Nicholae stared at his son not knowing how to start, what to say or think. His eyes went from Niko and back to Rex.
'Niko...' he started.
'What...' he tried again.
'How...' seemed like the better way to begin.
'Why...' also a good question Starter but his mind was drawing blanks. So he breathed and stared of into the distance to collect his thoughts.
Niko looked down at his shoes carefully avoiding Nicholae's eyes.
Rex on the other hand wagged his tail happily.

'You turned Rex into a puppy.' Nicholae wasn't sure how to react. Parenting Niko was always an adventure.

Osei has given his son Rex as a companion and not more than a day later, Niko had already ruined the gift. How would Osei react once he found out that his dog was now a puppy.
'And you made him immortal on top of that.'
Rex was the one who nodded.

'And he can understand me?'
The situation just kept getting worse.

'Niko, look at me.'
And he did, with huge puppy dog eyes filled with tears.
'I'm sorry Papa.' He said, sniffing.

'You went into the potions room without my permission. What would have happened to you if you'd messed with the wrong things?'
Of course Niko had to say something.

'I didn't do it on my own. Azura, the one with the blue hair, she helped me.'
He would have a word with that witch.
'It's not her fault Papa. I lied and told her you thought it was a great idea. I also told her Osei wouldn't mind since he knew about it.'

Osei knew about this?
'Does he?'
Nicholae rubbed his temples when his son shook his head.
He had a building headache and an upset stomach from the constant hunger and throwing up. Earlier he'd felt a little better when he'd been with Valentina. He could still taste her and her blood.
But suddenly she was angry at him. His temples throbbed some more.
He'd deal with that later now he had other pressing matters.

'What else did you do to Rex? So I can tell Osei before you shock him with Rex 2.0.'

'Rex has always been able to understand Osei. Osei can communicate with dogs too.'

What the actual...?
'I just wanted to be able to understand Rex too.' Niko went on.

Nicholae nodded. 'Fine just tell me what else you did to him.'

Niko didn't immediately speak. He played with his fingers and twisted them like he did whenever he got nervous.

'Trust me son at this point there's nothing bad you can say.'

Niko smiled brightly.
'I gave Rex more wolf genes. And then some.'
Niko's smile dimmed when he looked at Rex. But it isn't showing yet. I don't know why. Hopefully,' His smiled brightened once more.
'It'll show as he gets bigger.'

Nicholae spotted Erik, the butler approaching.
'Go to your room.' Nicholae said.

'But Papa.'
He gave Niko an unwavering glare.

'Fine.' Niko stubbornly kicked at the air and stormed off with an equally miffed Rex following on his heels.

'Sonya would like to see you know.'
It was obvious he wasn't going back to his room anytime soon. So he quickly shot a text to Fauna to ward his room so absolutely no one could get him. He'd answer their questions later.
Here in the mansions keys did not work.

Only after he received a reply from Fauna did he study the butler who's appearance was usually impeccable. It was so even now, save a little something on his face.
And Nicholae knew exactly what it was.

'You missed a spot.' He told the butler tapping on his chin.

Nicholae smirked when he caught the usually emotionless butler by surprise.

Soon enough, he was seated before Sonya who was carefully reapplying her lipstick.

'The Shade looks good on Erik too.' Nicholae commented. Sonya only cleared her throat.
Then she focused her attention to him setting her makeup aside.
'How did you find the vampire chit?'

Nicholae rolled his eyes.
'What was her name?'

'Sasha Draga.'
Nicholae said.

'She is a nice girl.'
Sonya rolled her eyes.

'You didn't like her.' She quickly revealed.

'I just said she was a nice girl I didn't say I didn't like her.' Nicholae dryly said.

'If you were interested in her you wouldn't use 'nice'. Nicholae,'
Sonya sat on the desk fixing her gold watch and rings.
'You'll keep seeing her. I've arranged for her to come to the Manor for brunch.'

'I'm busy by then. I have things to take care of here and in the human world today.' He answered truthfully.
'You can excuse my absence and entertain her.'

