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My brother cut me off, “Who followed you here and called our grandparents to come babysit while whatever fun reaches the rest of us ensues. They hope it reached them too while they babysit.”

Dad said, “They kids are asleep. They don’t need to do more than sit in the house.”

My grandparents on my mom’s side portaled in. I quickly gave them a hug. My dad groaned, “For the love of Aesir Cayden, why aren’t we chasing them yet?”

I answered, “Our meeting is now in the dungeon tomorrow. I want to talk to my ex.”

Angus groaned, “He keeps trying to change the mood Cassie is setting.”

My dad replied, “He can’t. I have seen sexy Velma and nothing will change that. Why do you want to talk to her?” I answered, “Because mom said something, and it got me thinking.” He waved, “Great. Awesome. Let’s talk about that any other time but now.” My grandparents laughed and my dad said goodbye to them.

We all paused when the television came on with some show I’d never seen. I asked, “What the hell is that?”

My grandma answered, “A new show for me to watch. I’m guessing your mate did that since the remote is all the way over there. Now, go on and go sex crazy while I watch my show. Isn’t that woman just beautiful? Ohhh, the men are hot too!”

My grandpa grunted, “The men are what now?” My dad practically pushed us out of the house.

We took off for the gym. Angus said, “I’m just going to hang out and see if I can get in on whatever is happening.”

I snorted, “Sexy childhood dreams are happening.”

He grinned, “I’m so for all of that.” A woman wearing what could only be a sexy scientist ran by. Duke Maximus came skipping out next.

He waved, “Everyone interested is dressed in sexy childhood costumes. Some inside had me deeply confused and aroused on characters I did not find attractive previously. I think my childhood has been ruined, but I don’t even care. If you’ll excuse me, I have a sexy mad scientist to catch and punish for being bad.”

I was not alone in my laugh. I yelled, “Good luck!”

He snorted, “Who needs luck?”

I ran into the gym stunned to see Exsis was already here. JP being here watching his mate wasn’t. I asked, “Is she Patrick from SpongeBob?”

My dad asked, “Who?”

I answered, “Bea.” He glanced over, “Looks that way, I guess.” His focus went back to my mom and mine went to Cassie.

They taunted us in the ring. We couldn’t get to them, and I swear Cassie was sticking her boobs and chest out more than anyone ever needed to. I wanted her to stop and keep doing it at the same time. I was with Maximus, this was a confusing time. Not a single part of me cared though.

Haley popped in. My dad groaned, “If Eric comes in here and sees her and Cassie we’ll have other plans.”

Exsis said, “I can keep the Princesses wolf out. Easily. I want to tear that outfit off my wife and his possessive borderline insanity won’t stop me.”

This one time, I could get behind him doing that.

My dad muttered, “I mean, if he has to.”

I agreed, “Yup. Just this one time.”

Exsis grinned, “I see the way to get your people to agree with me is sex. That should’ve been clear long before now.” JP replied, “It really should’ve.” Angus’ feelings of delight and intrigue hit me. I snorted, “Well, my brother is playing the game now, just like he wanted.” My dad laughed.

Haley popped out and Exsis pouted. I told him, “I’m sure another reason for you to use whatever charm you were thinking of will pop up.”

He winked, “All too true. These situations always seem to come about.”

Then the girls popped out.

Exsis chuckled and I groaned. He said, “You should’ve seen that coming.”

I said, “I’ve been edged by my mate for over an hour. I don’t need to chase her around! I need to fuck her.”

He grinned, “You are so shout-y when you’re horny. How have I never noticed this? I’ve heard you have sex a lot.” Given that our mates were cousins and close friends that wasn’t surprising. Plus, I already knew that.

He popped me out and winked, “I gave you an edge since she popped too.”

He popped away. I groaned, “Damn it. I like him more and more.”

I took off running and nearly collided with Hastein. I greeted, “Cousin.” I turned and asked, “Was that a sexy Dragon?” He answered, “Purple. A purple sexy Dragon.” I grinned, “Like your stuffed animal.”

He warned, “Shut up and go find Sailor Moon.”

I grinned, “I plan to. Maximus is chasing a mad scientist. I wonder what Alexander would chase?”

