“I’m just sick of saving the fucking world,” Jessa grumbled. “It’s a thankless job, and it keeps happening.”
Justice, who was dressed all in black, which brought out the color of her jeweled skin and eyes, nodded. “Yep, I haven’t even been part of this world for long, but in the short time since I wandered into a friggin’ fairy tale, I’ve been locked in a cage, sold at auction, locked in another cage, had power and blood drained from me, dealt with a crazy-ass sorcerer, was locked in yet another cage, turned into a jeweled princess, and found out I wasn’t human.”
Grace scoffed. “Girl, you think you’ve had it rough. My family tried to kill me. I still don’t know where my mom and dad are, most probably dead, and I was the vessel for a shadow.”
There was a beat of silence, and then Justice laughed. “What a competition to win.”
The deck erupted in laughter as everyone registered the absolute insanity of their lives right now. It had been a tough few years for all the supes here, but I was determined that the darkness would end soon. There might be slivers left, like those inside of me, but there would be light as well.
If Tee had taught me anything, it was that light always trumped darkness. No matter how strong the dark was.
The twins and Maximus and Braxton took off then, taking their children to their grandparents’ house. Those little supes were lucky that they had so much love and support around them. They would never be alone.
When they got back, I had a bag packed, and then it was time for us to head to Romania. The meeting was to take place in less than twenty-four hours, and I wanted to get the lay of what we were facing. But first I needed to check on Stratford’s security.
My step-through deposited me right on the edge of Stratford, where the force field that protected our world—and the humans from us—was shimmering strongly. I had been feeling more pressure on it in recent times … mostly because there were thousands of humans out there at the moment, hammering against the wall, trying to get in. I could hear them—because the force field was connected to me—screaming, chanting, fighting.
The groups outside seemed to be divided between those fascinated by us and the ones who feared us. The second group thought we were creatures of the devil, here to bring about the apocalypse.
Suffice it to say, the human world was a mess right now.
I knew other towns had lost control of their fields when the human numbers got so great that they were overwhelmed. But I was keeping ours strong … along with the Compasses. Between the five of us, half of America could try and bash our door down. We would be able to hold it.
After I checked everything was stable, I sent some calming magic out into the mass of humans. The violence was ramping up, but I could sense the army out there as well now, and I hoped they would hold off the fighting for the next couple of days.
I mostly hoped the elders, chiefs, and leaders made the right choice at this meeting. Because the world was clearly not ready for our people to be out in the open. Not yet. And more importantly, not like this.
The pack was somber when I returned, and that feeling remained as I opened the step-through into my brother’s place. He had it set up so I could enter and leave the sanctuary that way. We’d both figured out how to circumvent the ancient securities, and it was here I would set up a semipermanent step-through for my pack.
Quale didn’t even blink as we trooped into his living room, and I wasn’t surprised to see sandwiches and drinks already waiting there. He was a nurturer by nature, and I still had no idea why he’d been born a mystic. It didn’t feel like the right fit, but thankfully it wasn’t something he had to deal with anymore.
“Where are the rest of the mystics?” Tyson spat as soon as the step-through was closed. “I have a small score to settle with them.”
When he said small, he meant fucking huge. They had almost cost him his mate and destroyed the rest of the world in the process.
Quale smiled, and it was not a nice smile. “They vanished a few nights ago. I guess word got out that you guys were returning for this meeting.”
Didn’t surprise me. They had that weak bully mentality, strong in a group situation, but when faced with much more powerful supes, they ran and hid. My phone vibrated in my pocket then, and I pulled it out to check the message.
I got messages a lot; I was part of a large network that monitored and controlled magical objects. Not to mention we also tracked criminals and handled the legal side of releases back into society. So there was no reason for me to expect the message was from Tee, but somehow I knew it was.
Tee: When you told me that day you wanted to join my family, and I suggested you’d have to be a chosen mate to Regina, was that the moment I lost you?
Fuck. That question was actually painful to read, and I had immediate flashbacks. I’d been in love with Tee for some time before that day, but there never seemed to be a right time to broach the subject. I kept waiting for her to give me a sign, but she never did. Well not anything obvious. So then, like a godsdamn coward, I’d decided to just hint at the possibility of me “joining her family” in the hopes she would respond with something, and instead she’d made a joke about me being with Regina. Her words had hurt, because I was sure that if she had even one iota of romantic interest in me, she would never have suggested I choose another girl as my mate. So, yeah, that had been the day I decided that it might be better to stop hinting and just accept that I had a really amazing best friend. To be content with that.
Knowing she would be waiting for my reply, I texted quickly, reminding her that she had never lost me. Not in any true sense. And there was no point in rehashing that part of our past. It couldn’t be changed.
For some reason, I waited for an unusual amount of anticipation for her next message. My obsession with her was growing to a worrying level, but I just couldn’t find it in myself to give a fuck about that.
Tee: That was the moment though that you went to my sister. Did we have a chance? Was it me you wanted first?
That was an easy one to answer.
Me: Yes.
Yes to everything she asked. I knew I’d been a bit short with that answer, mostly because I was filled with anger and regret. So I sent another text almost straight after.
Me: I miss you.
