“What?" cried Maggie.

“Oh, don't act so surprised. You are what you are. I'm not so overt about openly detecting those of us who are different as others are apt to be; I'm simply curious what would draw you two to the fine city of Dole."

“Nothing. Well, something did but we aren't sure what."

“I see. I think maybe I do. That gentleman you saw is my brother. We can normally recognize those who have the gift, even when they themselves don't. Somehow I think you both are aware of your natures, even if you don't seem to have any sense in how to use it to your advantage. If you sensed something I would suggest that he was in an agitated emotional state. Which, by the way he is."

“Why?"

“Because he had to come back home. He does his best to stay away from here."

“Why?"

“I'm not sure you need to know that or that I'm the person to explain it. The real question is how you managed to find this place. Yes," he said, holding up his hand to forestall their possible answer, “you followed my brother here. But why?"

“Because we've been trying to expand our horizons?"

The man eyed Edward suspiciously.

“You really have no idea what's going to happen here, do you?"

“Not really. We're traveling south to Rome and just sort of went with the flow."

“Rome? Nice place. If you're heading to there, and you're from America, then why not just take a jet to Italy and be done with it?"

Maggie shrugged. “We've taken that route before. The end result wasn't so good."

“Not incidental tourists then. You have a purpose."

“Yes we do."

“Very curious. Fate rarely plays idle tricks. She is more often opportunistic in her approach."

“She? Fate?"

“Fortuna. The Lady Fate. You have not heard of her?"

“Isn't she something from ancient Rome?"

“Yes, which I believe is where you are headed."

“That would be modern Rome."

“Same difference. You will find that time diminishes much, but there are those things that persist in the face of it."

“Such as?"

“Legends. Myths. Religion. We believe in so many things without ever fully understanding their meaning."

“And this means what to us?"

“Perhaps nothing. Your country is young and impertinent. You have few legends because for most of your folk, your history is so short as to be still ingrained upon you memory. That doesn't mean you actually know the facts behind everything that has transpired, but you do have enough evidence to support a reasonable understanding of it."

“You've lost me."

“I suppose I did. The Lady Fate is said by some to be a real person, unlike her persona depicted within the structure of Roman society and religion.  Some say she exists to this day, guiding those whom she sees as worthy of receiving her help."

“And you think she lives in Rome?"

“Why are you heading there?"

“Well…"

“Well?"

“Yes. We are looking for someone who very well could be this person that you speak of."

“You seek she who cannot be found?"

“So they say."

“They?"

“Well, everyone we have met."

“Hmmm. So you're presence here isn't necessary by chance as I suspected. The lady works in strange ways. Thus, you are welcome here until such time as you depart. But understand that having an outsider here at this time is very unusual."

“I'll take your word on it. What is here and now precisely?"

“There will time enough for that later. For the moment I would suggest you order food and more drinks and I will join you later."

“What do you recommend?"

“This is France! Everything is good!"

A young lady came to take their orders, withdrawing into the kitchen after they had made their selection. That left them alone in the middle of a fairly crowded eatery. They looked around, trying to make some sense of what the man had meant. The place was lively enough, but there wasn't anyone who stood out in the crowd. Even the man they had followed, though recognizable, didn't seem to emanate any vibes that they could sense.

Edward commented openly. “Reynard and his group told me to pick out members of The Kind by things other than sight. I was willing to ignore that feeling on the way here, but there was an irresistible draw in it. I suppose if he had a strong emotional upset that might give him the power to broadcast his emotions."

“That would dangerous wouldn't it?"

“Not necessarily. He was driving and most people would hardly notice it. He might have considered it the one place he could let down his guard."

“Maybe. I know we can sense each other, but how does one discern between a normal person and someone with special abilities?"

“A good question. I was told that it would come to me over time."

“Just you?"

“Well no. Sorry. I was speaking more in the first person. It seems to be something you have to get a feel for."

“Like most of life. I wish we came with a user 's manual; it would make this so much easier."

“And less interesting. Oh, don't look at me that way. We both know that learning the hard way is sometimes the best way."

“You mean like us nearly getting killed all the time?"

“Well, that makes for an extreme example, but yes, even that."

“I for one don't like it. I mean, yeah, it's exciting, but there's only so much a person can take."

“And here we are, driven into the lair of even more of our kind, whatever our kind is precisely. “The Kind" seems a little simplified for the things we have seen."

“I suppose it's a way of differentiating between normal people and those who aren't normal."

