Stronger Together chapter 126 (Patreon)

The next few days passed without incident. Lot's of time at home with  the girls or over at Harry's or Charity's. Harry decided we should push  magic lessons back a bit since we'd been slammed since getting here. He  wanted me to have a bit of a break between crises. Lily had sent Fix to  drop off the treasure from my first favor, and honestly staring at a  pile of gold bars and assorted gems in front of a Monet was strangely  addictive. I made a little shrine in my room and I spent way too much  time looking at it.

The  bearer bonds I gave to Barb to take to the bank and asked her to hand  over Harry's portion to him when she saw him. The gold I kept for  emergencies, a hundred troy ounces was worth about forty grand on the  high end in two thousand three, with welsh gold being worth up to thirty  times the regular metal. Having a million two in hard commodities just  in case was hardly a bad idea. The gems were worth much more, some of  the ten carat stones being worth over a million. A handful of the  diamonds in the selection would cover me for at least ten million in buy  in for the poker game.

Which  brought us to today. I was in the suit I'd gotten in Colorado, Raven  was in a scandalously slit purple number that showed plenty of her thick  thighs and Barb was in the traditional little black dress. The girls  decided to accompany me, though they wouldn't be at the actual table  with me because it was assumed bringing an empath to a poker game stunk  of cheating. I texted Dalton to confirm our presence and get directions  and we called a car, setting off for some nice relaxing gambling with  the local criminal element.

I'd  been looking forward to this for a while honestly, I'd always loved  poker and Dalton seemed like a cool guy. Plus I might be able to turn  this ten million into much more with my amazing self control and  godsteel enhanced senses. As we sat in the car watching the streets roll  by though Barb spoke up. "It feel weird doing this without..." she  looked up at the driver "without my teacher. She saw us looking and  smiled sheepishly "Not that I don't love working with you guys it's just  that this isn't like the other stuff we do. This is firmly in my  wheelhouse and this is the first time I'm doing it without him."

I  was personally assuming there would be tons of spooky shit going on at  the game but I got her point. Criminal capers with no city or lives on  the line were kind of different that what we'd been doing. I could see  how this would make her miss Gotham a bit, much like Safehold had. But  this was a more specific longing. Her invincible teacher who always  protected her would be a strong source of comfort, it made sense to miss  the man. I was glad she was here though, because I knew how badly he  failed her when it mattered, and I would never let that happen to my  Barb.

Reaching  out to grasp my girlfriend's slim hand in mine and squeeze, I realized  Raven had done the same from the other side. All three of us shared a  smile for a moment before the car came around a bend and our attention  was stolen by our destination. We were driving down a forested road  toward a cliff overlooking Lake Michigan. The huge victorian mansion was  backlit by the setting sun, casting eerie shadows across the expansive  lawn from the towering peaks of the roof and the small hunched shapes on  the ledges that I could see with my enhanced vision were gargoyles.

Barb  was the first one of us to break the silence that had fallen over us as  we took in this gothic behemoth. "Jinkies." Raven and I both burst into  laughter, the tension built by our first view of the majestic house  deflated like a balloon after being punctured by Barb's rapier wit. "But  seriously, this house is straight our of a scoby doo episode...I kind  of love it. I wonder if Dalton is selling? Ooh, do you think there are  secret passageways?" Her eyes were alight with curiosity and excitement.  It occurred to me that Wayne Manor was pretty similar to scooby doo  houses too and was also something she had just been missing.

Raven  spoke up as we approached the manor house "I feel something off here. I  can't figure out what it is, but something is...strange. Like there's  something bad in there." We looked at her alarmed but she just shrugged  "Could be nothing though, chances are one of the criminal supernaturals  Dalton invited just has a powerful aura. I'll keep an eye out just in  case but don't worry too much." She offered us a smile "Just enjoy our  vacation." She leaned forward exposing the plunging neckline of her  violet dress and the absolutely massive breasts within. The small scar  that was all the was left after Raith's betrayal did nothing to detract  from her beauty.

Sadly  we didn't have time to enjoy her flirting because the car pulled up to a  massive wrought iron gate. The top was lined with metal spikes and was  clearly made to be imposing. It mostly just looked like it belonged in a  B horror movie but to be fair that was its own kind of imposing. Being  in a monster movie wasn't exactly comforting. The driver pressed a small  call box next to the gravel road we had turned onto. Dalton's voice  issued out of the speaker. "Yeah, who is it?" He sounded as relaxed as  ever despite the massive amounts of money being thrown around tonight.

