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Chapter 122: Liam's Temper

Liam arrived at the office just in time to see Mr. Pablo, the Mole Chemistry teacher, helping Nurse Neuranski bring Mrs. Davis back to the nurse's office. The Mole had the Cougar's arm over his shoulder, and he held her around the waist. Mrs. Davis looked as if she had little energy to devote to walking; her hindpaws dragged over the floor at each step and she staggered frequently, almost taking them both down. There was nothing he could do to assist, and it would take them a few minutes to reach the office at their current rate, so he took the opportunity to call Hao Chan.

He pulled his wireless phone out of his pocket and stepped into a nearby classroom that was not in use. He dialled the phone and was surprised to hear Hao Chan answer within a mere second. As usual, the Pekinese spoke to him in Chinese; the businessman was still more comfortable in that language despite having lived in Nova Scotia since the late '90s. <<Good morning, Venerable Smith. I did not expect to hear from you this early. I hope you slept well.>>

<<I slept well, Mr. Chan, thank you. How is your morning thus far?>>

There was a notable pause. It was not proceeding as Mr. Chan hoped, apparently. <<The... issues at your school are less than desirable. My little princess sounds very upset. I will be stopping in to the office to complain.>>

<<Do not, Mr. Chan. The reason for the confusion was caused, in part, by the principal's poor health. You may complain to the board of trustees about the chairman's absence, but I ask you leave the principal out of this. However, that was not the reason for my call; Ms. Chan is. I fear you will not like what I have to say.>>

Again, Mr. Chan took a moment to answer. <<I ask you give me a moment, Venerable Smith. I have her on the other line and will inform her I may take some time.>> The phone went silent for twenty-odd secondsbefore Hao Chan returned. <<My sincere apologies. What happened? Why is she so distraught?>>

Liam did not wish to hurt his associate, but relaying this information was exceedingly important. <<Your computer was compromised. Ms. Chan was the one who compromised it.>> Dead silence greeted that pronouncement. Liam wished he could peer across space via these wireless signals as Nathanial could; the Pekinese must not be taking this well. <<I spoke to her and found her reactions to my inquiries proved it. She sought information about me to relay to the school newspaper's editor. He requested her help in acquiring information about you and me, notably our business dealings, and he inferred that you were a crime boss or some such. I believe she will give me the information she has on her person, which she would have given him, but I need you to gather her other electronic devices and take them with you to Mr. McDougal's. They must be searched in case she has copied the information elsewhere.>>

The grief in Mr. Chan's voice was raw. <<My shame grows with each passing day, Honoured Grandfather. I will do as you ask before I pass on my duties in the Monks to a successor of your choosing. I am unfit to stand amongst those you trust.>>

Liam expected this response, or one even more dire. He struggled to contain his resurging anger at the bitch who had caused such grief amongst so many. <<I will not accept your resignation. You may train a successor, if you wish, as I believe it prudent to have more than one qualified person for each job, but you were undone by someone you should have been able to trust. Such betrayals are difficult to avoid, especially where technology is concerned. Ms. Chan does not know what she is dealing with, or the consequences that could have arisen from her actions.>> Liam could not stomach defending the vile bitch overmuch, despite his commiseration for her father, so he added, <<Though she did have adequate reason to suspect her actions would bring a police investigation upon the both of us had this editor found what he sought.>>

<<What do you wish me to do with her?>>

<<That is up to your discretion, Mr. Chan. I promised that if she willingly returned what she took that the Monks -- which I did not name -- would do nothing to harm her. I made no promise, one way or the other, about you. She is your daughter and your responsibility. How you choose to proceed is of no business of the Monks.>>

<<Yes, Venerable Smith. I understand. I will gather all that you requested. I will then bring it to Mr. McDougal, once I retrieve Betty.>>

Liam exited the classroom and began walking to the nurse's office. <<Very good. You are not to let her know who you are bringing them to. Under no circumstance is she to suspect that Geoff or Faelen are involved, even peripherally.>>

Hao Chan sounded as if his heart had broken. <<She will be blindfolded. I apologise for failing you, Honoured Grandfather. I...know now that she will never be permitted to follow me into the Monks.>>

<<As she is, no, I would not permit her to learn the least of our secrets. She may change, as she is yet very young, but it will be extraordinarily difficult to convince me of that change.>>