“That doesn't narrow it down much you know." Edward said that deadpan.

“Ha ha. You know what I mean."

“Sure, but it still opens up a lot of possibilities. The kludde are of The Kind but they aren't technically werewolves."

“And neither am I, if you think on it. My father is something closer to what we think of as vampires, and not the traditional werewolf."

“So there is some leeway in the definition."

“Apparently. Makes you wonder how much variety there is worldwide." 

“Worldwide? I don't think I ever thought of it as being pandemic."

“You make what we are sound like a disease."

“Sorry. That's not what I meant."

“I know. Sometimes I feel like it's one. We both have wondered what it would be like to be normal again."

“We were normal at one time; me longer than you. I guess that overall we are normal, just a little more exceptional than others."

“Yeah, that's a nice way of looking at it."

Their food arrived and they set to eating, sparing looks at the people coming and going. They all looked so average that they couldn't tell if anyone was special or not. But there was the implied indication that some of them were werewolves. It made some sense to Edward.

“Think about it. My family is originally from France, so who knows how many branches there are here, still living in the same country their ancestors grew up in."

“There is that."

They were suddenly aware that they weren't alone. They felt a shiver run up and down their spine. Edward didn't turn, but he knew that someone was behind them. Before either one could turn around, a voice spoke to them in refined French.

“Et que ferons-nous avec deux interlopes?“

They understood it just fine of course, and they whirled in their chairs to end up staring into the face the man that had brought them here.

“You!"

“Yes me. So you two followed me here? That may have been an unfortunate side effect of my agitation. I normally keep myself calm and contained, but I do not like to return home."

“Bad memories?"

“Of home? No my friend. I take it no one has mentioned what is going on here, have they?"

“No. Should we leave?"

“The choice is yours. Are you two a couple?"

“Yes, more or less."

“Here you will find which side of that coin you are on."

“Coin? Side?"

“Yes. If you stay you will find out if it is more, or if it is less."

“I'm not sure I understand."

“I don't suppose you do. That is alright. You will figure it out eventually."

“More enigmas?"

“More? Enigmas are what spur our brains to do bigger and greater things. Never think that a puzzle is a thing to merely engage in as a simple pastime."

Edward laughed ruefully. “I'm a little tired of puzzles if you don't mind."

“Your loss." Changing the subject, he posed another question. “Have you decided where you'll stay, if you happen to be staying?"

“Not really. I'm getting the idea that the town is going to be pretty crowded tonight."

“The town? Heavens no! We all leave for the countryside. We have a specific spot that we meet. Others are already there, securing the perimeter."

“Securing the…what the hell are you guys planning on doing?"

“Oh, nothing much. Just a; what do you Americans call it? Oh yes; a family reunion."

“Sounds harmless enough. Why do you say like it's the end of the world?"

“Come tonight. You'll see. You've never met my family."

“How do we find it?"

He raised his eyebrows. “Trust me, if you're a credit to the blood, you'll find it."

“To the blood? You mean that we'll find or we won't, depending on our abilities?"

“Precisely. Those who cannot find it have no business being there. Those who do will find their way."

He smiled and winked at Edward, made a little bow to the both of them and departed back into the crowd. Edward watched him go, wondering at his quirky mannerisms.

Maggie patted his hand. “Are we going to go?"

“Why not? Someone seems to be throwing challenges down in front of us left and right. Might as well run the gauntlet."

“Oh goodie! I wonder how many of The Kind will be there."

“It's a family reunion. How many could there possibly be?"

As it turned out, more than a few.

Finding the location was both easy and difficult. Easy in that they took the course of least resistance by following the brothers as they walked out of town. Difficult in that it didn't take too long to lose them along the way. One moment they seemed to be just ahead of them a quarter mile or so and the next, poof, they were gone. They quicken their steps until they arrived at the last place they had seen them. It was hard to focus on the spot, but they managed to come to it despite the feeling that they were heading in the wrong direction. There was nothing notable to be found until they discovered two bags containing clothing. How they had seemingly managed to get undressed so quickly was a mystery in itself.

Maggie discovered something else.

From their vantage point, looking back the way they had come, there seemed to be a shimmer in the air. It was both palpable and intangible, but there was definitely something there. Edward walked into it, marveling that they hadn't noticed it when they passed through it the first time. After advancing a few hundred feet he turned to shout to Maggie but found no one there. She had vanished into thin air!

