by Erin R Flynn
“She clearly thinks they’re applicable now, Iolas,” Taeral muttered as he studied the pages. “She is a woman of focused priorities and determination any royal would be proud of. This has to be relevant to…” He blinked at the page and then at me.
“You’re seeing what I did?” I checked.
“Maybe,” he hedged. “This speaks of building the vast power because of a rare alliance between light and dark fairies.”
“Yes, it does,” I agreed. “What if we weren’t erecting a barrier or glamour, but pushing life and power back into Faerie? It could maybe work, right? I mean, the theory isn’t that far off?”
He looked at the book again and quickly read several paragraphs, slowly shaking his head. “No, you’re definitely not wrong, Princess. I think you are absolutely correct that if we applied this theory of power gathering, we could pump vast power into Faerie and revive her well ahead of our best estimates. We need more information on how this yin-yang power-building theory works though.”
“Then we start focusing on paths to both our royal libraries,” Iolas suggested, reading over Taeral’s shoulder. “I believe this is a much better idea than our groups focusing together with larger reservoirs, Your Highness.”
“Good,” I sighed. “I was worried it was stupid and completely off and I would waste our time.”
“While your education is lacking—through no fault of your own—and your ideas might be too fanciful of hope people will be good, your logic is rarely stupid and you never really waste time,” Neldor muttered as he read over Taeral’s other shoulder.
I met Taeral’s unamused gaze and smirked. “That’s actually one of the nicest things he’s ever said about me. Ask the hobgoblins if you don’t believe me. I think Irma is constantly red around him and has threatened to make him sleep in the garage with the dogs multiple times.”
The top of Taeral’s head was seconds from popping off, he got so pissed, so fast. I wasn’t trying to get Neldor in more trouble; I was just glad the dark fairies were seeing it wasn’t me or bullshit rumors spread by my people.
“I wouldn’t have ever thought to invert this sort of power gathering,” Taeral admitted as he tapped a spot on the page. “It’s specific to protection. It’s why light and dark are allowed to combine in such a way that compounds magic so fast. The gods bless magic being used to protect always.”
“Yes, but it is protecting still,” I pushed. “It protects us and all fair folk to have Faerie alive and safe. We’re not safe here as we are there. That’s why I thought it could work here.”
“You’re right,” Taeral agreed. “I think you’re absolutely correct. I’m simply saying that’s why I wouldn’t have thought of it that way. I see Faerie as a constant. You see it as a haven the fair folk have been denied of these past twenty years. It’s another example of your perspective being different from ours as an asset, not a strike against you.”
“You keep bringing that up,” Iolas grumbled.
“Because it surrounds her like her mental shielding. She wraps it around her in the same way as a protective barrier, but with spikes in it to protect her.” He dipped his head to me in apology that he was speaking of me while I was standing right there. “You do. And I understand it. You will need that in the days to come. I simply want you to know that any with a brain will spend two minutes with you and see it as an asset.”
“Thank you.” I rushed the conversation along since I didn’t want to discuss that with them. “I leave this matter with you then. Let me know if or when I’m needed. I would bet it required a queen, heir, or royal. All the big stuff always seems to.”
“You are not the only—” Neldor started.
“I said if,” I sighed, giving him a tired look. “It’s why I brought you in this. I don’t care if you tell everyone it was your idea even, Neldor. Take the win. Brag if you get it done. Just get it done if you can. If not, let me know. I just want Faerie healed and our people safe.”
“You can entrust this assignment to us, Your Highness,” Iolas promised.
I smiled at him and Taeral. “I never doubted it. You work tirelessly for our people. It’s why I plan on offering you both positions as commanders in the Fae Guardians I will be creating that will be peacekeepers and protect all people in our world, as there will be peace. No more wars. No more killing each other. Not while I’m alive, even if I have to kick every fairy’s ass to make it happen.”
The three of them were gobsmacked at my announcement, Taeral finding his voice first. “You might need to if you want that dream to become reality.”
I threw back my head and laughed as I headed for the door. “I can always use a sparring partner--or fifty.”
“She will definitely not be like any queen we’ve ever had,” Iolas muttered as I left the room. His tone didn’t seem as if he was sure that was a good or bad thing.
I wasn’t sure I cared since I hadn’t said I’d actually accept the job yet.
They maybe should remember that instead of assuming it was a given.
24
The next part of my fun day was seeing more progress. I got to see how the fairies were doing in the hotels and how the expansions were all going. Then it was the havens and how all the hobgoblins I’d rescued were settling in. That made my heart hurt as I desperately wanted to rescue the rest and pushing that back had made me cry in my sleep many, many nights.
I knew I couldn’t do it everything all at once, but I wanted to fucking try at least. Fine, I would only hurt myself doing it, but we had to do better.
We just had to.
As if knowing my mood had taken a turn, the next stop was a massive spread of all my favorite takeout and something planned at my home theater. It was Julian’s turn for the present, from the way he was so excited, Lucca, Darby, and Hudson joining us on the sea of floor pillows instead of the huge sectionals.
