by Kim Schubert
“Because one of the possible outcomes is the enslavement and destruction,” she hissed at me, “of all Supernaturals.”
Anna shook her head. “So you thought … what? Avoiding the problem would make it go away?”
“Possible futures,” Jaelle hissed at Anna. “I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this.”
I sighed. “Is there anything else in the prophecies that can help us?” I asked.
Dacey shook her head. “Much has come to pass, much is still in limbo.” It was like talking to the damn Oracle.
“Don’t ask what the future will be,” Jaelle warned.
“The future is what we make it,” Anna responded.
I nodded. “We’ve dealt with the uncertainty of prophecies before. What is going to happen cannot be stopped. All we can do is make the best decisions for our dependents.”
The door to the garage opened and sleepy but content Jerry and Mark ambled in.
“Oh sweet, beautiful coffee, come to daddy,” Jerry whispered.
Mark laughed loudly, hauling in a car seat. Jerry looked at him, confused for a moment before realizing what he had just said, then smiling widely at his mate. I couldn’t help but grin myself as I watched their interactions.
Mark set the baby down on the table in her car seat, rubbing his eyes. “She finally fell asleep.”
I chuckled. “The portal must have been draining on her, not to mention almost being starved.”
“We took her into urgent care, and she came out with a clean bill of heath. …Tommy got us the documentation,” Jerry admitted after a moment’s hesitation.
I grunted, “That kid learns new tricks every day.”
I felt Logan awaken.
Downstairs, dealing with shit.
He growled, even in my head, displeasure at not being included and waking up without me ringing clear through the bond.
I pushed his annoyance away. I had plenty of my own.
“Jerry, I need you to work with Jaelle and Dacey to get everything they need to kill whatever is keeping Amin and my father asleep.”
He nodded, taking a sip of his coffee as I stood. “What are you going to do?” Anna asked me.
“That depends, do you want to take the unicorns to their new home, go property shopping with the mermaids, or work with Tommy on tracking down leads for possible hideouts of our mother?”
Anna’s face wrinkled in disdain. Logan entered the kitchen. “Let Hudson take the unicorns to their home. He can shift and lead them there. We plotted out a course last night. I’ll send a car along as back up.”
I nodded. “Mermaids?” I asked Anna.
She huffed, standing with a grunt. “Mermaids,” she agreed.
I chuckled, going to kiss Logan good morning. “It’s too damn early,” he complained.
“I know. I couldn’t sleep.”
He grunted, going for the coffee. I headed to Tommy’s room, pausing outside his door, deciding to call Becky instead.
She answered groggily, “What’s up, boss?” I hated when she called me that.
“I need you to look into the incident that happened with the giant Fae tree, see if you can pinpoint any anomalies and if any other locations in the country have them.”
Becky grunted, “Even in Garrick’s territory?”
“Yes, everywhere. I think something else came through that night.”
“The Tree was a distraction?”
“Possibly, or an unforeseen consequence.”
“On it,” Becky ended the call. At least she didn’t call me boss again.
I pondered for a moment outside of Tommy’s room. Did I wake him up and get him on the case, too? Or just let Tommy rest and trust Becky on this one? I sighed. I needed to try and let Tommy be a kid. He had already proven to be an asset and I’d have plenty of additional opportunities to test his skills.
I was headed back to the kitchen when the doorbell sounded. I felt Logan’s concern and worry blast through the mate mark. No one should have gotten past the guard gate. I was running to the front door.
“Stay in your rooms!” I yelled as doors began to crack open. I stormed down the stairs, sliding to a stop next to a hideous end table, gaudy as hell. I assumed Lorraine had picked it out. The twisted design hid a gun safe operated by a fingerprint scanner, bolted through the wood and into the concrete. That was the only reason it was still here.
Dammit, I could use Anna, and Hudson.
