Freya linked, “It is our intent. Sometimes it’s hard because we want to kill people, but not all at once. So, it’s a control thing. We can work on it.” Aiylee winked at me, which told me she was onboard with my plan. Aiylee asked a question that I actually wanted to know myself.
The answer was this was about the O’Toole’s. I studied the man because there was something strange about his belt. Freya linked me, “That’s not his true face. Those are powerful spells on his belt. Take it off to reveal his true self.”
I could tell the room was astonished that the name had been spoken. Faires tended to avoid all discussion of the name O’Toole. Fairies were not fond of that period of time, nor were most proud of it. The O’Toole’s were brutal. Charles hated that family, and he had ever right. They’d killed his mate.
I surged forward, something was telling me this was an O’Toole. I took his belt off and took a step back. Aiden thought it was Desperi, but he was wrong. Charles had killed Desperi a long time ago for the murder of his mate.
Charles had only turned her a year prior. Desperi’s family kidnapped her when he was declaring them in court. They tortured her, and by extension Charles since he could feel it. The Vampires searched for her, but by the time they found her she’d been staked.
Charles had shown me the pictures of the families that were involved. This had to be Gerdishek. He was slippery enough thatCharles had had trouble pinning him down. I could tell him why now. He’d been working with powerful Witches to conceal his true self. Charles could move Gerdishek off his list since he was going to die.
Part of why I thought the O’Toole’s weren’t all dead was because I knew this family group wasn’t dead. Most of them lived in hiding. There were just those that were part of the Ring too, I just knew it. They had to be.
Gerdishek and his family weren’t a part of it, or Charles could’ve found them much sooner. Of course Gerdishek kept in touch with the Ring… He was Ring adjacent. This Fairy was probably a courier of some kind but not heavily involved.
They’d trade favors with each other, but they didn’t have regular contact. Freya scoffed, “I cannot believe this whelp has heard of you.” I could, but he didn’t know what I looked like. Interesting. I’d have thought they would’ve circulated my picture. It was a serious error on their part, but that worked for me.
Xander was pissed about the disrespect. God, he was hot. Gerdishek was trying to get my husband to kill him. That was clear to me with his comments. I could feel my mate’s anger, so I wrapped my arms around him.
Xander felt this sense of injustice in the bond. Freya offered, “Mate doesn’t like that so many people knew we were suffering when he didn’t.” Well… that made sense, because he wouldn't find that fair. If I’m being honest, I felt the same way. It wasn’t fair that the Ring had managed to pull this off with me. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else though.
Sierra linked me, “WHAT THE HELL?!” I asked, “Did you come with Phil?” I spotted him earlier. Seirra snorted, “No, I did not. You light up like a glow stick now?” I replied, “I mean it’s more like I become electricity… but I do understand the visual being explained that way.” Sierra barked out a laugh back.
Gerdishek confirmed that more of their family survived. I was sure some of them were probably not bad people, but a lot were. It’s hard to change when you’re raised to hate. Gerdishek looked at me as if he knew that I knew. There was a dare in his eyes.
Freya warned, “He wants you to say something, don’t.” I replied, “Well… to do that, I’d have to know what he wanted me to say. I could guess… but that’s not actually knowing. I can’t read minds… and that would be bad… I have enough thoughts…. but if you don’t think we should talk through the options then I’ll stay quiet.” Freya admitted, “I don’t think we should right now.”
Gerdishek looked disappointed when I kept my mouth shut. This man had no idea how hard that was for me, but I trusted Freya. This dolt actually tried to leave. Was he really that naive? Of course Haley could keep him here.
Gerdishek started to challenge Haley. The man clearly wanted someone to kill him. That was his goal, but he didn’t want it to be her. I linked my mother in law, “Challenge him to a fight. You’ll win and get more answers….the added bonus of infuriating Gerdishek is definitely worth it.”
Haley chuckled, “I really fucking like you.” I reasoned, “Gerdishek is going to goad someone in here into killing him. I don’t know why that would be bad, but I know it would be. Maybe it’s because it’s what he wants… but I sense something else going on.”
Haley answered, “Yeah, I’m getting a bad fucking feeling. I’ve got this.” I pointed out, “A dual would be the Fairy way, and he’s not expecting that.” Haley chuckled asking, “How did you know that?” I replied, “I know a lot about the Fae.” Haley agreed, “You sure as shit do.”
Gerdishek’s eyes dimmed when my mother in law challenged him. Freya cheered, “YES! In his face!” Elise linked, “Why did you engineer that?” I replied, “Because a challenge with anacceptance to a duel would negate any magical repercussions his death may cause.”
Elise asked, “Huh?” I explained, “I think that his death would trigger something… possibly turn himself into a portal the O’Toole’s waiting… for an entrance into Faerie.” Elise questioned, “Is that even possible?” I pointed out, “A lot is possible with Dark magic. It is with good magic too… so yeah.”
This wasn’t going how Gerdishek wanted… and while I didn’t know exactly what it was, I knew it was good. I couldn’t help but be glad about that I played a part in that going well. Freya told me, “Things are settling. I think you are correct. This man was somehow the key to war if anyone else killed him.”
I thought about it… and my thought that he was a key or gate shored up. Gerdishek’s death somehow could’ve opened the portal for other forces to get into Faerie. Fairies could get in… but there were certain protections. Vampires could not get in unless they were mated.
Vampires getting into Faerie would bring the realm down…. Well, in theory. My mate and his family would never let that happen. They would kill them. Could that really have been the plan? I studied the belt in my hand thinking it had to be.
I linked Elise, “Get this to Corbin and Katie.” I handed her the belt subtly. Elise nodded and put it away. Somehow neither of our mates noticed but the other girls did, along with Micah. I linked him, “That has to get to the Witches to study.”
Micah asked, “What is your theory?” I sighed, “I think… Gerdishek was trying to get someone besides Haley to kill him. To possibly cause an event where anyone could get into Faerie.” Micah frowned, “Then their plans are seriously screwed.”
Yes, but that’s one thing you could always count on from the Ring… they discount women… and if we are being specific, particularly Haley. Which seemed completely asinine at thispoint. They had to know they were making a mistake. They just didn't want to admit… they had been so wrong about her.
I studied my mother in law knowing the Ring had this idea of her they couldn't let go of. When I took my eyes off her I noticed Aiden was studying me with a knowing look. The man was perceptive. I didn’t for the life of me understand how so many people missed that.
Freya snickered, “Because he’s a Fairy. People want to think of them as mischievous and fun. They often forget the cunning part of the Fae.” The most powerful promised sibling was the most cunning of all. If Arion had been by his side… they would’ve been something; however, Aiden on his own was cunning.
In my opinion, he was incredibly smart for allowing the perception to remain that he didn’t see as much as he did. His family knew to an extent… but I think Aiden Holloran knew far more than he let on. Again, he was cunning.
Gerdishek paled when Haley mentioned Arion in the Beyond. That was actually something Arion needed to do. He could keep Gerdishek from pulling people to the Beyond to talk to them or communicate in any way.
