22

We took Ronald into custody—to his complete and utter shock—and I went with Lucca and his mother to have a talk with the sloth's leadership. Mostly, Ronald's Betas and right hands.

It actually went much better than expected. They were clearly relieved that Lucca was going to take over and probably sooner than any of them had realistically thought... If ever. A few voiced their concerns that Ronald had made a few comments that Lucca wouldn't even be needed unless he died.

And made those comments recently.

Their only concern was security. Lucca's mom wasn't strong enough to hold the sloth if they were challenged.

It was amusing when Taeral and Stefanie both snorted, knowing I wouldn't allow that and would involve myself.

"I don't want to overstep," I hedged, shooting Lucca a worried glance.

"It's not overstepping when I ask for help, cream puff," he chuckled softly, scrubbing his hand over his neck. "We could house a bunch of the newer awoken Guardians and help them get caught up? Knowing they're here would make anyone suicidal to even make an attempt."

"Done," I agreed.

The rest of his involvement was on hold until I graduated. Neldor needed the help Lucca was giving him. And the time to get someone else in the role and trained.

"I might need two," Neldor admitted, shrugging when I raised an eyebrow. "He will make an excellent Alpha. He's more fucking organized than I am, pays attention to the important stuff, and stays on task. I wasn't blowing smoke up his ass that he's been a huge help or just playing nice with one of your other mates. He's really fucking good."

That made all the bears happy to hear a royal seasoned in so much have that opinion.

I felt seething rage outside of the house and slipped away. I wasn't surprised to find Lucca's brother, Jason, standing there barely containing himself.

"You did this," he snarled.

"No, I didn't, but I should have," I sighed, scrubbing my hand over my hair. "I couldn't push it because I love your stupid brother, but your father—you don't even know the depth of what he did. Even if you look it from the outside and the politics—he actively attempted to get me caught and possibly killed, Jason. The leader of Faerie."

"He didn't know that you were the—"

"It shouldn't fucking matter!" I roared, shocking him. I let out a shaky breath. "It shouldn't matter that he didn't know I was important. I am a person , Jason. He almost got me killed. A few times. He wanted to breed me . What would you do if someone actively tried to put the pieces together to make that happen for one of your sisters? Not just—"

"They'd be dead," he bit out, begrudgingly admitted, crossing his arms over his chest. "I didn't know it was more than a thought or random idea. That's not cool, but—a lot went to shit because fairies were gone. He went through a lot."

"Yeah, but hear me that it wasn't to save the world. It was for his power, and he would control who knocked me up and then take my children away from me," I told him, my voice cracking.

I felt a lot better when Jason looked horrified to hear that.

"I didn't want Lucca to be Alpha," he grumbled.

"Because you want to be." I waited until he nodded. "Lucca's doing it because he thinks he'll be a good Alpha and is the best option for the sloth. That's the right answer. You have the selfish one."

"You don't know what it's like being secondborn," he snapped.

"No, I don't. But I know Connor did it with grace. He showed he had the right attitude and capacity to lead." I moved closer and patted his shoulder. "Just because you won't be Alpha here doesn't mean you won't ever be a leader or your own man, Jason. Look at Juan. He's killing it. He took what Neldor and I couldn't handle and made it explode."

"Dad was talking about using our future nieces and nephews as leverage, Jas," one of Lucca's sisters said as they both came around the corner and into view. "The ones not of Lucca's DNA because they won't be bears and who cares about them? If that doesn't disgust you then—"

"It does," Jason whispered, glancing down at his feet. "I didn't hear—he said something about an alliance mating and—"

The girls shared a look and my blood boiled.

"Has your father already been plotting for you both to mate someone?" I asked them.

Yes. I didn't even need for them to say it. Their emotions practically knocked me over they were so strong.

I grabbed Jason's arm and shook him. "They're scared . Your little sisters are scared of what your dad is plotting. And an alliance mating? Who the fuck is your dad to decide that for my children? Even think he gets a fucking vote or input in that?"

"He doesn't," Jason said firmly. "But that's normal for families to—"

"No, it's not , Jason," I said firmly, my voice cracking again. "Hear me that your dad is going so far over the line—King Xavier would have killed your dad if I hadn't kept a barrier over him. That's where we're at. The dragon wanted his head because of whatever your father said about Hudson's biological children."

"You don't know what it was?" one of the sisters asked.

