by L. S. Darsic
“Thank you for coming straight from the road, I am sure you are a bit tired yet” Brennus replies with a tight smile
“Sorry we had to leave so early dear” Natalia says quietly from her chair as I see Brandon take a seat next to her. They are making me nervous with their quiet
“Its not problem. I hope everything is alright?” I reply with a sinking feeling, the looks on their faces are concerning me greatly. Finn reaches out and holds my hand tightly
“We have some difficult things to tell you Alexandra. If you could please follow me” Brennus says
“A-alright” I say as Brennus ushers us over to a larger room where I see Presley, Anja, Alec, Xander and Jace all sitting at the large table in the center of the room. Egypt, Percy and Phoenix are all standing rigidly on the other side of the room. Finn leads me over to the table and pulls out a chair for me to sit in, I catch Finn's eye and give him a look that asks what is going on but he instead looks to the floor. That doesn't seem promising.
“What's going on guys?” I ask Anja, Jace and Xander
“Not a clue, Alex” Xander responds with a shrug
“If you all could hold any questions until you have heard the whole story that would be better” Brennus begins as he takes a seat next to Natalia and Brandon.
“Alright” we all mumble in response
“This is going to be painful to hear but please understand there is a reason for it all” Brennus begins “The four of you are adopted, sort of, from another clan. This clan that you were born into was in the midst of a war with a rival clan so they had no choice but to send you away” Brennus says sadly as my stomach begins to turn.
“What are you talking about?” I whisper
“Let me explain the rest, then I will answer your questions” Brennus reminds me
“Now, when I said adopted, sort of, I meant that your families' plan had been to send you to another clan who would care for you until the war was over and you could be safe again. However that did not happen as planned. Your families were gravely injured when the war was over so they decided to go into “sleep” for a few months in order to heal, during that time the rest of the remaining clan were all killed. Your families were found while in sleep and killed as well. It was decided that you stay with your foster families and kept hidden so your clan's enemies would not find you”
This can't be true, it just can't be possible. I had a family who loved me but were all killed? I look at Finn with pleading eyes to tell me this isn't true but he just pulls me into a tight hug while I begin to sob. Anja is doing the same with Alec and the twins are just staring in shock.
Once Anja and I have calmed down some Brennus continues his terrible story.
“There is only one member of your clan who was killed because tis impossible to do so. This would be Alexandra's father, Cian, who is an angel. Which would make you, Alexandra, a first generation” Brennus says with a tight smile as I bury my head in Finn's neck and try to hide from the realization that my world just came crashing down upon me.
“I knew your families well. In fact when they went to war, my clan assisted them. We truly believed all of their enemies were defeated, however we were grossly wrong. I feel some of this tis my own fault for not checking into the warring clan better. It was decided that your foster families would raise you and then when you came of age you would come here to live”
I gasp as Brennus dumps more on top of the growing pile of confusion. Did he say we would live here?
“We dinna want to tell you so soon that you would be living here, we wanted you all to have time to bond with our clan without the pressure and stress. However, we canna keep you in the dark any longer. The enemy clan that killed your families found out you were alive about two years ago, however we weren't deeply concerned because your family had a protective spell put upon you until you were of age. Many attempts on your lives have been made that you have no idea of, without those spells you would not be here today. To add to the protection, you were given your Cir Sith who would protect you with their life. Now that you are of age, the protective spell has been broken. The enemy clan is most interested in Alexandra, because of this she was given additional protection from the Valkyries” Brennus explains and nods towards Presley who stares at me with sad eyes.
My whole life is a lie and now I find that my so called friend is really just my protection detail? How can this be happening?
“Alexandra, you are from a royal bloodline on your mother's side, then on top of that you are the daughter of an angel. You are a very important person for the enemy clan to obtain” Brennus says worriedly as I feel Finn's entire body stiffen next to me. I look over at him but he just stares at his father with a hard look. I'm starting to think that Finn didn't know some of this info which makes me feel a bit better that he hasn't been hiding so much from me.
“When Natalia and I went to Switzerland earlier this week, we were summoned by Cian” Brennus says warily “You see, we could never locate Cian in the past. He asked that my clan arrange a safe place for you and your cousins. We had anticipated that he would return quickly but when he dinna, we sent out trackers for him but were not successful. Cian was put into sleep however he did not intend to sleep as long as he had. Someone altered his time so he wasna able to wake when he planned. It tis the only way to contain an angel”
This story just keeps getting worse and worse. I wish there was a stop button so I didn't have to hear anymore.
