08/05/21: Chapter Two has (finally) arrived. It only took me, what, six months? Mikhail and Belle have been stuck on Aidan's porch since February.

No new OCs are introduced here or in Chapter Three. It's more about getting Belle established in this new world I am spinning, and giving this story in particular a coherent plot. Chapter Four will introduce Sophie. She was mentioned in chapter one, and again in this chapter, along with her son, Tristan. Chapters Five and Six will introduce the twins, Katherine and Stephanie. I'm so excited to show them off to you guys.

Disclaimer: As always, I do not own the Dark Series or any of the characters, places, or situations you recognize from it.


"Are you really going to ask Gregori to be Santa Claus?" Belle asked Mikhail as they stepped out into the cool night air. "Like, really really going to ask him?"

"I am. 'Really really," Mikhail teased.

"Oh, no."

"It will not be as bad as you are imagining." Again the image of the burning Christmas tree popped into her mind. "Savannah would never let him frighten the children in such a manner," Mikhail said.

"That's true," Belle said. She linked her arm with her uncle's as they strolled down the forest paths that connected the homes the majority of the other Carpathian couples occupied. "And Savannah's skill with illusions would make it a memorable show."

"So I have your permission, then?" Mihail asked.

Belle sighed dramatically. "I suppose."

They walked on. Above them, the gray-blue sky threatened snow. Belle could feel multiple pairs of eyes watching from the tree line. Owls and wolves and other forest creatures ensuring the prince had safe passage through the territory. Probably the odd big cat, too.

"Belle," Mikhail broke the comfortable silence. "Are you afraid of meeting your lifemate?"

Oh, no. He'd heard her thoughts, earlier. Belle had always done her best to keep those memories to herself. Mikhail and Raven had enough problems without the dissension that would come if they tried to do something about the gossip. That was all it was. Gossip. None of it had ever been said to her face.

"No," she said. "I'm nervous, but no one really believes gossip, right?"

Mikhail continued talking. "Skyler Daratrazanoff came to visit your Aunt and I. She wanted to make it known that she refused to be anyone's lifemate." He blinked at her. "What gossip?"

Belle stared back. "What?"

"What gossip?" Mikhail repeated.

He hadn't caught her thoughts. Uh, oh. "No gossip," Belle said quickly. "Ignore me. What were you saying?"

Mikhail pulled her to a stop. "Someone is gossiping about you, saying things that have made you afraid to meet your lifemate. Don't lie to me, Belle," he added when she tried to correct him.

They held each other's gaze, their eyes matching, sparkling black. Belle looked away when hers started to burn. "I want to meet him," she said quietly. "But what if-" Her voice clogged her throat.

Mikhail drew her into a hug. Belle buried her head against his chest, hiding from the eyes of the forest. "There is not a hunter among us who would ever reject his lifemate," he murmured.

"What if he recognizes me, and knows my history? My parents wanted each other instead of their lifemates. What if I have that sickness, too, and we just don't know it yet?"

"You do not have it," Mikhail said firmly. "I grew up with Draven and Noelle. I know what to look for. You do not have that sickness, Belle, and neither did your brother."

Raven stirred in the back of Belle's mind. Listen to your Uncle, sweetheart. There is nothing wrong with you, and your lifemate will know that, no matter what Eleanor says.

Belle pulled away, mentally and physically. "Skyler Daratrazanoff doesn't want to be someone's lifemate?" she asked.

Mikhail sighed, but allowed her change of subject. "That is what she says," he explained, tucking Belle under one arm so they could continue walking. "I am not surprised she is hesitant, given her history, though I am surprised Gabriel and Francesca have not been more open about the topic with her."

"There are some things you don't talk about with your parents," Belle said.

Mikhail nodded. "There are things you don't talk about with your male friends that you do with your female ones," he agreed.

"There aren't many girls here Skyler's age."

"You and Ginny Chevez are the closest."

"Ginny is eleven and sheltered." Belle glanced at Mikhail. "You want me to befriend her."

"As you said, there are things children do not discuss with their parents. And there are things women do not discuss with their male friends. I think it could be good for her, and for you."

