by Joyee Flynn
“It was worth it because we will make it,” I said firmly but with a smile.
“Now that we’ve got that settled allow us to be proper hosts.” Imogen gestured toward the kitchen, and my parents laughed at his antics. Nothing broke tension like a wisecrack here and there. My dad helped me into one of the chairs as everyone sat down except Aaron who was making coffee. We all agreed early on that he had the right touch and would be in charge of caffeinating us.
But the best surprise was my dad setting down a huge container of my mom’s famous blueberry scones. I practically drooled all over myself and snarfed the first few down.
“We know some about Imogen, but we know nothing about you besides you’re a vampire,” my mom said as she stared at Aaron once we were all settled. “And that you were dating one of the Cowell boy’s mates until they met. There has to be more to tell than that.”
“Not really.” Aaron chuckled. “I’m a few centuries old and was born of a poor family who wasn’t a part of any coven. I guess a long, long time ago one of my ancestors slept with the coven leader’s mate. She wasn’t really his mate but the woman was too scared to deny his claim. Vampires weren’t always this organized and involved in polite society. So we were banned and lived among humans.”
“I never knew that about vampires,” I said and grabbed another scone. “Actually we’ve not had much time to talk about anything other than the latest impending doom. Plus there was so much going on with the evacuation that, when we weren’t talking about that, we didn’t discuss anything serious or deep.”
“We live in a time when there’s always some fight or drama going on,” my dad, Martin, replied with a dismissive wave. “It keeps life interesting and we all will live another day. It keeps a relationship exciting if you don’t know everything right off the bat.”
“While very true I must add that in all the years I’ve had, there’s always been some squabble or conflict between some species or race. There always will be. All that matters is keeping up the good fight,” Imogen said with a smile.
“Amen to that.” My mom chuckled. “You look good for an old fart.”
“Yeah, quite the cradle robber, aren’t you?” my dad, Beck, said with a snicker. We all had a good laugh before my mom asked Aaron to go on and tell us more.
“I was trained as a blacksmith way back in the day. Then when more modern machines were invented, I found myself riveted with them. I’ve changed many professions over the years, but I didn’t rejoin a coven until my parents moved back to the old country in Europe because they had a chance to be a part of one there. We didn’t always have blood banks and easy access to blood, so being part of a coven could mean the difference between life and death.
“I was allowed to join the coven that later became Harold’s. I swear that man killed the old leader to get the job, and I was forever grateful when he died. But I did meet Logan there, and we spent about a century together before he found Cass Cowell.”
The soft smile on his face tore at my heart, mostly because I didn’t know what it meant. Did he miss Logan? Was he simply thinking of fond memories? I glanced at Imogen and saw the same worry in his expression that I’m sure mirrored mine. But neither of us asked the question we wanted to know. Luckily, my mom did.
“You miss him,” she said gently as she reached for my mate’s hand. It was more of a statement though implication hung in the air of whether Aaron would deny it or not.
“Yes and no,” he replied with a shrug, his eyebrows drawn together in thought. “He’s my best friend. I don’t miss Logan my lover or being with him, I just miss my friend. I find myself wanting to call him and tell him something like you would a friend, and it hurts when I can’t.”
“Why can’t you?” I asked, shocked that I didn’t know he felt this way.
“I didn’t want to mess with his mating.” He stared at his hand in my mother’s and wouldn’t meet any of our gazes. “Cass Cowell was going through hell when we met him, and he didn’t need some ex-boyfriend hanging around. Plus I wanted Logan to be happy and focus on his mating instead of worrying about me licking my wounds when I lost him.
“We love each other we were just never in love. But I risked everything to save him, and I didn’t want that loyalty to cloud things for him. It wasn’t fair to his mates or to us.”
“I think things have changed now that you’re mated, son,” mom said with a soft smile. Aaron glanced up with confusion written all over his face, and she nodded toward Imogen or me. “I don’t think he’d worry about you being lonely or sad anymore. Do you?”
“No, but we’re still both in new matings and—”
“And what?” I asked with a chuckle. “Would you rather be with him than us?”
“Gods no!” Aaron gasped, staring at me like I’d grown another head.
“Then call your friend,” Imogen said with a bright smile. “Tell him you’ve mated and where you are now. Hell, tell him what you ate for breakfast. Being mated doesn’t mean you can’t have friends. We’re not the jealous type.”
Chapter 9
“Seriously?” His eyes went wide in shock as he glanced between us. “You guys would be okay with me talking to Logan?”
“Sure.” I shrugged and then thought about what Trey went through with Addison. “As long as it’s not like you’re always talking to him and ignoring us. We need to be your main priority, but there’s no reason you can’t still have other people in your life, Aaron. I have my brothers and my parents. Why can’t you have Logan?”
“Thank you, my feisty kitten and fairy.” His smile was a mixture of relief and joy. “I’ll call him later today and let him know what’s happened.”
“Now that we’ve got that settled I need to know something,” my father, Martin, said with a sly smirk. We nodded and he went on. “What’s up with the feisty kitten thing? Sasha’s the biggest of all of us, and you call him ‘kitten?’”