He called, “A dancer but only a specific one. He’d be very pissed off if he was here right now.” Depending on when this ended, he might end up here. He was coming to practice with his squadron tomorrow our time.

I caught Cassie with Veronica. Her Grammy winked at me and took off. Cassie started using lines from Sailor Moon and I was gone. We didn’t calm down and I took her over and over, claiming every inch of her as mine. We’d barely slept when I needed to get up and meet my family. She had plans with her mom, but she wanted sex first. Darn the luck.

Angus came to get me. We both laughed when Cassie already fell back asleep before we got out of the treehouse. I asked, “Why did dad send you?”

He replied, “Umm because I’m the only one who has been brought inside this treehouse.”

I smacked my own forehead.

He teased, “Are you sure that you want to go see your ex today? You need more sleep and aren’t with it.”

I punched him in the chest, “I can ask her questions. It’s not like she’s some criminal mastermind.”

Unless she was. Angus frowned, “I was about to agree with you, but I felt that second of doubt like maybe she is. Care to share?” I told him, “I will in the dungeons.”

He asked, “So what inspired your round this morning?”

I asked, “What inspired you last night?”

He grinned, “Sexy Xena Warrior Princess.” I snorted, “She was sexy.” He wiggled his eyebrows, “I know.” I told him, “Cassie is going wedding dress shopping again today. Haley found some place.”

He nodded, “Then she’ll definitely find her dress.”

I admitted, “I hope she does. I know it would make everything click for her. She needs something happy after that Werewolf going down bullshit.”

His fists clenched and I knew he hated it too. We all wanted answers, and we had none.

We jogged past the gym and found a heated Alexander. I stepped in, “Whoa, what’s going on?”

There were men and women still dressed up. One said, “We just want to know which one interests him. His sister started the game.”

He said, “I’m not interested. I’m here to train.” She touched his chest, “We could have fun too.” He grabbed her wrist and squeezed.

He warned, “Don’t touch people that don’t want you to. Ok?”

She squealed and he let go of her hand. A man slid up on him, “That’s sexy.”

He yelled, “All of you get the hell away from me.” One girl pouted, “I thought for sure he was into dancers!” She was dressed as one, but he didn’t spare her a look as he went inside.

I linked him, “You good?”

He replied, “Keep them the fuck away from me or I’ll kick their asses.”

I told the group, “Guys, he said he’s not interested. We respect the word no here.” They groaned but began to file away.

I asked the dancer, “Why did you think he was into dancers?”

He shrugged, “I saw him watching a competition on his computer once before he slammed it shut.”

Oh really? I nodded. Angus asked, “What? Alexander has a crush, and I don’t know?” I told him, “I don’t think it’s a crush.”

Because Cassie didn’t. He gasped, “You know! Is that he told you, or Cassie inside information.”

I admitted, “The latter.”

He groaned, “Damn it! That means you won’t tell me then.” I tapped his nose, “No, but you got involved in Cassie’s game.” He grinned, “I did and it was glorious.”

We found my dad and laughed. He asked, “What? I was here on time.”

I asked, “Did you fuck mom against the dungeons then? Because you have sex hair.”

He muttered, “Velma solved crimes and doesn’t mind dungeons.” Angus and I both laughed.

I took them inside and downstairs and went to where Cora was. She looked terrible. The guard said, “Her family visited yesterday.”

Which was their way of saying no one would see her for weeks. Her family still tried to come and see her, but she still refused to see what she did was wrong.

She scoffed, “To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing the Crawford men.”

She no longer held any warmth for me, which I liked. She realized exactly what she meant to me, which was nothing. I informed her, “I have questions and you’re going to answer honestly.”

She rolled her eyes. Angus reached in and yanked her closer to the bars.

He warned, “Roll your eyes again and I’ll rip them out.”

She shrieked and pulled back. She apologized, “I’m sorry.”

I laughed humorlessly, “You’re not.” My dad directed, “Your questions.” I nodded, “Yes. Ever since I can remember me not being around Cassie centered around you. Even when she was a toddler. You and I always had group playdates set up, or something that cost a cancelation fee. Then as I got older missions started to fall apart if I was ever going to be near Cassie. Yet, we could never figure out why.”

She gulped, “That’s not a question.”