The Pekinese hesitated before he asked, <<There is more, yes? From your tone, I feel as if this is not the only thing she has done to dishonour my family.>>

It was Liam's turn to hesitate. He had promised not to say what she had done, but did that extend to saying she had done nothing? No. <<...She has done more, but the dishonour is hers, not yours. I am dealing with her in this particular matter. As a side note, she will be attending the funeral of Donald Markham with me tomorrow.>>

Chan's breath caught as the potential implications sank in. <<What has she done?>>

Liam stopped outside of the nurse's office. He could hear a quiet, if vehement, argument underway between the principal, nurse, and Mr. Pablo. It appeared Mrs. Davis felt her duty required her to be up and about, while the other two disagreed. Liam had to intervene. <<I swore not to say what Betty has done as long as she honours her bargain. She is, thus far, keeping a reasonable facsimile of honour in that regard.>> He knew that Hao would not ask Betty for more details, though Liam almost wished it were otherwise. As it was, Betty was in water most hot. <<I must beg my leave, Mr. Chan, a patient needs me. I wish our conversation was not so full of unpleasant news.>>

<<As do I, Venerable Smith, as do I.>> He severed the connection.

Just as Liam was about to open the door, he smelt Betty Chan approaching. He did not so much as glance back but instead opened the door and entered. He would deal with her in a few minutes. Inside, he saw Mrs. Davis seated upon the far bed, with the two other adults in front of her barring her from rising.

Liam snapped, "Lie down, Jordan! What in all the vast hells were you thinking?" He strode over to the shocked faculty. "What did I tell you?" The Cougar said nothing but merely gaped uncomprehendingly. "Eat! I was most explicit in that you were required to eat solid, large meals at every mealtime. Coffee is not a meal!" He pushed between the Mole and Sheep and glared into the Cougar's large, gold eyes. His hackles bristled, every tooth on display. He gestured fiercely at her. "This is what happens when you do not. You collapse in exhaustion. Had you taken the time to eat, you would have remained conscious, and school would have been closed before you placed your students and their parents in jeopardy."

Nurse Neuranski gently -- timidly -- reached for his shoulder, but jerked her hand back when he glared at her. "Smith... I don't think--"

He cut her off. "No. I reasoned with her. I was explicit in my instructions. I could not have been more clear with her and her husband on this matter. If she wishes to behave as the most juvenile of her students then I shall treat her as such." He snapped his head back to stare wrathfully once more at his principal. "What have you to say, Jordan?"

She dropped her head and stared at the floor. Her voice was quiet and sounded like some young girl caught misbehaving. "I'm sorry." She took a deep breath when Liam kept silent. "I..."

The door clicked open, silencing the principal. Chan stood there looking at Liam fearfully. Her voice drifted across the room, barely audible to him. "Smith? Si fu?"

"Wait outside." She recoiled at the anger and loathing in his voice. "I am busy." She quickly stepped out of the office and closed the door behind her. Liam turned back to the principal. "There is truly nothing_you can say, Jordan." He felt Nathanial's energy enter the room; the Akita was watching him, but he had no patience to temper his words for the pup's sake. "Know this: you will eat as directed, or else I will be forced to commit you to a hospital and have you hooked up to an IV. I care not how busy you _think you are, for there is nothing more important in your life right now than ensuring you have the strength to fight for your life. That is no exaggeration. Eat or live in a hospital, it is your choice. If you cannot cook and your husband cannot or will not, then order food in. Anything_is better than _nothing in your situation."

The door clicked open once more and Liam whirled to rebuke Chan once again, but it was one of the kitchen staff. The Rabbit who entered could stand to lose some weight. She bore a tray laden with the requested items; a large bowl of soup, a glass of orange juice, and some bread slices as well. "I have the food you wanted, Amy. Who's it for?"

Nurse Neuranski trotted over; her cloven hooves clacked upon the floor quite loudly. "I'll take it, Judith, thank you. You know I can't tell you about any of my patients."

The Rabbit looked over at him. "It's probably for the pup, eh? He looks like he could use more food."