“He does purr,” Imogen said and then broke out into peals of giggles. “I’m not sure you want me to explain that any further.”
“You’re right, I don’t.”
We all shared a good laugh, but then my parents all exchanged a few looks, and I knew it was time for the serious part of the day.
“Might I ask how you know my uncle Roland?”
“When Avery was taken by the Hunters, we contacted every paranormal community asking for help and information. Your uncle was very helpful with introducing us to other contacts,” my dad, Martin, explained hesitantly as if the whole thing brought up bad memories. Which it did whenever they spoke of Avery’s capture. It had been one of the hardest things our family, any family, went through.
“He said he knew what it was like to lose family and hoped we didn’t have to suffer as he did,” my mom said gently. “He’s a good man.”
“He is, thank you.” Imogen was beaming with pride.
“What can you tell us about these Followers?” Beck asked after a pause. “Conley asked us to fill him in as best as we could when we said we were coming. He didn’t want to pressure you since you were injured and call you when he got other reports but given you were the one who grappled with one, you’re the man to talk with.”
We filled them in on the way the Followers acted to the way they smelled and everything in between. When we were done, the scones were long gone, and it was getting on lunchtime. It was a lot of information to take in especially since it was their son who’d gotten injured by the monsters.
“I hate to impose, but I was told you had a successful farm for many years,” Imogen said as he glanced at my mother. Damn he was good. I wondered if that was part of being a fairy? That they could gauge people’s emotions and know what to say. But then again, Imogen had been around a long, long time, so he could have simply been really good at reading people.
“And I was told you had a really big green thumb and were planning a garden,” my mom replied with a wink. “Why would you need our advice?”
“It’s true the fae
are very good with nature and growing things, but it’s my first garden.” He blushed slightly and glanced down at his hands. “We got plants and seeds the other day though I’m not sure what got destroyed in the fight, but I find their explanations complicated. Some you have to dig deeper and space differently, and then some plants cannot be near others. I was hoping to pick your brain with my questions if that’s all right?”
“I’d love to,” she said with a smile and then looked at me. “I think some air would do you good, too. You and Imogen can show me the garden while Aaron shows your fathers the rest of the house and the improvements you have planned. Everyone should be here for lunch soon. Cord made a huge feast I guess.”
“And you’re not there helping?” I didn’t even try to hide my shock at that one.
“He kicked your mother out of his kitchen,” Beck answered as both my dads looked as if they were trying really hard not to laugh. Good luck with that!
“I was simply giving him a little advice about pie making,” she replied with a pout.
“Yes because you always say someone’s pie crusts look like they’ve been run over as a form of encouragement.”
“Mom!” I exclaimed, surprised she’d be so harsh. She was funny in most of her comments, but always incredibly patient when teaching.
“He should have listened to me and stopped rolling his eyes, and they wouldn’t have turned out like that.” She was still pouting, but there was a wicked gleam in her eyes. “And they really did look like they met an unfortunate incident with a truck.”
“Nice.” I chuckled, and we all got up and the three of us headed toward the garden. Jasper was at the barn working with the horses and decided to come over and put in his vote on what we should grow…all his favorites of course. Everything was going great, hanging out with family, letting my mates get to know my parents, and simply spending time together.
But of course that couldn’t last.
“Your Highness, we need to move you,” one of Imogen’s guards announced as she practically appeared out of nowhere. “We can open a portal and get you to safety but we have to go now.”
“Why?” Imogen asked with a raised brow. I gathered from his lax attitude that his guards had a tendency to jump the gun.
“Our scout said there are about a hundred vampires and Followers heading this way. They’ll be here in about two hours.”
“Are they coming on foot?” my mom asked, and I was proud of how smart of a question it was. Hell, I didn’t think of it.
“Yes, my lady.”
“Then that means their home base is close,” she said quietly as if musing over something. Then she hollered out for my dads.
“And you expect me to leave my mates and their family here alone?” Imogen exclaimed.
“Maybe you should go,” I whispered, afraid for him and knowing it could cripple the fae world if they lost one of their monarchs. Everyone else joined us then, catching enough to realize the shit was hitting the fan.
“Fuck that,” he snarled at me and turned back to his guard. “Katja, I want you to send someone through the nearest portal and get more warriors here.” She hesitated, and all he did was raise an eyebrow and she was off. “Jasper, contact the local pack.”
“I’ll call Conley,” Aaron said and pulled out his phone. “He’s got enough choppers to get help here in time. This fucking ends today.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Imogen replied with a nod before turning back to me. “And don’t you ever pull that shit again. I won’t abandon the man I love, ever.”
“I don’t want you hurt,” I whispered and tried to pull him in my arms. He moved out of my reach, and while his face softened, his eyes were still bright violet.
“And you think I want you and your family hurt?” he asked incredulously. “The fae will get involved if one of their own is here, and we can use fire against them. You can’t. We can take out the Followers from the air like last time while you get the vamps. We just need to separate them somehow.”
“I’m sorry.” He was right. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. They flew back open when I suddenly had Imogen plastered to my body. “I love you, too, my sexy fairy.”
