Everyone just pounced on the four who had been to the Council. "So?" Tae asked. "Well, for one, I think we should pulling out the contacts of the people who we think might be on our side for this coup d'état," Porche said, his anger clear. "We can't tell anyone yet," Tan said. "I agree. That could prove fatal to the boys' plans," White said. "True. We can't judge loyalty yet. And honestly I don't think that even our most patient Pai will be able to handle the trauma of talking to so many people at the same time," Win laughed. "As it is, that whole room was rank with lies," Pai said, his nose wrinkling in disgust. "What do you all want to do now?" Vegas asked. "Phi Mate, may I say something?" Rain asked. "Of course little one. What is it?" Phayu asked immediately, his attention completely on his mate. "You should not confront them anymore," Rain said, very seriously. "Then what should we do?" Pete asked. "You should lull them into complacency, make them think that you don't care what happens to them, that you are more interested in being with your mates instead. Then you should attack when they are not looking at you," Rain said.

Everyone looked at him in shock. "Wow! Are you really our son Rain?" Type asked. "No. I am Phi Mate's mate. Not your son anymore," Rain said cheekily. The whole room laughed, including Phayu, but there was something in his eyes when he looked at Rain. His mate was not what his parents thought he was. There was a lot more hidden behind that façade. And he had felt this about his friends' mates too. There was also something fishy about the rogues they had captured. Pai had not sensed their mates lying, but there was something they couldn't quite put their fingers on. "Then how about a date?" Pai asked. "I am sorry?" Fiat asked. "How about we take our mates for a date tomorrow?" Pai asked Fiat and Leo, looking at everyone as well. "Hmm..," Leo said. "Say yes Dad! Say yes!" Sky jumped on Leo, as did the other boys, who looked just as excited. "Please Dad? Papa?" Rain asked, his eyes pleading, as he looked at Tharn and Type.

Finally the young ones' parents folded. "Okay, okay, we allow you to go for a date," Type said, smiling at his son. The four boys jumped around in happiness and then hugged their mates. The older boys smiled. The joy of their Draugs was contagious. "We will leave now. You boys take care, and be safe," Bun said. "We will be fine. And we will pick you up tomorrow morning?" Win asked. The younger boys nodded, and all of them walked towards the door. "Why don't you all go ahead? We will just talk to the mates of our sons," White said. The other older men understood. "C'mon babies, let's go," Charn said, ushering the boys out. "We know what you want to say. And we will take care not to touch them," Dean said. "That's not what we wanted to say at all," Sean said. The four younger vampires looked at them in surprise.

"We are mates ourselves and we understand the bonds we have with our own," Tae said. "Moreover, we know our sons. They may be young, but they are also part of a couple and they will feel the pull as much as you. So we can't stop you all," Leo said. "We just ask you to be careful. And be careful with marking them as well," Type said. "The four of you have been extremely sensitive to our needs and that of our sons. Whereas, we did not consider how difficult it would be for you to have them in close proximity and not be able to claim them. So you have our permissions and our blessings," Tharn said. "We assure you. Our mates mean the world to us. We will do nothing to hurt them," Pai said. "We know, which is why we are being frank with you," Min said. "Be rest assured Khun," Phayu said, and all the four boys waiied to the elders as everyone left. "Okay, so now what?" Dean asked. "Before we attack the Council, we need to find out more about our mates. They are hiding more than we see on the surface," Phayu said thoughtfully. "I agree. Ai'Pai, that rogue thing. Did you feel anything wrong in what they said? Were they lying?" Win asked. "It didn't seem like they were lying. But there was something..," Pai trailed off. The four of them looked at each other.

"We will need to tell them everything," Sky said, as the four boys walked in the gardens, a protective cloak around them, so that their voices could not be heard outside. To the world, it would seem like four boys walking, talking and laughing. But their magic was powerful enough to hide their own powers, which were now becoming even stronger, thanks to their mates. "They doubt us already," Pharm said. "Yeah. And we know P'Pai can feel lies," Team said. "You are not saying anything Rain," Sky asked, looking at him. "Sometimes, we do things, not for our protection, but of those we love," Rain said. "So far, we kept silent because somewhere, we knew that the knowledge of our powers could harm us, and in connection, our families. Now that includes our mates. How do we let them get hurt?" he asked. The others also looked concerned. "I understand your concern Rain. But don't you think it will be worse if they get to know some other way?" Team asked.

"We are their mates, and they are ours. If they know everything about us, they can protect us better, and help us protect our families," Pharm said. Rain nodded. "I know and I trust them. They have been nothing but supportive, and I admire their strength. Okay, let's tell them," he acquiesced. "Tomorrow. Let's talk to them tomorrow then," Sky said. All the boys agreed. "Let's go back. They will be waiting for dinner. Uncle Pete is cooking today and I am hungry," Team said. "But one thing," Rain said. "What?" Sky asked. "We will enjoy our date first, then we will tell them. It's our first ever date. And I don't want to ruin it by spilling secrets right off the bat," Rain said. "I agree with Rain. We enjoy our date, and then we talk," Team said. "And we spend the night with them," Rain said. "Ai'Rain!" Pharm said, blushing to the roots of his hair. "What? Don't you want it too?" Rain asked, cocking a brow. The other three boys nodded, all blushing and nodding.

"Hello little one," Phayu said, as soon as he saw Rain. "Phi Mate!" Rain bounced down the stairs right into Phayu's waiting arms as Tharn and Type watched in amusement. "So Phayu, where are you taking our son?" Tharn asked. "Phi Mate, don't tell them," Rain pouted. "Why not little one?" Phayu asked, amused. "Because they will follow me and haunt us," Rain crossed his hands in front of his chest and huffed out his breath. Type laughed. "You see what we have to put up with?" he asked. Phayu laughed, as he gathered Rain close to him. "I can see that my little one is quite naughty," he said, looking down at Rain. "I am not Phi Mate. Pa always says that about me, but I am not," Rain looked up at Phayu with the most innocent doe-eyes. Phayu shook his head, smiling. "Okay Phi Mate, let's go. Otherwise we will never get to go for our date," Rain whined.