I  leaned out the window, having to bellow to make sure I was heard "It's  Cameron! You do remember you invited me right? I would have figured  you'd have left the gate open so the guests could get in." I glanced  down at the bags on the floor. Dalton's text had informed us it was a  three night game and we would be given rooms in the manor so we should  bring a bag. The girls had been excited about the idea of a getaway and  after checking around we found out Dalton did these regularly and had an  impeccable reputation for his hospitality so we figured why not. Plus  between Raven and I we had enough power to hang with most things in a  fight if needed.

The  crackling speaker came to life again, laughter booming over it "Don't  be ridiculous. That gate is the edge of my wards, it was made by  svartalves along with the wall, the whole estate is inside a giant  protective circle reinforced with some serious magic. Breaking the  circle and leaving it broken would be insane. But any way sure, come on  in." I looked closer at the gate and I could vaguely see symbols wrought  into the iron. The detail was similar to what I could manage shaping  godsteel but finer...more delicate. I really had to get in touch with  Etri and his crew for some crafting lessons.

The  speaker buzzed and the gate swung noiselessly open, the metal not  squeaking or dragging at all. As I would expect from svartalf craft. We  drove the rest of the way up the gravel driveway to a similarly gravel  driveway in front of the house. The thing was huge and already studded  with cars. Looked like this would be a pretty large game, not that I was  complaining. Dalton was waiting for us in front of the house with Brynn  his ever present smile plastered across his face as he waved. "Hey  there friends, glad you could make it." He held up a metal box "Cash  drawer, minimum buy in is a hundred grand though we'll take as much as  you want to put in."

I'd  been hoping for that, not to mention assuming that everyone else would  too. I pulled the bag with the handful of diamonds out and dumped them  onto my palm. Dalton's eyebrows rose. I smirked at the surprise "I'm  buying in for ten million, that work for you?" The surprise morphed into  a knowing grin and I knew for a fact I hadn't been the only one to  raise the stakes. Hell, judging by his expression I hadn't even staked  the most. Regardless the smuggler took the gems with a smile, popped the  box with a series of latch turns and the use of two different keys, and  threw them into the thing. I was intrigued by the box, probably made by  Etri's people too.

Dalton  waved us in "Well, make yourselves at home, Your room is at the top of  the stairs on the right side." He handed us a key before winking at  Raven. "And welcome to your pretty new friend. I didn't see you at the  little dockside meeting, I'd have remembered any girl with such a  generous...presence." Brynn didn't even glance over as she kicked him in  the knee, causing him to curse and spin to glare at her. "Damn it woman  I didn't do anything wrong!" She met his gaze with an arched eyebrow  and the gregarious criminal turned and limped off exaggeratedly  muttering about abuse.

She  gave us a wink and a smile, mostly focusing on the girls. "Gotta keep  your man in line otherwise they get too wild to manage. Anyway go ahead  and head up to your rooms and drop off your bags, there's a bell system  in the house and we'll ring for dinner. We can introduce everyone then  and the game will be after we eat." With a professional smile she  inclined her head and then headed off. I was gratified to see Raven also  staring at that gorgeous ass. Barb smacked us both on the back of the  heads lightly and stomped up the carpeted entrance way stairs in a huff,  leaving us to follow with wry smiles.

The  rooms we were supplied were gorgeous. Well appointed and stylish  without sacrificing comfort. I dropped my bag on the floor and walked  over to flop face first onto the luxurious bed. I groaned in joy. Sleep  was one of my favorite things, it wasn't an issue because of all the  training I did when awake but this bed was going to be my new best  friend. A weight settled on my lower back, Barb sitting on me. I gave a  dramatic grunt like I was being crushed and she gasped and smacked my  back. "You better be pretending that was a throat clear if you want to  get lucky while we're here. And I won't let Raven play with you either  if you're bad."

I  chuckled, propping myself up on my elbows but only bending at the ribs  so she wouldn't be dislodged. I looked over my shoulder at the gorgeous  redhead. "You're weightless baby." She laughed and leaned down for a  kiss. As she pulled back I looked around "This place is gorgeous isn't  it? Maybe we should try to buy the place, I'd love to live here. But  we'd have to move away from Michael and Charity and Yang would never  want to move so far from Bea. Anyway we should all lay down for a nap  before dinner. The bells will wake us up."

Rolling  her eyes at my constant desire to nap she rolled off my back, patting  the comforter next to her to call Raven over. Our girlfriend climbed  into bed between us, cuddling up into our bodies and snuggling in to  sleep like a kitten. Much like myself Raven could sleep at any time and  Barb was always comfortable cuddled against us. Before we went to bed  Raven made one last mutter, throwing up some quick wards to keep watch  on us before we snuggled in to catch a light snooze.