“Natalia and I managed to convince Cian to stay away until you had time to adjust and we could tell you all of this. He reluctantly agreed” Brennus says with a frown “ however, we found out that this morning the protective spell around the village and castle was breached. I had to call Cian to let him know and he is on his way here now” Brennus says flatly as Finn stands up to pace. I still have yet to make sense of all this except now I have to come face to face with my father who I have never met.
“So did we find who broke the spell? Is Alex in danger?” Finn demands
“No, by time it was discovered the trackers said the trail went cold” Brandon answers with a shake of his head “Finn, please sit down. There are a few more things to explain” Brennus says with a pointed look at Finn as if he is warning him
“No, she is not ready for that yet. She doesn't deserve to feel pressured like that, it should be her decision!” Finn growls
“It doesna matter if she is ready, she needs to know everything” Brennus says calmly as he watches Finn continue to pace
“Finn dear, she needs to know everything. It is unhealthy to live in the dark, it causes paranoia and mistrust” Natalia attempts to sooth Finn
“P-please just tell me it all. I need to know. I can't continue to be ignorant in everything that affects my life” I plead as I watch Finn pace
“Alex, please. You don't know what you are asking” Finn moves over to me and takes my hands “this could change things for you, for us, I don't want you to have to change anything else in your life right now” Finn pleads
“It is her decision to know. In fact it impacts the four of you, if we tell one, we tell you all” Brennus says while looking at each of us
“I want to know” Jace says as Xander nods in agreement
“I-I want to know as well” Anja says quietly. She is so pale and distraught, I would feel bad for her if I didn't feel the same exact way right now.
“Anja, please. Listen to me” Alec takes her hands “Finn is right, we should wait to explain this part, it could change things” Alec begs but she shakes her head
“No, I want to know. I just found out that my real parents are dead, what else could you tell me that would be worse than that?” Anja asks angrily
“Tis not a bad thing, just something that will take some getting used to” Brennus says calmly. His calm is starting to chafe me. I feel like my world has been flipped upside down and all he can do is be calm?
“I want to know, I'm sorry Finn if this isn't what you want, but I
need to know” I try to explain to Finn as he stands up and stalks over to stare out the window. Alec throws his hands up in defeat and stalks over to stand by Finn.
Chapter 21
“My clan and your clan were verra close as I said earlier, one of the worst days of my existence was to find out what happened to your families” Brennus says sadly “because our clans were close it was arranged that once the four of you were of age, you would be mated into our clan. Alexandra, it was determined by your parents that you would be mated to one of my sons due to you being a first generation and my children being second generation. You will be strong together when you are bonded. Anja, it was arranged for you to be mated into my sisters clan as they are equally as powerful. Jace and Xander, you have the option to mate into either of our clans” Brennus pauses and gives each of us a measured look.
My jaw is clenched tight in anger, frustration and some happiness. Is that why Finn is so nice to me, because some day I will be his mate? Or does he really care for me? I look over at Anja who is looking at me with wide eyes, begging me to help make sense of all this, but I can't even make sense of my own life, no way I can make sense of hers. I look over to Jace and Xander and find them with shocked but amused expressions, of course they aren't phased by this, they never get upset about things.
“Alex, can I speak with you alone please?” Finn asks quietly from behind me. My response is to stand up and follow him out of the room silently. Finn brings me to a formal sitting room on the other side of the room we were just in and gestures for me to sit next to him on the couch.
“Alex, please let me explain before you say anything” Finn pleads as he encloses my hands in his, I nod my head because I am unsure if I can even manage to speak right now. I don't even know what would come out of my mouth right now if I did. “I've known for a long time that it was possible that I was to be mated but I never gave it much thought because there was always a chance you would choose Ian. When I found out that you were to be arriving, I decided to act like an ass to you so you didn't pick me because I didn't like the idea of being told who I had to love. That was my plan, until I met you, then I decided I would actually try to get to know you” Finn explains urgently “After that first night I met you, I couldn't even stomach the thought of my brother being near you. He had to go away the next morning after you arrived but was coming back, so that is when I decided to take you to the city so he wouldn't get to spend time with you. I know he planned to court you as soon as he returned but I couldn't allow the chance for you to fall for him. I'm sorry for not telling you but I'm not sorry for keeping you from him. I am falling for you more and more each day, I don't want you to pick him” Finn finishes and brushes his lips lightly across mine.
I'm not really sure how to respond to that. I'm so angry to have my future decided when I was only a child but I'm not upset with Finn. He had just as much choice in it as I had. The idea of picking Ian over Finn to me is laughable. To me, there is no decision of who to pick. The decision is to be with Finn or to be alone because if I am not with him then there is no one else in this world for me. He is it for me. Of all the news I received this last hour, this is not the worst by far. Just this morning I was contemplating how I was going to be able to leave Finn when I had to return back Chicago.
