Reaching Answers

by Erin R Flynn

  He wasn’t going to. It was all over his face. He would let his son suffer just to not concede. He would take all the flack later that he had me when others were dying to get their hands on me, but he was so sexist and a true believer women were below men that he could not say it.

  So I broke his son right before his eyes.

  I used the rune to shatter Carson’s other leg as I taunted them both into calling the police. Then I practically shredded his feet, trashed his hips, and kicked his groin a few times. Much more and I could really kill him, so I decided to end it before I did.

  I really didn’t want to commit murder on camera. Even I had limits, no matter my temper.

  Pulling him up by his hair, I grabbed his arm in my other hand and twisted it back at an ugly angle, smirking at the councilman as I did. “Last chance. I do this and he might always limp in his fox form. He might never have full use of his arm again getting injured this badly when he’s not healing like a shifter should. Admit women are equal and you were wrong and I’ll stop.”

  “Women aren’t equal and you’re only proving my beliefs that you all need to be controlled as this insanity is your idea of a valid way to prove your point,” he sneered.

  I snapped Carson’s arm and tore out his shoulder before I even consciously realized I was doing it. I dropped the wailing man to the ground and stepped over him towards his father. “I used my words, but none of you blowhards could hear me over your own barking. And if I raised my voice, I’d be a hysterical woman. That’s how it works, yes?”

  It was in his eyes that clearly that was how he thought it was all going to play out. I would get angry and throw a fit. They could all point to that and treat me like a child having a tantrum as that was how they saw women.

  “Too bad you weren’t man enough to take me on yourself, Leisser.” I glanced over at Carson and snorted. “Clearly your son wasn’t, and I bet that apple didn’t fall far from the tree.” I held up my hand to hold off what he was about to say next. “And don’t give me this bullshit that this is insanity. Your counterparts and even some on your own council have wanted and tried to do much worse to me.”

  I didn’t give him a chance to reply, walking over to the media so they had a clear shot of me.

  “The next person who opens their mouth and spouts such nonsense that women deserve what they get for being weak will have the same talk I just had with Carson to prove them wrong. I will show up and you will recant it on the record for all to see, or it’s an invitation for me to disprove your point.

  “This was a one-time chance I allowed for them to get the police. I won’t again, so don’t try it for a trap. I’m not stupid enough to fall for that, no matter how many of you seem to forget that or spin your wheels. Any of you come for the havens or make a play against HAVEN and I will do more than possibly disfigure you permanently. You have my promise on that. And I will do it with a smile.”

  They shouted questions after me as I left—pulling down my barriers so Carson’s people could attend to him—ignoring them and focused on someone surprising instead. Captain Reddy of the supe police who had come to investigate me about Jordan Holmes and his friends.

  I held out my arms towards him. “Going to arrest me?”

  He shook his head as he tried to bite back a smile. “As you said, others could call the police to report a disturbance, but what I saw was clearly a demonstration.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “I highly doubt that’s considered a peaceful protest, Captain.”

  “I didn’t say peaceful but you did demonstrate a lot, Ms. Vale.”

  Fair enough. “You’re going to get in trouble for not picking me up when you had the chance.”

  “I believe I am,” he agreed, glancing out at all the cameras and crossing his arms over his chest. “I was told I’d be demoted if I let my personal opinions and beliefs stand in the way of my orders and duty to my chain of command.”

  “Meaning ignore their corruption and follow their personal opinions and beliefs,” I drawled.

  “I took it as that as well.” His lips twitched when I snorted. “But I wanted to make sure to be the one to answer the call after seeing our normally hesitant and typically conservative head of council make such a bold move like breaking hobgoblins out of other shifter estates and supporting you.”

  “The Brooks’s like me,” I teased.

  “Yes, yes they do.”

  And I could get word to them that one of theirs was being fucked with at the supe police department. Well then. I waited until he’d met my gaze again before I spoke in his mind.

