Zia… Dragofin Lair, 5th Floor Meeting Room

---

“You’re positively glowing,” Miss Connie said.

“No, it’s called sweat. Greg offered to carry me up, but I want to get used to taking these stairs.”

“I know what you mean, hun. Please, take a moment to catch your breath.”

The older woman’s voice didn’t have the usual power Zia had grown used to. Zia smiled but saw that Miss Connie looked tired. “Miss Connie, are you getting enough rest?”

The motherly figure patted her on the hand and said, “I manage just fine. We’re going to see what we can do to make sure you and that darling babe are safe and sound. Now, let me go and get things started.”

“Yeah, sure,” Zia said to a retreating Miss Connie.

The woman flittered back into the room to do her usual, take care of folks.

Zia looked past Miss Connie to see Lucien and Quinn at their usual spots at the conference table. Wren and Matt sat in their chairs. Hildy and Ajax were here too. She hadn’t been expecting them all to be here.

She was going to be extra early from now on. Zia didn’t like being the last to enter a room. The seated ones always had the stare down advantage. This was becoming a pattern she wasn’t feeling.

Thankfully, the atmosphere was different this time around. Genuine warmth and love were conspicuously present. Unlike the first time she’d been in here, today, Zia felt like she belonged. This lot was her new family, not an inquisition and for damn sure not an intervention. She shook off the thought of her mother’s audacity and powered through to put on a smile.

“Are you ready for this?” Greg whispered and looped an arm around her waist.

“Yep, I’m good. Much better than the first time we were up here.”

“That’s what I want to hear. I’m here for anything you want or need. I’ve got you, my love. We do this together.”

And this was another of the many reasons why Greg was her mate and not some slick talking Jeremy.

Greg led her closer to the long conference table off to the left of the room as Miss Connie bustled around in normal fashion. Zia saw the backs of three women with long, perfect spirals of curls.

In the morning light’s angle into the room and how they sat with their backs to the door, it was hard to make out their almost iridescent hair color. The sunlight caught different hues and played with the colors to create a kaleidoscope effect.

The closer she got, their voluminous manes looked to be a mixture of rich brown with coppery red and warm golden highlights interspersed. So unique were the patterns that played with the rays of sunlight, that Zia caught herself mesmerized and staring at the back of their heads.

This reaction she had to the visitors wasn’t getting off to a great start. Zia had to keep her wits about her.

They sat with their backs to her and seemed engrossed in papers and mini handheld devices. Even with the new activity happening behind them, the trio had their heads down, engulfed in whatever project they had before them.

“Excuse me, dearies,” Miss Connie went to stand behind them and tapped one on the shoulder.

Zia marveled at how they all stopped at the same time to give her their attention.

“Ladies, Zia has made it here. Please, come meet our newest member of the Dragofin Clan and our Greg’s mate, Zia Carter.”

Zia tried to withhold any rash judgment of what she thought a trio of succubi should be or look like as the women stood and turned.

Tall like Hildy and her, the women exuded an air of refined seduction that whispered excitement and intrigue. The color of golden honey, their skin gleamed like personal suns orbiting in a ring of three. Her fingers itched to reach out and touch them to quench an extreme curiosity.

Like a beautiful gift wrapped in the most enticing packaging, each woman’s presence flaunted untold treasures to explore.

Arrested focus drove Zia’s every desire to go treasure hunting. She had to see the mysteries that lie within. All this happened in a snippet of a second. They held her fascination from the time the women got out of their chairs to when they stood before her like majestic goddesses.

Once they looked up enough for her to see their faces, instant comparison drowned Zia in self-loathing, inadequacy, and covetous wanting. Never before had she envied another as much as she did these women. Her worse faults and shortcomings surfaced to beat her down. An invisible club constructed of her strongest not-good-enough feelings did the honors.

To say they were beautiful was an insult. She vacillated between wanting to hate them and having the insatiable need to be their friend. As she continued to stand there, a faint feeling of attraction intermingled with the merry-go-round of reactions.

