7

Lageos was ready for me to come yell at him for not telling me about the plots. He gave me a miffed look and reminded me of the last time I yelled at him for sticking his nose in my relationships. Adding the idiots needed to make the mistakes to grow and learn how to do better, and it was better for smaller things instead of him hovering over them to make them behave.

Which he wouldn't be doing for much longer and then they could mess up worse after he was gone. And he wouldn't be there to help me or beat them up if I wanted.

Ouch.

He wasn't wrong but… Ouch, Dad. Seriously.

Plus, apparently, he thought I knew and was being bratty so they cooed and spoiled me. It was something that my mother had a habit of doing with him and their fun games.

Gross.

But it made sense and put it into better context.

I went over to the County Fair Food Court this Great America had and started in on the turkey legs as I thought about what he said. And Darby.

Lucca came and sat with me after he set down two trays completely overloaded with corndogs and different hot dogs. He simply shrugged.

Fair.

"I thought you knew. I swear I did, cream puff," he whispered as we were on our fourth corndogs. "I'm sorry. If I thought for a second you really didn't know something was going on, I would have told you and pulled the plug even. It's not an excuse, but there's been so much, and I was freaking with graduation and what I was going to be doing that… I'm sorry."

I let out a slow breath, hating that I had a hand in his worries. "I'm sorry I added all that stress on you."

"Tams, you didn't," he muttered as he reached over and wiped something off my lips. He shook his head when I argued. "I knew you were doing something and we'd figure it out. You made that clear and I trusted you. Full stop."

"Then what happened?" I asked after we started eating again.

He sighed. "Six years of working for graduation is a long time for a goal. I've put a lot into it and it wasn't easy at times. I'm a strong bear, but my magic isn't what… It took more work than most shifters. Then it was trying to remember some of my earlier lessons when you helped it spark."

I frowned at that, and he admitted the last year his magic had been stronger and he thought part of it was how easy I made magic seem. A lot of what had been holding him back was his own head making things more complicated or his emotions and not dealing with them like he'd thought he had.

I nodded. That was understandable. My magic was all over with my emotions as well.

"But then I felt like you do about saying officially that you're going to be queen," he whispered, his eyes conflicted. "I know it's not the same, but it was like, oh shit, graduation is here and I have to declare the rest of my life. Hudson figured out how to handle that before the stress of graduation and I didn't. I got…"

I nodded again. "We need some sort of real signal then. I struggle to tell you guys when I'm upset or something hurts me."

"I thought of that too, and it might seem cheesy, but I ordered something because it seemed easy to me. Something you wouldn't struggle with and blunt for us idiots."

"Stupid bear," I grumbled as I wiped my hands and took his phone from him.

It was cheesy. It was a bit crass when this was a real issue going on and between us… But it was easy. I had to give Lucca that.

"You don't have to do it," he hedged when I didn't say anything.

"You'll get them to—I don't know I can be the one to—"

"It's my idea and I'll explain it to them," he promised.

I nodded, thinking it wouldn't be taken seriously if I did. That might be my insecurities, but it also felt like something that easily wouldn't be taken seriously.

It was a custom-ordered neon lights sign that said "Time-Out: I'm Upset!"

Honestly, it felt like something a kid would want for the bedroom door when they were upset with their parents. Hell, I felt I'd seen something just like it on TikTok. I quickly handed him back his phone when I realized that.

"Tams, please," he whispered, scenting whatever I was feeling. "I'm not diminishing it—our lives are too complicated and fast-moving. That's what it is, not something for you to feel ashamed about. Please? That's the part—where is your head?"

I sighed and told him, glad when he winced. Not because I wanted him upset but that he at least saw what I was saying.

"I hear you and I get it. I feel silly too and… I don't think it will be forever, cream puff. There's too much going on with all of us and we need a signal. I kept thinking the bat signal basically, but I didn't want to make this something to chuckle at."

I nodded, knowing where his head was at least.

"Tams, please, hear me," he whispered. "You just flew off and handled an attack and didn't bat an eyelash. We're not even talking about it. Our lives are fucking crazy."

I blinked at him and felt like a jerk. "Sorry. It wasn't anything. I'm fine. Hungry, but I always am."

He gave me a gentle look. "You get how crazy that is, right? Onas said it was hundreds of supes and that's not anything?" He waited until I sighed. "That's what I'm saying. There's too much going on all the time. I just wanted something simple to stop it all if something is going on."

"I'm using it when I need to, and I'll put my name on it," Hudson muttered as he set down two trays full of overloaded nachos. "It seems childish but fuck, I just need something easier. I was upset about some of how this was all handled and—we all need to stop bottling up so much. We're going to implode."

