I replied, “Feel your connections.” He did and his eyes widened. He yelled, “FUCK!” He killed two more Fairies. My dad had ripped several apart but had started capturing them. Alexander was doing the same. I predicted those captured would not have a single good day coming in their futures.
When everyone was defeated EJ touched my head. He yelled, “Alexander!” He popped to us and healed me in the next second. I took off running shouting, “Angela!” My dad yelled, “EXCUSE ME?! Did she just yell for Angela? Do NOT tell me both my daughters are here being attacked!” Angela popped next to me then threw herself into my arms.
I hugged her tightly, “You’re ok, Ang. We are both ok.” She cried, “I saw them hurting you. I knew that Alexander was going to get here in time, but they hurt you worse first. I had to come save you.” My mom popped over and rubbed her back. She said, “Shhh, Ang. You did a good job. Next time, pop to one of your siblings or mommy, daddy, or someone. Anyone will do. We will come with you, ok?”
Uncle Aiden spoke, “Or me little Angela. I’m so sorry, Cassie. I did not know you and Gystepi were still speaking. We’d been watching him closely as a potential member of the Ring.” I admitted, “We weren’t really. He’d call and ask me on a date every so often. Usually I say no.”
My dad yanked me into his arms as Angela popped to Alexander. He hugged me tightly and whispered, “You scared me, Princess.” I felt the tears in my eyes, “I’m sorry, daddy.” He kissed my forehead, “It’s not your fault. Come on. I want Ethan to check you out.”
I snorted, “Dad, I’m fine. Alexander healed me.” My dad nodded, “I know but I still need Ethan to check you out.” I sighed, “Will it really make you feel better?” My mom snorted, “It’s absofuckinglutely ridiculous, but it will make him feel better. As if I wouldn’t step in if you weren’t healed, and he knows that too.” Alexander chimed in, “It would make me feel better too.” EJ added, “Me three.” We all popped back with prisoners to the hospital.
I winced seeing Ghiza waiting with arms crossed. He announced, “No dates without us in Faerie. EVER again.” I muttered, “I don’t plan to go on a date in Faerie again. It wasn’t much of a date anyway. We skipped rocks.” My mom bit her lip.
My dad asked, “Angela, what did you see?” Angela explained, “I woke up from my nap and saw Cassie being stabbed. She was overwhelmed and she only had her dagger as a weapon. Alexander popped in followed by EJ, you, and mommy. She was ok, but the iron and the head wound were not her only injuries in my vision.”
Angela paused then added, “But Cass held on. She was still fighting. They weren’t going to get her.” I smiled, “Damn straight.” She sighed, “You got hit with iron because of me.” I shook my head, “No, I didn’t. I was going to get hit either way and I’m fine.”
Ethan announced, “She is fine. I want her to stay and receive her Deferoxamine drip for the iron in her system, but she’s perfectly fine.” Ethan muttered, “Thank the Moon Goddess.” My dad said, “Boys, let’s go. We have prisoners to talk to.”
Aiylee popped in yelling, “OH MY GOD! What the HELL?! I will CHOP HIS DICK OFF! FUCKER! WHERE is he? Is he dead?” Uncle Aiden answered, “Language, Aiylee.” She scoffed. Uncle Aiden laughed, “He is not dead, not yet. He’s got a small amount of iron in his system with a paralytic agent that was added in haste because it wouldn’t have affected Cassie. Apparently, not everyone read my book on hybrids. It would’ve slowed her down, but not paralyzed her because she is not full Fae. As for where he is, the dungeons here of course.”
Aiylee hissed, “Go set him on fire or something, dad. Repeatedly! That asshole!” I laughed, “I’m fine, Aiylee.” She crossed her arms, “I don’t care. My cousins WILL NOT be attacked in my realm. It’s insulting and I WON’T have it. It’s even more insulting because, of course, they couldn't take you. You’re awesome and they couldn’t touch you if they wanted to. Why on EARTH did you agree to go out with Gystepi?” I looked away.
My mom instantly stepped in, “Everyone but Aiylee, me, and Angela needs to leave. Cassie is fine and you have things to do.” Everyone left and my mom sent a text out. I asked, “Who was that to?” My mom snorted, “Your Hackura uncles. They know to portal to the dungeon and not here.” I nodded.
I linked Tory and Gia, “I’m back. I’m fine.” Gia said, “Yeah, well we were sent away because SOMEONE thought we were overly aggressive. So, we were popped to Thunders Ridge to help with a rogue issue. We did know you were back though.” Tory snorted, “Maybe Gia punched someone who said they didn’t have answers.” Knowing Gia, she definitely did.
