Chapter 6

Aiden lay in bed and thought about the last month or so. Her family had picked up and moved from Knoxville, Tennessee, to New Orleans, Louisiana, in two days. And into hotels no less.

Dylan had been the one she was most nervous about but the baby remembered his uncles, all eight of them, and was a happy baby while they were moving. He gurgled and talked at everyone who would listen even if they didn't understand him at all. He was the life of the party, and everyone was relaxed around him.

After being in the deep South for a month, the new Royal Family moved into their new home. It was a two story mansion, and they were adding additional wings built into it. The Royals would take the entire second floor of the eastern wing of the mansion and the other families would have their own wings as well. Aiden's parents and brothers were on the first floor of the eastern wing while the Somme twins and Tyler were on the second floor of the western wing.

The additions to the house were being made to the main portion of the house. The top floors would be the offices of the Court officials and of Aiden's personal office. Everyone would have their own personal office and assistant as well. It was the least she could do when it was such short notice to bring everyone together. The main floor would house the ballroom and dining rooms with the second floor as they passageway to the residential areas.

The discussion she had had with her friends while she was moving furniture into Dylan's room with Clint rang clear in her mind. They were a little perturbed to be moving. She assured them it was only for a little bit, at least until the Kingdom was up and running efficiently.

It wasn't that long ago that they all had decided to go to school to get college degrees. Aiden was going to finish but she couldn't be a journalist and a Queen at the same time. They would all have time to move in and get back to classes in their respective states. Once they graduated they would be given charge over a certain Sector. They were the ones she trusted most.

Somewhere in the middle of those thoughts, something thumped her in the head. Ignoring it the first time, she went back to her thoughts until it happened again. When she calmed her thoughts, she felt it again.

"Clint, what are you doing?" she asked.

Her husband sighed sleepily then shifted. This time he buried his face in her neck. "You're thinking too much. It's filtering in to me."

"Sorry."

Unable to get back to sleep, he propped himself up on his elbows and looked at her. "What are you thinking about?"

"We got a list of stuff to do to get our feet off the ground. But I have a feeling things are going to get worse before they get better. Someone's going to do something to this Court that's going to require a backlash of our power than anyone else's."

"They're going to make you force your hand." She nodded unhappily. "How much power do you actually have?" She looked at him. "You never really told me."

Sighing, she fanned her hands out in front of her. "I'm a Spirit Wielder. That much I've told you. I can enhance the powers of another. I can absorb energy from everyone of my kind, but all that energy can only be expelled at the full moon."

"You've said things are an upside. What's the downside?" He rolled on to his back and stared at the ceiling.

"When the backup becomes too much or I overextend myself, I begin to see in color."

He made a face. "Honey, you see in color anyway."

Laughing at his assumption, she shook her head. "That's not what I meant. What I meant is when I overexert myself, the powers I have tamped down surface. If I didn't have a lid on it, I'd be seeing emotional auras. People live in a colorful world where things annoy, excite, anger, incite jealousy, and sadden them. All those emotions are colored when they hit me. That's why my eyes are so light sensitive. Normally I would see extra colors swirl around people but I have tight control over that power."

"So if you lose it, there's a possibility you could see in color?" She nodded. "Well, then I guess I'll just have to follow you around everywhere to make sure that doesn't happen."

Snorting in laughter, she gripped his waist and draped herself across him. Absentmindedly she traced the definition of his pectorals and stomach. He brought his arms up to encircle her, holding her as tightly against him as he could. His fingers spun lazy circles in her arm.

"We have a long day tomorrow," he mused.

"Yes, we do. While you, my dear, are moving heavy furniture, I will be stuck in a Court session so I can choose the final members of my Council. That will be fun," she replied.

"You'll do fine. Now all you need to do is sleep. A well rested Aiden is one we all love dearly."

She slapped him good-naturedly then snuggled down securely in his arms. She heard his laughter rumble under her ear then his breathing settled into a steady rhythm.