Liam's blood boiled. 'Pup? That damned mortal dare speak of me in such a fashion?' His pocket began to sing the song Think of Me from_Phantom of the Opera._ Faelen was calling him. He ignored the phone but the mere thought of his love soothed his raw nerves and calmed him down. Now calmer, Liam could feel the seals he had placed over one of his past lives were strained -- it was imperative he find the peace to meditate. That life must never break free. Liam turned once again to Mrs. Davis. "I apologise for my foul temper. The words were true, but the manner in which I delivered them was most inappropriate. I must depart, but I will speak to you later. Good day." He nodded to the three nearby adults and left before they could respond.

Chan stood against the wall outside of the office. Her arms were crossed beneath her petite breasts, and she was still most dishevelled. She stepped toward him, head held low and tail between her legs. She held out a flash drive. "Here. It's all I have." She took a deep breath and bowed in a rough approximation of the Silver Dragon kwoon's bow. She must have seen her father use it many times when he spoke to other kung fu masters. "Please, don't tell Daddy."

Liam took the drive from her and ushered her into an empty classroom. He leaned against the teacher's desk facing her. "I already told him who accessed his computer. He is on his way, but has some business to take care of first." Faelen was swiftly approaching, and Nathanial still watched. "He has also been informed you will be attending Markham's funeral with me." Chan opened her mouth to protest, but once her eyes met his, she fell silent and nodded. "Did you copy this information anywhere else?"

Her chi roiled, but no visible sign of deceit manifested. "No."

Liam put his paws on each of her shoulders and sent two bolts of chi into her system. One he directed into her neck to still her vocal cords, the other triggered all of the nerves on her left side, tricking them into believing she was on fire. It lasted less than a second, but she collapsed to the floor, gasping in pain. She would have screamed had she been able to. "Do not lie to me, Chan. Does Jhansi have a copy?" He looked greatly concerned for the benefit of the cameras and went to help her up.

Nathanial shrieked in his head. *What are you doing!?*

Betty did not lie when she shook her head and choked out, "No...it's on...my comput...computer."

Liam nodded and addressed Nathanial. *Protecting thousands of lives, Nathanial, if not tens or hundreds of thousands. Do not interfere.*

Faelen was nearing his position. Nathanial did not relent. *What did you do to her?*

*She is uninjured. Had she given Jhansi the information she stole, I may have been forced to take extreme measures to retrieve it. It was of utmost importance I determine, now, how far it had been disseminated.* Chan reluctantly took Liam's offered paw and stood. Liam leaned in and whispered into her ear. "I can make you beg for death, Chan, without leaving so much as a single fur out of place. _Never_try to lie to me or enter your father's office again. You will find this to be a pleasant memory in comparison to what you will experience should you do so."

*L-Liam? You..._wouldn't.* Nathanial's mental voice faded to a disbelieving whisper. _*Would you?*

Tears streamed from Chan's eyes. "I'm sorry. I won't. Please. Please, don't hurt me."

Faelen, Nathanial, and Geoff burst into the room. Faelen pushed Chan away from Liam and stood between them. He breathed heavily and flexed his broad paws in anger. His hackles bristled out into a semblance of a lion's mane and his marvellous teeth were displayed. Liam's love was rather annoyed. "What the fuck is going on? What did I say last night, Liam? Huh!? What did I say!?"

Liam looked Faelen in the eyes and smiled. His kept his voice so low that Chan would have no chance of hearing. "You said, 'Night Liam, I love you.'"

"Don't give me that! You know damned fucking well what I mean!"

The Rabbit from the kitchens poked her head into the classroom before Mr. Pablo squeezed past her. The Chemistry teacher blinked mildly at them. "Is there a problem, boys?"

Chan shook her head. "No, sir. There's no problem."

Mr. Pablo looked at her in surprise. "Oh! Hello, Betty. I didn't see you there." The Mole addressed the others once more. "If there is no problem, perhaps you guys could keep it down and watch the language? It's against the rules to swear on school property."

Nathanial smiled nervously. "S-Sorry, sir. We r-really are. I... I-It's j-just..."

Liam cut him off. "It's a misunderstanding."

Chan chimed in. "That's right, there's just a bit of confusion. I slipped and Smith was helping me up. It really hurt so I cried a little, and when Faelen came in he thought Smith had attacked me. It's really just a mix-up, nothing more."

