Gavin sat in a corner, wishing he had Gardevik's talent for showing displeasure by blowing smoke from his nostrils. They were all inside the office Gavin shared with Tony, and appointments had been canceled and comesuli chased away from their work just so Norian Keef could vent his frustration.

"Mr. Keef, we are in complete agreement with you regarding this matter. We will not prevent you or your staff from investigating these religions. Lissa will certainly agree with the purpose and intent of this operation, I assure you." Radomir was becoming impatient with Norian, and that never happened with him. The ASD Director had a way of transferring his restless energy to anyone around him, causing things to remain in a constant state of unease. "Will you not accept our assurances and proceed with your investigations?"

"But I am bound by law to receive her permission personally, before I can act," Norian was back to pacing. "I cannot accept anyone else's permission; it must be hers and recorded."

Gavin wasn't sure he appreciated the recorded part of Norian's words, but didn't voice his concerns aloud. Of the five hundred eighty-six members of the Alliance, forty-eight now had some new religion that needed to be secretly investigated—according to Norian, anyway. There was also a long list of other Alliance members, all of whom wanted the ASD to investigate the new religions making application to establish themselves on those worlds.

"We will schedule an audience with the Queen for you as quickly as possible," Radomir's face bore the usual, vampiric non-expression. "In the meantime, has everything been done as far as research is concerned? Surely you can proceed with that before approaching the Queen."

"We are reaching the end of our resources where remote research is concerned—we need to have our feet upon the worlds in question, now," Norian grumbled. "I must meet with the Queen within two days. Please see that this is accomplished." The Director of the ASD all but stomped out of Lissa's study.

"Is there any way we can get her here—for a short meeting?" Radomir turned to Gavin.

"Karzac says she's as weak as a newborn lamb, although she won't admit it," Gavin grumbled. "She could do a short meeting, but short meetings with Norian tend to turn into longer meetings, and that habit he has of unsettling everyone may not be good for Lissa right now."

"Glendes and Raffian are asking for a meeting as well," Radomir stared at his hands. He knew what that meeting was about—Devin and Grace had told him. They'd heard the news from Shannon and Kyler; Grey House couldn't hold that information back. While that information would deliver a blow to Lissa at the best of times, delivering it now would be a hundred times worse. He had no idea why Glendes and Raffian were forcing the issue—surely it could have waited.

Other bad news waited for Lissa as well—Giff still hadn't budged on her desire to keep Yoff away. Rolfe had been unable to convince Giff to change her mind. She had an unnatural fear of bringing her child near Lissa since Toff, Roff's youngest child and Giff's brother, had been abducted while in Lissa's care. Giff didn't want her son anywhere near the Queen. Radomir sighed.

"How will we convince Lissa that coming back to us was a good idea?" Radomir spoke his worries aloud.

"No idea," Gavin muttered and rose from his chair.

* * *

"Child, Lissa had no part in Toff's kidnapping," Roff attempted to convince Giff, who was feeding Yoff tiny pieces of roast chicken while her parent spoke. Roff recognized the open mouth, waiting to be fed like a baby bird. He'd seen it twice with his own children. Yoff's minuscule hands were waving as he fed—he liked chicken already.

"Father, Yoff will not be taken anywhere near the Queen. She will not mean harm, but that does not guarantee it will not happen. Toff's taking was bad enough. My child will be kept as safe as I can keep him," Giff was adamant.

"You are giving up your position with the Queen permanently?"

"The Queen should have replaced me already," Giff snapped. "It is her fault if she has not done so."

"You are placing blame on the wrong one," Roff sighed.

"No, I blame those others just as much—Rolfe has taken me several times to watch Toff from a distance—I did not wish to go among those heathen Fae if I could help it. I saw them eyeing my baby pouch while I stood outside their village." Giff's face held anger as well as pain.

"They are not used to humanoids reproducing as we do—it was curiosity, nothing more."

"I don't care what it was. They're not coming near Yoff, either. They've stolen one member of our family already. They won't get another."

"Do you think the Queen doesn't love you?" Roff's voice was gentle.

It was Giff's turn to sigh, and she hung her head. "Father, I cannot fault her in that respect. She loves us, I know, and even though I have not given her any effort, my wages still come, and she has sent me generous allowances for clothing and anything else I want or need. You should tell her to stop—Rolfe takes care of me, now."

"And what does Rolfe say about this?"

