The Artist Prevents An Intervention

"You can't let them beat the living hell out of you anytime they feel like it, you git."

Hex looks at me like I've lost my mind, and I know it's hard to comprehend. The cat and I have allowed something egregious to go on because we want the people we love to come back. We keep wishing that they will revert to the people we feel in love with, but they haven't.

"I know you're worried. I get it; I would be if any of you were in this situation."

Our split from the coyote and the writer would affect more than just the cat and I. Hex has a relationship with that crazy ass droid, Chaos. He could be in a spot if that hillbilly twat bulldogs for the coyote. The same goes for the bitch and her fairy twins. The family is entwined with the Coyote Den enough that disaster looms if we make rash decisions.

"We've got your back, you bleached idiot. None of us will let you guys go into that hellhole alone. I don't care how much you love those lunatics; it's not happening." Philomena gives me a look as if the discussion has ended and I should nod my head like a good boy.

"Ratchet it back, designer dictator. We're grown-ups who make grown up decisions. You can't put a moratorium on our liaisons. If you think I'm being a stubborn jackass, imagine what the kitty's going to say when she hears."

"Our lovely Juliet is going to get her own intervention, long hair. It's unacceptable to think that what you went through this weekend is happening to her," Leo says, glaring at me angrily.

"I don't have to think about it; I've seen it and worse." Victor finally speaks, having watched in unusual silence as the rest of our household went on the offensive. "You think the git's been hurt? From what I saw, I should have put that frilly asshat in the ground. She wouldn't let me. She begged, pleaded, and cried as best she could in the state she was in. Then she swore me to secrecy on our bond."

His eyes cut to me at that statement, as only a clone would understand the complexity of that relationship. The claiming bond is sacred. Blood and ancient magic ties oaths on it. He hasn't caught fire for talking about it, so maybe that was Company bullshit.

It would be like those fuckers to teach us some fabricated mumbo jumbo that to keep us in line.

"Victor, you're talking about it now, so—" Hex starts.

"I didn't tell you. You found out on your own—a loophole, I suppose. I still feel itchy all over." He shrugs and lights a smoke, walking out onto the porch with his back to us. "I guess that keeps me from burning up inside or whatever the hell is going to happen."

I rub my temples. "Guys, this is ridiculous. The more you push, the more she'll resist. I've been taking the brunt of his abuse to spare her, and I'll keep doing that. My healing will take care of it. I'll be fine."

"Horseshit!"

I blink. Sandrine was just more forceful than I've ever heard her. Her arms are crossed, and her eyes are on fire. Siren is flanking her, looking equally pissed. Christ, the cat and I have graduated to one of the abused kids Siren defends.

We really have lost our footing.

"I love you all, and the cat loves you more. The best thing you can do is to get her to admit that we might have to let go of more than Rhea and Alistair." I feel a bit of a tug inside on that statement, rubbing my hand over my chest absently. "Showing her that there are better things out there than their painful games will help, too."

Philomena stops sipping her martini as if dumbstruck and narrows her eyes at me. "The pernicious prick. You let her get knee deep in with the most dangerous person in Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, so she'll let go of the others when it's time. You, lazy, are a sneaky son of a bitch. You don't think they will stop, and you want her to be ready to let go. Chanel, in a teacup, you're diabolical."

I shrug, not meeting anyone's eyes as I feel their judgment. My mate did most of this on her own before that plan occurred to me. "Losing four mates will be a blow. Mating is permanent for clones, so it's going to ache every day, all the time when they're gone. Who can blame me for wanting to help her curb that pain with a distraction?"

"You will ache. You will pine. You will be alone in that." Siren speaks softly, her black eyes glittering with menace. "You do not deserve that, nor does she. We can make them suffer."

I shake my head and sigh. "Trust me, I considered that option. It's an unbreakable bond, Siren. They will open the gates and let their pain through to us."

"Then what do we do?" asks Hex, looking angry that he feels helpless.

Join the club, brother. Knowledge does not always make things better. You're all part of a big, ugly secret and a puzzle that cannot be solved yet. "We survive. We let her find our way out of the darkness. She always does—that you can take to the bank."

Philomena snorts. "Until then, we drink?"

"I'm all for that," I mutter, hobbling into the living room. "Leo, find us some food and grog, matey."

He snorts and rolls his eyes. "Lucky for all of you, I'm an impeccable host. Reprobates."