"I agree," Lucca and I said at the same time, but I continued. "I was proud of the way you guys handled the issues at the graduation dinner. Even Sasha was floored. I want that to be how we are. Not this."

"Don't cry, shorty," Hudson murmured, leaning in and kissing my hair. "I'm sorry. I swear I thought you knew." He bobbed his head when I opened my mouth. "I know. I'm a stupid dragon. I thought you were pouting that you didn't know details. I told Neldor I was getting annoyed about that. You should know the details. It's your break."

"I thought the same," Lucca grumbled. "Fine, the first week was a surprise of details or that he rented the place and it was a bigger thing. But no one likes not knowing what was going on."

"We have too much going on already to do that," I bitched. "I thought I'd made that clear." I raised my head and locked gazes with Neldor, too annoyed to care that he looked like I'd kicked him in the nuts.

Not yet, but I would if he came near me right then.

After we finished stuffing our faces, Lucca and I went on a series of superhero and comic book-themed rides. They were fast and crazy and everything I'd wanted to experience.

I was definitely in a better mood after that.

I pulled out my phone when I got a notification and about drooled when I saw what it was. Julian sent me pictures of loaded fries and several burgers that I wanted to get to know better… And his location.

"Shit, where do I get that?" Lucca muttered, looking over my shoulder. "Those fries look like they're begging for you, cream puff."

"My stomach really does rule me," I grumbled as I set my phone to bring us to where Julian was.

He looked happy to see me at first but then frowned, rushing over to me. "Are you okay? Did something happen with that attack or—"

"She's cranky that her stomach rules her," Lucca told him.

Julian looked as if he was trying not to laugh as he grabbed my arm and leaned down. He brushed his lips over mine. "Tams, it was always, always one of the most endearing things to me. Even when I was stupid." He gave me another kiss. "Plus, how considerate you are." He nodded when I frowned harder. "You wouldn't let this food go to waste waiting for you."

Even if I was still upset. That was what he wasn't saying.

Fine, yeah, I hated waste. Things were too expensive and feeding me cost a lot.

I gave him a quick peck and went over to the spread he had set up for me. That was all I would give him at the moment.

He waited until I'd devoured my first burger. "I would like a conversation about how to make sure this situation doesn't happen again."

"Don't be stupid, stupid?" I offered, giving a half shrug when he looked at me like that wasn't helping.

Fine, I could be an adult.

Maybe not. I sighed and stuffed fries in my face. "I get it and Lucca had an idea, but I'm still upset. You guys are moving onto the solution and I still want to beat you all." Lucca snickered. "In between having my fun. Whatever, stupid idiots."

But Julian studied me and heard me which was nice. "You're right. I shouldn't have jumped to what comes next. I'm sorry." He reached over and moved his hand to mine, waiting until I looked at him. "I'm sorry, my sweet mate. I shouldn't have let this happen."

I swallowed loudly and gave a nod that I heard him and went back to my food, mumbling a thanks.

Whether it was for the food or the apology, I wasn't really sure.

I went to the bathroom after that feast and Neldor was waiting for me when I stepped out… Of the stall. He was inside the women's restroom.

"They told me to fuck off and not talk to you yet," he muttered as I moved over to the sinks, explaining why he was doing this. And probably that he'd had to portal to where he was. "I'm sorry, Tams."

"I believe you. I'm still upset, and I don't know what to do about it yet."

"I understand," he whispered. "I even get why you don't want to talk to me, but we do need to talk about what happened today." He waited until I gave a nod and went to dry my hands. "Something smells fishy about it all." He had a hard look in his eyes when I glanced at him. "You could have handled that in your sleep. Who was stupid enough to think otherwise?"

I opened my mouth but then closed it, mulling over what he said as the warm air tickled my skin. "I didn't think of that. I was just annoyed and wanted to forget what happened."

He snorted. "Yeah, that was clear when you didn't even tell anyone it was Underground."

"I kind of assumed everyone would assume it was them," I admitted. "I mean… Who else—they've done this before."

"Right, and you've squashed it before. That's what I'm saying," he pushed. "They can't think they would win when—it wasn't even three hundred people." He nodded when I frowned harder. "Even if we take you out of the picture, that's nothing for any commander to handle. A squad of Guardians could handle that. They didn't think we had that here?"

I slowly nodded. "They're beyond testing me or thinking we don't have our act together. I hear you." I shrugged. "There was some point." I went to say more but then sighed. "Probably a ploy to feed us bad intel. That would be my guess. I mean… It's not like I haven't done the same."