It took me a moment to understand it was so we could all lounge and lie together… And Izzy had clearly purchased them, so she was in it. It was her classic and perfectly coordinated style. I’d have to thank her later as it was perfect.
“I used your account for all the food since you’d get mad I spent my salary feeding you,” Craftsman muttered as we started getting everything out.
“I did buy something coming, but it’s special,” Darby interjected.
“But my present is actually something else besides coordinating your feasts of all feasts.”
“Not sure I have anywhere to put all of this after the massive brunch and all the samples from the bakery,” I muttered as my eyes ate up the feast.
The four of them shared a glance and burst out laughing.
Assholes.
Not really, but they weren’t wrong either.
“There better be gyros for this abuse,” I grumbled, holding out my hands and curling in my fingers like a petulant child.
“Of course, love,” Craftsman chuckled, putting three huge containers in my grasp and stealing a kiss. “But I have something you’ll like even better.”
I was skeptical of that since there was a place we’d found a while ago with the best gyros like, ever. I hurried to open them and dive right in, barely noticing as he turned on my system and what he was putting on as I moaned in bliss.
“We warn you this feed is coming in live, streamed over social media,” a voice said from the TV.
I glanced up when I sort of recognized the voice as one of the supe news broadcasters and frowned when the picture was bouncing all around as if someone was running. My eyes went wide as the camera leapt over a huge wall with ease like I didn’t think even Hudson could do. I’d only seen the fae dogs do… I dropped my gyro as my brain caught up to what I was seeing.
“The GoPro’s are picking up the live footage as fae dogs are breaching estates all over Africa where hobgoblins are being kept against their will,” another commentator said, the screen splitting into several feeds. “We received the tip moments before they went live all over our social media.”
I assumed the one with the GoPro was he since all my Alphas were male and if I had to guess, they were the ones in charge of this. It seemed a good assumption.
But honestly, the female fae dogs I knew would be just as crazy to do this sort of stunt. I would.
The dog barreled through a few doors and reached where the hobgoblins where being held, whimpering when he saw how they were being treated. He crept up to the fucking cage and tossed in a charm.
One of my portal charms.
“Once we realized you had figured out how to make them, even though we refused to teach you to keep you safe and you made the valid argument that the fae dogs wouldn’t ever let you get caught, I came up with an idea and asked for help,” Craftsman explained. “Eat your gyro. They suck cold, love.”
“Yeah, they do,” I whispered as I scooped it back up. My eyes itched and my heart soared as the nearest hobgoblin picked up the charm and figured out how to activate it.
“Save us,” she said, the portal flaring up to take them to the main HAVEN estate. She hurried to usher the others to safety before turning to the dog, reaching through the bars to pet him. “Thank you for your kindness. Get to safety, but remember this place for when the fairies return. It is full of evil and must be added to the list of where justice has to be found. We were not the only ones abused here. Do not forget.”
“I won’t,” I whispered, leaning into Craftsman and blinking back tears.
“All the fairies are watching this in the hotels,” he promised, sounding choked up as well. “Getting them out is more important than the pound of flesh that they deserve, but you will get it for all of them. None of us doubt that, love.”
The fae dog easily escaped the estate without so much as a scratch, but my jaw fell open when it stopped right by “me” standing there.
And clearly, I wasn’t there and had no knowledge of it.
The fake me looked right into the camera and smiled evilly. “I stand with Tamsin Vale and will no longer stomach hobgoblin abuse.” She took off the glamour charm she was wearing to reveal she was actually Tanesha Jameston, Mrs. Vogel’s sister, and dragon noble. “She may be the face you all focus on in this fight, but there are many of us who stand with her. Never forget that.”
“This is unreal,” the broadcaster whispered as the feed changed.
I gasped as I saw what the guy meant, the screen splitting again to show several more taking off glamour charms to show it wasn’t me, but other important people. “Your dad?”
“And Mother,” Hudson chuckled. “They both insisted when they heard the plan.
I saw Mrs. Vogel on another feed seconds after Mr. Vogel, unable to make my mouth work. Juan’s parents were there. Mr. and Mrs. Diaz. Mr. and Mrs. Courtenay. All of the dragon royals and the heads of their dragon ninja clans.
“My gods,” I rasped when I saw Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, along with a few of the wolf shifter councilmembers.
“They insisted as well, once Mrs. Brooks heard from Mother what was going on,” Hudson explained.
“Mother and Father wanted to as well,” Lucca confessed. “But the bear council doesn’t have the power to stand up to the warlock elders and the vampire council, and that’s where they’re getting hobgoblins from. They’ve pissed off people on the wolf council, so there’s no chance for an alliance just yet. They did give blanket permission to rescue any fair folk without punishment, as they’d ordered they be released.”
“I heard,” I said as I tried to mop up my face when the tears started. “This is amazing.”
“This is the movement you started,” Darby praised. “This is what you’ve done for our world. For the world you were always meant to be part of. For your people. You did this, agra.”