Logan stood poised at the door, waiting, his eyes darkening when they landed on me. The pit of dread grew in my stomach. Casting a quick glance at the kitchen, I saw Jerry, Jaelle and Dacey standing back a few paces. All eyes were riveted to the monitor by the door. I was glad Mark and the baby were out of sight.
I looked up to see a familiar face and small-statured body, fear churning in my gut.
I depressed the talk button on the monitor. “What are you doing here, Bob?”
“Four—or, excuse me, Olivia. I have come to negotiate the terms of your assistance,” Bob merrily replied, as though a Fae showing up on my doorstep wasn’t the worst of nightmares.
“Assistance for what?” I demanded.
Bob fidgeted, steepling his fingers in front of him and drumming them together one by one. “I’d appreciate an audience with you, face to face.”
I grunted, “Fine, but not here.”
Bob nodded, “You don’t trust me.”
He almost sounded sad about that fact.
“Nothing personal, Bob. The Fae and I don’t have the best track record together.”
He nodded again. “I understand. In the park then, next to the coffee house?”
“Yeah, just give me a few minutes to get dressed.”
Bob smiled and disappeared.
“Fucking creepy,” Jerry whispered, shaking.
I wanted to put all the children into the panic room and demand they never leave. This was a threat I was woefully unprepared to destroy.
I turned to Jerry and the necromancers. “Get working on the list. I need my father awake if any of us plan to survive the Fae.” My words were a harsh whisper; I didn’t believe for a second Bob was really gone.
As one, they nodded shakily. Logan and I were hot up the stairs and into our room.
“You are scared,” he said as I pulled on my leather pants.
“Scared doesn’t begin to cover how fucking terrified I am. I don’t know how to kill the Fae, fuck I can’t even injure one unless I for some reason find myself with Anna and a magic sword. That damn tree was probably a distraction so whatever the fuck else came through could.”
“You’ve never failed the children, Olie.” He wasn’t moving fast enough for me.
“We’ve never gone up against the Fae, Logan.” I strapped my double swords on, feeling better the second their comfortable weight settled onto my shoulders.
He nodded, looking over my leather jacket, sword, dagger, and guns. At least I was leaving the crossbow here. I still hadn’t called Myrtle for that damn flamethrower.
“I need a flamethrower.”
Logan raised his eyebrow at me, clearly not understanding my sheer panic. I hope he never did.
“Let’s go,” I said, rushing past him.
…
The walk to the park was painfully long. Was he hurting someone? Did some kid walk too close to him? Was he planning on an epic display of power? What sick shit was I going to find? I thought about taking the SUV, but I needed to move. To try to gather my thoughts, to form several plans.
How the fuck had Bob found me? Could my mother find me as easily? What about Luharposn? That thought chilled my insides and was the only thing I could focus on. I’d give myself up now if it saved Logan and the children the horror of that soulless creature.
Bob was waiting at a picnic table, a coffee perched in front of him and a peaceful smile on his worn, brown face.
I never altered my gait as I approached, taking the seat across from him and resting my arms on the table.
“How d
id you find me?” Right to the point.
“A homing spell from the blood you left in the world I believe you refer to as Red.”
“Can anyone do that?” I asked.
“Only the most skilled Fae can track across dimensions.” My gut said he was telling the truth. My head warred with me on it.
I wanted to ask if Luharposn was a skilled Fae, but that felt too much like tipping my hand.
“I’m afraid he is.”
“Dammit,” I hissed.
“You can read minds?” Logan asked, sitting down next to me.
Bob shrugged. “Not all minds, but Olivia’s is unusually open. Aside from that, I know her fear of Luharposn. I have watched her a long time and understand her need to protect her charges.”
I didn’t know what to make of that. Except that it unnerved me to no end, so much so that I tore my mind from thinking about it.
“What did you want to discuss?” I asked.
Bob sighed, his frail arms coming to rest on the table as he looked down into his coffee. “It is with a grave heart that I regret to inform you the Queen has been taken.”