I let go of Jason and stepped away. "No, I wouldn't—I'm not in the headspace. I could kill your father with a thought. I'm that powerful and I don't…" I blew out a shaky breath. "I don't trust myself right now. Not when I just had to execute my fucking psycho uncle today."

Yeah, all three of them nodded.

I went over to his sisters and kissed each one on the head. "I won't ever allow you to be mated to someone you don't want to. I swear it. Lucca wouldn't—"

"He wasn't going to be Alpha until now," one cut in.

"I would have over this," Lucca said firmly from behind me. "I would have killed Dad and taken the sloth instead of ever letting either of you be sold off."

I stepped back and saw the anger and grief warring in his eyes.

"When?" Lucca whispered. "When and what has he said?"

They shared a look and the older one answered. "He's made it clear that it's our duty to the family, but he would find us matches that would love us like he does Mom. Except then he pushed us to be nice to boys at our school, and when I told him one was gross and told me I was pathetic and he would only use me as a toy, Dad yelled at me for not doing better at being nice to him."

That was disgusting beyond compare, especially since I was pretty sure she was a freshman in high school. Our world really did still have too much darkness in it.

Then again… I was sure every world always would.

"I'm sorry, cream puff," Lucca whispered, angrily wiping tears. "I'm so sorry."

"I don't know what you're sorry for or why you're apologizing to me," I admitted. I was suddenly in his arms and hugged him back.

"I still couldn't see the truth and thought he was—thank you for not letting this go. As horrible as it was—you always made him crazy. You poked—it wasn't ever your fault. I just…"

"You couldn't understand it or explain it because Dad doesn't believe in multiple mates and she hurt you even if you were the asshole," his sister said for him. "Yeah, I felt the same, but then it was like after he got slapped back into place, all he focused on was the sloth and growing his power here like him not having enough was the problem. Mom not just forgiving him was—"

"Not her fault," I cut in.

"No, she should have left him a while ago, but I'm not her and it's their mating, so I can't judge, and I wasn't there for all the good years they had," she said firmly. "It messed with Dad more." She cleared her throat. "What happens now? Mom takes over for now?"

I let Lucca answer but confirmed for them that there would be a bunch of fairies around just in case. And Guardians, not just normal fairies, but maybe some of those too so more of my people could get used to this world.

"You are supposed to create a portal to Faerie before graduation, right?" Lucca hedged. He shrugged when I flinched. "I'm not saying right here or in my house, but… I don't know. I'm just talking."

Fair enough.

Lucca stayed to handle some things and promised to come over after. I warned him that I might be in bed, but he was more than welcome to crawl in with me. I was just… Wiped wasn't a strong enough word.

Seriously.

Darby was pacing when I arrived which confused me. "I can't be pushy like they are, agra . But I need consideration because of that. I deserve that too. You can't freeze me out when we have issues or—"

"I have like two working brain cells after the range of crazy today," I interjected as I gave him a hug. "I'm sorry. That's not fair, but I will give you whatever you want and yes, you deserve consideration. I just—I'm exhausted and starving to the point I don't know that I have the energy to eat."

He immediately made me sit down and probably opened his mouth to ask what I wanted to eat, but fairies came in carrying food. He went over to the kitchen drawer and pulled out a box of my crystals. I thanked him and let them give me a boost, putting healing runes on myself even if I wasn't hurt.

I inhaled like four meatloaf bowls with corn, mashed potatoes, and gravy before I felt able to use my brain. I slowed down but looked over at Ara. "Can you get whatever super protein recipe from Irma and—"

"I'll make you the chocolate peanut butter milkshakes when you're done," she promised.

"Oh good, someone knows." I shook off my exhaustion and focused on Darby. "Did someone catch you up? After you got done with the school thing?"

He shook his head. "I couldn't focus. Whatever, I know you handled it. I agree with you on this so—Tams, please, you have to forgive me. I'm sorry for how—"

Oh, that was what this was about? "I'm not mad at you, my prickly pear." I leaned in and gave him a soft kiss. "I deserved what you guys said. We're fine. I'm sorry I didn't make that clear and you worried. I swear we're okay. I was going to apologize again."

He scooted his chair closer so our legs were touching and opened more food for me. "Lucca told us the full story and laid into us. I've wanted to apologize since, but you said you needed space. But the others can push in and push you . I can't and—"

"I didn't either, but you have to believe her when she says that she's really not mad, mate," Julian said as he walked in with more food. "I'm worried about this new shit with Von Thann. And did you go kill your uncle?"

