Mated to the Moon (Portal City Protectors Book 6), Georgette Clair [best classic books to read .TXT] 📗

It didn’t take long for them all to get seated. Arturo, of course, was at the helm of the wide table.

“Fabiana?”

She turned her gaze to Romano who gaped at her before Kalinda slapped his chest. “Cut it out.”

“What? I’ve never seen her like … that.”

“Like what exactly?” Adonis returned with a growl.

“Um, normal?”

Adonis hit the table. “And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

Fabiana rubbed a soothing hand down her mate’s shoulder before turning to Romano. “Hello, Romano. When’s the last time you played shit for crops?”

“The word you were looking for is fertilizer, pequeña. He fertilizes them.”

“That’s what I just said.”

Silva cackled in her seat beside Kalinda. “She just called you plant poop, Romano. Wait, let me take a picture for SpellBook. Hashtag I got all the fiber.”

Kalinda coughed to cover her laugh as Romano scowled. “Who are you and what did you do with Fabiana?”

“My sister apparently has bigger balls than you.” Pasqual smiled proudly as he stood behind Dominic and beside Giuliana.

“Not really hard, considering,” Giules added. “Wait,” she continued, dropping her arms to her sides, “do those grow too when you use your power?”

“Okay, chil’ren,” Zahara admonished, stopping the foolishness before Romano could say anything else. “Bus’ness firs’ ’nd den we can see how his balls are.”

“We haven’t heard of any attacks from other cities so far, and Encantado’s rebuilding has been moving quickly,” Arturo began. “Everyone we contact has set up a relay of information.”

“Nothing on the borders,” Alexi reported.

As the Alpha of the Renegades, his men had been watching Scorched Earth and the perimeter of Encantado at all times for signs of attack.

“We haven’t even heard rumbling from our contacts on the other side,” the Renegade Alpha added.

Adonis cleared his throat. “It’s almost eerie, the silence, but at least we have more time to prepare the suits my mate invented.”

Arturo swung his gaze to Fabiana. “I still wonder why none of us heard about these sooner.”

“Because I wasn’t sure they would work. Why share something that wasn’t complete?”

Pasquale, Giuliana, and Adonis had agreed to keep Fabiana’s secret of the suit being active before she was with Adonis. As far as anyone else was concerned, she developed it with hopes of having one prepared in the near future, but the prototype was so successful she decided to manufacture more immediately.

“Makes sense,” Kalinda agreed. “Hope can be a great thing, but the disappointment when it’s crushed is rough. If we thought we’d have a way to combat the Hollows and then didn’t when we needed it most … Well, I don’t think any of us want to face that feeling.”

“True. And we’ll have a suit for every Alpha within a few weeks. Can’t be upset about that. Perhaps we should be happy we’ve heard nothing so far.” Torin commented. The large Guardian stared at Silva as he spoke, but she ignored him.

Arturo nodded. “Kalinda, are the Mages preparing?”

“We’ve got them all running drills. Each district is separating their more combat-ready members to help teach others. Those who have lower levels of magic are setting up shelters to go to when the alarm sounds for an attack. It’s the best we can do.”

“The other shifters in Encantado have joined the fray as well,” Dominic added. “I’ve received petitions from the Phoenixes to move on air patrol over our pack lands and they’ve sent missives to the others.”

Adonis rolled his shoulders. “I have agreed as well, as long as they are not causing a distraction or sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong. Tranquillum is a no-fly zone.”

“I’ve heard from Zahara about what you created and how you feel it would be a better place to meet.” Arturo leaned forward slightly and steepled his fingers.

“I do. As a neutral territory, no matter who comes in, they are to be handled civilly. It allows a level of trust for those coming from outside the city as well. They know Tranquillum’s rules and will abide by them.”

“Tranquillum?” Alexi raised a brow in genuine interest.

“It’s within my pack lands. It was originally designed as a place of relaxation for my pack, but I’ve extended it to exclusive parties I invite to come and enjoy. The nature of the location is kept by the rule of death if you disturb it.”

“Can it be used as living quarters?”

Adonis cocked his head. “The Renegades have been accepted in Encantado without penalty.”

“That doesn’t mean the same is said for others,” Alexi argued.

“Then yes, it can be arranged.”

“It would be better to ask us all how we feel about that, wouldn’t it?” Arturo mused.

“Why? It’s within my lands and I gave the acceptance.”

Fabiana grabbed Adonis’s hand. “It’s not about that. We are a group now, and unanimous decisions make things cleaner.”

Adonis shrugged. “Fine.”

“She put a leash on Adonis. Did you fucking see that?” Romano wasn’t quiet with his smartassery, and Dominic didn’t keep his snicker down either.

Fabiana ignored both of them. “Are we all in favor of the Renegades living in Tranquillum?”

The room filled with affirmative answers.

“If they were going to say that anyway, why even ask?”

“Because by moving the location, you also took control from Arturo and Dominic. If you seem to make all the rules at Tranquillum, you traded one Arena for another.”

“You are right.”

Adonis nodded at Arturo. “Thank you for the agreement. By the way, even I am not above Tranquillum rules. Alexi, if your men break the code, there is no way for me to save them and I wouldn’t try.”

“Understood.”

“We can coordinate your move later to coincide with my security team and your rounds. Oh, and I will handle you similar to Dominic and Pasquale, is that acceptable?”

Alexi nodded. “I appreciate that.”

“Look, male bonding,” Silva cooed. “That’s sort of