"I think we don't bring them to Faerie," he said after a moment. "Taeral agrees. I think we keep them knocked out and—something stinks about this, Tams."

"Do it," I agreed. "You're right. The Underground hasn't been stupid like this. There's more to it. Or wake a few to interrogate and get an answer."

"Yeah, I'll handle it." He cleared his throat when I went for the door. "Can you forgive me?" Tears were in his eyes when I looked at him in the mirror. "I just wanted—this really went wrong. I was so…"

Excited. I could feel it. He was so, so disappointed and crushed because he'd been so excited to do this.

"We have too much going on for secrets and big surprises, Nel," I whispered. "I thought if anyone would have been smarter than being this stupid, it was you." There wasn't really anything else to say.

He moved with the fairy rune to stop me by the door and hugged me to him. "I just wanted you to have fun and be happy, baby doll. You do so much for all of us and… Everyone was excited to give you this surprise."

Tears filled my eyes because I believed him. "It's not a gift if you have to hurt before you get it. I hurt that you all ignored me and didn't care. That's just mean." I was glad when he let me go.

But yeah, I would forgive him. All of the idiots. They didn't do it to be mean or bully me; they were… Idiots.

Neldor was right.

There was more to the attack.

Much more.

A few hours before dinner when the kids were all getting tuckered out and we were ready to head out, phones started blowing up.

Because it had been a setup.

The Underground had known I would act exactly as I did… They clearly planned on it.

Apparently, they weren't fans of the change in attitude towards me. They had no chance to ever get their hands on me if I was happy and things were going well for me in my position.

So they came up with a plan to destroy the current sentiment about me so people would go back to hating me. It made me vulnerable.

And the worst part? They used my own tricks against me.

Several of the people at the front by the barrier that I'd spoken to had been livestreaming it.

I chuckled as I saw the news reports and the frame job. "Students my ass."

"Yes, clearly, but how do you want to handle this, Your Highness?" Shael asked.

I didn't answer until I finished watching and then moved on to the next report. "There has to be more to this. They can't think people are this stupid?"

"No, I would guess they think people want any excuse to hate you and tear into you like they used to," Morgan grumbled. "The Underground has proven to be an intelligent adversary. Fine, they've had stumbles or underestimated us, but… They didn't get as large and deadly as they are from being stupid."

Fair enough.

The livestreams started as if it was a group of excited college students who heard there was an event thrown by the fairies. That we were looking for summer nannies basically, and anyone who hit a certain level of power was invited to interact with the newly-awoken fairy children. So they were layering in how they loved children and needed a job.

Cute.

They passed around a power crystal to show their levels were high.

"That's the part I don't understand," someone behind me muttered.

"They want to show I'm a threat," I purred. "If hundreds of them are stronger than most shifters and I took them down without blinking—how many will see me as a threat?"

The people around me were not happy.

"We didn't take them to Faerie as I said, right?" I checked as I finished the last report. I was glad when people nodded. "Good, grab the ones that were livestreaming and let's handle this."

"How, Your Highness?" Morgan worried.

I frowned and looked at the commanders before focusing on Neldor. "Is this just me?"

"I have no idea how to handle this either," he muttered. "I mean, I would think a press conference or—"

I swallowed a sigh. Sometimes fairies really did make their lives harder than needed. I pulled out my phone and tapped it several times before putting it to my ear.

"I had a feeling my phone would be ringing soon," Captain Reddy greeted, his voice amused. "Nice propaganda going around about you."

I snorted. "Isn't there always some sort of bullshit when people talk about me?" I felt better when he snorted as well. "I'm coming into headquarters with a few of the livestreamers. Can you work it with your big boss and—"

"I just got off the phone with him and he suggested the same thing, Your Highness. We'll be there in a few and ready. You want the media or no?"

I thought about that a moment. "I don't think I want video of me walking in with people or it twisted like I was brought in. Can they come after, getting tipped off that I came to headquarters to make sure the honorable police who are newly cleaned of corruption could clear up this misunderstanding?"

"We'll make it happen. See you soon."

"Thank you, Captain." I looked at my dad. "You're protecting everyone here. Make sure we're all out and getting me out of here wasn't the real goal with this bullshit."

"Done," he agreed. "But I want you to go in with Geiger." He shook his head. "No, Darby's right that you should always have your attorney. You're giving statements and—let them protect you from a sound bite that could be twisted."

That was fair and I agreed, noting the relief pouring off of Darby as well. "Morgan will handle most of it as the commander from the light realm that I am a citizen of. I'm the one in question." It should have been Shael as commander with the highest seniority, but I shot her a look that I was making a point.

