"What do you mean we have kindred souls?" Leah asked, anger lacing her voice.

"It is as it sounds Leah. Apparently we have soul mates and I'm no exception." Leah was angry because shortly after we explained what had happened with Cynthia here, we had tried to tell them about the kindred soul connection.

"It's not that I hate being with Audrey, but you're trying to telling me I no longer have a choice?" Leah has always been a free spirit, I kinda get why she's angry but also I'm wondering why she isn't happy that there will be someone that loves her forever no matter what. It's a little confusing.

"Well I for one am glad." This time is was Audrey's turn to speak. "This means I'll never have to give you up to anyone else."

Leah's eyes softened at this statement as she realized what a bitch she was currently being towards her girlfriend, their hands intertwining for emotion support.

"I know, I never want to give you up either." Leah said softly to Audrey while I was beginning to wonder if I should be listening to this conversation. "It's just that I hate being forced into things."

Audrey laughed at this, she didn't chuckled but she laughed loudly from the pit of her stomach. She didn't stop either, we had to wait for the laughing fits to die down before anyone could talk to her again.

"What?" Leah asked her, looking upset.

"Sorry," Audrey replied between trying to breath again. "I just can't believe I ever thought you were an actual drone."

We all stopped and laughed at this, the strong willed Leah bending to someone else's will was a funny thought after all.

"I think it's romantic." Rhys said as he hugged his wife from behind. "I'm not even an Ethereal child and I know who my kindred soul has always been." His words causing my sister to go a bright red.

"Gabe is SO your kindred soul." Leah said to me, desperate to get back at me a little.

"I highly doubt that." I responded. "There is no romantic attachment there, I just want to help and protect her as her friend. That's all, I swear."

"Love comes in many forms and isn't always sexual." Jamie stated like some form of wise man.

"Plus, Gabe's still sleeping in your bed like she did last night as well." Audrey interjected.

I knew at this point that I wasn't going to win this argument so I decided to change the subject in a not to discrete way.

"So as I was saying, if Alex gives any of you a hard time or you see him giving Gabe a hard time then let me know and I get to start removing his limbs before sending him home in a shipping crate."

As a group we were still shocked that Alex's own mother had suggested such a thing, but we were also grateful that it made it so much easier to control the asshole.

"I think that's everything." I said to everyone around the table that consisted of the entire household, even Mia was here. Except of course Gabe who was still sleeping after I bit her. I did explain to everyone what happened but it didn't work in my favor as later on when we started talking kindred souls they used it against me.

"Not quite." Rose said in a small voice. Even through all the explanations of the horrors and what went on with Cynthia, Rose had a far away look in her eyes. Like she was debating whether or not to ask this question that had been bothering her.

I looked at my sister, giving her my full attention and letting her know that she had the floor.

"Rhys and I have been talking about it a lot and we want you to consider making us your Ethereal children." I was about to protest when Rose raised her hand indicating that she wasn't finished yet.

"I know that you don't want the danger for us, but we're already a part of this family. It just scares us that we're going to grow old and die when we could be spending our time as a family instead. I'm not asking you to do it right away. But please think about it."

She was right, this was going to take a lot of thought. I never even considered that someone would willing choose to become attached to the four of us for the rest of what could be our very long lives.

"You do know all the risks right?" I asked. "Like your life is attached to mine and you die if I do." Both Rhys and Rose nodded so I continued. "Also in a way it's like taking away your freedom, you'll be stuck with us forever."

Rose laughed at this. "Either way I'm stuck with you forever dear sister." She said to me. "I couldn't leave any of you no matter how hard I tried. You're all so lovable."

"Ok, give me some time to think about it and while I do, can you also think over what you've asked of me very carefully. It's the biggest commitment you'll ever make." I said to them as the pair nodded.

"Can I please talk to my children alone?" I asked the group as Rose, Rhys and Mia left the lounge room that we were all sitting in.

"Well, what do you guys think?" Asking my children may seem silly if I was a Royal, but we're talking about adding family members here. Everyone had to be ok with it.

"You know the answer is a easy yes from me." Leah replied. "I've always loved both your sister and Rhys ever since I met them."

Audrey took a little more time to answer "Rose is like a mother to all of us even without being part of the Ethereal family and Rhys is like having an awesome guy friend that doesn't hit on you. So that also a yes from me."

Two down, one to go before I needed to start thinking about it seriously.

"It's a big decision." Jamie began "But honestly I'm surprised you haven't changed them yet. All throughout history, close family members became children of the Ethereals, in some cases some were even converted from Royal vampires to Ethereal children."

"I can do that?" I asked in shock

"You sure can, which is why you need to be VERY careful around Royals. If they just drink your blood then it's fine, but if it gets directly into their own blood stream through an injection or open wound then it's a very different story." Jamie informed me. "We would end up with an unwanted family member that we can't get rid of."

"That's good to know before I start trying to become buddies with the Royals to find out where they all are." I stated more to myself than anyone else.

"Also, give it some time to make sure it really is what everyone wants, then give your sister and Rhys what they want. Just be prepared that's she's going to end up looking the same age as you do."Jamie finished advising.

Ok, maybe there was something to the wise old man vibe that he had. He was certainly very knowledgeable.

I heard Rose call "Dinners ready." From the dining room and stomach took control of my legs and walked towards the delicious smells.

There were two types of meat waiting to be carved, peas in gravy, corn on the cob waiting to be lathered in butter and mashed potatoes all sitting in their respective dishes. Meals here were prepared almost buffet style so you could have as much or as little as you liked. Leftovers generally became lunch the next day.

"Don't be rude and go get Gabe." Rose scolded me as I sat down.

I groaned at having to drag myself away from heaven and it's scent but I trudged my way upstairs and quietly opened the door of my room.

Gabe was still asleep snuggled into my pillow, but it was a fitful sleep. She must be having a bad dream.

I walk over to her and gently put my hand on her shoulder to wake her up. I softly called her name a couple of times then Gabe started to regain consciousness and blinked the sleep from her eyes.

"Good morning, or should I say good evening sleepyhead." I greeted her.

"Good evening, what smells like heaven." She asked after inhaling deeply.

I chuckled, Gabe was becoming as bad as me with food now that she was actually eating regularly and putting on a little weight. Don't get me wrong, she was still way too skinny, but at least she didn't look almost anorexic anymore.

I threw a clean shirt to her and some sweat pants as she quickly changed and we went down stairs to devour dinner. I don't know why Rose still insisted on cooking for the entire household but my god she was good at it.

After everyone had stuffed themselves full then had dessert of jelly and ice cream on top of that we all went our separate ways. It was Saturday night after all. Mia was going to a party somewhere and Leah and Audrey were heading for a date night at the movies.

I just went back to my room to watch some TV while I thought about Rhys and Roses request seriously.

I didn't even notice that Gabe had followed me back until we got in my room, after she'd visited hers shortly to get clothes of course. It was like it was the most natural thing in the world. She went to the bathroom without a word and showered before getting changed into her pajamas.

The two of us spent the rest of the night sitting on my bed watching stand up comedy. We didn't leave my room except to make popcorn and it was one of the best nights I'd had in awhile.

In the end we both fell asleep with the TV still on, popcorn still in the bed and us unconsciously fighting for space on the same pillow as the other one was discarded on the floor somewhere during the course of the evening.