Found and Forged

by Ivy Asher

  “So you want kids?” Sabin asks me, and I choke on nothing.

  The room looks over at me as I try to get a hold of myself, and Enoch stands up and brings me a glass of water. I stop coughing and hold the glass up like I’m toasting the room and announcing that I’m going to be just fine. I take a sip, and Sauriel gets the conversation started again.

  “Where the fuck did that come from?” I ask Sabin.

  He shrugs. “You’re the one that brought up kids.”

  I glare at him. “Only in the sense that generations long after ours will be set up financially.”

  “You still brought them up,” he counters, and I roll my eyes.

  “I thought we were supposed to be paying attention to the Sovereign discussion,” I snark.

  “And I thought they were going to crown Suryn, so we didn’t need to,” he counters.

  I huff out my irritation. “I don’t know how I feel about the whole kids thing. For sure not now. Maybe not ever. I don’t know.”

  “Okay,” he answers simply.

  I stare at him for a minute, trying to figure out what the catch is. What am I missing?

  “Okay? Just like that?” I question suspiciously.

  “I don’t want kids now. My biological clock is still on its spring daisy setting. We just never talked about it, and you brought it up.”

  I flip him the bird, and he chuckles.

  “Anyway…” I drawl, aiming one last glare at Sabin, “I told Suryn and Sauriel about the money the readers saved and invested on behalf of the Sentinels. They said they had no idea who would have set that up and that Tierit didn’t want it or need it. So, finders keepers officially applies,” I finish, and Siah raises his eyebrows with surprise and gives an approving nod.

  “Okay, so nobody pays us cash, but maybe the people we help owe us a favor instead. Not in the mob boss kind of way, but in a way that helps us build a network that could do good or help others down the road,” Valen states.

  “That could work,” I agree.

  “But who decides who we help and how we help them?” Ryker asks.

  “We would,” Sabin answers after a moment. “We could set up some kind of referral situation. Aydin, Evrin, Sorik and Vaughn could help us vet things if a lot of requests came in, and we would decide what to work on and how,” he adds thoughtfully.

  Sabin’s statement warms me. I really like the idea of getting Aydin, Evrin, Vaughn, and Sorik involved in whatever this is that we’re trying to do.

  “That’s...a really good plan,” I beam at Sabin, forgiving him for the baby bomb he just threw out there.

  All this talk stokes a fire in me. It all feels so right that I want to run out of this room right fucking now, make a plan, and go for it. I look around the table at my Chosen, and I can tell by the excited light I see in all of their gazes that they’re feeling the same way.

  “Okay, so that’s it. We walk away from this table and figure out how to make BBEP happen.”

  “What the hell is ba-bep?” Knox asks with a wide smile and a confused glint in his eyes.

  “You know...Beta, Badass, Enforcer, and Paladin. I had to switch it around a little so it could make some kind of logical sound…” I trail off when the guys start snickering. “I was making an initialism or an acronym or whatever the fuck it’s called,” I defend.

  They start to shake with suppressed laughter, and I glare at them.

  “Witch, I already told you, you are not allowed to name anything, ever!” Torrez tells me, and the angry veneer I’m trying to keep in place cracks.

  “Fuck off, Geriatric Wolf,” I tease.

  “That’s The Geriatric Wolf to you, Witch,” he corrects, and I crack up.

  A couple people turn to me, including Marn and Tok, and give me a bewildered look. I offer a sheepish smile and try to remember that I look like a fucking loon sitting here laughing to myself. Actually, that’s not such a bad thing. People don’t vote for crazy, do they?

  “Okay, so my name is off the table—what would you guys call us?” I challenge.

  Bastien throws out, “The Super Saver Squad,” and then gives himself a look like his mind just had some kind of meltdown. I can tell he’s hardcore judging what just came out of it, and it’s fucking hilarious.

  “You’ve made us sound like extreme couponers,” Valen points out, and then he fucking loses it.