My brows drew down. “My mother?” I asked, confused.
Bob shook his head, waving a dismissive hand. “No, The Queen of the Fae. Your mother volunteered to help Luharposn’s insanity.”
“Not surprised there. What happened to everyone in that world?” I asked.
“Most would be dead. Luharposn would need to consume their energy to fuel his magic in order to steal our Queen and transport to Earth.”
“Why Earth?” Logan asked.
“He has grown bored on Fae. The Queen wouldn’t allow him to use Earth as an entertainment source, though.”
“So, he took her to amuse himself?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“That’s insane,” Logan grumbled. Yeah, I couldn’t disagree there. Boredom had Luharposn kidnapping the Fae Queen, freeing my mother, and killing my people. I fucking hated that man.
“I’m afraid Luharposn’s advanced age has caused his mental faculties not to function as well as they once did,” Bob explained.
“What do you want from us?” I asked.
“Your help in getting The Queen back.”
“What do we get in return?” I asked.
“What do you want?”
“Cure The Magician and Amin—“
“Done,” Bob said quickly.
“Assist if needed in breaking through the blocks of my magic—“
Bob waved a hand, yawning, “Easily.”
“Tell me how to kill Luharposn.”
“No.” The answer was instant. “I can do many things, but not that.”
“Fine, then I reserve a final favor.”
Bob nodded, “Agreed.” I really should be asking for more, I realized. He was quick to give me almost anything I wanted.
“What of The Succubus Queen?” Logan asked.
“What happens to her is of no consequence.” Bob dismissed it with a wave of his hand.
“Luharposn?” I asked.
Bob’s large brown eyes rested on me. “The Queen will want him, if he’s alive when we free her.”
“I guess killing him will be my first priority, then.”
Bob nodded seriously. “So long as you get the Queen back unharmed.”
“We can’t guarantee unharmed,” Logan added.
Bob shifted in his seat. “Smart lion,” he conceded.
“I accept your terms,” he agreed after a moment.
He held out his hand and I looked at it warily.
“I don’t suppose I have much of a choice,” I whispered.
“No, not unless you want the necromancers, mage, Magician and djinn to die.”
I blew out a breath as he casually listed off the death toll. Gritting my jaw, I held out my hand. “We have an agreement.”
“Lovely, now let’s go cure your father.”
…
I was leery about letting Bob into the house, but also helpless.
“Do not hurt my charges,” I warned him softly.
“I do not harm children,” he answered, annoyed.
I grunted, opening the door and following him in.
He paused and moved to the side, crossing his arms and tapping his foot. I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering what was making him nervous.
“This way,” I muttered, moving to Amin’s room first. I opened the door and headed inside, Bob following me.
“You don’t like our home,” Logan commented, closing the door behind us.
Bob cast Logan a look before going to sit next to Amin. “I have no issue with your home, but your father…” Bob looked over at me and I raised my head, intrigued. “We didn’t leave things very well between us.”
“You are the reason the unicorns called him a liar.” I was making a statement and regretting trusting a Fae.
“I am.” Bob didn’t elaborate, and I was more concerned about his ability to wake Amin up without killing him.
“I wonder, however did you come to obtain a djinn,” Bob stated or maybe asked, but I wasn’t telling him. He knew too fucking much about me already.
Bob sighed, touching Amin’s forehead. A brilliant orb manifested there, absorbing into Amin’s skin before disappearing. Amin’s eyes snapped open with a powerful inhale.
“Welcome back,” Bob said, standing up and stepping back. Amin sat up, swinging his long legs over the bed.
“What happened?” he asked, holding his head in his hands.
“The portal was booby trapped,” I told him.
Amin shook his head, looking at Bob. “Fae?” he asked.
Bob nodded.
“You don’t like the Fae,” Amin stated, looking at me.
I grunted, how the fuck did he know that?
“Desperate times, now let’s wake my father up.”