I asked, “Did you do it?”

Angus asked me incredulous, “At three years old?” I replied, “She was five years old. She’s older than I am she was just behind in school. Which I’m now doubting as well.”

My dad said, “No, she was behind.”

I asked her, “Were you? Or was it ploy to be in my grade?”

She nodded, “It was a ploy to be in your grade.” My dad snorted, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”I wasn’t actually that surprised on that answer. The rest felt far fetched but possible. I asked, “Did you burn people on my missions to keep me from meeting Cassie sooner?” She replied, “You have to understand that…”

I cut her off, “My mate has Fairy blood. Before that though, my babysitter taught me how to catch evasions because she never wanted me to be caught off guard in my job. You can’t out evade me because someone who was raised around them in their realm taught me how to spot them. I let my mate get away with it on occasion, but I’m not about to let you. So, I don’t have to understand jack shit. Answer the goddamn question. It’s a yes or no answer.”

She started to cry. Angus ground out, “I believe that’s an answer.”

I said, “I want her to say it.”

She spat at me, “Do you know that everyone, from the time she was born, thought you and her would just be this dream Hackura realm couple?” I yelled, “WHAT?” I glanced at my dad who shrugged.

He said, “Maybe your mom knows.”

Cora snorted, “Of course she doesn’t. Like they’d say it around you. Despite the fact that the Princess never let him come within ten miles of me when we were kids and she babysat him, his other babysitter didn’t notice me.”

What the fuck was happening right now?

She continued, “Before Cassie was born people at the park that played with us thought it was me and him. EVERYONE!”

Angus said, “I don’t recall thinking that.”

I shot him an amused look since Cassie was older than he was. She glared at him. My dad chimed in, “I don’t recall thinking that either. I didn’t think you were suited for each other even when you dated.”

Cora argued, “Because by then everyone said they belonged together.”

My dad replied, “I already told you that I didn’t know anyone said that.”

She accused, “But you wanted him with her, even though he was with me.” He admitted, “Yes, I did.” Angus and I turned to him in surprise.

She haughtily said, “See?”

I asked, “What?”

He replied, “I did want you with Cassie because I saw the child she was and the woman she was becoming. I thought she would suit you and this job well. Did I feel that would make a lifelong friend of mine that turned into a brother incredibly happy? Yes. I knew Bjourn and the whole Cambridge family would be happy. That would make my sister happy and I’m not apologizing for that.”

“Nor will I apologize for the fact that I never liked you together with my son, Cora. You were awful together. You pushed for everything between you, and it irritated to me no end that Cayden gave in. I saw it with Evin when he dated Gretchen. You reminded me of her, and I hated that Cayden went through it. I was still nice to you, and I never told him not to date you.”

She scoffed.

I defended my dad, “Neither of my parents told me not to date you.”

She retorted, “But they didn’t support us.”

I rubbed my temples, “Yes, they did. They invited you over and got to know you. They came to events if you were in them, because I was there. They did support us.”

Angus said, “I didn’t. I told him you were trash, and that I hated you. I’ve actually waited so long to say this.”

He turned me to face him. He said, “I told you so. She’s awful.”

I threw my head back and laughed. I asked, “Do you feel better? You waited so long to say that.” He nodded, “I know. It was horrible keeping it all bottled up inside.” I shook my head smirking at his sarcasm.

I turned, “How did you burn Micah? I nearly missed my aunt’s coronation.”

She dismissed that with the flick of her hand, “She moved it for you and I figured she would.”

My dad dryly asked, “You figured she would buck tradition and move her coronation? If you lie again, I’ll call my brother in law to torture you. He hasn’t made it to you yet.” Cora shivered in fear with the threat of my Uncle Bjourn hanging over her.

I waited to see if she would realize he was coming today anyway. Cora burned missions and one of those had two of his nephews on it. Me and Micah. Neither of us were related by blood, but that wouldn’t matter to him. This kind of confession would’ve mattered to him even if it wasn’t someone he cared about. She put the lives of people in our realm in jeopardy. Period. End of story. That it was two people that he called nephew was worse.

She admitted, “I used Jed’s login on his computer and looked up Cayden’s mission.”

My dad said, “He didn’t have that one.”