Then a thought hit me. Oh no. Was Cayden going to find out? Would he even care? Rain whimpered in my head. My mom sat on my bed, took my hand, and squeezed asking, “Cass?” I wiped a tear away, “I met my mate.” Aiylee frowned. I added, “I went on a date because I heard he was on one too, just not with me.” I started crying.
My mom held me, “Oh sweetie, did you talk to him? Was it a misunderstanding? It better be a fucking misunderstanding. I’m not above kicking anyone’s ass no matter how old they are.” I wiped my tears, “I didn’t talk to him.” A portal opened and my mom groaned.
She asked, “Did I not fucking say where to portal...” She trailed off when she saw who was coming through. She asked, “What the shit?!” Cayden ran through a portal eyes blazing gold. He looked so handsome and angry.
I cringed seeing my Uncle Bjourn coming through behind him looking very confused. My mom asked, “Bjourn, did you not read your texts? I said portal to the dungeons not the hospital. I was so fucking clear. We are having a mother daughter, cousin, sister, moment right now.” My Uncle said, “I did not open the portal, little one.”
Cayden came straight to me. He tilted my head to the side and checked me over. I whispered, “I’m fine. I’m sorry you were worried. You didn’t have to leave and ruin your date.” My mom asked, “What now?” Rain whimpered again in my head.
Cayden asked, “What are you talking about? I didn’t have a date.” I frowned, “But I heard Alexander and EJ say they couldn't spar with you because you had a hot date.” My mom sighed, “Oh shit fuck balls.” Cayden’s eyes blazed, “I was babysitting my youngest siblings. Your brothers were teasing me about my hot date with my little sister and two little brothers. I guess they continued the joke after I hung up the phone.” My jaw dropped and I flushed crimson.
Cayden studied me, “Did you go on a date because you thought I was on one?” I looked away but he grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. Rain pleaded, “Tell him everything.” I didn’t have much choice now. He asked, “Did you?” I nodded, “Yes, I couldn’t think of you on a date with someone else. I was going crazy thinking about it. Then he called.”
My mom snorted, “How fucking convenient. Don’t you just BET that fucker had inside information with a little magical note. FUCKING ALANIA! I will KILL THAT GODDAMN BITCH IN THE BEYOND!” She couldn’t actually die again there, but I understood the sentiment.
My Uncle said, “She is already dead, little sister. Cayden, when did you start dating Cassie? How did I miss that?” My mom told him, “You’re missing the obvious, big brother. They are not fucking dating.” My uncle gasped, “No fucking way.” His feelings in the bond told me he was delighted and he’d been suspecting we were mates since the portal opened. He just didn’t want to get his hopes up. My mom retorted, “Yes fucking way.”
Cayden looked into my eyes, “You’re saying it hurt your feelings that you thought I was on a date, and you went on a date to stop thinking about it.” I nodded. His eyes blazed again, “And your fucking piece of shit date attacked you?”
I winced, “That’s about how it went, yes. He brought some friends too but I had it handled. Some iron in the system and a tree to the head. I killed several of them all on my own.” Cayden demanded to know, “Where is he?” Uncle Bjourn said, “I already answered that before you opened a portal and took off. He’s in the dungeons.”
Cayden ignored him and kept his eyes on me. He asked, “My Duchess, where is he?” I gulped, “He’s here in the dungeons.” Cayden took off. I yelled, “Cayden, wait!” Uncle Bjourn said, “Yeah, that’s not happening. Let’s talk about something else. Like when did this happen?” I didn’t even look at him. I stared at the door where my mate had just left. He cleared his throat, “By that I mean when did you two meet.” I blushed, “Yesterday.”
Uncle Bjourn said, “And Cayden leaves tomorrow so he wanted to wait until he got back to talk to your dad because you would be eighteen. He was trying to be respectful of Eric and his wolf customs.” I nodded. Uncle Bjourn sighed, “Great. That is just….”
My mom cut in, “The words you’re looking for are fucking ridiculous! EJ and Wesley have known their mates forfuckingever.” Uncle Bjourn reasoned, “Cassie is not the same as EJ or Wesley.” My mom rolled her eyes, “Sexist shits. All of you. Cassie, we should go see if we can calm down Cayden, and by we, I mean you.”
A portal opened and Commander Aaron came through with Aunt Astrid. Both looked at me. Rain whispered, “He’s our father in law.” Yes, he was. She added, “Mate didn’t have a date.” Yeah, a knot of tension left us both the second we found out. Embarrassment was trying to creep in, but relief was my current emotion.
Aaron sighed, “I see.” Aiylee asked, “You see what?” Aaron snorted, “Why my son is so upset. When did you two meet, Duchess Cassie?” I was going to be blushing permanently at this point, “Yesterday. I popped to try to see him since I’d never met him and….” Aaron interpreted, “I got it.”