  “I’ll talk to them either way, but just so you’re clear who I am, you won’t ever find those vampires.”

  He slowly raised an eyebrow at me. “I’m fully aware. Nor four members of a fox shifter family. The son knew one of them from Jordan Holmes’s new school and apparently, the younger sister told a crazy story to her aunt that the parents sold her older sister and then they all disappeared, along with that brother. The aunt said it sounds exactly like something her brother would do and doesn’t care if he’s found.”

  “I didn’t know who was involved, but I’m glad the other kids had family to go to and won’t be sold like property by their parents or male siblings,” I replied, barely able to keep my rage in check.

  “You are not the only one, which is why the notes from that interview were burned once I read them, and the female officer will never speak of what she learned. We both assumed what you did was in self-defense.”

  “You’re not wrong, but I promise, I’m covered. You’ll find out one day, and I promise you that you’ll be on the right side of it. I also will tell you that it’s worse than what you learned.”

  “I did some digging into those men and I absolutely believe you. I lose no sleep over scum like them being gone, even if it’s against my oath.”

  “We cannot protect you if you don’t fucking let us,” Zack snarled from behind me, interrupting our mental conversation.

  Which had probably been the point since he didn’t like my tendency to overshare.

  “Good to see you, James,” Captain Reddy greeted Zack.

  “Yeah, you as well, Reddy,” Zack grumbled, sounded anything but. “You going to try and take her in again?”

  “Nope,” I chirped, popping the P. “He came by to say hi and enjoy the show.” I winked at Reddy before looking at Zack. “Can we stop for food on the way back to campus? I’m hungry and I should treat you guys for giving you such a hassle.”

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “What else did you do that you’re being so sweet?”

  I snorted. “I’m sweet a lot, but it gets overlooked by people focusing on how much of a loudmouth know it all I am. Even other women think that of me too often because they judge women like that whereas if I was a man, I’d be smooth and assertive. I’d be confident and kickass.”

  “You’re not wrong, but sometimes you are a bull in a china shop and miss some things,” Zack replied, being fair like always.

  “You’re not wrong,” I agreed, shrugging. “Which is why I’m offering to treat you guys and all the guards. I’m not perfect and I blew my temper, which makes a mess. Food soothes wolf shifters after a mess. Burgers? Steak? Ohh, Mexican?”

  “All three,” Zack snickered. “The guys were freaking out we couldn’t hurry to follow and had to call for help. You gotta at least let us come with when you do that, Tams.”

  “Then you’re accessories to what I do,” I sighed dramatically.

  Captain Reddy shocked us both by throwing back his head and bursting out laughing. It took him a few two minutes to calm down enough to talk. “Oh man, you’ve got your hands full, James. You might have jumped ship from the corruption and red tape bullshit, but you have your hands full, my friend.”

  “Yeah, but she pays better and does treat us amazingly well,” Zack praised. “And she really is easy most of the time. She’s a pain in the ass because she’s always protecting us instead of letting us protect her
.”

  “I woves you guys too much to let you get hurt,” I purred, opening a portal for us to get back to campus and figure out food. “See you soon, Captain.”

  Reddy glanced at me and sighed. “Probably. I doubt things could be calm around you very long.”

  Zack and I both snorted before stepping through the portal.

  He wasn’t wrong, but it normally wasn’t my fault; that was the truth.

  “I’m getting tired of this shit with the councils,” I grumbled. “It’s dragging on too long and like, enough already.”

  “We all feel that way, Tams. If it was easy, anyone would have done it. This isn’t fiction where someone comes in and snaps their fingers to just handle all the bad guys and wrap it all up neatly in four or five books. Real life is dirty and messy and takes a lot of fucking time to handle things. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be any corruption in the human governments.”

  We shared a look and snorted. Yeah, like that was ever going to happen.

