Dax demanded, “Stop doing this for them! If they catch you, it’s all over.” That wasn’t true. They could continue without me. I had everything set to send to Kingsley if I was ever captured for real. They could torture me all they wanted, but I would never give my friends names up.
I’d never tell anyone about the Resistance to someone holding me captive. I replied, “I won’t leave her unprotected out here and you know that. I won’t leave and text EJ her location and leave. She could get hurt. Anyone would try and get her because she’s his mate and she’s defenseless… that’s… no… Plus, I won’t get caught.” They knew that.
Dax complained, “For the love of god, I wish you could just quit them.” Honestly, sometimes so did I. Addison quietly ordered, “Stop it guys.” She turned to me saying, “Do what you need to, Bravo One. We will monitor everything and let you know if anything else happens.”
I questioned, “How the HELL did you not know THIS was happening? How did they even get to her? The number of alerts I have on her… specifically her… are high. Everything should’ve gone off… I don’t understand… that’s… did…. you…. UGH! This wasn’t supposed to happen to any of them but NOT ever HER!”
As much crap as Dax and Caine were giving me… they wouldn’t have let Elise get hurt because they knew I’d charged in guns blazing. Hendrick explained, “It was spur of the moment apparently.” That couldn’t be right.
The Ring and others had tried to take Elise before. It didn’t really make sense that they’d take a chance on a whim. They were just in the right place at the right time? That just sounded extremely suspect. They had inside information somehow.
I instructed, “Get all their things.” Hendrick assured me, “We know the drill. You go return her and get back safely.” Elise scoffed, “Hey, I’m fine on my own. I’ll get back to EJ by my bad ass self. Thank you very much.”
That hurt. She didn’t want to come with me. Freya pointed out, “She doesn’t know you are you.” I weakly argued, “I still saved her.” Caine linked, “Great. It’s even what she wants to do now. So, leave her to do it herself.” I shot him a look.
I told Elise, “You’re not on your own… I’m here… well... no. I mean obviously I’m here, just get in the car Elise.” Elise backed up declining, “No. I want to talk about your issues with my dad. We could figure them out.”
I changed tactics, “Elise, just get in the car and I’ll get you back to EJ. You want to get back to EJ, right?” Elise snorted, “Of course I do. Your friends don’t like me though. Why should I get in the car?” I somewhat pleaded, “Just… let me get you closer to your territory… I’ve been nice to and your dad… honestly… he owes me. I saved his life… for you…. maybe me… maybe other people… I still saved his life!”
I was planning on taking her to Yellow Hills. I couldn’t get caught there, but I had a better chance of getting away than from Red Run or Black Mountain. EJ would be on the warpath with Elise missing. I was going to be cutting it close, and she was making it a whole lot harder.
My brain was mentally calculating how long before she passed out. It wasn’t much longer. I told her, “You’re going to pass out and it will be MUCH simpler if you get in the car before that happens.” Elise argued, “I don’t wanna get in the car. I wanna know why you don’t like my dad.” All of my friends groaned.
The problem with that was it was a long story that I was incapable of telling quickly. I was VERY bad at telling short stories, especially when it was as life altering as what her dad did to me. Dax snorted, “Leave her pampered ass here Bravo One.”
I yelled, “ENOUGH! Don’t talk about her like that! Ow… god that hurts. Don’t make me move my arms… everything already hurts so much… just… be nice.” Regret flashed in their eyes with anger. They didn’t like what I was doing, but they did know I was in pain. Pain that had receded and was coming back quickly.
I turned back to Elise explaining, “The deal with your dad… that’s… well… it’s a long story that you do not have time to hear right now… maybe ever. I prefer ever… honestly... You’re going to pass out in a few minutes so to the car... like right now... let’s go.”
Elise stomped her foot, “NO! I want to know the story. They seem to think I’m some spoiled little girl. He called me a Duchess!” Well, she wasn’t spoiled but she was a Duchess. Freya linked, “Technically so are you.” I snorted, “I’m not a Duchess.” Freya argued, “You will be. Just like Elise is.” I wasn’t fit to be a Duchess. That was not a thing.
