“We were ambushed by Underground,” he answered. “The job was an escort of magical goods. They knew we were coming but luckily, we got there early, and the goods secured before they started attacking. They could have just run, but once the goods were out of their reach, one of their people tossed some sort of magical grenade weapon at us. It was as if hundreds of knives stabbed us at once. Our wolves—”
“Save your strength and heal,” I cut in, hating how pained it sounded for him to talk. “I’m glad that stuff was safe, but your lives aren’t worth things.”
“It wasn’t just charms and trinkets,” Geoff muttered as he changed his hold on me and picked me up. He carried me over to an empty cot and sat me down. “It was serious power, and detrimental if it had gotten in their hands.”
I opened my mouth to bitch about them not just transferring it by portal, but then closed it, remembering something Calloway had warned me about once; some of the items in her shop were not able to travel by portal, or the magic would be stripped away. Okay, that made more sense… And made me feel like I was still a total newb to this world.
Always.
They brought me more food, and I was lost in my thoughts as I inhaled it. I realized people were talking around, and to me, when Geoff moved into my line of sight.
“Are you okay?”
I blinked at him. “Yes, fine. I was thinking of Alec and his situation and what to do next.”
“I asked what we could do to repay you for saving so many of our pack.”
I shrugged. “We’re cool, Geoff. You’re helping the hobgoblins and facilitating a lot that would be on my plate. I was glad to do it.”
He scratched his cheek and glanced at his wolves recovering on the cots. “I’m tight with an Alpha in Australia. If you’re plotting something, I can give you a secure location.”
“Thanks, but it would also have eyes. It’s better to do such things in human-heavy places where no one would watch for it.” I winked at him when he gave me a surprised look. I not only confirmed I was going to do something, but that I still had more secrets.
Didn’t we all?
Once I’d refueled enough to seem fine and not show how much I needed, I left with Claudia. She was surprised when I brought her home though.
“I want to share this with Chief and explain where my head is,” I clarified as I knelt down by the Alpha.
He placed his paw on my hand, and we spent a few minutes updating each other and talking options. He leaned in and licked my face when we came to a decision, and I couldn’t help but giggle.
“While Tanesha brings the dog to Australia to search for other fae dogs, and eyes are on them, we’re going to sneak Chief and the pack in there as well. One of the other packs not sworn to me can take up guard duty here and get a bit spoiled. I think they’ll be fine with that.”
“What are they going to do?”
I smiled up at her. “Find more hobgoblins. Alec could only get us the ones with dragons. This will help us find the rest.”
She smiled at me, an evil glint in her eyes. “And the hobgoblins are doing well with their new power. The apology from the warlock council was lame and complete bullshit, but even they caved to the pressure of their people wanting fae goods.”
“And people will blame Alec for opening Australia to our scrutiny. We know that’s not the truth, but they will see it like that and blame him. I see that as an all-around win as they’ll all be focused on each other and fighting like idiots, distracting their councils even, if we’re lucky.”
“I’ll let Geiger know, and we’ll start strategizing immediately. It’s a good play.”
“Good, then I’ll leave it to the adults because I’m starving.”
She snorted, shaking her head at my antics. Yeah, I was always hungry.
5
The photo shoot was at the new resort in South America that I was majority owner of. After a lot of back and forth, it was decided this was also how we were going to announce—loudly—that I was the main owner with all the dragon royals. When we found out that they hadn’t been keeping my help with the crystals quiet, but the councils were pushing a narrative that it was bullshit, we knew we had to act.
But how?
We couldn’t seem as if we were reacting to them and risk their pushing back. They wanted that chance.
There were also rumors that their oath of protection was bullshit too. I didn’t need two guesses who those came from, plus elites that were jealous and wanted me torn down as well. Announcing that it was the truth seemed as if I needed the protection though, so we wouldn’t do that.
In other words, there were several sticky situations we were dancing around. It was Keya, the hobgoblin who managed the business estate of Natalie and our friends, along with her mate, Mourn, who came up with the answer.
“Hold the photo shoot at the new resort and have the launch party for the new partnerships there before the opening,” she had said in passing while we were all debating, easily as if we were dense for missing that. “Frame it that of course you were also promoting your new resort. Sneak pictures out as previews, and people will do the rest.”
“You’re the best, Keya.”
She had shrugged, but turned yellow in joy at the praise from me. “You went with my suggestion to