  Half the room turns to see what’s going on. He waves them off and apologizes as the rest of us try to keep from cracking the fuck up too.

  “What about the Wet Bandits?” Knox pitches with a proud smile on his face.

  We all stare at him for a moment with a giant what the fuck written across all of our faces.

  “Is this some kind of reference to Vinna’s vagina? Because I gotta say her TGV trumps the ‘Wet Bandits’ any day,” Torrez tells Knox, and I snort.

  He just shakes his head.

  “Bro, it’s from Home Alone. You know, the robbers that break into the kid’s house?” Knox explains.

  “We’re not robbers though,” Ryker points out, even more confused, but Torrez just looks blank, clearly out of the loop on this one.

  Knox’s eyes go wide with shock.

  “Do not tell me you have never seen Home Alone. It’s a fucking Christmas pastime!”

  “Torrez is older than Christmas,” I point out on a giggle. “You know how old people are about keeping up with the times,” I add.

  Marn gives me a stern look that tells me to cut it the fuck out.

  “Witch, you are just asking for it, aren’t you,” Torrez tells me.

  My vagina contracts with excitement. I love when he tries to fuck me into submission.

  Torrez’s nostrils flare, and he gives me a knowing smile and chuckles. All of a sudden, my six other Chosen shout in my mind, “Dibs!”

  Tok and Sauriel leap out of their chairs and start arguing with another Sentinel in the room. I focus back in on what’s going on, and when I hear the other male’s voice, it makes my skin crawl. It’s the male from the hallway that I overheard with the Sovereign. I wish I could scrub his voice and the shit he said from my mind, but unfortunately I don’t have a rune for that.

  “You all squabble back and forth like either of these females are worthy and didn’t just commit regicide!” he bellows, spittle flying from his mouth. “They should be executed for their crimes, not rewarded,” he snarls.

  “The Sovereign broke the law when she attacked them with no cause. She went against the decree of the tribunal and violated her vows to her people and the laws she swore to uphold,” Tok shouts back.

  “They murdered her!” the male from the hallway accuses, his gaze filled with fury and his tone screaming for retribution.

  “We defended ourselves and our Marked from an unprovoked attack, which we have every right under our laws to do,” Suryn declares, rising up from her own chair.

  “So you say. And we’re just supposed to believe the word of the two females who are now both vying for her crown?” he accuses.

  I push out of my chair.

  “No, you should believe the evidence,” I growl at him. “My Chosen were attacked in our rooms. The Sovereign brought a fight to us. Everyone who’s reviewed the scene agrees. And if you don’t want to trust them, then think back on the other night just before you shoved your dick down the Sovereign’s throat in the hallway. Pretty sure she told you she was going to get rid of us and her niece if she couldn’t get her on board with it.”

  “How dare you!” he screams at me and lunges.

  He doesn’t even make it a foot closer before the room converges on him. I expect them to carry him out kicking and screaming, put him in jail or something, but someone shoves a sword through his chest instead, and the male from the hallway is dead in seconds.

  Well, okay then.

  Guards carry out the body, and the back and forth about who should be Sovereign kicks up like nothing happened. I look around the room and then back to my Chosen.

  “Let
me make this easier for everyone,” I declare.

  Tok raises his arms to get everyone’s attention, and the arguing slowly quiets. He looks over at me expectantly.

  “I’m going to make this decision a whole lot easier for everyone,” I repeat, and the quiet murmuring still going on gets slightly louder. “I remove my name from consideration for Sovereign,” I announce.

  “What?” Marn demands as she surges to her feet.

  “I don’t want the fucking crown!” I exclaim, and the room goes silent.

  Tok and Marn gape at me like they don’t know how to process what I’m saying.

  “Suryn, I’d like to speak to you outside,” I tell her, and then I turn and move toward the door.

  “Vinna, wait!” Marn calls out to me, but I ignore it.

  “What’s going on?” someone else calls out, and I can hear whispers skittering across the room.

