by S. L. Morgan
“I’ll be right there with them,” Lusa said with assurance.
“And all of us will have eyes on this entirely crazy situation that you’re all lucky we’re buying into,” Scott said as he leapt to his feet. “Alright, let’s go get the lies rolling.” He looked at Dominic, “I want to laugh at your love-struck, stupid ass right now, but this is pretty messed up, man. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider your true mate being someone who can jack you up if she wanted to?”
Dom growled while I rolled my eyes. “Grow up,” I said. “I already have to deal with a leprechaun with the maturity of a three-year-old, we don’t need you guys making it worse by acting the same age.”
“Let’s go,” Finley smirked. “You going to be okay with the whole witches are losing their magic revelation?”
Vannah shrugged her shoulders. “There’s nothing I can do about it at the moment. At least my boyfriend is a strong alpha and hangs with the rest of you.”
I watched in happiness that these two were really hitting it off, and I smiled when they both gave each other looks of love before Ian kissed her forehead and the masters fled the room.
“Okay, we need to get Dom out of here before daybreak.” I hugged my massive wolf shifter and pressed my lips against his head. “Go and get us answers. I promise I won’t kill Melanie. I love you more than I hate her…I think,” I said, standing up.
“Dom can make the jump from the balcony. His wolf is strong enough to withstand the fall,” Ethan said. “I’ll check in every so often to see if Jenna is ready to help fix him, or sooner if we find the area we will need to attack.”
“You both be careful,” Lusa said, stealing the words from my lips.
“We will.”
That was it. The wolf thundered through the living room, out of the balcony doors, and off the balcony while Ethan shifted and the enormous owl sped off as fast as the wolf toward the forest that would take them to God only knew where.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I really had to pool all my energy to get through this day after everything that had happened through the night. Exhaustion wasn’t an option. Pie should have helped—it didn’t—and now, I was finally about to approach Melanie, and I hoped to hell that I found the right words to deal with her.
I had to shove everything to the back of my mind and intently focus on how I was going to deal with a damn leprechaun—of all the fairies that could’ve been able to help me, it had to be a leprechaun.
“Melanie,” I said, walking into our dorm room and tossing my leather book-bag onto my bed.
She glanced up with a hopeful smile, tossing her glistening red hair over her shoulder. “Jenna?” she questioned my tone of voice, probably because it was the first time that I’d said her name nicely instead of sounding like I wanted to strangle her.
“Yeah,” I smiled. “How’d school go today?”
Good God, what the hell? How was I supposed to talk to her? How was I supposed to dump information on her and use her to help me? I had drawn a hard line on this chick, and now I was erasing that and hoping Ethan was right in his assessment of her.
Unfortunately, I had no idea how to break the ice without talking about rainbows and unicorns while my man was out there, forced to be his wolf because I totally screwed up with my supercharged, fairy powers. The answer to fixing him was staring right at me, most likely with the same silent expression I was giving her…a WTF is happening look.
Time was of the essence, so I was going for broke and trusting Ethan more than myself.
“I need to talk to you,” I said. “It’s pretty serious and very private.”
“Oh my gosh,” she rose up and covered her heart. “Did Dominic and you merge? You’re pregnant? I’ve heard of this before. He’s a strong alpha and—”
“Melanie,” I cut her off with a look of disgust. “Really?”
“You’re as white as a ghost. Dominic is off on some quest as the wolf. You’ve just had this strange look on your face all day—dare I say it? You look scared, even now.”
“Stop jumping to crazy conclusions,” I said with a sigh as I sat on her strawberry-scented bed. “Ugh, how do you sleep with this toxic smell?”
She giggled and arched an eyebrow at me. “That’s funny coming from a shifter who loves pie.”
I let out a breath. “I’m not entirely a wolf shifter,” I started, studying her intently as I slowly revealed my secret to her.
“What?” she answered. “Of course, you are. That’s why you and Dominic are already fated mates, and at such a young age…” She stopped herself as I narrowed my eyes, watching and waiting for her to mentally catch on.
“Go on,” I said.
Her eyes widened. “Wait, was it a spell or something that forced you both to find each other so early?” She looked toward her purple, shaggy rug on the floor. “No,” she shook her head, “shifters haven’t found true mates and accepted each other before full maturity.” She looked back at me. “Maybe it’s—”
“Stop,” I said. “You’re going to hurt yourself if you keep trying to guess. I have fairy genetics in me. My mom was apparently part fairy and witch. I come from a line of creatures who were all mashed up by going outside of their supe races and finding true love with each other.”
“That’s never been heard of.”
Yeah because they all got wiped out, and I’m pretty sure your daddy didn’t tell you the dark secrets of the House Silvers mutants, I thought, still wondering how I was going to level this all out and make it work.
“Well, you’ve heard of it now,” I half-smiled. “You’re sharing a room with a supe who’s part shifter, witch, and fairy…” I paused and chewed on the inside of my lip. “I don’t know much about my lineage, but I’m sure I have some ancestor up the line who was a vamp too. I think it’s safe to say that I’m a mash-up of all of the above.”