Mr. Rufus nodded and peered at them nearsightedly. "Very good, then. Just keep it down, please. Oh, and you aren't supposed to be in empty classrooms like this. You five are in the A-class, so I'll overlook it, but please find somewhere else to wait for your parents."

The teacher walked back out, taking the Rabbit with him. Geoff sidled a bit closer to Nathanial with shoulders hunched defensively. Chan put her paw on Faelen's elbow to turn him around but snatched it back when the Wolf jerked away and whirled to snarl at her. Faelen's eyes narrowed in pure hatred. His growl rumbled as if rising from the depths of Tartarus. "Don't touch me, vermin."_Of all the insults he could have chosen, that was near the _bottom of the list of ones expected. Faelen had nearly struck the young Bran Ap Dafydd when the Raven Spirit had used that slur. "I have no fucking idea why Liam is taking you to Donny's funeral after what--" He shook his head. "Fuck it. I don't care. You're not worth protecting, you Demon-Tainted pile of Goblin shit.I don't care what happens to you so long as Liam doesn't get in trouble. If more of your kind were like you, I'd agree with Rolph on how to deal with you."

Chan scrambled away from the large Spirit fearfully. This behaviour was most out of character for Faelen; it must be Liam's own emotions triggering such vitriol.

Nathanial took the couple of paces forward to stand by Liam and Faelen, followed by Geoff. The Akita looked at the two of them, his paws trembling as he stretched one out to each of them. "P-Pl-Plea-ease. D-Don't fight-t." His eyes grew larger and pleaded with greater eloquence than the most gifted speaker. Even the implacable Minos, the highest judge of Lord Hades, would be moved by such a sight.

Behind Faelen, Liam could see that Chan was starting to recover, and she directed a scornful glance at the sweet Akita. Geoff saw it, and Liam almost expected the Dark Elemental to explode in fury, but he merely sighed and placed a paw on Nathanial's shoulder. "Come on guys, Nathanial's right. Let's just go home. It's been a lousy day, so let's not make it worse, okay?"

With Nathanial staring at him so beseechingly, Liam could not muster any anger, regardless of Chan's scorn. He took a deep breath and addressed the Pekinese. "I told you to await your father's arrival by the front door, Chan. Go. While your day has been worse than Geoff's thus far, you may expect no reprieve. You have shamed your father and brought great dishonour to your family. He does not take that lightly." As expected, the echo of his words from earlier brought forth horrific visions in her mind. Shivers violently wracked her body as she turned and fled. Nathanial's beseeching eyes turned reproachful. Liam looked aside, feeling a knife cut deeply into his heart.

Geoff watched the long-furred female depart in puzzlement. "What _did_you do to her?"

Faelen's muzzle curled up into a silent snarl. "I don't want to hear, sir. You don't, either. We're leaving." He turned to Nathanial. "You have anything else to do here? If not, let's go." Nathanial looked hurt by the way Faelen snapped at him. The grey Wolf's tense muscles relaxed and he wrapped the trembling Akita in a hug. "Sorry, Nathanial. My temper has been very short the last hour for some reason, and I really don't mean to take it out on you." He looked over at Geoff. "Nor you, sir. I'm sorry." Geoff looked down at the floor before nodding quickly.

Liam noted he was not included in the apology, and deservedly so. "That is my fault, Faelen. My temper is not as easily abated as Nathanial's. When someone, such as a young Pekinese, truly causes me to become greatly wroth with them, it takes quite some time for me to achieve balance once more. I am in dire need of peace and time to meditate." The seals in his soul were greatly strained; this did not bode well.

Nathanial clung to Faelen but peeked over the broad shoulder at the diminutive Rottweiler. "Th-Then let's go home." One paw left Faelen's back and twitched toward his phone. "Please. I-I want to go h-home."

"I would stop by Faelen's home first, if we may," Liam said. "Mr. Chan is bringing his computer over, and I have new directions for Conor, as well as much more work."

Faelen turned his head to look at him. "I think it'd be wise to meditate a bit, first. Have some of that tisane you gave Nathanial, too. I don't like feeling like this, and it must be worse for you." The perceptive Wolf pondered momentarily before quietly saying, "I hear a voice in you; one of your lives. It's... I don't like it. I don't recognize who it is."