Basically, that this wasn't important enough for our best or most senior. If both of us went, it would be overkill.

Which was why Neldor wasn't going either… Much to his upset.

He'd live.

Everything was ready when we arrived, and Morgan pulled off my magic to question the first person right in front of Reddy, the head of the police, and several officers. The first question was easy and had quite the impact.

"What school do you attend?" he asked, giving the man a look that the jig was up.

Reddy snorted. "That's a lot of worry for such a simple question. Did you not expect this outcome? What was the plan then?"

I frowned. "It was a test."

The problem was none of them knew for who. So it wasn't a test for me, but to see… What?

What was the Underground testing by doing this?

"Or were they just lied to?" Reddy muttered, sharing a glance with me. "A test to see if they could pull it off? Promoted?"

Unfortunately, we didn't get the answer. The people we'd brought in who had been livestreaming didn't know the answer.

That wasn't unsettling or anything.

But my idea worked. The media was alerted that I immediately came in with the livestreamers for the police to question the moment I heard the reports. It went better than I'd hoped, and reporters showed up to get any details they could. Anchors inside were saying that clearly it was a hoax or something was fishy if I was being so transparent.

Even the stations that didn't like me.

"You're going to want to see this, Your Highness," Ara told me as she handed me her phone. There was too much amusement in her eyes for me to worry, but we now had the attention of everyone else in the room, so Reddy pulled it up on the TV by us.

"Look, I've not hidden that I'm not a fan of Tamsin Vale," the guy said to his buddies.

I swallowed a groan. These assholes were always full of shit and normally about me. They were constantly getting called out for going over the line with how they spoke of me even. Other assholes said it was too far to call a leader a whore.

And it was bad when the assholes called you an asshole.

We hated the three men and two women of this "news" show. Honestly, they were the lowest of the low, and it was a damn miracle they hadn't been caught up in anything illegal ever.

Not that we could find… And all of the commanders had tried because they pissed off fairies that badly.

"She's not smart and a loudmouth," he continued. "I think she's disgraceful at times. She overreaches and pushes honorable fairies to stick their noses in what's not their business."

"That's an understatement," the dumbest of the five chuckled. I hated that she was a woman.

"But we are safer with her around," he sighed, shocking the two other people at the table from what I could see. "She's taken down Underground numbers. She pushed for the police to be cleaned up and we have wanted that for years. We were shocked when some of the new councilmen of the two councils the fairies took over complained about her.

"We thought it would be all of her favorites and picking her buddies. I can admit I was wrong on that. We've had people report on that, and while she's childish and uses her magic to silence them at meetings, she let the people decide who they wanted as their leaders. She promised she would and she did. She has shown to have the honor of a fairy."

"Sometimes," the guy next to him grumbled.

"Sometimes, but she still has," the first guy agreed. "I can hate that she's the leader of fairies, but I'd be a hypocrite if I said we should push to out her when they want her."

"Since when has he worried about that?" Iolas drawled, and I wasn't the only one who snorted.

"It's their beliefs that she's their leader, and we've been reporting for months that they're happy with her. We've reported that it maybe took a crass loudmouth to bring peace between the realms which none thought to ever see."

"For now, at least. I doubt she can keep it that way," the other woman drawled. "She hasn't made it be to being their queen. I think they're going to have another war before that and over her being their ruler."

"Isn't it next year?" the guy who hadn't spoken yet asked, giving her a funny look. "You think fairies are going to have a war in the next year?"

She frowned. "How can they make her queen at twenty-five? She's going to be twenty-five when school starts, right?"

"Well, it's great they listen to anything we say," Morgan ground out.

I shrugged. "Offer to go on their show and answer their questions. Take the argument to them. You have the patience for it." I shrugged again. "I'd break all the metal in the studio when they pissed me off. There's no way I'd be able to keep cool with all they've said about me."

"That's a good idea, Your Highness," he praised.

Iolas snorted. "You going on the show or her breaking all of the metal in the studio?"

"Behave," Morgan grumbled.

I found it funny, giving Iolas a wink.

But it was nearly a miracle that one of the biggest assholes who found something wrong with just about everything I did actually thought the situation was fishy as well. He went on to say that he couldn't see me—even with my many flaws—be reckless and just go after students.

He looked like he'd solved world peace when the statement came out from the police that it was all the Underground's ploy and the people weren't even students. They were used to test our security and if we'd lowered our security since humans were involved.

That might be what most decided, but I couldn't help but think that wasn't the test those people were intended for.

Unfortunately, I was normally right.