“Good then I can forgive you and not beat your ass. I’m not fragile, Sasha. You can’t treat me like spun glass or some shit.”
“I would have wanted Aaron to leave to where it was safe as well,” I said firmly. It wasn’t about him being small. I’d seen how powerful he was and knew he could handle his own. “I was also worried about you being a prince and what it could mean for your entire race if you were killed.”
“Oh please, there are lots in line for the throne.” He chuckled and stood on his toes. I got the idea and brushed my lips across his. Then I turned to my parents.
“Don’t even fucking try it, little boy,” my mom growled fiercely. “These people had a part in taking Avery if they work with the Hunters. I’m owed my revenge, and this won’t be my first fight or my tenth. Your mom’s got wicked moves. Only stupid people fuck with a tigress or her cubs.”
“I really like you,” Imogen said with a bright smile.
“Your Highness, we sent word through one of your uncle’s people on this side who crossed into our realm,” Katja announced as she rejoined us. “He’s sending the army through a temporary portal at this location they will set up. And he said to make sure you knew he was proud you refused to leave your mates.”
“Who’s leading the army?” he asked, but I saw the way he blushed at his uncle’s praise even if it was through a message.
“Your cousin Rafe.”
“Really?” Imogen’s eyes went wide with shock and his mouth fell open.
“Is that a good or a bad thing?” Yeah, I wanted to second my dad’s question as well.
“Awesome actually.” He chuckled. “He’s next in line for king, so I’m shocked my uncle would risk his heir, but Rafe is a badass and fierce. He doesn’t take prisoners and is excellent in battle strategy.”
“What’s up?” Cord called out as he and Ty jumped out of their truck when it pulled up.
“Where’s Avery?” mom asked, panic in her voice.
“He’s bringing the girls to the pack,” he answered gently and with a smile. “The ones able to fight are coming, but there are several older men and woman staying with the children in a shelter under the Alpha’s house. When Jasper called to tell them what was going on, we got a call that we were included in their lockdown procedure and to bring the girls.”
“And we trust them with our grandchildren?” Martin asked hesitantly as he glanced at Jasper. He was nodding adamantly.
“I trust Alpha Daniels with all of our lives,” Ty answered firmly.
“You’re right,” my dad sighed. “He’s a good man and would do anything to protect his pack or kin. I just don’t like the girls being away from us when there’s danger. But still, that’s better than risking them being close to the fight.”
“They’ll be fine, or we would never have left them, Martin,” Cord said gently. We all agreed that it was the best place for the babies and got to work on the best way to handle the coming fight. This would be a battle for our very lives, and it wasn’t something I could just sit out of, but I was also still injured, which didn’t bode well for my chances of survival.
That’s what we were debating when there was suddenly a blinding light that flashed about a hundred feet away from the barn. A man who looked a lot like Imogen, but bigger, stepped out of it after several more fairies came out first.
“Was your scout spotted?” he asked Katja as soon as he was away from what I was guessing was the portal.
“No, your Highness,” she said from one knee. Her head was bent out of respect as every fairy there did the same. “But I’m sure the vampires picked up on his scent.”
“That will work to our advantage though.” Everyone glanced at Ty then, and he didn’t even flinch. “Those Followers weren’t the sharpest knives in the drawer from what Avery
said. You guys’ scent will give us the path they’ll take to get to us. We can set up some explosives and a few surprises for them.”
“You have explosives, human?” Rafe asked, and while I wondered the same thing, I wasn’t sure I liked Ty being referred to like that.
“The name’s Ty, fairy,” he answered with a raised brow and Cord cringed behind his mate. Maybe Ty wasn’t always the calm and easygoing one. Just most of the time. “And after we found Avery and learned of your world and the dangers we could continually face, we started using our old Marine contacts to get some supplies.”
“What kind of supplies, son?” Beck drawled with a smirk. Oh goodie! No one knew about this either.
“Enough for an army,” Cord answered and rubbed his hands together in glee. “We’ve got cool toys, and I’ve so wanted to use the rocket launcher.”
“You have a fucking rocket launcher?” Martin exclaimed in shock then my dad got an evil smile on his face as well. “You got two?”
“Martin!” My mom looked as if she was trying to be appalled but really wasn’t.
“Oh come on, Ashley,” dad whined and turned to her. “When am I ever going to play with a friggin rocket launcher again? He can teach me how to use it!”
“Fine, but if you blow off anything vital, I’m going to kick your sorry ass,” she said after a moment with a huff.
“I apologize, Ty.” Rafe bowed to my brother’s mate in a gesture of respect. “I mean no offense, I was simply trying to specify since we have a varied group of people here. I would defer to your knowledge of the land and advice on where to set up my warriors.”
“Hey, cousin,” Imogen said as he went over to Rafe.
“Imogen,” Rafe replied, the love evident in his voice. “You always are such trouble. You know that?”
“Yes, but you thrive on trouble.” He giggled as they hugged and had a moment, but then I had a really, really bad thought.
“Wait, if you guys are here and Conley’s coming with his men…” I held my arms out to as if to say, “what the fuck are we going to do?”