Liam closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Faelen was right; this was the highest priority. For Faelen to hear it meant the seals had weakened nigh unto breaking. "You are correct. Meditation before anything else. I would go home, then; the flow of energy is more conducive to peace there. I have not found a room with the proper balance of elements in either of your homes."

Faelen let Nathanial go and turned to hug Liam. "Is my energy conducive to peace?" The feel of those arms around him, the warmth and strength they possessed, was a tonic for his soul.

Liam returned the hug, accepting the apology it contained and offering one of his own. "It is. It is in a way no other can mimic." Liam reached up to pull Faelen's head down for a deep kiss.

---

Geoff followed Faelen and Nathanial through the Mage's portal and into the Akita's basement. He was, in turn, followed by Liam. Seconds after the portal closed, Nick walked out of his bedroom, wiping his dripping dick with a towel. "Hey. No, Nats, Micah isn't here. He went to see his grandfather."

Nathanial staggered like he was feeling faint. "What!?" His_voice_ obviously wasn't feeling it. "Why didn't you stop him? Did you look out a window?"

Nick shrugged, wadded up the cummy towel, and tossed it over his shoulder into his room. "I looked. He's Fey, Nats. He said the storm wouldn't bother him -- actually, he looked like he was looking forward to it -- and he knows what he's capable of a hell of a lot better than I do. If he says he can get to his grandfather safely, he can. Besides, his grandfather wouldn't let anything happen to him." The younger teen walked over to his older brother with his dick swaying and bobbing the whole time. Nick put his paws on Nathanial's shoulders. "Calm down."

"Calm down?!" Nathanial sounded incredulous. "I am_calm! We have to find Micah! He could be hurt, or scared, or-or _wet!"

Geoff understood where Nathanial was coming from -- though 'wet' wasn't really something to worry about -- but there wasn't anything he could do to help the Markses. He was just so useless like this.

Nick's head tilted to the side as he looked past Nathanial at the Elemental. "What's up with Geoff today, Sensei? Is he sick?"

Geoff looked back in time to see Liam's eyes widen in shock. The healer looked confused when he said, "No, most assuredly not. Why do you ask?" That made everyone stare at the Rottie in disbelief. Even Geoff was more taken aback by the question than the fact that everyone seemed to know he was out of sorts. Hells, even Ms. Paul somehow knew.

Nathanial hesitated before saying, "Um... Well... He's acting odd. You saw it this morning and, well, he's been like that all day."

Liam waved a paw in front of his face. "Oh, that. That is nothing to be concerned about. Nor is Micah's trip. Nicholas is quite right; Micah knows his capabilities better than anyone other than, perhaps, his grandfather. Likewise, Micah must have the means of contacting the Fey, or his trip to the forest would assuredly be futile. That means he would be monitored on the trip to the glade and back. He is as safe as anyone can be. I expect he is no longer even on this plane and is in Faerie taking in an extra magic lesson."

Nathanial spluttered a bit before deflating. "But, but, argh!...All right, fine. But what about Geoff? What is nothing to be concerned about? You act like his behaviour is...logical and something normal."

Liam's face clouded over in confusion, again. "Yes... Yes, it is."

Geoff couldn't take it anymore. "Then what is it!? For the love of all the gods, Dog, spit it out!"

That frustrating hint of superiority and condescension entered Liam's voice. He very patiently said, "Now, what have you been going through the last few weeks, for far longer than I expected, Geoff? Or should I say, 'potential daddy'?"

Geoff's stomach dropped to his hindpaws and kept going. He clutched his guts and leaned against a wall. "Urgh. I-I've been fff...fertile."

"Very good! Now, if I thought it was longer than normal, that means it must be a finite period, yes? And did I not also say yesterday that your aggression signalled you were coming off your fertile period?" Geoff remembered that, but what did that have to do with this? "So, what causes heightened aggression in male mammals?"

Geoff wracked his brain but couldn't think of it. Nick, who was watching this in amusement, answered. "Androgens, usually testosterone."

Everyone turned to look at him in surprise. Liam nodded. "Yes, that is correct." Nick flushed in embarrassment and pleasure and ducked his head. "Now, perhaps you can tell me what happens when something is overworked and stressed for a prolonged period of time?"

