Cassie spoke, “It was you. You saved me that day at the drug bust because you saw past my charm. You saved me.” Melanie nodded, “Yes… I thought my friends were somewhat crazy because they didn’t know it was you. They actually called me crazy… with their eyes… it might have been stated actually… but I was right. So… that’s a thing.”
Melanie waved, “Then your phone didn’t have Cayden’s listed first… which I thought was odd… until I read that he didn’t send you out… so that made more sense. Someone told me to stay… which I guess was Freya….she said sometimes she broke through to me… and that time was probably because Xander was coming.” God damn it.
Melaine rambled, “I just… I had to help, Cassie. We were watching those drug dealers, and she just showed up… with her aunts and Milana. I made sure they were ok too…. so... I didn’t just leave them. I made sure they were all together and easily found.”
“I didn’t want to move them in case the blast did hurt them, more than I my scans said… the only one that was hurt was Cassie’s friend… I mean Milana… you all know her… so… yeah. Moving on… I bandaged her wound and…” I leaned down and kissed her.
Uncle Marcus asked, “Can we call the others now?” Melanie spotted Micah with Max and nodded, “Yes. I just wanted this group to know before they did. Xander deserved to know first… then obviously Cayden and Micah should be next… they’ve beentrying to figure it out for gosh… years. So it was only fair they knew.”
My mom popped in with Red Run, our family, and everyone else. Uncle Logan said, “Before this goes to a crazy place, something needs to be done. Son, introduce your mate. Please.” Corbin was wrapped around Blaise. My cousin smiled introducing her, “This is Blaise Simmons.”
My mom said, “No fucking way.” I asked, “What?” Then I studied Blaise and my jaw dropped. She was a royal Fire Fairy. My mom got out her phone and spoke in Fealish. She was telling my Uncle Aiden to pop to her. My Hackura Uncle’s groaned.
Uncle Aiden popped in, looked at Melanie first, and smirked. Then his gaze went to Blaise and his eyes widened. He studied Corbin then sighed, “The partial Fairies are now being mated with the Hackura? I didn’t see that one coming and a royal Fairy family at that.” Corbin stiffened.
Blaise whispered, “I’m a royal?” My Uncle Aiden nodded, “Yes cousin, you are. I am confused as to how that’s possible since my uncle should’ve been dead long before you were born.” My mom snorted, “He fucking donated his sperm. She has siblings, brother.”
Blaise’s gasped, “We have to get them out! They are good kids, I swear! I have an older brother, but he’s already on the outside. My younger siblings are in danger. Those people will hurt them!” Uncle Aiden and my mom popped away. They came back with five children.
My dad growled, “You didn’t even ask if they had a Fairy ward.” Blaise whispered, “Once Corbin told me I had Fairy blood, he gave me a book to practice. I took down the iron to the ward around our house. All of us felt weak, but we didn’t know why. Once it was gone, we were more powerful.”
The kids ran to Blaise, and she hugged them. Uncle Gunner offered, “I’ll get you all the children Lochtan fathered. I knowMicah has started working on it. We will make it our top priority, Hales.” Someone should tell Oscar and Matthias they had more siblings.
My mom smiled, “Thanks, Harper’s Boytoy Lover Prince.” Uncle Gunner rolled his eyes but smiled at her. Uncle Aiden rubbed his face, “This is just something. If my uncle put a reason for his actions down on some form the clinic has, I’d like to know what the hell it was.”
“Cousins, you all have two half-brothers that I know about. I’ll let them know about you. My sister has rules though, nothing happens unless you all want to meet them. My children are your cousins as well. The two partial brothers you have are around.”
“One lives next to my sister in a pack with his mate. The other bounces around with his mate, but he is currently ruling the Fire Territories until my son wants to take that job from him. So, he is often in Faerie with his family.”
Blaise asked, “Am I related to the Princess?” My mom said, “No, but you are a royal Fire Fairy Duchess. Sadly, I have no fucking fire blood.” Blaise’s eyes widened. Melanie snorted then straightened when everyone looked at her.
Blaise asked her, “What’s so funny?” Melanie busted up laughing, “Your name is Blaise….and you’re a Fire Fairy… but you didn’t know… that’s hilarious. It’s even funnier if your mom didn’t know the Fae she chose has Fire Blood.” We all actually started laughing because it was ironic.
I caught Gabe looking intently at something or someone across the room. Before I could look at who he was staring at he asked, “What about the other woman with you, Melanie? Did she get out?” Melanie snorted, “Yes. I actually need to go talk to her later.” I laughed, “Uh no.”
Melanie frowned, “But… I need to talk to her though and….” I cut her off, “Can I go?” Melanie thought about it and said, “I was planning on Valentina shimmering me in. If you promise not tolisten to us… I guess… let me text her. If she’s ok with it, that’s fine… which is probably a yes… she’ll want to meet you.”
Melanie took out her phone. To my surprise, Gabe pressed the issue, “But you know she got out of the place before it exploded. Right?” Melanie stared at him before answering slowly, “Yes, I saw her outside… she’d have been fine even if she wasn’t outside though.”
Cayden asked, “What is she?” Melanie glanced across the room where Gabe was looking. My mate turned back to Cayden smiling as she answered, “A Resistance member.” EJ snorted. Drake said, “You’re in the Resistance, Ladybug.”
Melanie crossed her arms saying, “Which you knew. I’m pretty sure you did. At least Grandpa Ben did… which he’s been oddly quiet about.” Ben spoke, “Yes, I did know because you saved me. One of your friends drugged me.”
Melanie said, “I saved you a few times.” Uncle Bjourn said, “I’d like a meeting with your boss.” My dad threw out, “Same.” EJ stopped the chain of that echo by saying, “We all do.” Melanie hummed, “I’ll be sure to pass that along.” Tristan demanded, “I want you out.”
Melanie replied, “No.” My eyebrows went up. Blaise laughed then clapped her hand over her mouth. My cousin’s mate apologized, “Sorry, that slipped out. She’s just funny.” Tristan ignored that and then said, “You don’t belong in the Resistance.”
Melanie’s jaw dropped. Gage linked, “Someone needs to tell T to abort whatever the fuck is going on in his head.” My mate’s shock, disbelief and fury shot through my foot, so I’d have to agree. I asked my wolf, “Any thoughts here?” Oden answered, “I’m trying to get some sort of insight from Freya.” Ok.
Melanie argued, “Yes, I do.” I tried to save the conversation saying, “You made Laxenread.” I shot Tristan a warning look. Melanie answered, “Yes, I did. I wanted to protect you and your family.” Tristan growled, “Mel.” Oh, for fuck’s sake.
Phil linked, “You threw him a lifeline, and he ignored it. Damn.” Melanie whirled around asking, “What do you want me to do? They came after Jason and Kai a lot. I found a way to protect them, and I took it. The Ring's ultimate goal is to kill my mate. Did you want me to do nothing? Sorry... but that’s not happening.”
I frowned asking, “What are you talking about?” Melanie sighed, “Logically… it’s just… I mean… it’s a theory… kind of… in a way…” Phil opened a portal and pulled Sierra through. Sierra soothingly said, “Just explain the theory, Melanie.”
Melanie sighed, “The Ring wants Haley, Cassie, and Angela alive. They don’t want the males in the Conners family alive though….because they are sexist jerks. They have sent people after the Conners boys… but they have sent the vast majority of them at Xander.” I frowned and looked around.
My gaze landed on EJ, but it was clear neither of us had known that. EJ asked, “Why don't you think that’s because they had you? And you thought you were his mate? I know why you didn’t think that before, but with what we know now that could be the reason.” Melanie looked at my dad.