She shrugged nonchalantly, “I used my dad’s and mom’s login on occasion. I couldn’t possibly remember which time I used whose login.” By the end of the day, she definitely would.

Angus snorted, “You committed treason and you don’t remember all the details. Good lord you’re dumber than a box of rocks.”

She replied, “It wasn’t treason!”

We all scoffed. She yelled, “It wasn’t! I had faith in Cayden to keep his people safe. It was proof of my love for him.”

Angus muttered, “Crazy train headed for delusional land all aboard.”

He shook his head, “I can’t believe you dated her.”

I acknowledged, “Neither can I.” She snorted, “Yeah well, the stuff I used didn’t work because he never even cared that much.” That had all our attention.

My dad held up a finger and took out his phone. I knew he’d be texting Uncle Bjourn and probably several others to come. Angus asked, “Why have you kept all this a secret for so long?”

She replied, “You guys aren’t rational and don’t understand how much I love Cayden. You would’ve taken it all wrong. I can’t believe he finally suspected. Though, it does prove he’s started to see how smart I am.”

I was in complete shock. My dad let his unbridled fury loose in the bond. He asked, “What did you mean stuff you used on my son?”

She laughed, “I can’t believe no one suspected. You all think you’re so smart! Not even your precious Cassie saw I was pulling the strings all along. I kept you from her and I had you before her. I can’t even really be blamed for fucking someone else. I just wanted someone to be interested in me without coercion.”

She flicked her wrist at me, “You weren’t even that into it and humiliating you didn’t work either.”

I asked, “Did you use Fairy shit on me?”

She glared at me, “God, and you think you’re smart? NO, I didn’t use Fairy shit on you. The Princess would’ve known and if you ask, she’ll tell you that she never liked me. I can’t figure out why, but she didn’t. It was so obvious.”

I asked, “Why do you think that?”

It was true but I needed her to keep talking. She started to roll her eyes then stopped and shot a terrified look at Angus. He sent me his incredulity that she was scared of him and not everyone that was here now. Gunner was definitely here, since this directly affected his son.

I knew my dad would make sure Micah came too. I knew he would be relieved hearing all this. To this day, he was convinced that he fucked up that mission. We’d found no proof either way and I knew he blamed himself.

When he was going in with the Hunters was one of his first missions back and he’d been nervous, but wanted to do it for Max. He’d been in the background of several missions since. Ashley probably kept him in the field all together.

Cora answered me, “She never let me near you. I’d been giving you candy, but she wouldn’t let me.”

I yelled, “You were dosing me with shit as a kid?!”

She reasoned, “Just basic Witch stuff. You know?” I was grabbed from behind as I lunged at her. I screamed, “BASIC WITCH SHIT?! Let me RIP her head off.”

Eric got in my face. I was stunned to realize that he was the one who had me wrapped up. He linked me, “We need the information. We need to know what she did so we can be on the lookout for it.”

I punched Cora’s cell and winced.

Then Cassie’s elation hit me. She’d found her dress and that centered me. At least my emotions weren’t messing up the day for her. I didn’t know how, but I was glad. Knowing she had her dress made everything ok again.

Aiden Holloran commented, “You know spells, charms, nor any type of magic can make someone love you.”

She snarked, “It can keep them around.”

He laughed, “You supernatural’s that cannot cast magic yourselves are all alike. You misunderstand the meaning behind magic and its intent. You cheated on the man. You picked at the pride of a Hackura. Which is literally insane when you consider you are one.”

She argued, “He wasn’t supposed to see it! He came home early. He was just supposed to find out and work harder to keep me.”

Aiden laughed in her face, “He is a Hackura. You know that, right?”

She was confused, “Of course I do.” Did she though?

He asked, “And if someone cheated on you, how would you feel?”

She went to answer and faltered. He shook his head, “Exactly. All of you lot refuse to put yourself in situations to know how you’d feel. Given he is someone in leadership he’d feel more harshly than you would. I am not surprised my sister kept him from you.”

She faltered, “How did you know that?”

He answered, “I was over there with my brother in law. My sister could probably sense your motivations were not wholesome. It’s where if she’d still be around me and Arion and told us her feelings about you that you’d have died mysteriously.”

She scoffed, “As if you could kill me.”

