Page 112 of The Alpha's Stealthy Daughter and Her Commander
My Aunt Astrid and Aunt Torvi shot each other a look. Did they know? No, I was being paranoid. Rain said, “I don’t know that it’s paranoia.” They couldn’t possibly know, that would be crazy. They couldn’t see glows like Fairies could.
Rain offered, “They have been pregnant a lot.” I had to give her that one because it was true. We sat and talked for a while. It was fun being here with them like this. Eventually I asked, “Where are all my cousins?” Both my Uncle Marcus and Uncle Bjourn had several boys.
Uncle Bjourn laughed, “They are on missions.” I nodded, “Of course they are. Someone should tell them to calm down.” My Aunt Astrid laughed, “Until your Uncle Bjourn’s little sister came here the Cambridge boys didn’t slow down for a second.”
Uncle Bjourn kissed her, “You were right there beside me.” Aunt Astrid cooed, “I’ve always got your six, Bjourn. I wasn’t going to trust someone else with that fine six of yours.” Uncle Marcus chimed in, “I’ve had his six often.”
Aunt Astrid winked, “I know you’ll agree when you say you’d rather be with Torvi no matter what. She’d say the same.” Torvi agreed, “Damn straight. It’s easier when you back them up.” I joined in, “She’s right, Uncle Marcus. I know that everyone has Cayden’s six. I’m just happier if I’m the one on his six because I know no matter what, he’s my priority. You’d say the same about Aunt Torvi.”
Uncle Marcus acknowledged, “I would. I also know if she’s out with any of my brothers or their mates it’s the next best thing.” I conceded, “True.” Everyone started to leave. I asked my Uncle Bjourn, “Do you know what Cayden is working on?” My Uncle Bjourn replied, “I don’t but I can ask him.”
I shrugged, “No, I was just curious. You know how he is. He wants to perfect everything before he shares something...” I trailed off. Rain finished, “Important.” Right. He only did this with important things. Why didn’t Uncle Bjourn or I know about this?
My Uncle Bjourn raised an eyebrow, “He must consider it important then.” I nodded, “I know. I just want to help him.” My Uncle Bjourn smiled, “Be there for him then. That's all you can do.” I nodded, “Are you going to ask him?” My Uncle Bjourn shrugged, “I could. I know he will tell me if it’s important. If it was about the safety of any of our people, he’d tell me. He might come to me for advice anyway.” I nodded because that was true.
I felt Cayden getting closer in the bond. I announced, “Cayden’s coming.” My Aunts winked at me. Cayden entered the room with a grim expression that matched his emotions. He was annoyed and frazzled. Maybe I should conjure him cookies to improve his mood as they had mine.
I frowned asking, “Cayden?” He smiled when he saw me. He greeted, “Aunt Astrid, Uncle Bjourn, Marcus, Torvi.” Uncle Marcus asked, “Are you alright, Cayden?” Cayden sighed, “Yes, I’m just running into annoying barricades to get information I need.”
Uncle Bjourn offered, “I can help you.” Cayden frowned, “Maybe. I’m just going to keep trying to run this down. I’ll let you know the second it’s solid and not some crazy theory. Maybe it’s not crazy. I don’t know anymore.”
I rubbed his arm, “Why don’t we take a walk?” Cayden was distracted and I was conflicted. I linked my wolf, “Now, doesn’t seem like the right time to tell him about the twins.” She agreed, “I agree.” My Uncle Bjourn linked me, “If he needs help, or you want to look into what he’s doing, come to me. Ok?” I loved that my uncles had joined the pack so I could link them. I agreed, “Alright.” I would give Cayden some time before I did that. It felt important to him.
We walked mostly in silence out of the castle to the beach. I whispered, “Cayden, you can tell me anything.” Cayden sighed, “I know I can, My Duchess. I won’t upset you over nothing though. It should be simple to disprove what I’m thinking. The fact that it’s not, is giving me pause. There’s obviously something there.”
He ran a hand through his hair, “There has to be something. How can it be though? It doesn’t make sense. If I’m right, this is huge. We will go to war.” My eyes widened and Rain growled. I gasped, “What?” Cayden nodded, “Not just us either.” I stared into his eyes and checked the bond. I cringed saying, “You’re serious.”