“My goodness,” she looked at me with pity, “how do you deal with all of that? Why hasn’t Immortal Academy placed you on some pedestal or something? That’s so amazing, Jenna. Does the school even know?”
“No,” I said firmly. “I’m trusting that you’ll keep this between us.”
“How are you more predominately a wolf shifter? Why hasn’t anyone picked up on this?”
“It’s hidden and hidden very well. There’s a grisly story connected to my heritage, and I’d rather not talk about that. What I need to talk about is the fact that an oracle has mentioned that you are one of the few who I can trust with this,” I licked my lips and exhaled. Here we go, “and I need your help.”
“Help? Me? You hate me.”
“I’ve learned to forgive.”
“Well, that certainly doesn’t sound authentic.”
“Do you want me to hug you? What do I need to do besides tell you the secret that could get my ass killed at this school?”
“A hug would be nice.” She smiled.
“That’s something else we need to talk about,” I said through my inward cringing of her acting like a child instead of the powerful leprechaun who was supposed to help me unlock my magical powers. “I questioned you helping me because you don’t seem to act as powerful as the oracle said you are. In reality, the crap you pulled on Dominic and me and the stomping of your feet when shit doesn’t go your way, that’s the way a five-year-old behaves.”
“I stomp my feet?” she questioned, ignoring all the other annoying shit I was trying to point out.
“Yes, you do,” I answered. I rubbed my forehead, “God, you’re making me feel like I’m a hundred years old and talking to a toddler. I need you to focus. I mean, maybe there’s a reason you act the way you do. Abandonment issues? Daddy issues? What is it?”
“I don’t have any issues like that. My parents have always adored me. After I was born, they even vowed never to have another child because they knew they could never love another baby like they loved me. I am special to them, and that—”
“Enough of that. You just told me what I needed to he
ar. You’re an only child, spoiled brat who grew up never being taught what the word no meant. No consequences, nothing?”
“I was never punished, only praised.”
“I thought that growing up a frustrated orphan had me screwed up, but damn. You are levels above all of that.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’ve gotten your way for your entire life, obviously. Melanie can do no wrong, and this is what I’m working with for help?” I glanced up at the ceiling. “This isn’t going to work.”
“Wait,” Melanie reached for my arm, and I was so done with all of this that I didn’t even jerk away.
I felt numb, worried, and ready to kick someone’s ass all at once. I wouldn’t even tap into my wolf right now. I made that mistake this evening by shifting and allowing her and me to ride co-partner on our obstacle course, and all that was on my wolf’s mind was being out with Dominic’s and on the search team with her alpha.
“What?” I said, feeling tears pool in my eyes.
“I get it,” she said softly. “Okay. Let’s start fresh. Can we do that?”
“Yes,” I said, swallowing hard. “I’d really appreciate your help, but this shit is dark and serious, Melanie. Let’s face it, fairies and shifters are not natural partners or friends. You’re a leprechaun, and I just don’t trust you.”
“What can I do to help you trust me? I really want to help you.”
“Do you?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Why? Why would you want to help the girl who swore to rip your throat out if you screwed with her man again? The girl who has the man you are obviously obsessed with?”
“Because I can see that you’re scared, and I’ve never seen you look vulnerable like this. I may not have the best behavior, and we definitely got off on the wrong foot because, yes, I’ve always gotten my way, but I’m sort of learning after losing my project to that commander…” she stopped and eyed me. “I don’t know, I’ve kind of learned that even though my dad is president of IA, I’m not always going to get what I want.”
“It’s not that your project sucked,” I said nicely, “it’s the way you went about it all. You took that and tried to run over the top of everyone with it.”
“No, I get it. I really thought that after falling for Dominic like I did, I could get him too. Even if he didn’t like me in the way he seemed to be attracted to you, I guess I felt like I could eventually get him if I worked and manipulated things to work my way like I did with that project. It all backfired on me, and I really messed it up.” She shook her head. “Which sucks because I think our idea really works. I really think it would help to lure the rogue supernaturals to fabricated human things like you were lured to it in that trap.”
I forced a smile on my face. “Maybe we can reintroduce it all after you help me,” I said. “The commander is my adopted dad,” I was talking to a leprechaun I didn’t fully trust yet. I would be stupid if I didn’t play my cards right and use Harrison’s lame adoption lie to my advantage in all of this.
“That still blows me away, how’d that happen? I’ve never heard of a supernatural being adopted by anyone outside of our kind.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “The bottom line is that he’s now my dad, and I’m pretty damn lucky that he and his wife did this for me.”
Try and keep up with the BS lies, Jenna!
“It’s totally cool.”
“That all said, I know a lot about him and his people. They don’t mess around, and they’re pretty pissed off about IA producing assholes who are hurting humans, and they’ve reached their limit with all of it. This is part of why I’m at the point of asking you for help, because we’re up next on their hit list if we don’t pull this school out of the ditch it’s run itself into.”
“This school did nothing wrong.”
“You’re a fairy,” I felt my voice rise in frustration toward the ignorance of anyone who thought this school was some fantastic, elite place to attend. “How can you not sense the darkness and the sinister energy that lurks here? I felt it the day I got here, and I’m not even tapped into my fairy genetics properly.”