"He says I am overreacting," Giff turned away from her father. "I can't help the way I feel, though. I don't want anything to happen to Yoff."

"I was overprotective of you as well," Roff agreed. "You were my first and will always be my first. It is my hope that when Toff comes to adulthood, he will realize who he is and how he came to be where he is, and then make decisions accordingly. That is what keeps me going—hope."

"Then I will hope as well, father, but do not blame me if my hope is not as strong as yours. I believe that Toff is lost to us for all time."

"What do you think this will do to the Queen, when she learns you will never allow her to see Yoff?"

"She will hate me. And that is for the best, Father."

* * *

"Could this not wait?" Karzac eyed Raffian, who looked guilty. Glendes had no expression. "She is very weak, in the physical sense. I have no idea what her mental state is, and she won't let any of us get close enough to find out."

"We have to take an answer to Melida's father tomorrow. I did not wish to convey our acceptance without giving the information to Lissa, first. Shadow isn't speaking to either of us at the moment, so we couldn't ask him to come and tell her."

"Then perhaps this isn't in the best interest of either of them—have you thought about that?" Karzac barked. "All you are doing is pointing out the glaring fault—as you see it, anyway—in Lissa. She is more than aware that she cannot have children. It did a great deal of damage when she learned that Grace was pregnant with Kevis. Now, you want to bring in a replacement for her."

"We're not trying to replace her," Raffian replied after cursing under his breath for a moment. "We are trying to make sure Grey House continues with the level of talent that we currently have. Melida is from a strong family of wizards. We have to take this opportunity while we have it."

"Lissa does not ask me to come to her. Or do anything for her. She also does not come to me—for any reason," Karzac sighed. He was regretting his refusal to climb into bed with her when she asked after waking. It was the first time she'd made a request since learning Grace was pregnant. Lissa hadn't asked again, and Karzac had not failed to notice. He'd been the one to make the overture—every time. "If you think this will not drive a wedge between Lissa and Shadow," Karzac continued, "then you need to think again."

"That is not our intention, but we have no control over the emotions of others," Glendes spoke for the first time.

"You think not? Drop this now and Lissa will remain with Shadow. Bring this to her and see how things turn out." Karzac whirled and strode off angrily.

* * *

"Lissa, Glendes and Raffian are here to see you." Kiarra had come into my borrowed bedroom at Gryphon Hall while I was dressing. I'd gotten cleaned up by myself, though Karzac had told me to wait for him to help. I was still shaky and weak, but it was only because my body hadn't done anything while I'd traveled as energy across the universes. I knew that if I dropped my body right then and there, I'd feel strong again. I had to shove that thought aside—there were things out there waiting for me—things that I could deal with only in a solid body.

"Is something wrong? Is Shadow all right?" My heart stuttered into a gallop at the thought.

"Shadow is fine, I believe; they only wish to talk to you," Kiarra replied, ducking her head. Well, if somebody isn't looking you in the eye, that means something is wrong. I was afraid to Look, now, to see what that something might be. "Do you need help getting to the kitchen?" Kiarra asked. "Adam and Merrill are both here, or I can call someone else."

"I'll get myself there," I muttered. I did, although my legs felt like rubber when I arrived in Kiarra's beautiful kitchen. Adam kept it updated for her; I recognized his work.

Glendes and Raffian were already there, having a cup of tea while they waited on me. Neither one was smiling as I entered. Kiarra was walking as close to me as she could without putting hands directly on me. Well, this didn't look good. Not good at all. "Glendes, Raffian," I nodded to them, sliding onto one of the many barstools positioned around the kitchen island. Glendes and Raffian sat adjacent to me as Kiarra offered me something to drink. I declined. She took the stool next to mine and sat down with me.

"What's this about?" I said, right off. "Where is Shadow?"

"Shadow is working," Raffian replied. "We left him in his workshop this morning."

"Lissa, I want to preface our news with this—we do not wish to harm your relationship with Shadow in any way," Glendes said. "But it is in the best interest of Grey House for all our Master Wizards to have children, to ensure that Grey House remains as strong as it is. All our Master Wizards sign a contract with Grey House, when they are elevated to Master Wizard status. They are obligated to provide heirs who will carry on the Grey House tradition at the level of wizardry that is expected. We have received an offer from a neighboring wizard clan—and the match would be a good one for Shadow to have children. That is our goal in all this—for there to be children from this proposed union."