the world almost ended."

Aiden nodded in understanding. "I understand that. Dylan gets fussy and then I know the walls are about to come crashing down. Then we simply put on an anime and he calms right down. It's the most amazing thing technology."

The women had a laugh between themselves at the expense of their children. All the mumbling stopped when a man who would have been identical to Aiden had he been a female or she a male stood and came forward. He was dressed in khakis and a pale blue button up shirt. His feet were bare as he padded forward.

"All right, my dear, stop hogging her," he said.

Katy smiled as she looked up. "I'm sorry. I just haven't seen my favorite sister-in-law since my nephew was born."

"I understand. I've missed my sister as well but I haven't attacked her."

"Yet," Keldin, Austin, and Tyler said together. They looked at each other and grinned.

Mikey came over and briefly hugged his sister. There was a slight rumble around them before they pulled apart. "How are you?"

Aiden tilted her head back so she could look up into the eyes that matched her own. "I'm good. I'd be better if none of this was happening."

Her brother forced out a smile. "Unfortunately, it is so you'll have to get over it." Aiden mocked him slightly.

"Does your Court know you're doing this?" Tyler asked as they all walked to the empty chairs around the fountain. "I have a feeling they won't be too pleased with this if they don't."

"The only ones who matter are already here." Mikey turned his gaze to Clint and smiled brightly. "I knew my sister was bonded but I didn't think it would to be to someone who has class."

Aiden popped her brother in his arm. "That's not funny."

He looked down at her. "I wasn't trying to be. He's better than the last one."

She glared at him but he ignored her. Everyone else shuffled uncomfortably at the mention of Dylan's biological father.

Mikey sat down in the middle of everyone and held up his hand for silence. It was given immediately. "Thank you to everyone for coming. I know it was such short notice and that we had to do this in complete secrecy. If we have the Council here, it would be harder. Plus I need to do my own scouting."

He motioned to the people to his left and right. "This is my wife Katy. My son is in the house with my grandfather. The others are my Court. They are my cousins Alex, Grant, Simon, and Parker, whom you've met."

Clint nodded as he juggled Dylan from one side to the other. "I'm Clint Miller."

Tyler plopped his happy butt down and leaned back as if he owned the place. "So we know what's been going on."

Grant smiled. "Cheeky little bastard. You've been hacking our system again haven't you?"

The black- haired man smiled brightly. "What can I say? I'm a genius and your systems can't keep me out."

Mikey looked at his sister. She held up her hands in defense. "I had no idea he was doing it until the night after Parker came to visit. After that it wasn't an issue because we had finals."

The Emperor shook his head. "Since you already know what's going on, do you understand what I'm asking?"

Austin rubbed his jaw like an older man who was thinking deeply would. It would look authentic if it was littered with stubble and if he were smoking a pipe. "You want us to form a new kingdom."

Simon frowned. "Not you. We want Aiden to form the new kingdom."

Mikey shook his head. "No, he's right. If Aiden takes over, they will follow her. They will be her Court. That's why I didn't object when Parker said the others would be accompanying her."

Aiden leaned back in her chair, her eyes glued to the blond curls of her son as he slept. "If we take over the Silver Faction, how do you know they will follow us?"

"When you left, all of the Silvers loyal to Mikey started pulling away. It was like you were the glue that held them to the Empire. With you gone, they had nothing and no one to look to. You always got things done and you were their voice because you were the highest- ranking Silver in the family due to the fact you were Mikey's heir," Parker replied.

Aiden had been the heir until Mikey's son had been born. She had stepped back but had remained a voice for her infant nephew. She hadn't wanted anything to happen to his position when he came of age to help his father.

She had disappeared shortly after Jamie's dedication. Partly to have her own child, but mainly to live her own life. She hadn't been as active with the Council as she should have been. She had been the voice for the miniority.

"Many of the Silvers on the Council pulled away, giving the Golds the majority. It wasn't easy watching the peaceful Empire go into turmoil as the Golds and Silvers suddenly became enemies," her cousin continued.

"Like the Greeks and the Romans," Keldin surmised. Parker nodded in agreement. Then Keldin tilted his head. "You do realize that when the Golds on the Council find out that you've had a meeting with us, the exiles, they will demand your crown."

Mikey nodded solemnly. "I understand that but there's one person they're more fearful of than me." He made eye contact with his sister immediately. "You know they fear your power far more than they fear mine."

Aiden leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms. "And that's the reason I turned down the throne in the first place. If our grandmother was scared enough to go after me for being born, what will stop these people?"