Maggie watched him go, noting how his form shifted and twisted in the affected air. At no point did she lose him, but there were moments when he appeared to be not as she knew him. He was distorted and grotesque, like an image in a funhouse mirror. He turned back and stopped. She waved to him, but he didn't acknowledge it in return. He simply stood there, mouth open, motionless; staring back like she wasn't even there.

Feeling that there was no danger in this phenomenon, she waited to see what he would do. While she waited, she too doffed her clothing, assuming that this family reunion was going to be largely in feral form. IF nothing else, it was proof of what you were, even if everyone here was related. She slipped out of her things readily enough, and all the while Edward stood there as if transfixed by something. She finally headed towards him to get his attention.

Edward was surveying the road and countryside ahead, amazed that Maggie was not where he knew she should be. He narrowed his gaze and focused. This perimeter had to be fairly extensive, and he couldn't for the life of him understand how they managed it. But regardless of that, it was an amazing piece of work. It made him wonder at the variety of abilities he had been seeing. Being a werewolf was a heck of a lot more complicated than he first thought.

All at once Maggie was there, as if walking through a mirror. One second there was no sign of her, and the next she was standing on the road, as plain as day. She saw the look on his face and realized he finally saw her.

“Pretty neat, huh?" she cried.

He walked swiftly towards her.

“It's something, that much is for sure. I'd love to know how it's done."

“Then I guess we'll ask."

“To be sure. So we arrive sans clothing?"

“It looks like it. This family get together must be a serious matter if everyone leaves their clothing behind."

“I can appreciate that, but why in such an odd spot?"

“IF there happens to be a lot of people gathered, and they're all naked, can you imagine the confusion when it comes time to leave and everyone's clothes are mixed together?"

Maggie giggled. “That would be funny."

“Would it?" He started to frown, imagined it in his mind and ended up smiling. “Yeah, it could be pretty funny."

As they walked, now devoid of even the smallest scrap of raiment, the air was filled with odors and sounds that would be more than enough to unnerve the average person. As they approached the source of the commotion, a couple of fierce looking werewolves in feral form jumped out and confronted them, hackles raised and teeth showing.

Edward looked at Maggie, and she at him. She got the quick impression that she should change rather than he. Considering his aptitude for sometimes going overboard, she morphed into her cutest self and stood her ground. The lead wolf sniffed, stretched and changed into his human form. Like the others, he spoke French.

“Qui diable êtes-vous? “

“Who the hell are we? Who the hell are you to block a public road?"

“Sacré blue!"

Edward muffled a laugh.

The leader turned to him with a snort. “Americans! What the hell are the likes of you doing here? There is no place for your kind here, especially now!"

Edward held up a restraining hand. “We are here because it seems we were meant to be here, though why I cannot say. We followed two brothers in from the village."

“I see. I shall not block your access, but be forewarned that what transpires this night has never been witnessed by a non-family member in over a century."

“What happened that time?"

The man growled in a low voice. “We killed him."

“I see. Seems a little harsh."

“Young lady, this is not a game. What goes on here is deadly serious."

“I get that. I still don't think it's probably worth dying over."

One of the other wolves morphed into his human self.

“We do not expect you to understand. Just consider this; you have been warned. This is called l'Assemblée, and it has a real purpose. I don't know what you were told nor by whom, but when you leave…if you leave…you will not be the same person you were when you left."

The leader nodded in agreement. “By the way, what are your names, in case we need to notify the next of kin?"

Edward held back a smile. Danger there might be, but these fellow were experts at preying on a person's fears.

“I'm Edward Peterson and this is my wife Maggie."

“Wife? I see. Then maybe you should simply leave. This place will not be for you."

Maggie was growing a little irritated with the conversation “Why?"

“You'll see if you keep going. I will say no more."

The couple looked at one another, grasped their hands and walked past the three sentinels.  In another three or four hundred yards they made their way onto an open field filled with several hundred werewolves, or lougarou if you will, all in differing stages of change. Some were still standing upright as humans, others in their anthropomorphic forms, and still others clinging to the ground on all fours. As the wind was coming from behind the newcomers, they drew the mass attention of the entire group. Leave it to The Kind to have exceptional sensory perception.

Being stuck for it, they walked directly through the outer ring of werewolves stopping somewhere dead center. It was Edward's display that he had nothing to fear from them. There were a number of low growls and much murmuring from those gathered. One wolf came forward wagging his tail in a very undignified manner. One moment he was on all fours and the next he was standing upright, shaking Edward's hand.

“I see you found it! Congratulations!"