***

Clint sat in the doorway of the Council room and listened as Aiden and her family argued over the other six they should add to the Council. The Court was already settled. Her three biological brothers, the Somme twins, and Tyler were going to be on the Court. Her parents and two older adopted brothers, Jesse and Klark, were the four sealed into their seats. There were six seats left, and they were arguing over them.

He watched his young wife juggle their nursing baby and then attempt to discuss the matter at hand while rearranging herself. She was getting increasingly agitated and it was about to get desperate if he didn't do something.

Standing, he walked the length of the room, set a glass of tea on the table, and scooped up their sleeping son. She cast him a grateful look then went back to work. She was very efficient in everything she did.

By lunch time, they had four of the six names down for the Council and hadn't stopped fighting enough to sit at the table without a snide word to each other. Aiden wasn't prone to starting fights with her family, but she was very good at stopping them. She finally slammed both hands down on the table and stood. All of her family jumped then sank back into their seats.

"I've had enough! I ask you a simple question and you can't stop fighting amid yourself long enough to give me a decent answer. So until you do, this meeting is adjourned and I don't want to hear another word about it." She grabbed a plate of food and disappeared from the kitchen.

Kathryn blinked rapidly to get the shock out of her system. "Aiden has never lashed out like that."

Jesse snorted. "Maybe never at you but Klark and I are used to it."

"Why would she do that?" The concerned mother in her was starting to surface despite being overtaken by a woman who hadn't wanted just anyone sitting on the Council.

"She's a Queen now, our Queen to be precise. She has to learn to have her voice heard among us. We do tend to railroad her at times," Austin said. He shifted his mouth to the side as he thought. "Maybe we should let her decide the last two. We all have our opinions and we're not afraid to give them, but we don't have the ability to read someone as she can. We've already added four family friends. Now we need to look outside the family."

Clint was clearly surprised the young Thunder Bearer was so insightful. Usually he allowed his tongue to take a totally different tone and gloat. Obviously he knew Aiden better than most. Then again, Austin had a secret that he thought no one knew.

"What about people not really affiliated with us?" he asked before he could rein in his tongue. Then again why shouldn't he? He was their King now and a regular human at that.

Jordan mulled it over but it was ultimately Kathryn's decision. They were going to decide on it as a couple as well as Councilmen.

"That sounds fair," he said after a few minutes. He looked at his wife. "What do you think?"

Kathryn tapped a well manicured finger on the table. "It's a good idea. I think we should. It would give us an unbiased voice as well. I know for a fact that the Golden Court doesn't have humans on their Council or their Court."

"Well, Court no, because it has all the offices. The Council should be a little more liberal," Tyler said. "Who should we send to tell Aiden what we've decided?"

Clint held his hand up. "I will, considering she won't kill me as much as she will the rest of you. Your only job will be to take care of Dylan until I return."

He handed the nine-and-a-half month old to his grandmother and went in search for his wife. If he knew her in any way, and he did, he figured she had gone out back by the river. When he stepped out on to the patio, he saw her sitting on the wall swinging her feet. She wasn't pouting but she wasn't happy either.

He walked over to her and sat down. He didn't touch her at all but he sat close enough for her to know he was there if she needed him.

"What have they decided?" she asked after a few minutes.

"They're going to allow two regular humans on the Council but the decision is left up to you," he replied. "Andy can do the background checks for you but if they can't handle the secret then they can't be involved."

"I agree."

He sighed. It was a grateful sigh. She hadn't argued, but he hadn't thought she would. She wanted what was best for everyone, but with so many strong voices in the mix, she hadn't quite figured out where to step in and where to let it play out.

Clint stood and extended his hand to her. "Come on. Let's get back inside so we can discuss this with everyone else."

He was pleasantly surprised she put her hand in his and allowed him to lead her back in the house. He did all the talking once they met the family back in the kitchen then watched as she took Dylan up for his nap, no doubt taking one with him as well. This was going to be a hard next few months but he was going to be the husband his wife needed to get through it.