Page 68 of Knowing Trust

“What the hell is going on here?” Izzy demanded as she stormed over to us.

“I’m being fair,” I told her.

“It’s the deal we made,” Leigh defended when Izzy turned on her.

“It’s true,” I agreed. “We don’t like each other, and we wanted to make sure we could establish trust.” I gestured between Leigh and myself. “So the deal is she got to ask me respectful questions under runes and I allowed the establishment of a Faerie media organization that the government wouldn’t ever interfere in. As long as there was a corruption interview yearly. It’s fair.”

“Of course, you did,” Izzy sighed. “Why are you like drunk though?”

I shrugged. “My magic is a pain sometimes?” I waved her off and pointed to Leigh. “She has this limited chance and free shots and she asks if I’m embezzling. How? What funds? I mean—from where?” I felt better when Izzy snorted. “Right? More like I stole a ton of funds for Faerie.”

“Tams, um, yeah, let’s not talk about that,” Izzy groaned.

“What money did you steal?” Leigh pushed, and I felt magic flare.

I frowned at her. “I stole a shit ton of money for Faerie.” I snorted when her mouth dropped open. “I already told you that it took a shit ton of money to do all we have. I can’t shit gold, Leigh. For one, that would probably hurt. Yeah, I stole money from bad people.” I gave her a look like duh. “My dad and I raided illegal gambling halls.

“And we bought solar panels. A few farms worth of meat to feed everyone. Shit, construction materials.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “I keep telling you that you’re stuck in the past. Things are way more expensive, bro! Those solar panels are fucking expensive. I keep telling people that most humans cannot afford them.

“They’re a luxury. And we’re skipping ahead of the cost it took to figure them out. So yeah, I get why the gods say to help the humans.” I frowned. “I mean, stealing from bad humans so they can’t do more bad things helps them. But I’ve handled like a dozen cartels now. A bunch I had arrested, but—well, several are dead. Like really dead.

“Super dead.” I snickered. “But I’m not letting those governments get that money after I did that—we did it. So yeah, I stole the money and fed our people. Built us new housing.” I sighed when she just stared at me. “Dude, a lot of people were living in poverty. Like poverty. I know. I lived in poverty. I was a foster kid and lived in some trash places.

“That’s how too many fairies and hobgoblins were living in Faerie.” I grabbed my head. “I think we need to contact Calarel. I’m going to get yelled at.” I blinked at Leigh. “So yeah, I’ve never stolen from Faerie. I’ve stolen for Faerie. A lot. And I’ll do it again.” I shrugged. “I steal from bad people to help my people. I did it before I knew I was a fairy.”

She seemed to snap out of it and realized she needed to hurry up. “Are you really going to keep five mates? Is there one you love most?”

“I’m with four,” I corrected her, still frowning. “I could never pick between them. It’s like trying to pick between chocolate and peanut butter. You can’t. Or like chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, and pretzels. Something that all goes together and is amazing. Banana split with toppings. You can’t not have the toppings and—Julian.”

“You pick Julian?” she gasped.

“No, he’s here,” I answered with a bright smile. “I want a hug.”

“Always, my sweet mate,” he said as he walked through my barrier. He lifted me up… And blocked me from the circle.

“Cheater,” I grumbled as I snuggled against him.

“Yeah, but you can’t use those runes on yourself,” he said as he held me, careful of my wings. “I get what you were trying to do, and we’ll figure out a way, okay? You’re too powerful to ever do magic that stabs you back.” He was frowning when I looked at him. “Please?”

I sighed, knowing I’d cave when he gave me that face. I brushed my lips over his and shut it all down. “I asked for Calarel. I feel super drunk and almost pukey.”

“We’ll talk to your da and see—”

“I gotta start figuring out how to do stuff without him, Julian,” I whispered as I hugged him tighter. “I’m going to lose him soon.” I looked up and saw Lageos there. “I’m going to miss you so much.” Tears blurred my eyes. “They’re going to eat me again when you’re gone, just like Faerie wants to. I’m so scared that once you’re gone, everyone will eat me again.”

“No, they love you now, Daughter,” he rasped, suddenly in front of me.

“I still don’t want you to leave me,” I said before breaking down sobbing and reaching for him.

He took me from Julian and cradled me as if I was a child—like he never got to when I was a child—and comforted me.

Once I was settled, he passed me back to Julian and then turned on Leigh. “Explain to me what I walked in on and why I should not end you.”

“Dad, I was being fair,” I whined. “I was being a fair fairy. I did it to myself. It was my damn idea. And Dalyor got pissy with me when I’m the damn boss. Beat him up.”

Julian snorted. “He wants to be your damn mate and boss in bed. Let Neldor have a crack at him.”

I snorted next. “Like any of you are the boss of me for anything, especially in bed.”

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