Page 222 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 1

Eric looked very conflicted and I couldn't blame him. It was his mate and his kids. What could he do? Ben Price spoke to Haley. Bjourn pointed out, “This warlock might die.” I joked, “He’s already dead so no one would know.” Bjourn laughed, “That’s true BA.”

Bjourn cut in and told Haley that Gunner was tracking Emmaline down; he just needed time. He must have learned that on one of the many phone calls he’d taken and not said a word on. Haley told Bjourn she couldn’t wait. Bjourn sighed.

Astrid reasoned, “I’d do the same if I was her.” Bjourn said, “So would I, but she’s my baby sister. She has been through enough in her life. She has endured far too much pain at her age.” Astrid advised, “All we can do is support her right now.” Bjourn nodded but tensed his jaw.

Haley even snapped at Lucas. I asked, “Is it me or is she closer to her snappy level post secret fairy ritual thing?” Bjourn scoffed, “It’s not you. We are monitoring her closely.” I shot Astrid a look. We both knew Haley was walling them off somehow more than normal. I think we needed to be really worried.

Blade spoke to Bjourn, who nodded. Bjourn asked if Aiden could send Blade with Haley. Aiden’s frustrated eyes met Bjourn’s. He told him he didn’t even know if he could send Haley. It looked like he was hoping he would fail.

Haley grabbed Aiden and told him he could do it, she knew he could. Aiden looked at her, startled. Lucinda was visibly shocked by Haley’s outburst. Haley told Blade he could come with Aiden when she called on his protection. Aiden recovered. He was staring at Haley strangely as he started their ritual.

The warlock mocked Haley and Aiden saying they were using salt. I cringed, “Oh god. I should just shoot him with an arrow.” Bjourn laughed. Astrid scoffed and said, “Idiot.” Haley popped to the warlock and threw him into a tree. She told Eric to kill him since she hadn’t managed to. He told her to be safe. I smiled and said, “They are perfect together.” Bjourn said, “She deserves nothing less.” He was right. She deserved every happiness.

Emmaline’s father, Marcious, popped in. He was excited until he saw Emmaline’s mother. Lucinda went to take care of him, and Haley ordered Ben to tell him about Maribella. Gosh David needed to die. Aiden and Haley finally began their ritual.

Dylan said we could’ve stopped Haley. Bjourn spoke before anyone else could saying we couldn’t have stopped her. Astrid agreed. When Torvi was taken, Haley went off alone when she was told not to. Now she let us all know what was happening. Dylan agreed then said Eric could’ve stopped her. Seriously? This guy might have a death wish.

Dylan smiled when Eric yelled at him, and I realized that’s what he wanted. He’d wanted Eric to get angry instead of worrying about something he couldn’t control. Dylan was smarter than people gave him credit for.

Haley and Aiden began to chant in their sugar circle that turned purple. Bexley was beside herself saying it was working. Lucinda and Marcious had stopped talking and were openly gaping at Aiden and Haley. I cringed as Haley began to glow red. Dylan said that didn’t seem like a good thing. He had to be right.

I looked at Haley’s face. It showed nothing but all her brother’s that were present tensed up. She was in pain. I just knew she was. Particularly given Haley was holding back pain more than normal. This had to be an excruciating pain. Eric even looked like he was in pain.

Bjourn’s phone rang. I wasn’t surprised when he announced their dad was coming. Dylan freaked out about being naked in front of a King. Dylan actually seemed stumped when Lucas pointed out Bjourn was a future king. Then he decided the future wasn’t the same as the actual king. Bexley snapped them into clothes.

Titus stepped through a portal. He explained Gunner was still trying to track down Emmaline. Poor guy. Titus didn’t take his eyes off Haley. He announced she was in pain. My heart hurt for Haley. She loved people so fiercely. I hoped she knew there was a field of people that loved her the same way. I would die for Haley if need be. I hoped she knew that.

Lucinda started to explain what was happening. She said Haley’s blood was being pulled to her kids. Pulled? That sounded like it would hurt a great deal. Titus said the kids must be far away based on her pain level. They were trying to work out where they were. I’d imagine they were somewhere in this realm.

