Ted drawled, “So, are you moving into the main house?” I reminded him, “Closed circle. Keeping it quiet. I have said this many times. You said you could keep a secret. Also, if you find out what Chase’s situation is, don’t tell me. I told him and now I’m telling you, I don’t want to know.”
Ted frowned, “Ignorance is only bliss until the situation smacks you in the face.” I knew he was right, but I didn’t care. I told him, “I’m happy. I feel like everything in me clicked into place. I don’t want to know what’s standing in my way. With anyone else, I’d knock whatever it is out of my way. With Chase, I don’t think I can handle it. Not right now. I just want to be happy. I don’t want to be told something that will make me want to not to feel again.”
Ted stiffened. I knew he’d been crushed when he found out I’d been numbing my pain with drugs. I continued, “If I change my mind, I’ll ask him. I know he’d tell me. Hell, he clearly wants to tell me now. I just know myself, and right now I need to not know.”
Ted winced, “About that you should know, I did a thing.” I questioned, “A thing?” Ted slowly said, “Well, once the amazing Princess of the Hackura and Fairies came into our lives; I told her about your pill issue.” I shrugged, “That’s fine.”
Ted held up an index finger, “I’m not done. I asked her if there was a way to deter you from it happening again. Should you take another opiate, actually I’m not clear on the details of what sort of drugs this entails really, but you will feel awful. Like you need to throw up but can’t. You will be miserable. You’ll also grow a tail for six hours.” I clapped a hand over my mouth to suppress my laugh.
Ted explained, “That was all her, the tail part. She was just going to do the tail originally. I guess fairies have some weird thing about tails being like the worst thing that can possibly happen to you. Please don’t be mad.”
I got up and hugged him, “Thank you.” Ted rubbed my back admitting, “That’s so not what I’d thought you say, but I’m going to run with it.” I admitted, “I don’t want to go back to that place. It was a dark time, and I worried a lot of people. You did it after the string ceremony, didn’t you?”
Ted nodded, “I did. I wasn’t about to let that piece of shit make you relapse.” I laughed, “Oddly, of all the things to do at that moment, it did not cross my mind to take a pill. Getting drunk, yes. Pills, no.” Ted cringed, “Noah circulated that he was worried about it. Heath was beside himself. You had a shadow on several missions.”
I gasped, “That’s why I had a shadow? UGH! That makes me want to ring our Lieutenant’s freaking neck! How dare he do that to my brother! Has Heath been worried this whole time?” Ted denied that, “Not the whole time. I told Heath what I’d had Haley do. He was much calmer after that.”
I needed air or I was going to let Haley go Troll hunting. I told Ted, “I’m going to run to Sally’s.” Ted smirked, “You want to see if she has any leftovers.” That was an added bonus. I told him, “I’m starving.” Ted winked, “Yeah you are. You worked out all night long. Grab me something.” I laughed and took off.
I frowned when I got to Sally’s shopfront. Her car was here but all the lights were off. I heard something break as I reached the front door. I slid to the side door noiselessly. Sally pleaded, “Take anything you want, please! I have money in the back, you can have it all.”
I heard several people laugh. One replied, “This is about your husband, Sally. We need to send a message. Unfortunately for you, you’re the message.” I was confused. Sally and the Lieutenant hadn’t gotten married yet. Why did they call her his wife?
I took out my phone and sent out Sally’s SOS to the group, then took out a straggler walking to the front of the store. Someone yelled, “RANDY! Is anyone up front?” Great. I had to answer, “Randy can’t answer you right now. He’s a little bit dead.”
Sally screamed, “LEXI, HELP!” Two men came at me from the back. I dodged them easily and pulled my shoes off. Six inch stilettos were deadly. I killed two more with my heel. Jesus. How many people were after Sally because of the Troll? What did he do? Who were these people?
A knife nicked my collarbone, but it wasn’t deep due to my reaction time. I made it back to Sally in less than a minute. I heard growls at the front door. Kevin and Kincade had to be here. Ted must have told them. I’d have to tell Chase this wasn’t their fault.
Sally stood, “Lexi, I…” She trailed off and screamed, “LOOK OUT!” I turned and a man laughed, “I’m not aiming for her, you silly girl. I am aiming for you, Sally Quaid.” They called her his wife, but referred to her as her maiden name? What was going on? He threw the knife.