I reminded Elise, “You are a Duchess of the Hackura and Faerie… you know… since you are married to the Duke of both realms.” Elise sighed, “That’s another thing. You know so much about so much! How? Why? Because it can’t be why I think it is. It just can’t be.” I mean, I have an intensely expansive network… I also know a lot about her because we grew up together, but we couldn't get into that.
Dax snorted, “They really don’t get it do they?” I linked him, “They aren’t supposed to.” Dax retorted out loud, “Being willfully ignorant is a choice.” Elise growled, “What is THAT supposed to mean?” Sierra laughed, “It’s FAR too late to get a clue Duchess Luna Elise Conners. You’ve been blind for so damn long that I think you LIKE it that way. You buried your head in the sand while Bravo One just kept saving your asses over and over.”
Sierra sneered, “Your dad knows the answer. Red Run is apparently keeping many secrets. I wonder if they lied about things to keep everything the way it was. I think they lied specifically about people in your pack. Don’t you just KNOW they did? Because I do.” Elise snarled and I grabbed onto her.
I linked Sierra, “Are you talking about Xander?” Sierra answered, “That’s exactly who I’m talking about. They lied to you about him, Mel. Think about who his mother is. He would NEVER promise to reject you. His mother would kill him.”
I argued, “Jason is his best friend.” Sierra rolled his eyes pointing out, “Mate trump's best friend. No one would think he should get a second chance for rejecting you over something you had no control over. His DAD would kick his ass too, considering how long he waited for his mate.” I didn’t want that to happen. I just wanted to be his choice.
Freya said, “Elise is angry.” I needed to get her in the car and I needed her to trust me. I knew exactly how to do that…I just didn’t want to have to resort to it. Freya warned, “We are at that point. Do it.” Ugh. Sadly, my wolf was right.
I said her name, “Elise.” When her angry eyes landed on mine, I used our code word, “Elise, Mshango.” Shock colored her expression before she passed out. Seriously?! I yelled, “OH COME ON! I do so much… for SO many people.”
“Could I be given one thing? NO! I just wanted her in the car. This was NOT too much to ask… it’s a punishment for having the time OF MY LIFE these last two weeks. I know it is.” I was so beyond annoyed.
I could carry her, but my back was killing me. My adrenaline was fading fast. I carried her to the car, put her in the back, and buckled her in. Valentina got in the passenger side, and I got in the driver's seat. I waved to my friends who all waved back.
Valentina whispered, “What happened?” I explained, “I saved Kai.” She snorted, “I know that since Virgil told me we could stop looking and he went to you.” I huffed, “Yes, well Booker was rather upset about it.” Valentina asked, “Are you ok?” I snorted, “I haven’t been ok for quite some time. I was more than fine the last two weeks. I was with Xander.”
Valentina shrieked, “WHAT?! Way to bury the lead there, Mel. I can’t believe Virgil didn’t SPILL that tea.” I laughed then shifted uncomfortably. Everything hurt. I explained, “Virgil barely knew anything. Xander knows me as Ashley. He doesn’t know who I really am. I'll explain when he gets back from his mission, and we will go from there.”
Valentina reached over and squeezed my thigh, “He won’t care. He will want you because you are amazing.” My grip tightened on the wheel, “We will see. Shimmer us outside the portal to Yellow Hills.” Valentina nodded.
We sat at the holoport that would lead us where I wanted to go. I turned to her and she studied me. I said, “I’ll leave you right behind their border then get Elise as close as I can then try to get back to you.” Valentina replied, “I’ll shimmer you away if need be. They will NOT put you in the dungeons. I’ll go to Duke Alpha Alexander myself. You are his mate so they can’t do that.”
I winced, “He doesn’t know that his mate is not only in the Resistance, but the leader… let alone that that I’m Melanie McAlister.” Valentina snorted, “The man is smart. I bet he does know some of those things. I have a feeling he does know you’re Melanie.” I shrugged because I wasn't going to hope for that.