“Uh, yeah." Edward was feeling a little uncomfortable shaking hands with this fellow, who was also as naked as a jay bird. There was something in his demeanor now that struck him as being odd.

“Since you have made it, I guess I'll introduce myself. My name is Pierre. You are standing in the middle of The Assembly."

“So we were warned. What does this assembly do? I'm thinking that the term family reunion is a misnomer."

“No, we're all blood related here, except for you. How she'll deal with you will be interesting, but I doubt she'll be too harsh."

“She? Who's she?"

“Mother."

“Uh, who?"

“You'll just have to meet here is all. You'll never believe me if I try to tell you about her."

About then his brother showed up.

“So, you both made it. That's both extraordinary and problematic. Has my brother been filling your ears with tall tales?"

“Not really. He mentioned someone I guess is your mother?"

“Pierre! Don't let family secrets go so easily!"

“Oh calm down. I said nothing. I have a feeling that she'll tell them plenty."

About then a murmur went through the crowd. Heads could be seen parting as those still on two feet made way for a crisply dressed female. That she was in human form was unmistakable. That everyone both seemed to love and fear here was also evident. She had been intent on bowing to those gathered when her attention was drawn to the two who did not belong.

She said not a word. She walked up to, then around the couple, pacing in a circle for a good five minutes. Her nose twitched from time to time, but in the end, she stopped in front of them with her hands on her hips.

“Who invited you?"

Edward pointed to the brothers. “They did."

She turned. “Did you do this?"

“Yes mother."

“Good boys. You did well."

“Mother?" asked Maggie and Edward simultaneously.

“Your ears work just fine. So do mine. Come, tell me about yourselves. No one has entered this area during The Assembly in a very long time. Unless my children are slipping up on their duties, you are not here by mere chance."

“So we've been told."

“Have you now? Yes, I think there is more about you than meets the eyes. Come, we will sit in the grass and you can tell me all about yourselves."

“Not in private?"

“Why bother? What you tell me, everyone here deserves to know. If you are a danger to us, they have the right to know that they need to protect themselves."

“And if you're a danger to us?"

“But of course we are. You came into the middle of our yearly gathering, unannounced and without giving details of who you are and why you're here. Once you explain yourself, then your worries will be eliminated."

They sat down, and the rest of the group gathered to listen in. With their fine ears and excellent hearing, no one needed to be too close to catch what was being said.

“I'm Edward Peterson and this is my wife Maggie. We were on our way to Rome and got sidetracked here at Dole."

“Sidetracked? One does not simply get sidetracked to a location such as this son. What brought you here?"

“I guess it was following Pierre there. I felt a disturbance…"

She cut him off with a laugh. “In the force?"

“No, that's not what I meant!"

“But it is the truth.  We have special abilities that can be felt by those who share a similar heritage. Sometimes fiction borrows from reality son. Don't think they are mutually exclusive."

“So you're saying that some fiction isn't?"

“Are you really asking me a question? You sound like you already know the answer."

He mumbled out a name. “Stevenson."

“Ah yes. He's a fine one, living as he is in London. Not one of the true elders, but aged in his own right. His story is still in print to this day you know."

“Lived in London…"

“He has moved?"

“Not precisely." Edward loathed trying to explain what had happened.

“He has died then?"

“Yes."

“Too bad. He wasn't a bad sort, when he wasn't in one of his moods. His manners at the table were generally excellent."

“Yes, it was too bad."

“You can tell me all about that later. There is only so much time and I refuse to waste it on social niceties. So tell me son; what is your lineage? There are no known members of The Kind that have such a ridiculous name as Peterson. What is your country of origin?"

“We're from the United States."

“I beg a pardon from you. I meant what was the country of origin for your ancestors? You know, the ones who begot you?"

“They were from here in France."

“Is that so? And what name did they use?"

“Marquette."

There was a murmur that ran through the crowd. The one known only as “mother" drew in a breath.

“Is that so? What if I call you a liar?"

“Then you have called me something that I'm not. I only recently found out that I come from stock that isn't just normal human."

“Recently? You are old enough to have gone through the change several decades ago."

“Yes, so it would seem. When I was a kid I was hit while riding a bicycle. I had a silver dime in my pants pocket that got shoved into a wound. It was never extracted until just not very long ago."

More murmurs went through the crowd.

“Hmmm. And what about you young lady?"

“I have royal blood on my mother's side, and something a bit dark on my father's side."

“French?"

“No."

