Chapter 32: The Envoys

Morning sunlight stretched across the frozen lake behind the Thorne cabin, turning the snow into a field of glittering crystals. For a moment, everything looked peaceful.

Inside the cabin, peace lasted about thirty seconds.

Finn ran down the hallway in his pajamas with his tiny hockey stick raised over his head like a championship trophy.

Liam chased him with determined toddler focus, clutching the foam puck against his chest.

Alex stood at the kitchen counter making coffee while watching the chaos unfold.

“They’re definitely yours,” Brody said from the couch.

Alex smirked. “Why?”

Brody pointed as Finn attempted a dramatic slapshot that barely nudged the puck across the floor.

“Confidence.”

Jake stepped inside from the porch, brushing snow from his jacket.

Everyone looked up.

“Well?” Alex asked.

Jake took a slow breath.

“The guy I met last night wasn’t lying.”

Brody leaned forward.

“About what?”

Jake dropped his gloves on the table.

“There’s a council. A big one. Older than the vampire elders we’ve been fighting.”

Alex crossed his arms.

“And they’re interested in our kids.”

Jake nodded.

“Very.”

---

The Visitors

Around noon, a black SUV rolled slowly up the snowy road toward the cabin.

Alex watched from the window while Finn and Liam pressed their faces against the glass beside him.

“Car,” Liam said proudly.

“Caaar,” Finn echoed.

Jake stepped outside as the vehicle stopped.

Two people stepped out.

The man Alex had seen from the arena—the one Jake had met the night before—stood beside a tall woman wearing a dark winter coat. Both moved with the quiet confidence of people who knew exactly where they were going.

The man raised a hand politely.

“Good afternoon.”

Jake didn’t return the greeting right away.

“You said no threats.”

The man nodded.

“And we meant it.”

He gestured toward the cabin.

“May we talk?”

Jake studied them for a long moment.

Then he stepped aside.

“Five minutes.”

---

The Council’s Message

Inside the cabin, Finn immediately waddled over to inspect the visitors.

Liam followed close behind.

The woman crouched down slightly, smiling.

“Hello there.”

Finn lifted his toy stick like a knight presenting a sword.

The woman chuckled softly.

“Strong spirit.”

The man introduced himself again.

“Adrian Vale.”

He nodded toward his companion.

“This is Mara.”

Alex remained standing near the kitchen.

“You said there’s a council.”

Vale nodded.

“There is.”

Brody folded his arms.

“Let me guess. Secret vampire government?”

Mara shook her head.

“Not exactly.”

Vale continued calmly.

“The elders you fought were only one faction. A very old one, but… limited.”

Jake leaned against the wall.

“And your council?”

“We oversee balance among supernatural groups across the world.”

Alex raised an eyebrow.

“So what does that have to do with my kids?”

Vale looked toward Finn and Liam, who were now trying to stack hockey pucks like building blocks.

“The twins carry a rare bloodline.”

Mara spoke quietly.

“It’s not just vampire.”

Alex felt a chill.

“What do you mean?”

---

The Truth About the Bloodline

Vale placed a small metal device on the table. A soft projection appeared above it—an image of glowing symbols arranged in a complex pattern.

“Your children inherited multiple strands of supernatural genetics.”

Brody blinked.

“That’s… a thing?”

Mara nodded.

“Telekinesis, like Liam displayed yesterday, is only the beginning.”

Jake glanced toward the boys.

“And Finn?”

Vale’s expression turned thoughtful.

“We’re not sure yet.”

As if on cue, Finn sneezed loudly.

The cabin lights flickered.

Everyone looked up at the ceiling.

Brody whistled softly.

“Well… that answers part of it.”

Finn looked pleased with himself.

---

A New Problem

Alex rubbed his forehead slowly.

“So let me get this straight.”

He gestured toward the twins.

“My kids have mystery powers.”

Vale nodded.

“Yes.”

“And other supernatural groups are going to notice.”

“Correct.”

Jake stepped forward.

“Which is why you’re here.”

Vale met his gaze.

“Yes.”

Mara added quietly, “The elders aren’t the only ones who wanted that power.”

Alex felt a familiar knot of tension return.

“Who else?”

Vale hesitated for the first time.

Then he spoke one name.

“The Crown Court.”

Brody frowned.

“That sounds bad.”

Mara’s voice lowered.

“They’re collectors.”

Jake’s jaw tightened.

“Collectors of what?”

Vale answered simply.

“Rare bloodlines.”

Alex looked toward Finn and Liam again.

Finn was now attempting to teach Liam how to hold a hockey stick properly.

Alex felt a surge of protective instinct.

“Not happening,” he said flatly.

---

Proof of Danger

Vale tapped the projection device again.

A new image appeared.

Security footage from an airport in New York City.

Three figures stepped off a private jet.

Each wore long dark coats.

Their eyes glowed faintly red.

Mara spoke quietly.

“They’ve already begun moving.”

Jake studied the screen.

“How long?”

Vale met his eyes.

“Days. Maybe less.”

---

Hockey Continues

That evening, Alex still had a game.

Life didn’t stop for supernatural politics.

Inside Rogers Arena, the crowd roared as the Vancouver Grizzlies hit the ice.

From the luxury box, Finn and Liam watched proudly in their tiny jerseys.

The broadcast camera found them immediately.

The crowd cheered.

Alex skated warmup laps while thinking about the conversation earlier that day.

The council.

The Crown Court.

Collectors of rare bloodlines.

His sons.

Brody skated past him.

“You look distracted.”

Alex nodded toward the stands.

“Just thinking about what’s waiting at home.”

Brody grinned.

“Future hockey legends?”

Alex smirked.

“Hopefully.”

---

A New Power

Back at the cabin, Mara remained with the twins while Jake and Alex were at the game.

Finn sat on the floor surrounded by toy pucks.

Liam focused intensely on one in the center.

The puck lifted slowly off the ground.

Mara watched carefully.

“Very impressive.”

Finn clapped.

Then suddenly—

The puck shot across the room and smacked into the wall.

Finn burst into laughter.

Mara raised an eyebrow.

“Two very different talents.”

---

The First Move

Far across the continent, inside a towering skyscraper in New York City, three figures stood in a dark office overlooking the glowing skyline.

A screen displayed footage of Finn and Liam.

One of them smiled slowly.

“So the reports were true.”

Another voice responded calmly.

“The Thorne bloodline has awakened.”

The third figure turned toward the window.

“Prepare the retrieval team.”

Outside, snow began falling over the city.

Back in Vancouver, the twins slept peacefully in their cribs.

Unaware that a much larger game had just begun.