  Chairs scrape and screech as they’re pushed back, and I know that my Chosen are following me out. I step out of the door, and the room explodes with shocked and confused voices. I know I’m going to have to answer to Tok and Marn later, but right now I’m taking control of my future, and it feels fucking good. I’m tired of my next steps simply being a reaction or counter move to one fucked up thing or another. It’s time to be proactive. To take control of who I am and who I want to be.

  It’s time to Sentinel the fuck up.

  33

  I walk out of the castle gates and pause. I turn to find my Chosen, and Suryn, Nash, Kallan, Becket, and Enoch all making their way over to me.

  “I have no fucking clue where I’m going,” I admit, gesturing around me and to where we’re standing just outside of the castle gates.

  My Chosen let loose an amused snort.

  “We can just walk down the street, it circles back,” Enoch points out, and I shrug and turn to Suryn.

  She wobbles her head in a way that tells me she doesn’t really care where we go, so I pick a direction and start going that way.

  “Seems quiet out here today,” I observe as we all start moving as a group.

  “That’s because a good majority of the Light Marked that live and travel in this part of the city are in that room we just left, speculating about what we’re doing out here,” Suryn points out.

  A breeze picks up the skirts of both of our dresses and makes them dance lightly with its playful touch.

  “I don’t want to be the Sovereign,” I start.

  Suryn snorts. “Yeah, I got that much inside,” she snarks, and I laugh.

  “So I take it I’m out here to discuss what you do want?” she asks, and her eyes flick over to Kallan quickly before focusing back on the road in front of her. “Is this the part where you pitch a mutually beneficial relationship between the two of us?” Suryn asks, her tone cheeky with just a hint of uncertainty.

  I shake my head, amused. If she wasn’t such an uptight bitch, I might just like her.

  “Well, I don’t know about the two of us…” I half joke, trailing off. “But I think if we work together, we could make things much safer for Sentinels outside of the borders of Tierit.”

  “And how would we do that?” she questions, a hint of a grin peeking out of the corner of her mouth.

  “My guys and I are going to leave,” I start, and Suryn stares at me for a beat. I don’t miss the flicker of unease that flashes through her eyes before she blinks it away. “We’re working out the details, but we’re going to start our own group that looks out for the welfare of all the supes out there, Sentinels included if they want.”

  “When did this get decided?” Becket asks, interrupting whatever Suryn is about to say.

  I turn back to him. “Pretty much in there, just now,” I explain.

  “That’s what all the giggling was about?” Kallan accuses.

  “Well, that and some other things,” I tell him and try hard not to smile.

  “So we’re going full vigilante?” Becket questions, his eyes thoughtful.

  My gaze darts from Becket to Suryn, and I’m not sure what to say.

  “Vinna’s Vigilantes,” Ryker throws out randomly.

  We all turn to him.

  “Has a ring to it,” he announces with a shrug.

  “Hard pass,” I counter with a laugh.

  Suryn looks at me, confused.

  “Sorry, we suck at figuring out what we’re going to call ourselves when we go rogue,” I explain.

  “You don’t have to be rogue,” she surprises me by saying.

  I stare at her, perplexed, and she gives me a small smile and shakes her head.

  “You saved my life, Vinna Aylin. You think something like that doesn’t matter to me or the people of Tierit?” she asks me, and I don’t know how to respond.

  We walk side by side in silence for a minute. Suryn seems to be working something out in her mind, and I leave her to it.

  “You won’t be vigilantes,” she declares after several quiet steps. “I’ll make you official. You’ll have the full weight of the Sentinels behind you, if you want it, that is,” Suryn offers, and I stop dead in my tracks and stare at her.

  “What do you mean?” I ask, unable to wrap my mind around what she’s saying.

  “Just what I said. I can make what you and your Chosen want to do official. You can be diplomats or something… I don’t know, I’m just saying it can be worked out,” she explains and continues to walk forward.

