I nodded. “He thought not jumping like normal would draw too much attention, but… Everyone needs to use their words more often and discuss stuff with us instead of making decisions for me or on my behalf. He’s my doctor, not my boss or keeper. Edelman kept doing the same. It’s why I trust Claudia and Geiger most. They’ve never done that aside from the stuff I’ve given them permission on.”
“For example?” Mr. Rothchild asked after a moment.
I nodded to the folder in his mate’s hand. “That. I translated the passages I’d found in journals and asked for his input as a dragon. He’s known some of your family and helped me find two places that could work. That’s managing what I need, not managing me. I went and… The feel of that place and the land was just everything. I could feel the vibes on the same wavelength with Mel’s dragon.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
I chuckled as I fidgeted with my dress. “I have no idea, Mel. I’ve only seen you change once now, and it wasn’t for very long, but it was like…” I sighed, trying to think of what I could compare it too. “Musical harmony. When you hear people singing, harmonize. It was that feeling with my spidey senses that it was the right place. Geiger laughed when I told him that, but it’s not like I have a clue what I’m doing.”
“No, but you’re normally right. Thanks for this, kid.”
I gave a sharp nod. “You’re welcome, but it’s also my duty. As one takes care of their sword and sharpens it so it’s already for battle, my people believe that rest, comfort, and the safety of having clan land is the same for those sworn to be our sword. I completely get it. Just like you said—you always treat the guards well and the Vogels do also. We believe that of all allies, especially those we trust most.”
They thanked me again, still seeming in shock. Their gratitude started making me uncomfortable, so I excused myself so they could talk about it as a family, and left.
I wasn’t going to stay upstairs and wait out the party like I had to hide… Plus my stomach had been promised food and expected it. My plan was to swing by the kitchen and pack up some yummies before clearing my head and disappointed heart with a walk on the property.
Unfortunately, one of the last people I wanted to see was making his way towards me as I walked down the stairs. He was allowed in the area as he’d helped plan and coordinate a lot, and it made sense given he was faculty with Artemis.
He was simply also my ex-lover.
Dr. Julian Craftsman was what women dreamed all Brits to be. He was six-two, with deep emerald green eyes and dark blond hair he always kept styled… Unless he was working too late, and then it was messed up from hours of running his fingers through his hair. Either way worked for him. He was so sexy, just about any look would work for him.
Our eyes locked, and I ignored the anguish in his, swallowing my reaction when he flinched. He’d seen something in my aura he didn’t like. Probably my grief and pain of us being over.
And I’d have to go by him to get to the kitchen.
So food was out for the moment and now I really needed some air. I hurried for the side door, away from the party or where people were being checked in while trying to act like I wasn’t rushing. I had hoped the night air would refresh me, but it wasn’t until I was a hundred feet from the building he was in that the pressure in my chest started to ease. I kicked off my heels and jogged away, needing more space.
Needing not to be overwhelmed with the pain anymore.
I finally felt like I could breathe again when I was far enough I couldn’t even hear the sounds of the party. The pressure left, and I had a moment to chastise myself that I was so far without backup or even weapons. That party was full of people hostile towards me and I go running off alone on the property?
I was smarter than that, but pain made us stupid.
Love made us stupid and grief blinded us. I was learning that all over again, and times four, as I was done with four relationships I’d cared for.
A few I more than simply cared.
I was about to head back when that foreboding feeling swarmed me fast, and my magic ramped up. I turned to find four men approaching me, goose bumps blossoming all over my skin.
And they had glowing eyes.
What. The. Fuck?
I’d never seen a supe do that. What else had I been missing about this world?
And why did I want to run from them? There were only four, and I’d dealt with way more without flinching. Something about them was… Off.
“What business do you have with me?” I demanded, giving a look that it would be their deaths if they came any closer.
They believed me, the one in front holding up his hand to halt the others when we were still fifty feet apart. “Stop trying to reopen Faerie. Your people are gone, and we will fight to keep it that way. This is bigger than you know, unknown. You cannot fight us like your humans or supes. Leave things alone, and we will not come for you.”
Oh, I didn’t believe that. I knew enough to know the moment I caved, bad guys thought they had me and would push or do more. I did