Cayden nodded, “Yes. If I’m right, a lot of people have been lied to. It would be a giant conspiracy of epic proportions and planning. The Hackura, Wolves, and Fairies would declare war. This will have ripple effects for years to come. If this type of plot came to be, under all our noses, there’s a laundry list of people that will never forgive themselves.”
Rain whimpered, “I don’t like this, Cassie.” Neither did I. He continued, “Your brothers will be at the top of that list. Your friends will too. Hell, your dad and I will be on it.” I whispered, “I don’t understand.” War. He said war. Tears filled my eyes.
Cayden comforted me, “Don’t cry Cass. I’ll figure it out.” I cried, “But if you’re right, we are at war?” Cayden’s jaw ticked, “Yes. There will be no way around it. I won’t stand for this nor will Uncle Bjourn. If what I think is true a lot of people have been hurt. One more than the others. I’ll destroy anyone who had anything to do with this and I will not be alone.”
He hugged me, “I’ll keep you safe Cassie, I swear it.” I gulped knowing it wasn’t just me now. We were having a family, and he was talking about going to war. I asked, “How certain are you?” I trusted Cayden’s instincts and the bond told me he was practically positive. If he thought this was heading to war, we were going to war.
Cayden frowned, “I want to give you a low percentage, but I can’t. Honestly, I don't know how this would even work. I don’t know if anyone could pull off what I’m thinking of. We are looking into it. Quietly.” I felt a tear slip down my cheek.
I whispered, “You think you are right. You don’t know how, but you think you are.” Rain said, “We will protect our pups and mate will help us.” He’d be out somewhere without me though. That had my wolf grumbling.
Cayden winced, “I want to say you’re wrong, but you can feel me. I do think I’m right.” I let a sob loose and Cayden held me tightly. I gripped him. I whispered, “I can’t lose you.” Cayden kissed me. He pulled back and cupped my face with his hands.
He looked deep into my eyes and said, “I promise you Cassie Veronica Shayla Crawford, you will not lose me like this. I will be fine. I will quite possibly, along with ALL our allies, become the most paranoid man about any information given to me ever again. God, your dad will lose his shit. Fuck. He’s not even at the top of the list.” I asked, “Who is?” Cayden didn’t say anything.
I shifted through his feelings in the bond. I deduced, “It’s someone in my family, isn’t it?” Cayden nodded, “Yes. If I’m right a lot of people will die, but it won’t be us. Ok?” I nodded, “It’s crappy timing.” Rain muttered, “More than he knows.” He would soon.
Cayden laughed, “I know your concupiscence just ended but by the time this pans out, you’ll be past that teary stage. You’ll be killing people right along with the rest of us.” My heart lurched, because unless a fight happened and I couldn't avoid it, that wouldn’t be the case.
My family, Cayden, and my whole world would be fighting without me. Cayden’s phone beeped. He groaned, “Fuck! I’ll meet you back at the house.” I kissed him, “Ok.” I sat down in the sand and stared at the ocean. The waves had no comforting answers for me today as they often did.
Eventually I heard someone coming. I didn’t move when my cousin Levi sat beside me. He studied me but said nothing. After several minutes I broke the silence, “You heard us, didn’t you?” Levi answered, “I did.” I whispered, “I need you to have Cayden’s six out there.” He raised an eyebrow. I insisted, “Promise me.”
Levi laughed, “I’m not a Fairy, cousin.” I turned to him, “I know that. I also know that our family's word to each other is kept; Fairy or not.” Levi frowned, “You’ll have his six.” I whispered, “Not at first. Please, promise me.”
Levi frowned, “Cass, you know that I will defend Cayden always. He’s not just the Commander here. He’s your mate. I will always have every member of the Hackura’s six, always. For you, I will keep a special eye on your Duke.” I smiled and kissed his cheek, “Thanks, Levi.”
Levi nudged me, “You know that to come against us is suicidal. We do not lose. You add in your family and even the Fairies. We are an unstoppable crew. All the good Witches will be on our side too, standing behind the Bishop siblings. The Demons will mostly be on our side as well. I think this is going to be a fight between the light and dark. Once and for all.”
I snorted, “You can’t ever wipe out one side completely.” Levi winked, “The light will never be knocked out. You can’t kill everyone in the shadows, but if they’ve done something….” He trailed off. I glanced at him sharply, “You know what Cayden suspects.” I was a little hurt he brought in Levi and not me.