Suddenly, Eric actually staggered, followed by Titus. Bjourn grabbed his father before anyone else noticed. I looked back to see Haley’s face contorted in pain before she popped from view. I locked eyes with Marcus. He’d seen her pained face too.

Logan and I shared a brief look. He hated feeling helpless when Haley was hurting, they all did. It was worse when her face showed pain. It meant it was bad. Not that they needed her face to indicate that they could feel it.

Aiden was elated the ritual had worked. Eric was pissed. Bexley tried to calm him down saying that this was a really big deal. Titus whispered to Bjourn, “This must be what Haley was worried about him knowing.” Bjourn inclined his head to me, “BA pointed that out earlier.”

Dylan got really excited then clapped his hands over his mouth. He lied and said he’d left the oven on. Bjourn’s eyes narrowed, “He knows. That wolf knows what this means.” Titus asked, “How?” Bjourn explained, “Haley gave them that fairy book. Dylan is obsessed with partial fairies. He must have read it cover to cover. He knows what this means.”

Titus said, “Someone had better tell me what this means and fast.” Logan whispered, “Dylan has read that book multiple times. He’s having me build him a secret lair for it.” Eric was glaring at Lucas and Dylan. He started vibrating he was so mad.

I asked, “Is he going to shift?” No one answered me. Eric asked Aiden to explain what was going on. He was so angry the trees shook with his yell. Aiden was saying everyone would be fine. Bjourn scoffed, “Did he just say be of good cheer?” Astrid said, “You can’t kill him for that.” Bjourn disagreed, “I could easily kill him for that.”

Aiden was calling for celebrations saying their houses would be around forever. I questioned, “Forever? Don’t fairy houses rise and fall in power frequently?” I swore that Heath had told me that. Bjourn answered, “They do.”

Lucas wanted to know what their ritual had to do with Emmaline. Aiden’s eyes were practically glowing as he said he and Haley were the promised siblings. Bjourn groaned, “I don’t like this at all.” Titus agreed, “Neither do I.”

Aiden said Emmaline’s line would continue to be the soul searchers. That her daughter would have that power. Marcious explained it further. He said Haley was pure of heart and Emmaline was pure of soul. I snorted, “Did they really need someone to figure that out? I could’ve told them that.” Astrid laughed.

Aiden said was mad at himself, saying of course they were the family they had the chameleon along with all the other powers needed. Aiden declared Bexley royal. Marcus said, “Haley might kill him for you now, brother.” Bjourn smirked, “She won’t kill him, but she will be pissed off. Maybe she will hit him for me.” I winced. Haley had been asking for Bex to be a royal for a long time. This would hurt her feelings.

Bjourn took a phone call as we all heard Aiden say Haley could take people’s magic away. It hit me that’s what happened to the mintor. That gold mist, that’s why I wasn’t in pain. I spoke out loud saying she’d done it before. Aiden looked towards me, asking if I was the Black Arrow.

I barely held in my retort. Of course, I was the Black Arrow. I didn’t just dress up like the Black Arrow. I’d have to kill someone for that. There was only ONE Black Arrow. Lucinda squealed about having a great dinner party.

Astrid said to me, “Which you’re coming to if I have to go.” Marcus announced, “We are ALL going if Haley’s going.” I sighed, “I guess I’m going then.” I explained what happened on Thanksgiving to the group. Aiden was excited that Haley embracing her fairy side made her stronger. Bjourn snidely commented wondering why she hadn’t embraced her fairy side sooner.

Bjourn asked me if Haley took the mintor’s powers. Technically no, just the poison out of her fingernails. Titus’ phone rang. Gunner had finally gotten their location. Aiden said Haley had finally called him. Could she have done that any slower? Eric demanded to know where his family was. Titus told us they were in Russia.

RUSSIA? Holy shit. That’s a long way from here. No wonder Haley was in such pain. We all grabbed onto each other and popped to Russia. We were outside a barrier. Dylan started lamenting about Beta James Bond not coming with us.

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