“Then you will be of no consequence to me."

“Excuse me?"

“Yes dear, you are excused. You may leave if wish."

“The hell I will! What does this all have to do with my husband?!"

“Youngsters! They think they know it all. It is only with age that real wisdom comes to a person."

Edward shrugged. “If I've been learning anything over the course of my present life, it's that I don't know a damn thing."

“Well, well. I take it that you've been having a few life lessons along your way here."

“We weren't heading for this place. I mentioned that already. We were heading to Rome."

“To Rome? What business do you have in Rome? There is a danger lurking there that is best avoided by the likes of us."

“Cardinal Medici?"

The one known as mother made as if to plug her ears. “Do you speak of him so freely?"

“Sure. Why not? He's dead."

The group broke into pandemonium. “What? How? When? Where?" shouted a chorus of voices, male and female alike.

“Hush!" cried the matriarch. “Son, tell me how you know this."

“Because we killed him."

“We?"

“Me, Maggie, Leo, Corrine, and Emile. Well, I hardly counted in the battle, but everyone else did their part I guess."

“Leo? Corrine? Emile? Who are they?"

Edward worked up the courage to tell the story about their finding of the old master. “Leo is Leonardo da Vinci. Corrine and Emile are twins we encountered the first time we were driving through France."

“Strange."

“It's the truth. We really did find and revive the great da Vinci."

“Who cares about him? I am curious to know why there are suddenly members of The Kind showing up out of the clear blue sky?"

“Meaning what?"

“Meaning that I keep track of everyone who falls under the title of The Kind within the borders of this country and in many places across the continent. I am aware of your line boy; in fact I know it all too well. But these other two, now their existence is most puzzling."

“I can bring them back with me if you like."

“You know where they presently are?"

“Of course. They are at the Vatican with Leo."

“You have placed members of The Kind right under the nose of the pope?"

“Why not? It's where the cardinal was, isn't it?"

“True. So you have them hiding in plain sight?"

“No. The pope knows about them."

“What?!"

 “We talked to the pope and let him see what we were. He seems to understand that were just a little different from everyone else."

“Son, you are either a madman or a lucky fool. The fact you we're having this discussion tilts the odds in favor of the latter. The church has been after us for centuries."

“Maybe it was that way a long time ago. Maybe you live too much in the past."

She snapped back at him with a fierce resolve. “Son, once you have children to worry about, then maybe you'll see that taking extra care isn't all bad."

“I am expecting children in the future."

Her attention moved to Maggie. “You don't look old enough to bear children."

Maggie shifted her form to look more her true age. There were a few murmurs from those gathered.

“A nice trick. Not everyone can do that. Shift from wolf to human, and to those forms in between yes, but to look younger or older; that is not in everyone's blood. What lines are you from?"

“My great grandfather was the last tsar of Russia, and my father is from the line of Leeds."

The woman raised her eyebrows. “I see. An unusual matchup to be sure. I assume that you speak of the winged ones of the eastern coast of the Americas when you refer to your father?"

“How do you know of them?"

“Child, I make it my business to know as much as is possible. You mother's line was once quality stock. Too bad what happened after the revolution. I'm surprised to learn that any survived. It was rumored to be so, but word had it was merely the boy."

“That would be my Uncle Alexei."

“So others survived. Very interesting. It is not often that I lose sight of a line, even those from so far away. Unless you're lying to me."

Maggie was about to get upset when it dawned on her the lady was baiting her. The mere fact that she knew her family lines was enough to give her words authority.

“I have no reason to lie. I am who I say I am."

“Of course you are dear. Can you fly?"

“Once."

“Once? Meaning you have lost the ability, or that you've only flown once."

“I flew once. It wasn't pretty."

“I see. We will have to meet up again in the future. It sounds like you have some wonderful tales to tell. But the night grows old as we sit here rambling on. There is much to be done and less time to do it in."

“And what is going to happen? No one has told us much in the way of details," asked Edward.

“As is proper. But since you are family…"

“Family? What? I've never met you before in my life!"

“I did not know that was a qualification for being related."

“It's not. And we are in France. But my family left quite a long time ago."

“That means nothing to the likes of us. How old do you think I am boy?"

“Uh, from your appearance, I'd say in your thirties."

She laughed long and loud. “Because you look your real age you think others must be as they appear. Your wife here looks like a child, which she really is, and yet she is older than her features show. I am well over five hundred years old."

Edward gulped. “So when they call you mother…?"