"Rain, lu," Type said in his most long-suffering tone. "Don't worry Khun. He will be safe with me," Phayu said. "Of that, we have no doubt. We are worried if you will be safe with him," Tharn laughed. "Dad!" Rain said, completely red now! Phayu grinned. "I will bring him back today evening," he said. "I doubt that," Type said, under his breath, but Phayu heard him loud and clear. He raised a brow at his mate's parents, and their smirks were pretty clear. Just what was his little one upto?

"So little one, where do you want go for our date?" Phayu asked. Today he would indulge his little baby as much as possible. "We all wanted to go to an amusement park Phi Mate," Rain said, his voice filled with excitement. "Okay, park it is!" Phayu said, smiling. His little one's excitement was so palpable, that he hid his own worry about how open the place could be. He could sense his brothers feeling the same, but none of them could deny their Draugs anything. It was impossible. So they would strategise in their head, the best way to keep their mates safe. It was the first of many days of happiness they would get with their mates, and they were more than eager to make each day memorable.

The four younger vampires were extremely happy to be here. This was their first time. Being as protected as they were, they hardly got a chance to do things that young vampires were usually allowed to do. They knew that they were more safe with their older mates that with a whole army of bodyguards. Phayu knew that his brothers and he could get rid of any threat against their mates. It was not him being arrogant. Phayu had lived long enough to know that pride came before a fall. But he was confident, in his abilities, in the abilities of his brothers. And he knew that the Council might not make a move in such an open place. But they didn't know who the Council was using to procure these rogues. That was the real worry. "Don't worry, we have this handled," Pai's voice came in his head. He turned around to see Dean, Win and Pai with their mates. He nodded imperceptibly, just to let them know that he understood.

They made their way in, the younger boys taking in all the sights and smells, running here and there and dragging their friends along. The older boys were more staid, always conscious of their surroundings and taking care of their mates at the same time. It was almost afternoon as the four couples made their way around, when Rain complained of being hungry. The others also chimed in. "Where do you want to eat little one?" Phayu asked. "There!" he pointed to a satay stand. "And ice cream after!" Sky said, laughing delightedly at Rain's choice. They went immediately, and Pai placed the orders, Win and Dean on the lookout, as Phayu watched the mates. The boys were talking a mile a minute, when suddenly Rain stopped, a faraway look coming into his eyes. It was almost as if he had disassociated from self. Seeing that, the other three also went silent, looking around fearfully.

"What is it darling?" Dean immediately asked Pharm. He looked at Dean, shaking his head, putting a finger on his lips. The four older vampires stared at Rain, intrigued, as they literally saw him associate back with his body. It was strange yet amazing to see. They looked at one another, as Rain turned to look at Phayu. He gasped. Rain's molten brown eyes had been replaced by a strangely flickering gold, and if the gasps of his brothers were proof, some kind of change had taken place even in their mates. "They are coming Phi Mate," Rain said. Even his voice was different. Still sweet, but a deeper timbre to it. "Who is coming?" Win asked, slight fear tinging his words. "Rogues!" Team said. Just one word, and the four older vampires spun around. "Stay behind us!" Dean said. "No," Pharm said, sounding calm and collected.

"Pharm?" Dean sounded shocked at the blatant refusal by his mate, and the others also turned around. They stared in disbelief as the four younger vampires flung their hands outwards and a protective cloak covered the entire area, leaving one side open. "Once they step in, we will close it," Sky said, as they continued to watch the open side. The four older men looked at each other. What had just happened? This was completely unexpected and unbelievable. Why hadn't their mates' parents told them about the power their Draugs could wield? But before they think about it further, around seven rogues entered the shielded area. Immediately the cloak dropped behind them and enclosed everyone in the protective area. The younger men had made sure that no humans were within the cloak, which was extremely smart of them.

"Seven against four! Might as well give up your mates," one of them cackled. "Phi Mate?" Rain called out. "Not now Rain," Phayu said, concentrating on the rogues in front of him. "Please?" Rain's voice was soft inside his head. He was shocked. Without a blood exchange, it should have been impossible for Rain to reach out to him like this. "What?" he reached back. "They have weak points. Aim for the head or the heart. Use electricity," Rain said. Phayu immediately passed on the message to his brothers. "How do you know that?" Pai asked, dumbfounded. "Rain!" Phayu said succinctly. "But he didn't speak lou..," Dean trailed off as the implication set in. Although the men didn't show any outward reaction, their emotions were roiling inside. What else didn't they know about their mates? "But we don't know how to...," This time it was Win who trailed off as they watched in horrified silence as the seven rogues, who were busy concentrating against the more experienced vampires, didn't see the trails of lightning that slowly moved upwards, first holding their legs, and slowly their whole bodies prisoner. They struggled against the bonds, but the four younger vampires were taking no chances.

"You can do what you need to do P'Pai," Sky said. Phayu, Pai, Win and Dean turned around. It was unbelievable to see how calm the four boys were, hardly a wrinkle on their forehead. "Go ahead P'Win. The bolts will not harm you," Team said, smiling peacefully. The older vampires strode to the rogues, separating their hearts from their body and crushing it. The rogues fell dead, and the lightning jumped from their bodies to that of the older vampires, cleaning the blood on their hands and burning the heart and bodies to ash as well. When the older vampires turned around, their mates were looking down. They called their names, softly, so as to not frighten them. The four younger men looked up, eyes drenched with tears!