Sonya smiled thinking she'd caught him in a lie,
'A little birdie told me you'd found what you were looking for.'
Nicholae remembered telling Niko that. His son must have been excited that he told his great, great, great to a power.

'You should get married.' Sonya echoed his parents concerns.

'Why do you sound like Ivan and Ma.'

'Because I want you to indulge them, especially your father.'
Sonya frowned at the door as if it his father stood there.
'He's starting to cause a lot of trouble. And with you doing what he wants he will simmer down.'

Nicholae quirked a brow at her.
'You want me to be a distraction.'

'Think about your son. Doesn't he want a mother?'

'He has a mother.' Nicholae defended.

'Had a mother.' Sonya corrected. 'The day you brought Niko here, you stated you were his only parent, the mother is a non entity. We agreed.'
Now she really sounded like his parents.

'I love the boy, maybe not as much as you, but in order for you to be recognized as a Tchkovsky worthy of the name, you should marry into a family of noble blood. And provide a pure blooded heir. Otherwise your own family will hold Niko over your head for the rest of your life. And I won't always be here.'

She caressed Nicholae's face and smoothened the scowl on his face.
'You know I speak the truth. And while we are speaking about truths, there another reason why I called you here.' She paused pointing an accusing hand at him.

'I don't like that you've been keeping secrets from me Nicole.'
Nicholae looked at Erik.
'And I don't like how you've got Erik keeping secrets from me either.'
Nicholae knew the stoic butler will break at some point. It was only a matter of when, but he'd give him props for holding out this long.
So Nicholae sent him a grateful look.

Sonya stood up and pushed Erik into the seat she'd just vacated.
'I can't stand it when you stand there like a robot.'

Nicholae spared Erik one more look.
'What secret Sonya?'

'Oh don't play dumb Nicholae. I've noticed how Fauna and company leave the mansion. And don't forget about Niko's performance.'

Nicholae looked away.

'It'll be much better if you keep me in the loop about these things.'

Nicholae realized she was right. She was his only ally in House Tchkovsky although sometimes he had to wonder.
And he didn't have to tell her the whole truth. Just parts of it.

'The girls have been helping the wolves with warding.'

'And Niko?'
Sonya raised a brow and crossed her arms across her chest.

Nicholae braced himself for her reaction.
'Niko has been training with the wolves.'

'By training you mean?' She wanted clarification but from her sour expression she clearly understood.

'I mean primal combat. No guns, no swords...'

Sonya lifted a silencing hand.
'I know what that means. You're going too far this time Nicole.'

Nicholae respectfully disagreed to that statement.

'I don't want my son to rely on others to protect him. This world is too dangerous to rely on other people. And like you insinuated, this family will not always have his back.'

'That's why we have the treaty.'
Here she went again with this treaty thing.

'But there's someone out there who could care less who's openly attacked Osei and myself. You heard his story.'

Sonya pressed her lips in a thin line.
'We can improve his training here.' She offered.
'If you continue sending him there for training, our allies will question our proficiency.'

Erik cleared his throat.
'If I may step out of my bounds and say something.' 
All eyes were on Erik now.
'It could easily be excused as a way to strengthen the alliance.'
Nicholae grinned at Sonya pointing at Erik and nodding.
'What he said.'

Sonya paused and thought about it for sometime.

'You have to be careful.' She warned him.

'We will be.' Nicholae stood up.
'Now if I may request my leave.' He bowed slightly awaiting Sonya's grant.

'I expect you suited at the brunch. Get rid of those tunics you're so fond of. She'll be here in two hours.'

Nicholae groaned once he closed the door behind him. He absolutely hated his life in that second.
How was he going to explain this to Valentina?
Maybe he wouldn't have to.
Nicholae Met Fauna in the potions and brewery room and gave her Valentina's blood.

'The room has been warded.' She gave him the object which would break the ward once he got to the door.

'You're the best Fauna.' He smiled at her and patted her shoulder.
'Wrap this up in an hour or two, I need you to watch Valentina for me. I'll tell you all about it later.'

He made one last stop before returning to his room.