"Charn and Porche will go with them," Vegas's voice said in Phayu's head. He gave a quiet acknowledgment and just like that, his father was gone. "Khun Charn and Khun Porche will be with you," Phayu said. "The signal came from the first abandoned warehouse that we raided that night," Win said. He had joined Dean immediately after putting the blockers up. "Wow! Look at that!" Pai said sarcastically. "Who are they trying to fool? What else?" Phayu asked. "I am tracing it. It can't be that simple," Win said. The others stood around as he fiddled with his various systems. "If they have cloaked this well, they are hiding something," Pai said. "No shit Sherlock!" Dean said, rolling his eyes. "Phayu, I don't like this. We are stuck between a rock and a hard place. We have to protect our Draugs. At the same time, they are too young for us to keep with us all the time. Now this call from the Council. Something is not sitting right," Win said, looking worried. "We will do everything we can to protect our Draugs Win, have no fear of that. And there is something I have been meaning to ask you," Phayu said thoughtfully. "What?" "I know it may be a breach of their privacy, but can't we put trackers on our Draugs?" Phayu asked. Now it was Win's turn to look contemplative. "We can. And we can ask them for permission," Pai said. "How?" Win asked.

"Give them a gift that they need to carry with them at all times or a piece of jewellery they can wear. We can ensure that the trackers will pass the strictest security checks and lie undetected on them," Pai said. "I think we can do that. A necklace would be the easiest. And we solder it with magic. It heats if anyone except us or the Draugs try to take it off," Phayu said. "But not harm them in any manner," Dean said. "Okay. So let's do that tomorrow itself," Pai said. "Now, the other agenda while we wait for Win to do his magic," Dean said. "Our parents?" Win asked quizzically. "Our parents," Dean confirmed. "I know it has come as a surprise, but it somehow feels right. Look at the speed with which we were able to establish a connection with them," Pai said. "We are all victims of the Council," Phayu said. "True, but today I am glad they did what they did. They really miscalculated," Dean said, grinning. Pai was about to reply when Win said, "I got them!" "Where are they?" Pai asked. "Sai Yok, near the National Park," Win said. "They have property hidden inside a national park?" Phayu asked. "Looks like," Win said.

The next day, Rain sat with his chin on his hands and an unfocussed look on one of the tables with Pharm. It was Sky and Team's turn to get their lunch. They always took turns so that it was never a burden on anyone. "What are you thinking about Rain?" Pharm asked. "What happened?" Sky asked, as they put the lunch plates down. "Do you think we are weak Sky?" Rain asked. "What? No way!" Sky said. "What makes you ask that Rain?" Pharm asked in his gentle way. "I have been getting this feeling since yesterday. Our parents don't let us support our mates. Our mates don't let us support our mates. It feels like we are lacking something," Rain said, his beautiful eyes filling with tears. Team rubbed his hand on Rain's back, trying to soothe him, as he looked at the others. Rain was not wrong. They had all felt it in the discussion that had happened at the home of their Draugs. "It's not because we are weak Rain. You know we are stronger than anyone else. Maybe they think we need some time to grow up. That's all baby," Sky said gently. "I understand if they forbid us from joining any kind of planning. I really do. But they forbade us from feeding our mates. In fact, our mates didn't even bother to fight for us," Rain said, sounding disgruntled. "Actually, he is not wrong," Team said contemplatively.

The four fell into silence. After a while Sky spoke up. "There is no point sitting here and breaking our heads over this. Let's eat first, finish our classes and then see how we feel," he said. "That's correct. Rain, let's do what we are supposed to and then we will go and talk to our parents, okay?" Team said. "And we will call our mates and their parents," Pharm said. "They don't know about our powers now, do they?" he added gently. Rain nodded. "Sometimes it feels strange that we need to hide our powers from our parents," he said. "I know Rain. But even without knowing anything, we were kidnapped, and that can't be a good thing," Team said. "I don't think they thought we will find our Draugs in the process," Sky said. "And our Draugs are not normal vampires either," Pharm said. "You know, from the discussion we had at Phi Mate's house yesterday, I can say one thing for sure. Our mates will definitely be able to handle our powers," Rain said, certainty ringing clear in his voice. "When do we tell them?" Sky asked. "Not now. The time is not right yet," Team said, with absolute conviction.

"What do you think about the fact that our protectors turned out to be our mates' parents?" Pharm asked. "I find this whole thing too shady," Rain said, shaking his head. His friends nodded. Pharm was about to say something else when he clearly heard a voice inside his head. "Don't say anything. We are not alone," Rain said, his eyes glinting. They lapsed into other conversation as some of their friends joined them. There was a restlessness in the four of them as they separated to go towards their faculties, reminding each other to stay safe no matter what. Rain and Sky were in their classroom when they felt real distress from Pharm. They stared at each other in fear, but knew that they had to get to him and Team as soon as possible. Luckily, this class had human students and a human teacher, so it was easy for them to use the thrall to disappear. None would be any the wiser and their friends needed them. "Where to Sky?" Rain hissed. "Second floor bathroom of the Business Administration faculty," he said, as both boys literally flew out and towards the building.