He set her cell on fire. He commented casually, “Gosh, I just don’t know how I could kill you.” Sarcasm was a Fairy’s bread and butter. He called the flames back.

She coughed and sputtered while he rolled his eyes. He said, “I was not speaking of me any way. Arion would’ve killed you. I would’ve wanted to, but I would’ve been stopped by the fact that you were a child. Arion would not have such a problem. If Haley said you were possibly bad, he would’ve stalked you and found out if you were. He’d have been ready to kill you either way.”

He missed him too. Damn. My mom was right earlier.

I asked, “What else did you do to me? Candy from Witch’s spells and what? Did you blow my mission with Micah?”

She replied, “I already told you I did.”

I pressed, “How?” She said, “Well, in some email it had blind spots you met you handlers. I went through and found the people you were watching. I gave them Micah’s picture and told them who he was. I pretended I was a jilted lover who was pissed off at him and left. Not bad for someone you thought was dumb.”

My Uncle Bjourn spoke, “We have a different definition of not bad. I would call it treason, but then you apparently started with your treason young. I’ll assume you found out your family had married into Witch blood, and despite cutting them out, you sought them out for the candy you got.”

She nodded, “Yup. People think I’m dumb, but I’m resourceful.”

My Aunt Astrid grabbed her and broke her arm. I said, “She’s Cassie’s to kill. I promised her.”

My Aunt Astrid told me, “I know that.”

She grabbed her by the hair. She said, “I cannot believe you got past us all.” I muttered, “Except Haley.”

Cora huffed, “It’s probably her fault it all didn’t work right. You didn’t eat enough of the candy. She was the preferred babysitter your parents had for you.”

She started this so young. Micah asked, “What about the Hunters? They were suspicious of me when they had no reason to be.”

He was right.

She waved, “I left them a note but your super-secret special source ruined everything!”

Oh my god. It had been her all along. All this time?! I asked, “Whose idea was this? You didn’t come up with it.”

She jutted out her jaw and looked to the left. She replied, “It was my idea.”

I warned, “I know when you’re lying.”

She sighed, “So, my aunt suggested it after I told her people thought we’d be mates. She helped it along since it was the mate bond.”

I shouted, “BUT IT WASN’T!” She shrugged, “It could’ve been.”

Aiden laughed, “I swear there’s something in the water with these crazy women. That is the saying, yes?”

I answered, “Yes.”

Titus asked, “So, Witch spells. That’s all you used on him?” She waved, “No, once Haley was around less, I used Goblin magic too, and maybe something else. My Aunt had those details. Thank Aesir Haley wasn’t around when we started dating. She tried interfering enough.” Huh?

Eric growled, “That’s Princess Luna Haley to you.”

I told him, “It’s not your fault. I can practically taste your guilt.”

He reasoned, “I’m the reason she wasn’t in this realm.” I laughed, “You did have my mate though. So, you did save me. Plus, she wasn’t around as much once she started school. She came home almost every night and weekend, but she studied. She didn’t watch me as much then.”

Cora sneered, “She watched you all the time and put a charm on the playground. It’s why I had to convince your other babysitter to take you to a park further away. The Princess thought she was so smart, but I am smarter than everyone else.”

I pointed out, “Yet you are in here.”

She cackled, “You literally never listened to Cassie. She tried to tell you time and time again I was after you, but you wouldn’t listen. Or have Coffee with me.”

I yelled, “The spells were in the damn coffee.”

She clicked her tongue, “Took you long enough to figure out, didn’t it? I had to lead you there too. You wouldn’t have believed her if she hadn’t used her stupid Truth Seeking power on me. I had to avoid the Princess, but I never thought after all that time Cassie would try it.”

She grinned viciously, “After all, she let me get away with being in your bed naked.”

No one stopped me when I lunged into her cell this time. I beat the ever loving shit out of her before several people yanked me off. I screamed, “LET ME GO! SHE MADE ME FAIL MY MATE!”

Alexander got in my face this time. He said, “You didn’t fail Cass. It makes more sense that magic made you blind to her, but even without it she seemed unassuming. I had her as a risk, but not like this. Not to you.”

I yelled, “How does that make it better? She was a danger to Cassie, and I did NOTHING!”