“It’s weird to hear you say that about yourself.”
“I know, but it’s true. I need your help in figuring out how to use these genetics, but you’re no help to me if you can’t even sense the evil brewing at this place. Can you flip a switch or something and pick up on the shit that has gone down here? There has to be residual energy or something you can sniff out.”
“As a fairy, I should be able to pick up on it immediately. Especially being a leprechaun, we’re tempted all of the time to use our powers for darkness.”
“That’s fantastic, and something that actually makes a lot of sense. It’s why I don’t trust a leprechaun as far as I could throw one. You’re tempted to go dark?”
“Just like you’d be tempted to shift and hurt a human if they upset you. Every supernatural has darkness inside that tempts them, ours is just more alluring, I guess.”
“So, is this why you sleep in glitter and rainbows? To keep the dark shit away from you?”
She crinkled her nose in humor. “No. It’s rejuvenating,” she answered. “We have a desire deep inside to do dark things to get our way or watch those who’ve upset us suffer.”
“You used yours to screw with Dominic and me.”
I watched her cheeks flush red. “I sensed his weakness, his need to be with you for him to feel good and strong. I hated to know that you were his strength and what made him the alpha he was. I knew if I kept him from you, it would keep him weak, and I’d hoped that you wouldn’t want a weak alpha.”
“You are one twisted little bi—” I stopped myself. This was all about moving forward with her help, but it was good, I guess, to listen to a leprechaun admit they were dark assholes by nature. “Sorry about that, but what you did was bullshit. I’m glad you know that. For the record, no matter how weak that man could ever get, he’s my mate, and nothing is going to keep us apart,” I said, looking out of the window, wondering where he was in wolf form, and how he and Ethan were doing.
“That’s remarkable,” she answered. “Usually, beta mates leave a weaker alpha, but you would stay with him regardless.”
“Here’s another one to blow the glitter around in your brain, I’m an alpha too. He’s my mate. That shit never happens either.”
She covered her mouth, “How are two alpha coexisting in a relationship as mates?”
“Great question,” I answered. “Apparently, both of us have been connected since we were toddlers. Drawn to each other. How about that to add to your mind-blowing, revelation experiences? We see each other as equals and have since day one. Now, back to my question. Can you help me?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, in order for me to trust you, you’re going have to prove to me that I can.”
“I’ll do my best. I’ve never helped anyone—”
“You can help, or I wouldn’t be here asking for it,” I cut her off. “You’re going to help me by starting small. I need to sense that I can trust you. My wolf is in a questioning mindset, so I need to go past her instincts and see if I can draw on some fairy ones. I know fairies have instincts for reading people well. I was able to do that all of the time, up until I got to IA. I need to find a way to read people like I used to. I need to draw from those fairy genes and read you.”
“That’s too embarrassing, I still sort of have feelings for Dominic.”
“So, I’ll be able to read everything in you?” I questioned, wishing I had been more attentive about the magic of these fairies I hated so much.
“Yes,” she said softly. “If I let you in—only so you know I won’t hurt you or go dark on you—please promise not to hate me.”
“Because you have a crush on Dom?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, God. We need to hope my fairy genetics work, so I can somehow kick start my witch genes, then I can use this power to help you grow t
he hell up,” I said with a smile. “I won’t hate you. I’ll feel sorry for you, I think,” I laughed. “Dom’s mine, so there’s nothing to hate.”
“Okay.” She sucked in a breath. “It’s a simple way, but I have to make contact with your mind to see what we’re working with.”
“I told you what you’re working with. I’m dealing with magic that’s locked up, and I can’t use it. I need to use it, or our asses are toast when those Guardians show up.”
“No, I need to see how locked up these genetics are. I need to see if I can even help you. When I do this, if I can pull out your ability to read into other minds, I will.”
“Before you do that, can you read into mine?”
“I have since you walked in and your wolf finally allowed me to reach your emotions. The wolf must know you need my help?”
“I guess so. Okay, let’s do this.” I held her hand away from touching my temple, “If you screw with me in any way, my wolf can easily shift and rip your throat out.”
“I know,” she said with wide eyes. “Let’s hope I can help you read into my mind because I’m sort of sick of you being scared that I’m going to do something dark.”
“Can you blame me?”
“No.”
“Alright, go.”
I felt nothing, but Melanie must’ve sensed something immediately because she snapped her hand back and stared at me like I was some freak of nature.
“Oh my gosh,” she said shakily. “Jenna, I don’t know if it’s safe for us to let you use these powers.”
“What did you pick up on?”
“You’re very powerful. It’s locked away because your power will drive you harder to go dark than anything I’ve ever encountered.”
“Listen to me,” I said sternly, “I have zero intentions of being persuaded to go dark. I need Dom back, and we have a war that needs me at the top of my game, or we’re all dead.” I thought of what happened to my mom and what she did to my dad and shook that violent memory off like a disease. “Let’s start slow. Help me learn how to read you, and then once I trust you’re going to work with all of us, you’re going to help me tap into this magic at will. I hate to sound like a bitch, but I’m the only shot this school has at beating the evil that’s already killed students.”