I laughed, “You did… by getting shimmered away… that’s literally all we can do.” Paige grumbled, “But he’s linking me about getting back to him.” I replied, “I’m sure that will lead to fun things you like later.” Paige teased, “In bed.” I groaned, “Yeah, but can we not say that? Dalton is kind of like a brother to me.” Paige cackled back.
Xander quickly subdued the leader and the fight ended. Sierra linked me, “We have a prisoner. So, not all the Werebengals are dead.” I muttered, “Hopefully there are more of them somewhere and they aren’t as crazy. They are beautiful in their animal form. Too bad these ones were unhinged.”
Sierra snorted, “They had a death wish.” She was right, they did. Which was sad. They followed their leader, who was ready to die to get to me. They wouldn’t have lived even if they’d justtargeted me… but their idea to take out the women to take the area was not a good or sound one.
If Haley had felt one second of pain the Hackura would’ve descended on this place. If Titus felt his grandchildren in pain? It was all bad news for the Bengal’s. Something told me Aiden was ready to step in at a moment's notice as well.
Xander’s Fairy Uncle seemed to always know when to be around. I was pretty sure Aiden had someone in the pack telling him things… at least I was certain he did. I knew for a fact he had a Fairy around, who was reporting to him.
The pack member would have to be someone scholarly who wanted to know more about Fairies. They were still loyal to the pack though. Only letting Aiden know if his help was needed. It was an intriguing thought. Maybe I could ask Eric to confirm that…since he’d know about it.
Freya chastised the Werebengal leader and even knocked his tooth out. Freya said, “We need Paige to study that. Together with her we might be able to protect ourselves. We could confuse their spell or something.” That would be interesting. I’d have to put that idea in my notebook.
EJ popped in, confirming what I already knew. This group had a death wish. I’d seen far too many packs blinded by an overzealous, ego driven leader to even question why. Of course, Alpha Emmett Daniels wanted to know I’d given Emma.
I explained it to him, and he wanted to talk. Sierra linked, “You’re already late for the start of your day. If you start explaining to him the serums with the way you explain things, you’ll miss the whole meeting with your father in law and his planned company for said meeting.”
I frowned asking her, “How else could I explain it?” Sierra snorted, “You say here it is and you’re welcome. Boom. Explained.” I mean… that didn’t explain it at all though. Tristanlinked, “You are amazing. Go to your meeting since I understand this issue.”
I asked, “Uhh what?” Tristan replied, “That you can’t explain it without getting technical and your Beta Female knows that it would take you hours.” I replied, “It’s a complicated scientific and process…dad would totally understand it…but I had to isolate in their blood… that I acquired.”
Tristan groaned, “You stole the Hood’s blood?” I replied, “Uhh no… I know people with Hood blood… they gave me samples. So I did not steal it… I asked… and they agreed… there are signed consent forms.” Tristan’s lips twitched into a smile.
Xander yanked me into a kiss I was moderately convinced would have scorched the earth had he been a Fire Fairy. I was concerned when Haley said Micah got hurt… but they didn’t have anything on their claws that would injure a Hackura. Micah probably saved someone else from taking a claw to their wolf.
Eric was ready to leave while Dylan talked about my father in law’s declaration of love. Dylan brought up the domes. I was beginning to think the only thing that might work was an object with a drop of my blood in it. I could get through… and Egres confirmed someone else could if they were holding onto me. It was a theory to test out with Paige.
Freya asked, “Why are you nervous about mate saying our office is ready?” I replied, “Umm… I’m particular about the set up.” Freya said, “I’m sure you can fix it, if you don’t like it. Or you could consider it was done how you like it.”
Sierra linked me, “Don’t worry. I had a hand in helping Phil set it up. My mate was impressed by the setup you wanted. I think he’s curious how you intend to use it all.” I smiled brightly now, because that was exciting.
I missed my babies back in Nashville. My setup there was perfect. I watched as Egres and Blade, Haley’s Guard, grabbedHaley as she popped us away. We were now in my office. I couldn't stop my squeal when I saw how it looked.
I ran over to my computer monitors that were top of line. Even the laptop was perfect. This equipment was so nice. Blade snorted, “Is tech. Is fighter. Honorary Hackura.” I turned around to say, “Salve Blade, nomen mihi est Melanie (Hi Blade, my name is Melanie).”
Blade chuckled, “Audivi te nosse qui sint homines antequam introducantur. Mihi places. Alexandri custodis futurum est ut dolorem meum custodiat te. Est difficile ad custodiendum ... ut es (I heard you know who people are before they are introduced. I like you. My name is Blade. I am the Princess's guard. Alexander's guard is going to feel my pain guarding you. She is hard to guard... as are you).” I frowned.
Blade spoke again, “Malum non est. Mulier fortis es iuris. Lineamentum valde ammirabile est apud nostros (It is not a bad thing. You are a strong, independent woman. It is a highly admired trait among our people).”
I answered him, “Gratias tibi. Voluptatem tibi, Blade. Exspecto cum circumagam te. (Thank you. It was a pleasure to meet you, Blade. I look forward to seeing you around).” Blade replied, “Sicut ego, parva ducissa. sicut ego (As do I, little Duchess. As do I.)”
Haley laughed, “Alright, let’s leave them to their damn meeting. You can laugh at my son’s Guard later about sharing their pain. Even though you fucking adore me, Blade.” Blade agreed, “Blade does. Princess family.” Egress faded into the background when Haley and Blade popped away.
I said to Eric, “You must like Blade.” Eric acknowledged, “I do. He’s family to me at this point. I hold him in the highest regard and respect him. He loves Haley, me, and our pups.” I hummed, “That makes sense… since your view is how the Hackura sees their guards as well.”
Eric smiled saying, “Yes, I think it’s fascinating that you know that. That’s not our topic of discussion today though. Let’s get the topic for our meeting since we have a lot to discuss.” I asked, “Where did you want to start that discussion? I have a thought about where to start.”
Eric said, “I’d love to hear where that is.” I asked, “Who is giving Aiden information about when there is danger that he’s needed for? There’s the Fairy that lives here… obviously… but I think there’s a pack member too.”
Eric stared at me then started laughing. My father in law said, “No one outside the pack has figured that out. It’s both actually. Aiden pretends to not know that I know he has a Fairy living in my territory who loves getting into mischief and telling him things.”
“In dire situations, there is a member of the pack who calls Aiden and informs him when we need him. Said pack member has my brother in law’s direct line. That pack member came to me when Aiden asked him to do that. I gave my permission, and I know what information is passed to Aiden through the pack member.”
I nodded, “Which Aiden also knows and pretends not to.” Eric smiled, “He does know and I know he knows that I know. It’s a game we play.” I asked, “Why?” Eric laughed, “I don’t know. Maybe because of how our relationship started in this reality.”
“We both have grown to care for the other, but in the beginning the only thing that united us was Haley. I did not care for him at all for many years. He proved himself to me slowly, and I suppose I did the same in his mind.”
I pointed out, “You didn’t do anything for him not to like you.” Eric laughed, “In my eyes that’s accurate. I do not have a sister though. Aiden, unlike Haley’s Hackura brothers, can sense a person's motivations. There have been some instances withshe wolves, not unlike Amy, throughout my marriage that have entered our lives.”