Greg gave her a slight squeeze and whispered, “It’s not real. They’re testing you to see how you react to their gift. Think of it as an initial diagnostic.”

Grateful for the insight, Zia relaxed and allowed herself to calm down. She stood with her mate and willed herself to tap into any reserves of patient self-control to be had. The three other women eyed her and Greg with intense interest.

“Fascinating. She would make an excellent study. Did you see and feel that?” one of the identical trio asked the other two.

“Yes, but I’d like to observe both of them,” another one said. “Their dynamic is exquisite and rare.”

They all nodded.

“Its evident even on the visual plane,” another said, as curiosity plagued Zia to want to ask what they spoke of.

Instead, she heeded Greg’s advice and didn’t respond or try to make sense of what the women did. Greg’s way of deliberate focus was the path she’d take to make it through this tide-turning encounter.

When they were alone, Zia would talk to Greg about pre-prep and how not to have his mate feeling like a deer in headlights. As soon as the thought came, a breeze of confident peace washed away the anxious edge that tried to set up shop.

Out of her periphery, Greg gave her a wink and quick squeeze in confirmation that he’d sent the boost to her. Their mating was continuing to reveal wonders. Wonders she couldn’t have imagined could exist in a romantic relationship with a man before.

Three pairs of brilliant eyes stared at her.

One by one, eyes similar in color to her own but way more intense investigated her. Their beauty was overwhelming. Being in the room with their attention focused on her threatened to make Zia want to run and hide.

“Oh God, you’re too beautiful to be real,” she said aloud before her mind could catch the words.

They smiled exposing perfect teeth and… sincerity.

The one in the middle stepped forward, extended a hand and said, “Hello, I’m Mina, and these are my sisters, Tina, and Lina. To help you remember who we are, I’m wearing the ’Take Me To Your Leader’ sweatshirt.” The Model in hiding pointed to her replica and said, Tina, is wearing the t-shirt that says ‘I am the Droid You’re Looking For,’ and Lina is the one wearing the hoodie that says, ‘Neil deGrasse Tyson is my Spirit Animal.’ We thought it would be easier if we had distinct clothing to help you remember for our first meeting.”

“Who y’all kidding? I still don’t know which one is talking until I know what you’re wearing,” Quinn said from the conference table, eyeing a plate of cinnamon rolls.”

That’s when Zia realized that Miss Connie had once again supplied a bountiful breakfast. She remembered her manners in time to shake each of the women’s hands.

Mina looked at her, then Greg, and back to her. “Congratulations on the baby.”

Zia looked over at Greg and back to the breathtaking woman.

“Thank you?”

“Oh, did I say something you didn’t already know?”

“No, it’s just that we hadn’t told anyone yet.”

“We know now,” Quinn yelled from the table. “It’s like freaking bunnies around here.”

Lina came up and whispered, “You’re glowing like a neon sign. The Goddess has blessed your mating mightily. Your child is blessed… and strong. It’s a wonder you can focus on anything we say. He’s already trying to communicate with you.”

“What?” Zia looked at the woman and blinked. “How is a fetus able to communicate with me?”

“Well, from what I can tell, not too well yet. Have you been getting a ringing noise, headaches or something that sounds like static in your head?”

Zia grabbed Greg’s hand and steadied herself. “Yes, how do you know this?”

“Because you’re able to pierce realms,” she said like it was common knowledge and the most normal thing to do.

“Oh, is that all.” Zia’s deadpan was lost on these three.

The Succubus piped up as if she’d been encouraged. “No, not at all, among other cool things you can do is benefit from the sun and moon energies. You’re multi-gifted for certain.”

Wren called out from behind the trio, “Just go with it. They saw my scary psychic caul without anyone having to let them know. MLT know their stuff.”

“Um, all right,” was all Zia was able to get out. This was some farfetched stuff they said. If not for being in the Lair, she would swear this was an audition to go on one of those shock and parody TV shows. She couldn’t shake the feeling that at any moment a Japanese show host would pop out and stick a microphone in her face.