Nick looked panicked for a moment before hiding behind his bored mask. "Well... It becomes tired. Exhausted. If...we're talking about testosterone, his balls...then, um..." Nick's eyes widened and a huge grin spread across his face. "He's not making enough testosterone! He's suddenly gone from a very high aggression level -- with really hot sex -- to a very low level. His sex-drive would be minimal, he'd have low energy, and 'cause his body isn't used to it, he'd have trouble functioning like normal. And if he didn't know _why,_the stress would make it worse."

Liam nodded. "Precisely. I am impressed, Nicholas. It is a very obvious and expected result of a Spirit's fertile period. Expected and very short-lived."

Geoff slid down the wall. He was all right, and he'd be back to normal in no time. There wasn't anything wrong with him. Faelen sighed heavily and chuckled in relief. Nathanial grinned widely, knelt by Geoff, and leaned over to press his nose against his boyfriend's. An orange and white paw drifted over to rub Geoff's white and pink ear.

The Rottie looked at the four Canids around him. "You did not realize this?" He looked down at Geoff. "You were concerned, greatly concerned, by how you felt? Why did you not ask me earlier? I honestly find myself quite perplexed. I thought you were being a hypochondriac, or in Nathanial's case, overprotective, and not genuinely ignorant of the cause." He shook his head in confusion. "I apologise. I was distracted by other matters, or I would have told you this earlier."

Nathanial moved his nose away from Geoff's to look at Liam. "How long should it be before he's back to normal?" The Akita turned and sat by the white Wolf. He slid his arm behind Geoff's neck and cuddled the Spirit. Geoff found it extremely comforting.

Liam shrugged. "I know not. I was continually surprised by how long his fertile period lasted, so I dare not offer an estimate on his 'down-time,' as it were. Usually, a Spirit's recovery period is not noticed because the fertile period is too short to exhaust the testicles, or it occurs during the night when the body is normally recovering as he sleeps. If it lasts longer, as it does with Aedan, then it is a mere day."

Geoff looked up at Liam, feeling buoyed by the relief of knowing and by the promise of a short convalescence. "So by tomorrow this hell will be over?"

Liam's brow furrowed, crushing Geoff's short-lived joy. "When did I say that? I said that was what I found with Aedan. He is of no relation to you, nor does his fertile period last two weeks. I never studied his fluctuations, but I never noticed a peak lasting more than one week. His 'surge,' if you will, was also several hours, not over a day. You should count yourself most fortunate to recover in two days."

Geoff's stomach plunged again. Two days? How could he make it two whole days feeling like this? Nathanial's arm tightened around him and his teeth gently nipped and tugged at Geoff's ear. A soft whisper delicately stirred the fine fur inside the teased appendage. "I'm here, Geoff. You won't be alone. You comforted me when I needed it most, and I'll do the same for you."

Faelen grinned. "I think Nick would like to see that. Hells, I want to see it."

Nick nearly bounced like Micah. "What? What? Who's doing what?"

Faelen grabbed Nick around the shoulders and squished the Akita against his side before roughly scrubbing his knuckles over his head. "Our dear Nathanial just promised to, ahem, comfort Geoff the way Geoff did him." That sounded nice, sort of, though Geoff wasn't feeling really up for sex. He mostly just wanted to be held. A nice soft bed, a warm body to cuddle up to, a protective, strong... Geoff looked at Faelen again. If only Faelen_offered. He'd do whatever Faelen wanted in order to feel the way he did when his friend helped him fulfil his duty for the clan. The way Faelen's arms felt around him, the way his tongue invaded his mouth, and that dick... The hot thickness, the way it glided in and out, and, _fuck, that knot. He loved how that knot felt. How the large bulb lodged inside him and pressed against his prostate, the way Faelen's dick throbbed as he gushed thick streams of cum to fill Geoff up, and -- most of all -- the way it kept Faelen with him.

Nick's jaw dropped. The pup had been deflating, slowly, but his dick made an about-face and swelled up and began leaking pre before he could make his jaw start working again. "Oh, shit. Fuck, yeah, I got to see that." Nick looked at Nathanial pleadingly. "If, um, you're really...riled, could you do that to me, too? Please?"

