Authors: Joyee Flynn
“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.