Alexander argued, “That’s not true. You never were around her. You tolerated her, but you avoided her whenever you could. You moved schedules around if she caught onto yours. She played her games with Cass, and I don’t think we know all those.”

Cora mocked, “Of course you don’t. You think she wrote lying bitch across my forehead for fun? The amount of rumors I had going on before she and her obnoxious Fairy cousins shut them down were amazing. Even her Beta and Gamma got in on it. They were so OBNXOIUS! I had the realm doubting their own Duchess. I AM THE POWERFUL ONE HERE!”

Eric hit her so hard I heard her skull crack, and she went down. Uncle Bjourn took out his tools and scanned her. He said, “She’ll live.”Thor replied, “I know but you don’t want me here when you talk to her again. If she continues to talk about my pup that way Eric and I will argue about who rips her to pieces.”

I snorted, “You seem like you’d win since you hit her.”

He grinned, “It was both of us.” That made more sense.

I hung my head, “I let her down. All those times she…”

I trailed off thinking about it. My dad grabbed me and hauled me out of the dungeons. Angus was trailing behind us. When we got up top no one said anything.

Angus said, “I, for one, am glad it was Witch, goblin, and various other bullshit. I thought you had terrible taste in women and Aesir saved you.”I whispered, “I exposed Cassie to someone dangerous.”

Eric spoke from the shadows, “She was already exposed because of who I am. Should I not have had pups with my mate because of that?”

I asked, “What? No.”

He said, “Then you can’t take the blame here. I got this Aaron.”

My dad raised an eyebrow but gestured for him to take the floor. He called, “Get out here Marcus. I know you’re around.” Marcus faded in with whiskey and shot glasses.

Alexander conjured a table, and we all sat down. Angus and my dad did too. Marcus sighed, “I was kind of hoping you had this, and I wouldn’t be involved, Eric.”

Eric shot him a look replying, “If I’m out here you’re with me. If Lucas was around, we’d have him here too.”

Eric slammed his whiskey and stared into my very soul. He said, “I was charmed, and my mate blames herself for not seeing it. When she hears about this she’s going to rant and rave about how she knew that girl was horrible. She told me that ALL the time when your Aunt Astrid told her you were dating.

Uncle Bjourn laughed from behind us. He sat down and nodded to Alexander and suddenly he had a drink too. Eric poured himself another one. Uncle Bjourn said, “Haley did have a bunch of colorful things to say about you dating Cora.”

I figured that out myself. Uncle Bjorn pointed, “What he said before that was quite true.”

I muttered, “I figured that out myself.”

Marcus said, “Then listen to him and me because if you think what you did was bad, mine was worse.”

I frowned, “Huh?”

He said, “You wouldn’t know that I nearly lost Torvi and my boys because I was charmed by Claudia. It took a long time for it to come out that I’d been charmed. Haley was fifteen when I met Claudia. No one knew I was charmed or that my dad had been charmed to forgive her. Haley didn’t accept her Fairy side, and that’s the Fairy’s fault.” I agreed with that.

He hung his head, “I nearly lost Torvi, literally. She almost died and then she left me. She walked right out of our home with our children who wanted nothing to do with me. I defended Claudia and didn’t believe her when she said that’s who tried to kill her. I actually thought she’d break our bond at one point and reject me.” I gasped.

He said, “I hurt her that badly and I didn’t defend her in the worst way. When it came out later I was charmed, I cried in relief. I felt like the world’s worst failure for getting tricked. Haley and Aiden explained to me I couldn’t have helped it. I went to therapy individually, and with Torvi, but it took a long ass time for me to forgive myself. I only could because Torvi and my boys did. If she hadn’t then I would’ve given drinking myself to death a good shot.”

Since Haley wouldn’t let him do that, he’d have had to try something else.

Eric said, “I’m sure Cassie told you, and maybe you remember when I fucked up with Haley.”

I told him, “I remember things being tense in the realm, but I don’t remember it. I don’t think anyone told me when I was younger.”

He nodded, “Well, I was charmed too, and I hurt Haley over it. It felt like something else entirely took over me. Something I did not understand.”

I snorted, “Well, I didn’t feel anything like that. I felt an obligation to be nice to her.”

Eric stared me down.

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