"Mum Mum was scared of losing the throne and the love of her people," Alex argued.

She snorted, a derisive sound that truly showed how she felt. "There was no love between the former Empress and the people. She made them fear her because of how she treated them. It's taken four years for us to get this far. If the people are suddenly afraid of the Golds, it's for good reason. They were persecuted no matter what color their marks were."

Clint laid a hand on her folded arms. She leaned towards his warmth instinctively. "If we take this role, we were talking about moving the Court itself to a new location. It would probably be easier if the Courts were separated so no one could attack each other. Plus it leaves refuge for the other Court should it be attacked."

A smile suddenly exploded on the Emperor's face. He pointed to Clint as he looked at his sister. "Keep him. I like him." Aiden made a face at him and it was like they were children again. Mikey calmed. "Anyway. I can understand wanting to separate the factions. It actually makes sense."

"Where were you looking at going?" Grant asked.

Austin and Tyler shared a look, threw their hands up in the air, and wiggled around in their seats while saying, "Mardi Gras!"

Simon quite literally deadpanned. "New Orleans?"

"It's the perfect place. We can monitor the entrances on two different waterways and one land route," Austin said. "And not many are dumb enough to try an air attack when there are people who can control the weather."

"You're talking about Stormee now aren't you?" Grant asked.

"Nope. We've formed teams of our own." Austin pulled out a piece of paper and slid a pair of black rimmed glasses on his nose. "My team is Paycen Alear, Emery Stiles, Petey and Carter Michaels. Keldin's team is Deuce Martin, Abigail Suez, Landen Donovan, and Cougar Jordan. Tyler hasn't established his team further than Caysen Parsons." He looked at his best friend and made a face at him. Tyler flipped him off.

Mikey nodded as it all sank in. "Would you establish teams in the Sectors?"

"We'd have to. It only makes sense," Aiden replied. She frowned at the look on her brother's face. "What?"

"You do realize you'll have to be married before you take the throne. It's the one thing Pop Pop made law that couldn't be changed."

Aiden met Clint's gaze and held it. They had talked about this but they assumed it would be after she graduated. She wasn't opposed to it because she was bonded to Clint and it was hard on both people to have it broken. There was no way they were going to have their bond broken. They were too much in love.

Clint's eyes warmed. "It's up to you."

She sighed as she rubbed her forehead against his shoulder. "All right. I can do that."

Mikey raised an eyebrow. "You're willing to get married to become a queen?" His voice was incredulous.

"It may be a shock to you but we've actually been discussing it," Clint replied. "We were going to postpone it but if it's necessary for this to take place then we will do it."

Aiden watched the men size each other up. Clint wasn't much of a fighter but he would protect her if he needed to. He had defended their relationship in front of the chancellor and the rest of the school heads. He had been adamant about how their relationship started, which was before he had been a professor at the school, even though it meant he could have lost his job. He was a strong, passionate man and he didn't care who saw it.

Mikey allowed a slow, gentle smile to grace his face. "So you're the only one who can keep up with her? That's good. She needs it but if you hurt her, you'll have to deal with all of us."

Clint's face was an impassive sheet of stone. "Deal."

The Emperor nodded then shifted his gaze once again. "Who will be the last three on your Court?"

Aiden sat up. "I'm going to ask Cole, Wyatt and Andy to fill those spots."

"They'll be good. They have solid minds." He seemed to think gently, meaning it was more to himself. "I'll take this to the Council tomorrow. Don't expect to leave for a few days."

"We aren't." He nodded and that was their dismissal.

~~~~~~~~

Aiden's Journal

December 15, 2011

Day One in California

Why am I not surprised? Mikey knew what he was doing. He always does really. But this time I suspect he's at his wit's end even if he doesn't come out and say it.

Sometimes I wonder if my family really knows what it means to be quiet. No matter how much they say this was a secret, I know for a fact it was not. This close to Christmas and everyone is checking everyone else's coming and going. If Mikey's people don't know I'm in town, then I think they're truly stupid.

Do I think this whole situation sucks? Yes. I didn't really want to raise my son in this life, but it has a way of sucking people back in. I retired for a reason, and now it seems that reason is a moot point.

If I could sigh to a piece of paper, I would. That's all I can really do right now is sigh. The only silver lining to this crazy life is Clint agrees. I think he would wrestle a dragon if I asked him to. I won't because the ones I know are truly assholes.

Maybe things will go better than I hope, but that hope is very thin.