  The best part of all of that was by the time we went to pick up the gobs of my apology food, women were all over supe media were standing up and echoing what I was saying. They were standing up to their mates even and giving interviews saying they were tired of hearing they were weak and useless and if the men wanted to stay mated, they needed to stop it.

  I thought about what Zack said as I took gobs of the food and brought it back to my room, wanting to talk to one person in particular. Izzy was sitting on her bed and watching it all on her laptop.

  “You okay,” she asked.

  I nodded, holding up food. “Can we talk?”

  “Always.” She frowned and closed her laptop, bringing everything we needed to the floor so we could have a picnic. “What’s wrong? You had a big win.”

  “We did. I do a lot of this for us, Izzy,” I muttered, playing with my fries. “I know I don’t talk it all out and Zack’s right that I’m a bull in a china shop, but this is for us. It’s not about me and my fight. I know I blew my temper, but it was for all of us who have been treated like this. It was as much for you and every woman we care about that—”

  “Tams, I know,” she whispered, reaching over and patting my arm. “I know, Tams. We all do. This isn’t about you being righteous up on your pedestal. It’s never been about that to you. You don’t do this shit for the attention or to hear yourself speak, yell the loudest. You would be happiest reading journals or beating up bad guys instead of making a huge splashy statement like that.

  “You went because you could. You could take on that asshole and win. You could go up against them and make the statement the rest of us can’t. Anyone paying attention understands that about you and sees the layers to you. Just because you don’t sing it from the rooftops or list it always like a bio, it’s right there to see. If people take the time, it’s all right there and they love you for it.

  “I love you for it. I love you for taking up the fights I can’t. I love you for being my friend and coming here and making sure I knew you were fighting for me too. I love you because I know you will cry tonight because you hurt that man, no matter how much he deserved it. I love you because you risked yourself by putting it all on the line to make the statement none of us have the guts to. You were awesome.”

  “Thanks, Izzy,” I rasped, leaning in and kissing her forehead. “Thanks.”

  “Let’s eat. Cold fries suck.”

  “Yeah, yeah they do.”

  We gobbled it all up—mostly, I did—and I felt worlds better getting to talk to her about it all. Not because she praised me, but the reassurance she understood what I was doing. I knew it could come off as my crusade to be awesome or a hero, but it was about so much more than that.

  But she was right that all the signs were there if people took the time to see that.

  The problem was that some people wouldn’t or didn’t have the depth to peel back the layers of the onion. Maybe they were stuck in their own head or way, unable to see the path before them to help others?

  Maybe some people were just assholes.

  Yeah, probably that.

  26

  I thought I was done with any crazy for the quarter. We reached review week and I was sailing through everything, not even worried a little bit about finals. I genuinely thought I was ready to close the book on another part of my time at Artemis.

  But it wasn’t done with me yet.

  I was journaling another letter to my mother she would never read, finding it as emotionally helpful and soothing as Craftsman had said. Not because I thought I’d ever find the answers like Katrina had hinted, but because it helped me focus my mind from spinning out when it all overwhelmed me. But it was supposed to be an easy night.

  Silly me for ever thinking I got those.

  My phone vibrated on my desk the same time that Izzy, Lucca, and Darby’s did. We glanced at each other and then all dove for them at once, knowing something was seriously up.

  I reached mine first, answering Zack’s call. “Yeah?”

  “Alpha Geoff’s pack is under attack,” he blurted. “Wolves of his that work for you and guarding the havens are asking permission to leave their posts and give aid.”

  I only needed two seconds to come to a decision, thinking about what happened with Carson Leisser and the lingering threats of those assholes who wanted to find the havens and shut them down. “No, call the Rothchilds and Silvas to see if they can send reinforcements to the havens in case this is a trap.”

  He sucked in a harsh breath. “The wolves go and the havens are easier to take. Shit. Fuck! The attack is real and has to be bad. Geoff wouldn’t sound the alarm—”

  “Geoff will get aid, Zack. I got this. Protect our people. You and Ray are in charge to speak for me. Do me proud, my friend.” I hung up, already grabbing what I needed. “Help at the havens or whatever you need to, but you cannot come with me.”