I ran and dove in front of Sally. I felt it slice through me dead center in my stomach. Shit! This one was deep. Sally screamed, “LEXI!” Kevin ran in and quickly killed the man. I tried to explain, “Our people are coming…. you guys…. need to... get back to the… hotel.”
Kincade yelled, “Fuck that! Your people know Ted is our Beta Male. Ted RAN in to get us. SHIT! Do you guys heal like we do?” Sally cried, “No, we don’t. Lexi, I’m so sorry.” I tried to brush it off, “It’s just a scratch. Nothing a Hackura Fairy Princess can’t heal. Can you call her? I seem to be going into shock.”
I heard the Lieutenant shouting, “SALLY!” I snorted, “Goodie, the Lieutenant is here. Kevin, carry me out of here before he sees me.” Sally acted quickly, “I’ll go out to the front. You guys take her out the side.”
Kevin picked me up carefully while Kincade grabbed my phone. Kevin cursed, “Shit! Take my jacket and wrap it around her, Kincade.” Kincade said, “Absolutely not. That’s a bad idea.” I winced, “Why?” Kincade said, “You’re mated to an Alpha and you’ve been hurt. Another man’s scent on you is NOT a good idea.” He looked around and found Sally’s coat. I’d have to replace it.
He wrapped it around me and set me down. Kevin asked, “Can you walk? The ‘she’s drunk’ excuse isn’t going to fly this early in the morning.” I hissed, “I can do it.” We shuffled away. We hadn’t made it very far when I heard my brother’s voice, “Lexi?”
I cursed, “Fuck.” Heath flashed in front of me. He frowned, “Who are these guys?” Kevin lied, “We are Beta Male Ted’s protection detail. He got the text and sent us over.” Heath ignored him studying me instead. He commented, “You’re pale. Were you in there? What am I saying? Of course you were. I have reports of nine dead people. Sally didn’t do that.”
I coughed up blood on his shoes. Heath yelled, “What is going on?” He picked me up and ran me back to my office. Ted screamed, “WHAT HAPPENED?” Heath took out his phone issuing orders, “I need you, Haley. RIGHT NOW!”
A pop sounded, “No need to yell….” She trailed off and screamed, “LEXI!” I teased, “I guess there is a need to yell.” I felt a calming peace take over me and gave in to it. My eyes snapped open. I saw Haley had passed out beside me. I looked at Heath, “What’s wrong with her? She’s so much stronger now.” Heath admitted, “I don’t know. She just passed out.”
A portal opened. Marcus stepped through with Alpha Eric. Marcus looked at me, but Eric went to Haley. He spoke softly, “Angel?” I told Marcus, “I don’t know why she passed out.” Marcus answered, “Because she healed four of our people and hadn’t eaten yet when your brother called. Are you alright? Logan and his mate were very worried.” I sat up, “I’m all good.”
I studied Marcus and saw the answers I needed in his eyes. Logan’s mate knew we had sex, and she didn’t care. Our friendship would still be intact. It was a relief, honestly. Logan was one of my best friends. I was glad he’d found his mate. I knew how much he wanted her, and I knew he’d be happy I found my string.
We never dated or anything. We were friends with benefits, but that was over. So over. It’s not like I could ask Haley if his mate hated me. She had no clue Logan and I benefited from time to time. I was just glad I hadn’t lost my friend, and I couldn’t wait to meet his mate. I knew she’d be amazing.
Heath brought me out of my thoughts, “How the hell did you take a knife in the gut?” I answered, “The guys in Sally’s shop were not so nice. I went to see if I could snag some breakfast. They said they were sending the Lieutenant a message. It was weird. They called her his wife but referred to her by her maiden name. The whole thing is off.”
Sally slammed into my office shouting, “YOU STAY OUT THERE! DON’T YOU COME NEAR US!” He should stay out there because if Haley woke up, she’d do something fairy to him. The Lieutenant begged, “Sally, please.” She slammed the door shut. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She ran to me, “I’m so sorry, Lexi! Are you alright?”
I assured her, “I’m fine. Haley healed me.” She sobbed in my arms. I stroked her back, “I’m fine, really.” She looked at Haley asking, “Is she ok?” Eric sighed, “She’s fine.” A pop sounded. The baby pursed his lips, “Momma, UP!” I snorted guessing, “Alexander, right?” Eric nodded, “Uh huh. He does this a lot.”