"I have friends," Belle said, but the idea intrigued her. Growing up, Belle had been surrounded by boys. Her twin, Benjamin Belendrake, and Edmund Farvald. The four of them had been born within months of each other, and had played together as children. She loved Ben and Edmund as much as she did her own brother, but she'd always been the only girl in the group, and always outvoted when it came to choosing what games the four played. Now that she and Ben were the only ones left, things were a bit more even, but it might be nice to have some backup once in a while.

"We can always use more friends," Mikhail said. He pressed a kiss to the side of her head. "Thank you."

They turned off the main path onto a smaller one. If not for the lights shining through branches, no one would ever know there was a house tucked among the trees. The whole area shimmered. Belle focused her sight, blurring out everything but the finely spun threads criss-crossing over one another again and again until they formed a free standing web that encompassed the entire building and some of the surrounding area. The darker portions represented older safeguards set by Mikhail when he'd bought the land, and again when they'd been preparing the guest houses for occupancy. Belle was pleased to see that Aidan had placed his own as well. Too many of their people simply built off previously placed safeguards instead of adding new ones, or worse, didn't bother to add new safeguards at all.

Belle traced one of the strands, taking great care not to disturb it. "These are good," she said. "A few holes, but they aren't obvious. He used the standard pattern for the base, but he added his family's pattern to it, and here-" she traced another set of strands higher up "-this is Daratrazanoff. He got that from his sister-in-law." She stepped through with a satisfied nod. "It won't stop anyone familiar with him or his family, but it'll slow them down significantly."

Mikhail glanced around the clearing, though Belle knew he couldn't see what she was seeing. All Carpathians could sense safeguards, and some could even see them when they were first placed, but no one seemed to be able to see them the way Belle did.

"Are there ways to fill in the gaps?" he asked.

Belle shrugged. "Yes and no. Loopholes are always going to exist. That's how language, and intent work. What we can do is make the loopholes small, so they aren't noticeable, and back them up so anyone trying to exploit the hole gets caught in something else. Another layer, a trap, whatever." The porch creaked under their feet. "I have a new pattern I've been wanting to try," she said, bouncing a little in excitement. Mikhail smiled encouragingly at her.

Noise swamped the pair of them and startled several actual birds when the door opened. "What is that terrible racket?" Mikhail asked the golden hair, golden eyed hunter who'd opened the door.

Aidan Savage grimaced. "Byron's nephews are here," he said.

"Both of them?" Mikhail asked.

"This seems to be the place to gather," Aidan said, stepping back to allow them entry. "You honor us with your presence, Mikhail."

Belle frowned. Since the death of her twin, Belle's bond with Ben had grown unthinkably strong. Gregori had looked into it at Mikhail's request, and had compared their bond to what he would expect to see between lifemates. They maintained a constant, low level feed on each other's emotional state, communicated effortlessly through their thoughts, often finding it more difficult to speak aloud to one another, and could pinpoint each other's exact location within an ever increasing radius as they grew older. The problem was, Ben and Belle were not lifemates. Gregori believed Belle had affected the growth of the bond by clinging to it when her parents and twin died, using it to replace those broken bonds and protect her mind from the trauma.

That had only fueled the rumor mill.

Yet despite their close knit relationship, Belle had not registered Ben's presence as she and Mikhail had approached the house. Could her distraction with the safeguards and her own internal dilemma have caused her to overlook it?

A crash sounded from inside followed by the whoops of happy boys. "Perhaps we should have Byron send for them?" Mikhail suggested.

"What are they doing in there?" Belle asked at the same time.

Aidan puffed up with pride. "Alexandra has a new video game coming out. The boys offered to test it for her."

Video games? Belle asked.

You were the one who suggested I take an interest in Josef's hobbies, Ben responded. Belle flopped down onto the couch beside him. Ben side-eyed her. You're upset.

"Hi, Belle," Josef greeted her from his place on the floor, never taking his attention off the screen. A curly haired boy sat beside him.

"Hello."

"Josh," Ben said. "Why don't you take over for me?"

The boy nodded and picked up a controller. "You mean I'll actually have some competition?" Josef asked.

"Josef," Belle admonished.

"No, he's right," Ben said. "I'm bad at this." Why are you upset?

Uncle Mikhail and I were talking about lifemates.

Oh. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She snuggled into his side, and felt him press a chaste kiss against her temple.

Do you ever wonder what your lifemate will think of this? Belle asked, indicating the two of them.