“Relax,” Greg whispered low enough so only she could hear his gentle coaching.

“Your baby senses that you can hear him from the realm where he is until he’s ready to come to this one. It is truly an honor to meet you, Zia. We’ve never met a Siren Sorceress who walks between the realms before.”

“Wait, hold up,” Zia said, throwing both her hands up in front of her. “Too much information coming at me.”

The one with the Droid shirt said, “Our apologies. Being here with all you is an honor. So much magic, marvel, and awe.”

Another one looked over her shoulder to Lucien. She said in a hopeful proposition, “We’re still available to be honorary Dragofin Clan members too, great and wise Dragos.”

His laugh was loud as he spoke, “Flattery always paves a smooth path. As I said before, you have my blessings as nigh sisters, friends of the Lair and my protection. As I’ve also said, you know the requirements for full membership. You must mate with one of my brethren.”

Ajax had managed to sneak one of the huge cinnamon rolls and said around a mouthful, “I keep telling you all Nolan is available. Wren, do your thing and see if they match with him now.”

“Ajax, for the last time,” Matt spoke up. “My mate isn’t the Clan’s crystal ball for mate pairings. Keep on and I’ll make you address her by her full title.”

”That ain’t right, man. What happened to bro code?”

Matt’s comeback was swift, “Try mate bond and babe on board. Trumps bro code every time.”

Wren leaned over and gave her mate a sensual kiss in clear reward. “Yeah, Ajax, don’t hate because I’m an evolved being and princess to boot! You better recognize.”

“Wren, you’re supposed to be the sweet one. Who corrupted you?” He put the hand with the rest of the cinnamon roll up to his chest and feigned hurt. “Who sullied the pure heart of the Princess who bakes?”

“That would be the hellion over there who has corrupted our sweet one.” Hildy pointed to Quinn with a hearty laugh.

Quinn threw up a middle finger and Hildy matched it with a nightmarish black taloned one of her own.

“Mine is sharper,” the warrior goddess, Hildy, said.

“And this is why y’all can’t have company,” Miss Connie said, shaking her head.

All three of the mirror lookalikes laughed, gave a roll their eyes, and watched the jabfest in progress.

After a moment, Lucien’s voice pierced the laughter. “Enough. The Triplets don’t have all day. They’re here doing us a favor. Respect their time, folks.” To them, he said, “After this show of why we can’t have nice things or visits as Miss Connie aptly put it, I might amend the rules for entry to the Clan to class it up a bit. We could stand to have some prime examples for good manners and socially pleasant interactions.”

Zia was happy to see the man did have a light-hearted side to him.

The one who’d first spoken smiled at him full of adoration.

“Thank you, but we’ll allow the Goddess to have her perfect work.”

Zia burned to know if any of them were destined to mate with any of the other members of the Clan. These women were perfect and seemed to fit in.

The sister in the Neil deGrasse Tyson top said, “We’re grateful for the friend and nigh sibling status, Lucien.”

Quinn laughed. “Y’all stop it. Every time you fawn over him like that, it takes me days to mold him back to manageable.”

“Don’t hate the greatness of my mighty Dragon prowess, overwhelm, and awe, my lovely Quinn.”

“Pa-LEASE,” Quinn said. “Keep on, and I’ll take the rest of your platinum figurines. Yes, the ones from that set of Dungeons & Dragons figures you adore in a shattering defeat.”

“Mate, that’s mean. I know you must be doing something outside of the norm to level up so fast.”

“No, that’s called skill and fair play. Can I help it if my strategy calling whips the shit out of your perfect ass, Mr. Grumble Butt?”

Lucien’s grumble was loud enough for everyone to respect the power behind it.

“To the others, she said, “My mate has many interesting strategy game hobbies. Who knew? Oh, that would be the Goddess who is perfect in her blessed matings. Isn’t that right, honey?”