"I also healed the little girl from the vision from the gods and it's a bit of a mess that I'm sure people won't let go." I chuckled when he dropped one of the bags. "Yeah, when I say that it's been a day and I have like two working brain cells left—nope, only one left now."

"Yeah, that's a lot," Darby whispered.

"I threw a fit with my dad and we're fighting. Hudson and I went to visit Rich because clearly he's been on my mind. But then Lucca came with this thing with his dad and so I didn't really get to visit. Everything is just a mess, and I'm about to get too emotional because I eat more than a whole dragon army most days but even more when I'm upset."

I wanted to groan when tears were running down my cheeks.

"Hey, hey, we're all good as long as you're really not mad at me," Darby whispered. "I'm sorry I whined about being neglected when you were dealing with all of that."

"Two things can be true at the same time," I defended. "You're valid to feel that, but I just hope you know it wasn't intentional and just my super fucked day, okay?" There was more I might have said, but I felt the portal activate and a bunch of people arrive. "What now? Seriously, what fucking now? I don't care. I don't have anything left to give!"

"That explains why you didn't ask what Ronald said and I still can't wrap my mind around it nor how you could ignore it," Sasha said as she walked into the room.

I shook my head and met her curious and frustrated gaze. "I could kill him without meaning to, Sasha. My magic is that powerful. I shatter metal. I've done all kinds of—I'm more powerful now. His brain could just go pop. When I'm this fucking fried and overloaded, I could kill him without meaning to."

"I'm sorry for the day you've had, but I cannot think what is more important than this," she pushed.

"I killed my uncle today, my only living Vale family. Today , that's more important than the children I don't even fucking have yet. Tomorrow, I can deal with that," I snapped.

She licked her lips and nodded. "Yes, that is more important today. I apologize. Truly."

"You've got a lot too," I forgave. "I know how close you are to Lucca's mom."

"Yes, and she's not doing well. The grief and—another time. Right now, I have a mess of my mate and eldest son flying for over an hour around our mountains and I have no idea how to get the idiots down or distract them from their anger."

The sigh I let out was so heavy that the two men probably heard in their dragon forms all the way where they were. I glanced at Ara. "As much as I don't want to reward bad behavior, I have family land they can hunt on or something, right? Can they just go catch a damn shark in Faerie or something? Please? Just please can someone else use telepathy and talk to them?"

"I will handle it as your godsfather," Iolas called in from the garage. "They can have a shark each, but they have to buy dinner for the fairies working to make sure our waters are repopulated. That way they don't get the free pass."

"Perfect."

I sighed and looked back at Darby. Right, we were talking, but Sasha was still there.

"Tomorrow, agra . You're too tired. Just eat and go to bed. We're fine."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, covering his hand with mine. "I'm really sorry I made you worry and I'm sorry I got hurt again. I know that has to be scary for you guys to see that. I won't ignore my magic warning me again. I swear it felt like it was just right there and I just put a toe near the line. I wouldn't risk going over the line."

"I know. You were just all over the place and your guilt was clear and I—I was an ass." He leaned in and kissed my cheek.

Julian was cheeky and did the same to the other side. "I was too. You're perfect and we're all duffers. I'm sorry I made it—I was an ass."

"No, I deserved to be yelled at."

"But?" Sasha interjected.

"I just wish yelling came after I was healed. Let me finish explaining or—that's not real life with emotions and whatnot. That's all I hope for next time." I glanced at her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm going to steal one of your greasy burgers, but then I will be. I just needed a breath too," she admitted.

I gestured for her to join us and Julian grabbed her a drink. I realized there was one thing I needed to say. "Can you tell Xavier why I didn't listen to what Ronald said? You were a bit judgy—"

"No, I didn't judge you," she corrected. "I'm just frustrated , Tamsin. This shouldn't be the way things are. I'm pissed for my friend. I adore you, and I'm tired of you dealing with all of this. I was confused why you didn't push when you always want honesty. That was all. Please, I wasn't judging you."

That made more sense and I accepted it. "Still, please tell Xavier. I really can't kill Lucca's dad on accident. We won't recover from that."

"He fucking deserves it though," she grumbled before taking a huge bite of her food.

Yeah, Ronald absolutely deserved it even before whatever he said to set people off.