“They are calling me that because that is what I am to them."

The couple looked at the faces showing in the moonlight. They ranged from the very old to the relatively young. They were expected to believe that every one of them was the offspring of this woman, who as of yet had not identified herself. If she still looked this good after five hundred years, how long would she live? The concept was mind boggling.

“You're not the Lady Lily are you?" Edward asked with just a touch of awe in his voice.

There was tittering and low laughter from the crowd.

“No son, not even close. She is far above me, much like I am to you. She is far older, far wiser and much more reclusive than I make myself."

“Then might I ask who you are?"

“You might. That doesn't mean you'll like the answer."

“Then I ask it."

“My name is Marie Garnier. I have kept that name for a very long time. My husband was Giles Garnier. Locally he is somewhat of a legend, though only barely in these modern times. He was put to death for being a werewolf."

“Nice," said Maggie in a sarcastic tone.

“Child, we have been hounded and hunted for years, but not without cause or reason. When you do something to attract notice, that attention will usually prove to have dire consequences. My husband had the potential for greatness within him, needing only to have it brought forward. This I did after we were married. It was then that I learned that the transformation can come too late in a person's life."

“It didn't work?"

“It did and it didn't. He went a little crazy, killing children and turning into a savage person, though not so much into a beast."

“Kids? Why?"

“Have you killed before child?"

“Yes," she declared stoically.

“And you young man?"

“Yes."

“Killing is easy. Killing for the right reasons is harder. But sometimes holding it in is the hardest thing to do."

“Ok. So what does that mean?" was Edward's cautious question.

“Son, you came here tonight because of seeming happenstance. I do not believe that your presence here is merely fateful chance."

“You said I was family."

“Yes I did. You are a descendant of the great Beast of Gevaudan."

“How did you know?"

“Your name. The beast was well known, better known than my poor husband. The legend of the beast lives on for she created more fear than a poor, uneducated hermit could ever have generated."

“I still don't get it."

“I am the Beast, or atleast, I was once the Beast. That was two hundred years after I was married to Giles; two hundred years of raising the children I managed to become impregnated with before his untimely death."

“But that would make you my…"

“Ancestor. Yes son. That works out for all of those gathered here under the stars. They are my children."

“But you're not my mother!"

“True. For you my presence goes back a few more generations. There are lines that I have, regretfully, lost track of. It is good to see at least one of them still running strong despite the intermixing of lesser blood."

“Lesser blood?" He was mildly indignant with her words.

“I am a proponent of selective breeding and I am not the only one. As humans grow in number, their blood mixes and dilutes. Those who have the gift thus deny their children the chance to be great."

“So your prefer eugenics?"

“Congratulations boy! Not everyone knows that term. Some think of it as being a terrible concept, and yet it's used every day for cattle, horses, dogs, cats and other domestic animals. No one bats an eye in those cases. But apply it to the likes of us and suddenly the world is being turned upside down and inside out."

Maggie was absorbing the conversation. She wasn't against this lady's proposal, but it seemed a bit cold.

“There is something to be said for your idea, but then it takes out the element of love in a relationship."

“Relationship? Child I don't care what my children do the rest of the year. This has nothing to do with emotions. It has everything to do with survival."

“I don't see what you mean."

“I don't suppose you do. But as I said before, the night is going to be gone and there is much to do. A discussion will have to wait until another time."

Edward stood a little taller. “So what's this all about then?"

“Breeding son. I will only allow the strongest of my progeny to carry on the legacy."

“Breeding with whom? And between whom?"

She smiled. “The strongest females will mate with the strongest males. It only makes sense. The weaker are not shunned, but their blood will not be carried through to the future."

“And what of me?"

She smiled. “Yes, what of you? You shall enter into the fray, and we will see if time has dulled the line to the point of uselessness."

“And if I don't want to?"

“You will have only  two choices son. You will either forfeit and die, or you will fight and find your place here. Therefore, the only way you will leave here alive is if you do your best. Anything less will be punishable by death."

“What if I just leave?"

“You may try. I think however that you will stay. You are young and you have much to prove. Even if you have joined with one as diversely peculiar as this girl, I believe that you will put up a good fight. If you have been through the mating even once, then you know how strong the pull is. If you win and can still fight the urge to breed, I may see to letting you go. But it would be the first time ever that I will have allowed it, and I don't think you have that kind of willpower."

“Then I guess we'll just have to see.Shall we settle this once and for all."

The smile on her face was wicked. “Indeed we shall."