  “Be careful, Tams,” Izzy begged, not about to argue with me.

  “Always.”

  “Come back to us,” Darby whispered, making me stop for a kiss.

  “Always,” I said, both of us knowing one day that might not be the case, but I would always do my best to make sure it was the truth.

  I kissed Lucca next and then opened the portal to the hotel where the light fairies were staying. They were shocked to see me walk right into the middle of their dinner and quieted down.

  “One of our allies who has helped save and protect hobgoblins is under attack. I know nothing more than that. I’m going to help and save who I can. It might out us early, but they are an honorable pack and their leader my friend. Any are welcome to join me.” I glanced over to see Taeral there speaking with Iolas. “All fairies. They’ve helped all of us. I welcome any fairy to fight at my side.”

  Taeral dipped his head to me. “It would be my honor, Princess. We will join you as soon as we—”

  “Catch up,” I chuckled, opening another portal to Geoff’s pack and leaving enough power in it so they could follow.

  I was not surprised when I heard lots of cursing behind me.

  I was surprised to walk into something out of my nightmares since I’d learned of the supe world and magic. I didn’t hesitate, taking out my sword and throwing up a barrier to protect several of Geoff’s wolves who were taking hits from magical attacks. Opening a portal to my garage, Chief and his pack were ready, somehow knowing I was in need of them.

  “You know what to do,” I greeted them. “Make it look like wolves if you can, but not at the cost of yourselves. Go.”

  They gave barks of acceptance and took off.

  “You’re a fairy,” Geoff’s mate gasped from behind me.

  I turned to answer and saw a hawk coming straight for her. I shoved her out of the way and flipped up, slicing the hawk’s wing off and then stabbing the shifter when it landed on the ground. “Who?”

  “Underground,” she answered, knowing what I meant. “They—we were set up. It’s Underground. I don’t know where Geoff is. They bree
ched the alarms and we had no warning. We’re spread all over and—”

  “Help is coming,” I promised. I opened three more portals to other packs who would heed my call but not sworn to me, glad when they came through. “Our allies need aid. Lead the children and wolves of this pack to safety at the Alpha compound. The enemy has them spread out and is picking them off. Change that.”

  They gave me barks to confirmed they understood their orders and took off. Fae dogs were so much smarter than people gave them credit for and way more than most animals.

  “Get to the compound and secure an area for those they’ll bring to you,” I told her, glad when fairies started coming through the portal. “Secure the Alpha’s mate and set up a safe area to bring people to.”

  “Understood.”

  “Wait, I’m one of our best fighters,” she argued.

  “You’re also a pack leader people will listen to in all of this chaos,” I reasoned with her. “More are coming. Let us help you.”

  She glanced over and her eyes went wide as more fairies came out of the portal. She darted over and gave me a quick hug. “Thank you, Tamsin.”

  “You guys have been good to us too. Go.” I told Iolas and Taeral what I’d done as I opened portals and called more packs not sworn to me. The ones that were guarded havens, the co-op, and other key places we couldn’t leave defenseless in case this was a trap. The fairies and dogs didn’t hesitate, jumping right into the fray.

  Just as I tried to.

  Every time I tried to take on an attacker or jump into a situation to help one of Geoff’s wolves, a fairy was there to handle it before I could. Light or dark, it didn’t matter, their goal was twofold.

  Help Geoff’s pack.

  And make sure I didn’t get a scratch on me.

  “Seriously?” I growled at Taeral when another Dark Guardian took out the guy I’d been trying for.

  “It’s taking everything we have not to carry you out of here to safety, Princess,” he replied as he slashed at magical attacks aimed at us. “You are the only heir Faerie has left. The only way to awaken the rest of us.”