“No, you guys did.” I gave Craftsman a heated kiss—not caring we both tasted of gyros—before doing the same for each of them. Then we ate and ate as we continued to watch the coverage of hobgoblins being rescued.
And no, the fairies weren’t all at the hotels watching passively. There were at least four times I caught a fae dog being injured and miraculously healed like nothing had happened with nothing more than the video getting a bit shaky, like we hadn’t seen what we’d thought.
But I knew enough to know when I was seeing fairy barriers and healing magic pulling fast ones.
I did it often enough, after all.
Plus, there were certain places where fires were started and reported as happening because they’d injured the dogs or tried to hurt the hobgoblins. My suspicions were confirmed when Cluym came in about an hour after we sat down with several other dark fairies, loaded to the gills… With fairy artifacts.
“You were right,” he seethed, setting down a bag in front of me while others piled them up along the far wall. “Everything not held in the trust was completely raided for any fairy magic.”
“Wait, what?” Lucca asked, glancing between us.
I sighed, rubbing my hand over my hand. “Geiger was given dozens of estates to take care of for wealthy light fairies. Those weren’t the only people from Faerie who had residences here. Yes, it was mostly only nobles or people who could afford two houses, just like most supes who can’t afford a second house, but—”
“There had to be hundreds of fairy residences that weren’t wealthy enough to be estates to be protected or put into a trust,” Craftsman whispered in horror. “How could we not know about this?”
“Who would be the first people who would go after them?” I pushed, leading him to the conclusion I had come to a while ago.
“All the corrupt and evil people,” Darby growled. “Like monsters who keep hobgoblins as slaves and won’t let them go, even when their councils order them to. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! This is un-fucking-real! Why didn’t any of us bloody fucking think of this.” He jumped to his feet and started pacing, his Irish coming out full-blown, he was so pissed.
“Because you’re a decent person who would never steal from fairies, even if you thought they were dead,” one of the fairies muttered, rubbing his neck. “We didn’t even get everything we could have, Princess. We grabbed what we could fast, but we should go back fast and get the rest before they realize what we did and move the items to where we can’t find them.”
“I agree, but talk with Iolas and Taeral,” I sighed. “This wasn’t my show tonight. I said we should check next time we go in so whoever is coordinating this—”
“They weren’t involved either,” Cluym confessed. “I knew Adrian was helping tonight with the dragon royals and we decided to join in on the fun to make sure everyone was safe. We came straight to you.”
“Then do what you think is right without getting caught, but loop in the Light and Dark Guardians to help. None of us can get caught. We’re not ready. Our people are more important than stuff. We can get the stuff later.” I was glad when they all agreed. “For now, bring it all here and we’ll lock it somewhere in Faerie so that Iolas and Taeral can figure out who what belongs to. We need to get it out of bad hands.”
“This is a good win, Princess,” Cluym said with a wink. “One that has helped morale.”
“Mine too.” I smiled at them, shaking my head as they snatched some food on the way out, not caring it was cold.
Hey, I had been eating all day, and they had finally ordered too much for me.
Probably, I’d been more focused on the news and watching it all than eating for once.
“What about the dark fairies?” Hudson asked when we were alone again.
“Neldor keeps telling me not to worry about it,” I admitted, nodding when all of them cursed. “I would guess they had something similar set up with Geiger and the firm, but I could only access the light fairy trust. It’s fine.”
“It
’s not,” Lucca bitched. “You let him in on all fairy stuff, and he’s being an asshole, keeping you out of dark fairy stuff. He wants the win of—”
“I know.” I shook my head when he opened his mouth to push. “Let him be petty and a jerk, Lucca. The fairies are as good as everyone told me. They see it.”
“They are busting him fast. They seemed shocked at his behavior,” Darby agreed.
I thought back to what Mr. Rothchild had said to me about how the magic could maybe affect the fairies locked in it, or simply Neldor, because his mother had done it. I sighed. “Another problem for another time. I tried to talk to him about it once and he blew at me. He accused me of trying to have him committed basically. I can’t be fighting with him and unite the races. It’s so stupid there are races of fairies even.”
“You’ll get there. You’re making such progress and we all see it,” Craftsman comforted. “We’re taking the win tonight.”
“Yeah, we are.”
And we did. More and more fairies came with reclaimed fairy belongings and magic, journals enough to line the hallways of my mansion and fill up the whole party room. People were going to be pissed when they realized what else had been taken besides hobgoblins.
Good. Let them report it. Let them report how much they stole from others.
But that meant it was time to warn some people for more than they knew. Hudson said he’d handle telling his parents and the Diazes while he headed out to meet up with Juan’s parents while Darby went off for whatever surprise he had.
To say they were shocked was an understatement.
Even more so when Iolas and Taeral, who they both recognized, stood at my side. They had a ton of questions, but understood they couldn’t have answers yet, simply that fairies were coming back soon, and I was the representative of the queens, here to make it happen.
Well, it wasn’t a lie exactly. I also locked their minds of that knowledge so it was safe.