Lucien continued to grumble but gave a quick nod that told his true admiration of his mate.

“Exactly,” Quinn continued. “He has original games I’ve never seen and love learning. But you know what’s even better?” she asked, in a rhetorical question and didn’t seem to want to wait for anyone to speak.

Wren did anyway. “What’s that, Quinny?”

Zia found herself wanting to laugh at their theatrics.

Quinn’s posture transformed as she sat up in her chair. With a stiff straight back, fist over her heart, and a looked to an imaginary horizon, she spoke with the energy of a rallying battle cry. “To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.”

“Dammit to hell! Conan—for real, Quinn? I give up. You’ve created a little terror, Lucien.”

Lucien hunched his shoulders in obvious acceptance. “But she’s everything to me. How can I deny my heart anything?”

“By keeping humanity safe, that’s how.” Hildy took a huge breath and tried again. “Lucien, dude, this right here,” she pointed at a flexing Quinn, “is why I keep telling you she doesn’t need a whip.” Hildy gave Lucien a look of pity mixed with a bit of judgment. “I blame you for this. Did you have to let her watch Conan the Barbarian on repeat?”

“Can I help it if Conan is my spirit animal? Plus, his body reminds me of Lucien and I get all hot for my mate.” Quinn threw Lucien a lusty kiss and let out a war cry. “Behold the strategy boss!” Quinn gave the room a moment to appreciate her magnificence. She danced and made a circle rotation of her body in a funny shimmy as Wren clapped and cheered.

“Yasss, sis, yasss!” Wren clapped with a hearty gusto. “Work the middle, work it, boo!”

Hildy stared at the two of them. “So much about y’all Sibyls is twisted, off, and just wrong.” Hildy looked over to Zia with new appreciation. “The struggle is legendary. Come on, girl, please help me hold up the light with some more sanity from the Sirens?”

Zia’s heart did a flip of joy. “Gonna do my best.” That was all she was willing to say to the other woman. Zia wouldn’t push it with this one. Hildy still had that streak in her that would flip on you in a New York second.

“This is why it’s always an exciting treat when we come to the Lair,” the Take Me to Your Leader shirt said. “We never know who we’ll meet, or what cool new things we’ll learn.” She gave Quinn a ‘girl I see you wink.’ Returning to her professional demeanor, the one Zia remembered as Mina directed her attention to Zia. “As for you, your gift is rare, beautiful, and dangerous if the wrong people were to manage to get to you.”

Zia felt Greg’s hand that looped around her waist pull her in.

“How about we grab some breakfast before unpacking all this? Zia just woke from a long night. You understand, right?” Greg asked of the Triplets.

They all nodded in unison.

“Again, I know we can come on strong when we meet someone this exciting. Oh, yeah, I’m Tina.”

“Why are y’all still over there gabbing?” Zia heard Quinn say. “Come over here and sit so we can all eat. I didn’t want to start eating until everyone who’s awake was here. Ajax, I promise to the Goddess if you take that cinnamon roll, you’ll pull back a nub. Wait until we’re all settled.”

He humphed and complained. “But Wren made these. You all take too long. I’m over here withering from starvation.” He swiped the roll, chomped down and took a huge bite. Garbled and crumb invaded, Ajax said, “Consider this payment for lugging all this food up here.”

Hildy ran a loving hand along his back and kissed him on the cheek. She whispered things in his ear that put a smile on the man’s face.

The group moved to the table where Greg ushered Zia to where they’d sat the time before. Only this time, there was a chair like the rest that seemed to welcome Zia to the table.

The group ate and continued to make funny small talk until Zia finished her second plate of food.

Miss Connie clapped her hands and made an announcement. “Now that everyone is full,” she eyeballed Ajax and Matt, “how about we get started on helping Zia? Together we need to figure out why she's got all this attention. Oh, and what that dream-mare was about, too.” To the Triplets, she asked,” are you all ready?”

“Yes, ma’am,” they said in unison.