Why even put that in there? They have to know the chances were slim to none. Some information is best left out because this was the breeding ground of the dissent for the promised siblings. Giving evil the hope that they could snatch something good away.
Dang goddesses and their meddling for evil. I mean seriously they are not staying neutral at all. