The smoke-filled room was sticky with the smell of Haldir's Cuban cigar and more than a few beers bottles littering the table. "So, tell me about Mr. Lover Boy, Tess." Haldir threw in his stack of money as he stared down the greatest poker player he'd ever met. "He seemed like a nice kid. What's his name?"

Tessa examinedat her hand of cards and twisted her lips to the side as she glanced up over them to the blue-eyed immortal. "Well, if you really must know you damn busy body, his names Rafik Idrissi."

"Idrissi?" Haldir asked as Tessa put down two cards. While Jasper drew two more and gave them to Tessa, Haldir looked over at him. "How in the fuck did this come about?"

Jasper's disapproving eyes told Haldir to hold his tongue. "Those days are over. It's time for a new Order, Haldir. All those ancient rivalries need to come to an end. It's in all our best interest to negotiate in good faith."

Tessa glanced back and forth between the two of them as Teddy leaned over the table and grabbed a handful of pretzels. "What in the hell are you two going on about? Is there something you need to tell me about him?"

Jasper pushed his lips together and shook his head. "It's nothing darlin. The worlds just different now. Our Order allows a lot of things that the more conservative ones do not, like species mixing and allowing human born witches into our coven. The Idrissi's come from a place where that doesn't happen. For a long time, there was some bad blood between us, but that's all over now."

Tessa threw down her cards on the table as she glared at her father. "Oh, I see what last night was all about. Am I some kind of goddamn bargaining chip in your peace treaty? Well you can fucking forget that shit. You assholes can smoke your peace pipe and piss off."

Haldir chuckled as he bit his lip. "That's my girl. You give him hell."

Jasper shook his head. "That's not at all what's happening. Although, the two of you hitting it off the way you did surely can't hurt the process, Tessa."

Teddy elbowed Tessa's arm. "You got to be smarter than that Tessa. That boy played you like a damn fiddle. You can't trust anyone but the people under this roof right now. Remember that."

Haldir stretched out his back then took a sip from his beer bottle. "Leave her alone. She wouldn't be the first person who lost their good sense and let their guard down when they got their bell rung by a properly toe curling kiss."

Jasper chuckled out through his nose then looked at Tessa. "We're having dinner with them tomorrow, baby. It seems Rafik was pretty convinced about you being his mate, and they'd like to work out the particulars of your courtship with him."

Tessa shook her head and cackled sarcastically. "After all that mess you just said, you really think I have any interest at all in seeing him again? Go find yourself another chess piece, Daddy, I'm done with this game."

Jasper drummed his fingers against the table as he trilled his lips in frustration. "Tessa, if he's your mate, this might be a blessing in disguise. The thing that brings our world's back together and ends about a thousand years of bloodshed." 

Tessa rolled her eyes away and shook her head. "Don't give me that shit. I may have fallen for all that once, but it won't happen again. You can tell the Idrissi's to shove it up their ass. I call, by the way."

Haldir shook his head and slammed his cards on the table. "No fucking way, Tess. You better show me those goddamn cards right now. There's no way you have that good a hand again."

As she laid their cards on the table, Tessa laughed deviously. "You're all just pathetic and you're lucky I even show up and play poker with you." As she collected the stacks of money, she looked at Haldir. "Maybe there's some nursery school somewhere with a game more your speed like hopscotch or tic tac toe."

Of all the children over the years that Haldir had met, Tessa was always his favorite. He figured she must have led some very interesting past lives to have such a colorful personality at such a young age. She was unapologetically Tessa and, even with her filthy mouth and predictably arrogant and bitchy demeanor, he just couldn't help but love her anyway. 

Teddy sighed and threw his cards in the center of the table. "Don't feel bad, Haldir. Tess cheats her ass off. We're the only one's dumb enough to keep playing her."

As she fanned her face with her winnings, Tessa shrugged. "That's what all losers say Teddy. I never cheat. Hustling is an honest trade, moron. If the mark's too stupid to know he's being manipulated like you three geniuses just were, that's not my fault."

Jasper pulled all the cards back to him and said, "Alright you two, say goodnight to Haldir. It's way past your bedtime."

Haldir fist bumped Teddy then wrapped his arms around Tessa and kissed her cheek. "See you soon, Tess."

As he released her, Tessa pulled down her brows. "Where are you taking off to? You just got here. You promised to take me out somewhere nice for my birthday next week. I bought a new outfit and everything."

Haldir sat back down and shook his head. "I have to to go see Father Michael about a few things. I'll be back tomorrow night sometime. You won't even miss me. You can tell me all about your dinner with Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome when I get back."

As the mention of the Seraph brought a smile to her face, Tessa balled her fists in excitement. "New Orleans? Sweet! I can't wait until I'm older so I can go party with you guys. You think Michael will let me help him catch a demon someday?" 

Haldir crossed his arms and nodded as he pulled down his lips. "Yes. I'm sure he'd like to make you his little apprentice."

Tessa swung her fist in the air and said, "Those demons got nothing on me. I'll knock their asses clean out. Michael doesn't even need to worry about it. He can go on and retire back to that goddamn cloud he jumped off of."

An amused smile came to Haldir's face as he watched his protégé talk smack like he taught her. "Well, I'll let him know to expect you then."

Tessa poked Haldir in his chest playfully. "Bring me back something shiny and not some of those titty beads from Bourbon Street. I'm thinking earrings. 24 carat gold."

Haldir shooed her away with his hand. "Yeah. I'll bring you back a crucifix and some Holy water and finally exorcise that foul-mouthed, gold digging demon from you. Now get to bed."

As she walked by, Tessa leaned down and kissed her father's cheek. "I love you, Daddy." 

Jasper said, "I love you too. Goodnight, baby. Don't you two wake your Momma."

Once the children were gone from the room, Jasper closed the door and sat back down at the table. Drumming his fingers on the green felt, Jasper looked at Haldir. "We need to talk about a couple of things."

Haldir drank the last of his beer and nodded his chin at Jasper. "Yeah, it sounds like it."

Blowing out a long breath through his mouth, Jasper looked at the painting on the wall of his den. Biting his lip, he stood up and took the painting off the wall revealing a safe. As he spun the combination, the lock clicked open and he removed several leather-bound cases.

Putting them in front of Haldir, Jasper sat back down and tapped his fingers on them. "With all this starting to unfold between Tessa and the Idrissi boy, something just doesn't feel right. I want you to take these for safe keeping, Haldir. It's our will and all our stocks and titles to our properties. I also have jewelry and money hidden with Michael."

Taking a sip of his beer, Jasper licked his lips then sighed. "If anything happens, if shit starts going wrong, I want you to take Tessa and Teddy to that safe house in Massachusetts until I get there. I told them both that if you aren't here for some reason to meet us there. And...if something happens and I don't make it, Isabelle and I want you to take them and raise them. Get them the fuck out of the country until it's safe. I don't even want to know where you might go."

Haldir licked his lips and pulled his hand down his beard. "Of course, I will. I won't let anything happen to them. Do you want me to take them to the Realm?" 

Shaking his head, Jasper curled his lips under. "No. Not if you can help it. If that boy is really her mate, we can't do that to her. It wouldn't be right. They'll just have to work that shit out between themselves someday. It's not like they'll have a choice anyway."

Huffing out through his nose, Haldir pushed himself back in his chair. "And if it's his family that comes after you?"

Glancing around the room, Jasper considered it. "Then we kill everyone. If we're going to war anyway, we take out all our enemies. Take the balance back to zero. Settle all debts. Tessa will just have to understand. I already alerted Billy. If anything happens to me, he'll be stepping in until Tessa is ready to take over." He shook his head then put a cigarette in his mouth. "And Lord help whoever the fuck gets in her way. That's one shit list I wouldn't care to be on."

Haldir smiled and nodded as he took the cases in his hand. "Alright. I'm heading off to bed. I'll see you when I get back, Jasper."

As he walked out the door, Jasper slumped down in his chair then wiped his hand across his mouth when suddenly from behind him a pair of soft hands pushed their way down his chest. "Were you coming to bed anytime soon?"

Taking her hand, Jasper brought Isabelle around him and sat her on his lap. As she wrapped her arms around his neck, Jasper put his hand on her round belly. "How's that baby of mine?"

Her long black hair fell around his chest as she looked down at herself. "He's been pretty active tonight. Missing his daddy, I think. You're usually in bed snoring him to sleep by this time of night."

Jasper pushed her hair back behind her shoulder then looked up into her brown eyes. The soft yellow light of the den and the hormones surging through her pregnant body made her glow like the copper goddess she was. "Sorry about that. I just had some things I wanted to talk to Haldir about before he goes to see Michael tomorrow."

Nodding her head as her smile fell, Isabelle rubbed her fingers back and forth on his chest gently. "Did you ask him about the kids?"

Jasper pushed his lips to the side and nodded. "I didn't even need to. He loves those two like his own."

As she blew out a relieved breath, Isabelle ran her fingertips along Jasper's strong jaw. "Whatever happens, Jasper. I'm with you. If the worst comes to pass. I'll meet you in the Southlands. You better wait for me. Don't make me walk all the way North alone."

Jasper kissed Isabelle softly then rubbed the tip of his nose against her cheek. "It's a date, baby. We'll go there together."