I knew who Len was from my time in the library, but weirdly I couldn’t picture him in my mind. I just knew he was Shadow’s fae brother. “What if they try to take her from me?” I managed to say, still working on trusting them. “I remember that the fae don’t have children easily. She could be highly valued.”
Shadow had always been my first concern, but the fae themselves was number two. Somewhere out there, Tabitha had a fae father, and in the Library of Knowledge there were enough visitors from Faerie that word could get around.
“Not going to happen,” Mera burst out before Shadow could reply. “Not a fucking chance.”
“Sunshine is correct,” Shadow confirmed. “The fae would never attack the library, so you’ll both be safe there. We do need some outside help, though. Consider allowing Len in on the situation. He’s a great and trusted source of information.”
If I trusted in Shadow and Mera, then it stood to reason that I might have to trust in their friends too.
“The fae are very long-lived,” he continued, “but if Tabitha is ten, she should be more aged than she is. I’m not up to date with their younglings, due to the lack of them born in the last many decades, so any help will go a long way.”
Hence the worry that Tabitha might be desirable in their world, but hopefully that worry was already put to rest. “If there’s no risk from Len, then I’d gratefully accept his help.”
“Let’s get back to the library,” Mera said. “I’m done with this fucking town.”
Drawing Tabitha closer, I breathed deeply, enjoying that the continuous, low-lying panic I felt without her was easing. Her delicate, flowery scent filled my senses, and I savored this small moment with her.
“Fuck, this hurts my heart,” Mera said from beside me. “I’m going to kill that alpha now.”
A rumble from Shadow followed, and I lifted my head to find he’d taken Mera into his arms, stroking a thumb across her cheek. “This is Samantha’s kill, Sunshine. You know that.”
Mera pouted, her gaze lingering on her own beautiful daughter, still strapped to her mate’s chest. A daughter who was watching her parents closely with those ancient gold eyes. “Fine. But she better choose right.”
Her lips twitched and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Despite wanting to kill the bastard a few minutes ago, I’d calmed enough to want his suffering to go on longer. “Can we just leave him frozen in the middle of the path for a few weeks? Even better if he’s somewhat aware of what’s happening but can’t move.”
Shadow’s smile was darkly sinister, and it sent a tingle down my spine. “I can make that happen. Then, when we’re done figuring out your mystery, we can return here for you to make a final decision on punishment.”
Perfect. My focus now was all Tabitha. After my memories were returned and her growth and health were back on track, I’d deal with the alpha.
“Let’s get out of here, then,” Mera said. She started for the stairs, before pausing and doubling back. I was wondering what she was doing until she returned a second later clutching what looked like a purple plank.
“The crystal bed,” she explained, and I could have kicked myself for forgetting. Just having Tabitha in my arms had wiped out all other thought.
“Thank you. Fuck. We need that until we figure out what else is missing from her life to help her thrive.” There had to be something, I refused to believe she couldn’t develop and live for many years after this.
We left the basement, making our way up to the cabin and back into the forest. Tabitha was pressed close to my chest, still moving her hands about, touching my face all the time. Paying attention to her energy, since I was the only one who could feel it, I was ready to react the moment I felt any weakness and place her on the crystal mat that Mera carried.
For now, thankfully, she was strong.
“You’ll never go back to a dingy basement,” I whispered as we powered through the forest. “You’ll have the same light I’m searching for, Tabby. The same bright future. I love you so much.” My throat grew too tight to speak, so I just mentally whispered all the positive affirmations for us both. Tabitha made some sweet cooing sounds against me, and by the time we reached the main part of town I felt calm and happy.
And ready for the next steps in our future.
As we passed some of the frozen shifters, Shadow waved his hand, freeing them from his spell. The few nearby shook their heads and looked around in confusion until they noticed the seven-foot god in their midst. Most of them fell to their knees, while a few continued to just blink in confusion. Shadow wasted no time addressing them. “You’re getting a second chance as a pack,” he boomed as his energy exploded around the town. “Alpha Lorenze will be removed from power today, and now you can rebuild. I’ll be back to check what you’ve done with this chance. If I find you’ve been wasting your gifts as shifters, I will strip every single one of you of your beast, and you’ll live out the remainder of your existence as a human. Do not disappoint me again.”
From where I stood, a few shifters were visibly crying. I felt bad for them. We’d all been victims to the alpha, but I also understood Shadow’s strong stance on this. Clarity had let our alpha go too far without fighting back, and that wasn’t the shifter way. Now they had to prove they were worthy of their beasts.
“Is Alpha Lorenze dead?” Jewel, a small blond shifter asked. She was one of the newer recruits to our pack, and I’d heard her try multiple times to get out, but the alpha never let them go once they were snared in his web. I’d had to jump through so much shit to get out the first time, and he’d only let that happen because of his contingency plan to get me back. When the time was right.
“Not dead,” Shadow told her. “He’s frozen and will remain so for the time being. He’s also aware of what’s going on around him, so feel free to give him a small taste of whatever he’s put you through over the past years.”
Permission to torture granted. That bastard would finally reap what he’d sown.
I always said that what you put out into the world came back on you, and he was about to find out how bad that could be.
The few shifters closest to us rose, their expressions clearing of fear and sorrow, to be replaced with determination and… hope.
“You’re saying he will not break through and punish us?” someone else asked Shadow. I couldn’t see who through the gathering crowd, but it was a masculine voice.