Josh popped up in front of them. "We lost," he said. "Do you want to try again, Ben? I can help you this time, so you don't lose as badly."

Belle hid her smile against Ben's arm. The child was too cute.

Ben shook his head. "I think I've suffered enough defeats for one day. Why don't you and Josef go see if Aidan wants another turn?"

Josh nodded. "Okay. Come on, Josef," he said, taking the older boy's hand and dragging him off toward the kitchen.

He seems sweet. He's Alexandria's brother, right? Belle asked.

Yes, Ben said. Sophie and Corinne were the ones who had kids, and Tristan and Jennifer are still babies. Belle shifted into a more comfortable position. I hope I meet my lifemate after you've met yours. My mother will have quieted down, then, and the rumor mill along with her.

So you want me to do all the hard work? Belle asked, teasingly.

That's not what I said -

They both snapped to attention as raw power rippled out from the kitchen. Belle frowned as she recognized her uncle's touch. What on earth? Ben sped across the room, Belle following on his heels.

The pair paused in the doorway. Mashed potato had been flung all over the room by the mixer which still whirred merrily away in Alexandria's frozen fingers. A glob had even landed on Mikhail's cheek.

Josef let out a strangled cough. Ben looked away, shoulders shaking. Josh began to giggle, and the three boys doubled over, laughing. This prompted Aidan to move. He blurred across the room, stealing the now silent mixer from his lifemate, and not so subtly placing himself between her and Mikhail. Belle bit the inside of her cheek to stifle her own giggles, and handed Mikhail a bit of paper towel from a nearby roll.

"Here," she said. "If you get any more food on you, someone might mistake you for the feast." Mikhail flicked a piece of cheesy potato at her. Belle ducked, grinning.

Mikhail turned to Aidan. "It is unnecessary to protect your lifemate from me, Aidan," he said.

"Is that what I am doing?" Aidan asked.

Josh nodded. "You look like you're about to hit someone."

Aidan grinned, aiming the mixer toward the boy. "I might."

Josh squealed and ran around the kitchen island while Aidan gave chase. Belle basked in the joy filling the room. If only their lives could always be so carefree.

"I'm so sorry," Alexandria said to Mikhail. "The mixer got away from me."

Mikhail waved her apology away. "It is of little consequence - other than providing amusement for our young ones." He turned his dark gaze on Josef and Ben, who were still laughing. Josef gulped and straightened up. Ben only raised an eyebrow, not intimidated in the least.

Too many nights spent attending Savannah's tea parties with him, Ben sent to her. Belle grinned. Tea parties had been Savannah's favorite game as a young child. Many nights had found Raven, Mikhail, Belle, and Ben - all together or in varying combinations - perched on tiny chairs, holding tiny cups, and making serious conversation with the teddy bears and Barbie dolls under her then four year old cousin's strict supervision.

Mikhail shook his head, Ben having obviously sent the thought to him, too. Fondness drifted to her across their bond. "No respect." He tilted his head slightly, as though listening to something the rest of them could not hear.

"Aunt Raven?" Belle asked.

"Yes," Mikhail sighed. "I had hoped to speak with Aidan more, but Skyler is in our home and needs an escort back to her home."

"I can get her," Belle said. It was a perfect opportunity to introduce herself. Mikhail smiled gratefully.

"I'll go, too," Alexandria added quickly. Aidan stopped just behind her. "I need a break from this, and I wanted to see Desari, anyway." She glanced back at her lifemate. "Perhaps you and Josh can rescue the potatoes."

Mikhail turned to Belle. "Be careful on the path. I want you to alert me immediately if you sense anything out of place, and have Gabriel bring you back to Jacques' when you're ready."

"Yes, Uncle."

I can go with you, too, Ben suggested. Safety in numbers.

Belle shook her head. There are already hunters watching the paths, she said. His concern echoed heavily in her chest.

A bowl wobbled by, roughly head height with Mikhail. Belle reached up and snatched it out of the air before it could tip over. Mikhail turned to glare at Josef. "I hope you were not thinking to drop that on my head."

Josef grinned innocently. Belle handed the bowl to Ben. "We'll be alright," she said aloud for everyone's benefit as Alexandria grabbed her coat.


Next Chapter: Belle meets Skyler and a catastrophe almost occurs.