Nathanial dropped his head against Geoff's. "I-I'm not riled. I m-meant comfort, as in just holding him. I didn't mean it like...th-that!"_He squeezed the Wolf tight against him; the pressure was reassuring in some way. "B-But, um, G-Geoff, if you _want me t-to try to do, uh, t-to top you like you, um..."

Honestly, Geoff didn't think Nathanial had it in him, and at the moment, he didn't have it, either.

Apparently, Liam agreed. "I do not think you are quite the dominating type, Nathanial, and even if you could do so at most times, I do not think you could find the aggression in your current state. If aggressive sex was required, I think it would be prudent to have Faelen take Geoff while I finally seized the opportunity to possess you."

That sounded like a great plan. Liam might actually stop going on about Nathanial's ass once he got his dick in it, and Geoff'd get Faelen in him again. But...would that upset Faelen and Nathanial? He didn't want to make them angry. A quick glance showed that he was right; neither of them looked at _all_pleased by the suggestion. Nick, however, looked ecstatic.

Liam noticed, too. "I see no reason to be upset. Geoff needs a strong, stable, and familiar presence. No one present fulfils that more than Faelen. Even outside of this house we would have only two others capable of being as close to perfect: Conor and Dirk. Dirk is not a top, which leaves Conor. I highly doubt Conor would agree to fuck his son when a suitable alternative is available. Thus, we are back to Faelen as the only person to fit Geoff's current needs"

Nick chuckled. "Hey, why not? Conor's had sex, in one form or another, with all of us. 'Us' as in, the Markses -- well, except for Dad. Shit, he fucked Nats with Geoff in the same room; it's not that far of a jump to fucking him."

Nathanial shook his head. "Language, Nick. That was a little different. It wasn't like Geoff was just sitting there and watching us; he was having sex with Liam. Having sex with someone is a lot different than just being in the same room as them, or even the same tub or bed, while you're both having sex with other people."

Faelen studied Liam. "We've been through this before, Liam. I don't want to have sex with Geoff in case it affects our relationship, or his relationship with Nathanial." Why did Faelen keep making a mountain out of a molehill? But the way Faelen was looking at Liam seemed to say there was a bit more behind Faelen's words, something left unsaid. Did, um... Was Faelen protesting because he was starting to love Geoff in the same way he was always saying Geoff loved him? Was all of this just a reversal? Faelen was pinning the blame on Geoff for something he was feeling?

Liam arched an eyebrow. "We have been, yes, and--"

Faelen made a slicing motion with his paw. "Whatever. It's moot. You_are going to meditate, _now. I hear that voice again."

Voice? What voice? Faelen mentioned it earlier; he said it was one of Liam's past lives, but which one? Why was it so upsetting? It's not like Liam's past lives haven't been popping up left, right, and centre every few minutes for the last couple weeks.

Liam turned away. "Agreed. I apologize, everyone, but I shall take my leave for an hour. I shall sit in Micah's room."

Nathanial rubbed Geoff's arm. "All right. I'll put some tisane on a bit before that hour is up." He bumped his head against Geoff's. "I want to study some of those magic texts I got; do you want to cuddle in my room while I do that? Maybe take a nap?"

That sounded great. "Sure. The lights will be off?" Nathanial nodded. "Works for me. Maybe the dark will help my balls recover more quickly." A thought struck him like a bolt out of the blue. "Hey! It might, and then maybe sitting in the Plane of Darkness would make it go _really_fast!"

Faelen didn't look terribly pleased, and his gaze danced between Geoff and Liam.

Nathanial noticed it right away. "I'll take full responsibility, Faelen, and keep my pack around me the whole time. I...actually wanted to go there, anyway. Snow mentioned a forest was in the plane, and I really want to see what it's like. We'll come back the moment I sense something dangerous."

Faelen weighed a bunch of stuff in his head before nodding. "All right, but I'll hold you to that, Nathanial. The moment there's the _slightest_danger."

Nathanial bounced up to his hindpaws and dragged Geoff up, too. "Great! I'll grab my grimoire, and we can go."

Nick grabbed his dick and grumbled. "Well, I guess I'll just go back to my room and jerk off again, if no one is going to have sex." The younger teen stalked off to his bedroom idly stroking his shaft.