Bob sighed, following me out as Logan brought up the rear. I knocked gently on the door to my father’s room, waiting for Doyle. His movements were slower, his clothing hanging loose.
Doyle snorted, looking behind me at Bob.
“No!” he rumbled, trying to close the door.
“Dammit,” I hissed, stopping the door with my foot. “He woke Amin up.”
Doyle paused in crushing my foot. “He can’t be trusted. You know this!”
I sighed, why was everyone telling me what I already knew?
“I don’t trust him, but we need his help and he needs us. The arrangement is temporary.”
Doyle rumbled, “If he harms The Magician—”
I rested a hand on Doyle’s arm, pushing the door open. “I know, Doyle, I know.”
Doyle finally relented, nodding as he opened the door fully. I blew out a breath, going to stand by my father’s head.
Bob sat down on the bed, watching me, his light form hardly denting the mattress. “You care for him.”
I thought about telling him about the memory Baqer had given me, but shrugged instead. “He is family,” I finally answered. And whatever complicate mess that entailed.
Bob didn’t miss my pause. “Indeed.”
He repeated the touch to the forehead with a brilliant orb. My father’s eyes opened; a breath later, he grabbed Bob’s thin wrist.
I saw Bob swallow. “Magician,” he greeted my father.
“Bob,” my father wheezed. His gaze swung up to me. “Daughter,” he whispered, releasing Bob, who moved away from him quickly.
“Easy,” I counseled, moving to steady him in his attempt to stand. “The portal was booby trapped.”
“How did you return? Amin?” he asked, working on putting the pieces of his missing days together.
I shook my head. “We blended two spells and blood to open a portal from there.”
He nodded, rubbing his forehead and lying back down. “I should have known you would have found a way.” His gaze swung to Bob. “What is he doing here?”
I sighed. “We needed his help to wake you and Amin up. He needs our help to free The F
ae Queen from Luharposn.”
The Magician’s gaze cut to Bob.
“She did a fine job of negotiating,” Bob offered. “Even demanded I help, if needed, freeing her power.”
The Magician grunted, pushing slowly into a sitting position. I moved to help him up.
“Not to mention a favor yet to come,” Logan added, leaning against the doorway.
That caught my dad’s attention. He gave me a slow, approving nod. A loud snore had me turning to see Doyle, passed out.
I huffed, pulling out a spare blanket from the closet and draping it over him.
“He watched over you,” I said to no one in particular. My father might have claimed Doyle was my guardian, but I didn’t think so.
I turned, debating my next move. Finding where my mother and the monster Fae were hiding out was going to do me no good if I couldn’t kill them both.
What about those untapped powers Anna displayed in the red world library?
“Where is Anna?” I asked Logan. His superb hearing didn’t leave room for many secrets in our house. He tilted his head, listening.
“With Ginny,” he rumbled.
I nodded. “Who is Anna?” Bob asked, very interested in my business.
I turned, debating, searching his earnest face that begged to be trusted. “Anna was Seven.”
Understanding dawned in his overly large brown eyes. “Seven,” he repeated thoughtfully.
I nodded. Bob raised his chin, eyeing me warily.
I rolled my eyes, answering his unasked question. “Yes, I know who her father is, and so does she.”
His brow furrowed. “Who told you?”
It was my turn to furrow my brow. “Explain why it matters.”
“She was not supposed to know,” he hissed at me, no longer the benign helper.
“Too late,” I snipped back. “Does she have hidden power as well?” I demanded.
His lips thinned into an invisible line. That answered that question.
“Do not use your favor, let us see if we can unlock her power first,” my father counseled.
I nodded.
“You probably need to rest—” I began.
My father waved me off. “No, I’m done resting.” He looked at Doyle. “Food would be good, though.”
I nodded, heading outside the room, finding Amin waiting for us.
He nodded, cautiously looking at Bob. “Can I speak with you?” he asked me.