The acrid smell of fear and metallic scent of blood teased their nostrils as soon as they reached outside the door. "Pharm?" Rain called out in his head. "Not safe," the low whisper came from Team. Sky and Rain pushed open the door, appalled at the sight. Pharm stood at the far corner of the bathroom holding the stick end of a mop, and Team lay behind him, breathing shallowly. And between them and their friends stood three rogues, eyes bloodshot, fangs dripping and claws clacking. "Team? Can you hear me babe?" Sky asked, their pathways to each other still locked on tight. "Yes," came the bleary whisper. "You know we can't do this without you," Rain voice tried to soothe his fallen brother, sending a little push of compulsion so that Team could at least sit up. He did so with a bit of a struggle. The rogues were licking their lips, seeing they had four tasty morsels instead of the two originally planned. "Ready?" Sky asked and felt the mental nods of all his friends. They slowly, without creating a ripple in the air flitted to the four corners of the room, power building in them, as ropes of energy slithered through the ground towards the rogues. They were so busy trying to fix their eyes on which boy they would feed off first that by the time they noticed the lightening ropes tighten on them, it was too late. The boys pulled the ropes tighter and the rogues shrieked. Luckily, the pitch was too high for humans to hear, but other vampires would have been debilitated. However, Rain had already metaphorically stuffed their ears with cotton.

The four boys kept up the attack and when the ropes had mummified them, Sky and Pharm broke the connection to hep Team, who was almost drained out. "Team needs blood. He need his mate," Pharm said frantically. "Call one of yours. He will relay the message," Rain said nonchalantly. "They are likely to freak out," Sky said, but did as Rain had said and called Prapai. "P'Pai, this is Sky. Please come to the Business administration faculty as soon as you can with P'Win. Team is hurt, and he needs his mate," Sky said. "We will be there as soon as possible," Pai's voice came clearly. "They are coming," Sky said. "I have a feeling all four will be here," Pharm said. "How are we going to explain these?" he added, kicking one of the three motionless rogues on the bathroom floor. "Part truth, part lie," Rain said. "Meaning?" Sky asked. They knew Team was listening in so that there was no error later. "We say you came over the rogues. They fought with the two of you. Then we came and we tried to fight them off," Rain shrugged. "Then you better remove the bindings," Sky said. Rain did exactly that, knowing that the rogues were definitely out of commission. But he still took the mop and whacked them on the head and a couple of other places. Then he handed another mop to Sky, who immediately understood. "Ew! What are you doing?" Pharm asked. "A... A... Attacking th..em.. Proof," Team whispered.

Just then the door burst open and their Draugs stood there, worry and fear etched into their faces! The four older men rushed to their mates and frantically looked for sign of injuries. "Only Team was hurt Phi Mate. P'Win needs to feed him, just a little bit. We fed recently, so just a little will be enough," Rain said sweetly. Win immediately picked up Team and made him sit comfortably, then gave him his wrist. Usually, feeding a mate was more sexual, but with the others around, as well as the rogues in the vicinity, Win chose to feed him from the wrist. Even then, the others politely turned their head away, knowing that this was very private and intimate. The other three older vampires stood up, going towards the rogues. "Did you seriously beat them off with a mop Rain?" Phayu asked, very surprised. "Both Sky and I," Rain said, pointing towards the mop Sky was holding. We had the element of surprise," Sky said quickly, trying not too sound too defensive. "They didn't have a choice P'Phayu. They were trying to protect us," Pharm said gently, his voice soft, looking at tear filled eyes at his Draugs. "We know that baby," Dean said, holding Pharm close and looking at Phayu. Phayu nodded.

"Well, now Win and I have a wonderful gift to give the Council when they visit today evening," Pai said. "You are visiting the Council P'Pai?" Sky asked, wide-eyed, looking afraid. "We will not be alone my Sky," Pai said, stroking his boy's hair. "And our fathers will be with us," Win said, standing up, arms around his mate. Phayu took the mop away from Rain and lifted him up gently as well. "Are you angry with me Phi Mate?" Rain looked at Phayu with tear laden eyes. "No little one. I would never be angry with you. I am just worried. You almost took unnecessary chances," Phayu said. Rain looked at him guilelessly. "But I was not alone Phi Mate," he said, pouting adorably. Phayu melted. He didn't think he ever could resist his little one. The other three younger boys smirked in their heads, and Rain smirked right back. "C'mon, let's get you all home," Pai said. "We have our car P'Pai," Team said respectfully. "I know that you wish to come with us, but you should stay here and get these rogues out. Our friends use these facilities," Pharm said, looking up at Dean. Dean found himself nodding. "Okay, off you all go then. And go straight home. Let us know when you reach," Win said, gently setting Team down, as Phayu did the same. "We will do that," Sky said, as the four younger boys waiied and left, smirking gleefully in their heads.

On the way home, Sky informed his father of what had happened. So, when they reached, all the families were waiting at the gates of the compound. "Where are your mates?" Type asked. "Taking caring of the rogues Uncle Type. Our friends use those facilities," Pharm said, eyes sheening over with tears. "They said they have to go to the Council today Pa," Sky said, whining and leaning into Fiat for support. "Don't worry. Uncle Charn and Uncle Porche will go with them," Leo said, patting his son's head. They all turned as they heard a car drive up. Phayu was the first to step down and Rain ran to him, as did the others when their mates got down. "Where are the rogues?" Vegas asked, his tone razor sharp. "In the boot. Nong Sky and Nong Rain seemed to have done a number on them," Win said, sounding a tad bit sceptical. "Just by chance P'Win. They were afraid for us, so they just lashed out," Pharm said, his tone utterly convincing. "Of course we believe you Pharm," Dean said, smiling at his mate.