Page 83 of Vibing Unity

“I’ll always share my ice cream with you even if you blast me as long as it’s valid,” I hedged.

He crossed his arms over his broad chest and raised an eyebrow. “So how did the conversation you recently had with my dad go?”

“Fucking snitch,” I growled and tossed the pint up. He still deserved it.

And I deserved the lecture I was going to get.

Lucca snorted and grabbed a spoon from one of the bags. “He didn’t snitch actually. He started sending me the sloth calendars and meeting notes. He made it clear that I needed to get more involved with the sloth again and couldn’t be so absent and only involved in Faerie affairs.” He gave me a hard look. “Funny, since I didn’t tell him I wanted to be Alpha.”

I opened my mouth but then closed it. Trying a few more times before frowning. Then I gave a wordless growl. “Okay, I’m an extra asshole then. I thought—no, you’re right, you did say you didn’t tell him yet. I honestly don’t remember if he seemed surprised.”

“No, happy like you confirmed it,” Hudson mumbled.

“Oh, so you were there too?” Lucca chuckled darkly.

“Tams was acting squirrelly, so I followed, and Neldor caught on too, but before you get mad, please hear me on something,” Hudson explained. He waited for Lucca to give a swift nod. “Your dad is too controlling. He always has been. Way over the line.”

“I know that. I saw how he started to mold and work my brother when we were on the outs,” Lucca accepted.

“Yeah, but some of what you—notallof what you bitched about…”

“You saw more problems than he complained about?” I checked, nodding when Hudson did. “Yeah, that was a concern for me too.” I met Lucca’s curious gaze. “He kept saying that he would be careful but that he had duties as the grandfather ofyourchildren and the future of the sloth. He wasn’t hearing that mindset was still an issue.”

Lucca glanced away. “I know. Which was why I made it clear to him that I grew up without a grandfather and my kids couldtoo. He seems to think Mother leaving him is the threat, and he won’t risk that.”

“Fucking idiot,” I hissed.

“For this,” he clarified. “Getting involved with the training of our firstborn bear. He made it clear he knows he’s hands off for any fairies or my ‘adopted’ children your other mates might have.” He ground his jaw a bit.

Oh boy. Ronald Von Thann clearly said something about those kids that probably wasn’t flattering.

It was best not to hear it. I’d already murdered one person that day. I didn’t want to make it two.

Well, technically, Stefanie had done it so…

Not the point.

“What he said was disconcerting, Lucca, and I don’t think we’re enough to handle this.” I met his gaze. “I don’t want to kill him, but if he even thinks to go near my kids—no matter their birth father—I will.I have toso they’re all protected and no one else would even dare to do it. The royal journals are clear it has to happen or chaos follows.”

“I don’t think we’re enough for this,” Hudson agreed before Lucca could respond. “We’ve gone to him twice, but he’s backsliding and only takes Neldor as the real threat. I think we need a discussion with our ‘parents’ and your mom, Lucca.”

I frowned when he said that, not sure what he meant.

“You mean people to stand in for those who don’t have parents because otherwise he sees us all as kids,” Lucca muttered. “Or it will be a fight between your parents and him.” He nodded when Hudson did. “Why can’t he just fucking let go? Why can’t…” He shook his head. “He was so close for a bit.”

“What?” I asked when he seemed to want to say more.

“He was scared of something. I saw the fear, but then it was gone,” Lucca admitted.

“I threatened him with my dogs.”

“That would do it, but he really doesn’t think you’d give the order.”

I snorted. I wanted to already. It killed me that the bastard was still alive.

Seriously. Asshole.

In a miracle of timing, we managed to gather almost everyone we needed, and the Vogels even let us have the meeting at their castle. Clearly, Mrs. Von Thann knew something had happened between her mate and son because she looked worried.

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