  Her offer sends me reeling, and I get lost in thought for a moment as I fall in step next to her. We walk side by side, a hint of awkwardness between us. We were on two different sides up until the fight with the Sovereign happened. I don’t think that either one of us quite knows what to do with each other now. There’s a thread of camaraderie that ties us together because of what happened with her aunt, but aside from that, we’re strangers. Strangers that didn’t like each other all that much not too long ago. And now we could be…what? Partners? Diplomats? The Muscle?

  I try to think through what she’s offering me, to see a downside or a catch, but right now I’m just not seeing it. Her backing could be just what the guys and I need to go up against the caster elders or any other leadership that could try to stand in our way.

  “So does this mean you think it’s time for the Sentinels to see what’s outside of Tierit?” I ask.

  She takes a deep breath. “I think our survival just might depend on it. Not everyone will be happy, but I think we can do this in a way that works for everyone,” she explains.

  “We?” I tease.

  Suryn looks at me for a moment and then nods. “Yes, we,” she declares, and then she fists her right hand and places it over her left bicep.

  I don’t know why the gesture touches me as much as it does, but my eyes sting, and I have to blink back my emotions. I fist my right hand and place it over my left bicep.

  “I’d be honored, Sovereign…”

  I trail off, trying to wrack my brain for what her last name is. Suryn of the Second is all I can come up with, but that’s her family designation, not her last name.

  “Shit, what’s your last name again?” I ask, a sheepish look on my face.

  She laughs, and I feel a little less like a dick for not knowing.

  “My mother’s last name was the same as my aunt’s. Chosen and children take the surname of the female,” she explains, and I try not to make a face.

  “So you’re Sovereign Finella too?” I confirm, and she nods. “Well, at least you won’t have to change the stationary,” I comment, and she snorts.

  “I look forward to redeeming the name,” she declares, and I put my fist out for her to bump her own fist against.

  She just stares at it.

  “Uh...you’re supposed to bump your own fist against it,” I explain. “It’s a solidarity thing,” I add when she still doesn’t move.

  She balls her hand and taps the top of my knuckles with it, like a fist boop. I smile and nod.

  That’ll work.

  “I should
get back and announce what we’ve discussed,” Suryn states.

  I nod and look over at my guys. “Would you guys go with her?” I ask. “Back up what she’s saying and catch Marn and Tok when they pass out or implode,” I add.

  My Chosen laugh, and Suryn grins and shakes her head.

  “I’m going to just have a chat with my Shields,” I announce, and the irritation that flashes through Suryn’s gaze when I call them mine is clear. “Promise I won’t be long,” I offer, and the guys give me nods and move to escort Suryn back to the castle.

  “Are you sure about this?” Suryn stops and turns to ask me.

  I see a hint of nerves or maybe uncertainty in her features.

  “Yes,” I confirm.

  I watch her take a deep fortifying breath and then nod.

  “Suryn,” I call out as she starts to turn around, “we’re here if you need anything,” I offer.

  She squares her shoulders and gives me a small smile. The thank you is evident in her eyes, but she doesn’t say another word as she turns around and makes her way back to the castle. I watch her and my Chosen go, and feel a keen sense of peace wash over me. This is right, and I can feel the confirmation of that in my bones.

  “So,” I start as I turn to Enoch, Kallan, Becket and Nash, “let’s talk about us.”

  I snort out a laugh at the needy girlfriend sounding shit that just came out of my mouth. They groan playfully and laugh too.

  “The dreaded where is this going talk,” Kallan teases, and I grin.

  “The very one,” I confirm and start walking down the street again.

  They fall into step beside me, and we all go quiet for a bit.

  “So what do you want to do?” I finally ask, and I don’t know why, but the question makes me sad.

  I feel like I already know what’s going to happen, but I need to hear them say it. I’m excited for them, rooting for them, and I’m also bummed that we won’t be around each other in the same way we have been since the elders moved me into their house.

  “We’re still not unanimous on that front yet,” Kallan throws out there, and I meet each one of their gazes in turn.