“Finn, there is no choice” I say as I see his face fall so I hurry to explain“Ian is not an option for me. You are it, there is no other.” Finn breathes a sigh of relief, then pulls me into his lap and hugs me tightly.
“You have no idea how happy you just made me Mo Chridhe'” Finn whispers as he brushes light kisses up and down my neck
“What the hell does that mean? You keep calling me that but you never tell me” I ask in mock irritation
Finn chuckles in between kisses and whispers “my heart, my love”
“Oh” I reply stupidly. I just had to ask huh? Always seeking answers to things and now look where it got me. I have no clue how to respond to that.
“Did you know all the other stuff your father told me today?” I ask Finn quietly. I am really hoping he didn't because that would make it very hard for me to trust him if he has been lying to me all this time.
“No, I dinna know at all. I only was told that you were to be mated to Ian or I. I was never given any information on you, who your family was or where you really came from. I'm so sorry this is happening to you Alex, but I promise I will be with you every step of the way” Finn promises “come on, we need to return. I have a feeling today will be a long day” Finn says as he pulls me back into the room with everyone else except I notice Anja and Alec are missing from the table.
“So, my father is coming?” I ask Brennus nervously
“Aye, he is. He should be landing in a few hours” Brennus replies cautiously
“Alexandra, darling, are you alright? We know this is a lot to take in. Please do not be angry with us” Natalia asks sadly
“I don't think I'm angry with anyone, I'm just so confused and I feel so lost” I say as tears pool in my eyes
“Your father is coming to help protect you but he is also coming to explain things as well as to get to know his daughter” Natalia explains
“C-can you tell me about him? What to expect?”
“Well, your father loves you verra much, I can promise you that. Cian is every bit of avenging angel though. Anyone who hurts what is his, he takes verra personal. Right now he is verra upset and running high on emotions. I canna determine how he will be when it comes to his only daughter and only remaining family. When we saw him he was filled with grief and rage from finding out his mate was slaughtered along with the rest of his clan and top it off finding out he has lost 26 years of his daughter's life. When I spoke with him today his anger was further intensified when he heard you could be in danger. I hope by time he arrives he will have things in better perspective and will be calmer but I canna say for sure” Brennus says plainly
“Great, so I am meeting my father today for the first time, who is an angel, that may or may not be completely pissed off?” I ask sarcastically
“Don't worry Alex, I will be with you” Finn reminds me
“You will not be alone when you meet him Alexandra, we will also be with you” Natalia says sweetly
“T-thank you. I just don't even know where to begin with all this. I think I am going to go lay down and rest” I say as I stand up which causes Egypt to move to follow me as well as Finn and Presley.
“Finn, can you please show Egypt and I how to get back to my room?” I ask him while I ignore Presley
“I will come along” Presley says sternly with a glare. Not one to be cowed I shoot her a glare and walk out of the room
“Alex, we need to talk and you will listen to what I have to say” Presley growls
“Why even bother? You pretended to be my friend just cause you had to guard me. You don't have to pretend any longer” I reply angrily as I step up to her face to face
“Yes, I was assigned to guard you but don't get it confused, I didn't have to become friends with you to do my job. I could have stayed hidden like I have been every time you went on a trip and you wouldn't have had a clue I was even there. But I felt a connection to you and Egypt and wanted to be around you, I wanted to be your friend” Presley says menacingly which contradicts what she telling me.
“So you've been here the whole time that I've been in Scotland?” I ask her warily
“Yes, but I haven't had much to do because when you are with Finn I can relax, so I haven't been around as much. I've been doing a lot of shopping, rough job” she says with a wink and then pulls me into a hug. With that my anger falls away and I just feel happy that one of my few friends is still my friend. I'm going to have to start being grateful for the people who really do care about me.
“Alright, I'm going to go rest before I have to deal with the angel that I'm told is my father”
“I will be here with the rest, we are going to talk about the threats to your safety and what w
e need to do next” Presley says as she walks back to the room.
“Ready beautiful?” Finn asks as he takes my hand
We walk through the halls hand in hand while I try to process all the information I've just been handed. I can't believe this is happening. I wonder if that is why my family never seemed to really like me, I never really belonged with them. Funny how of all of the information I received, this makes the most sense to me. Why treat me as I am their own when I wasn't? But it also just shows how uncaring they really are. They are given an orphan essentially, who is just a child, yet they still treated me like crap. Jace and Xanders parents never treated them poorly, Anja's parents spoiled her like she walked on water. Why did mine hate me so much. It wasn't my fault. If they didn't want me, they didn't have to take me.
Finn escorts me to my room and tucks me into bed with Egypt laying by my feet.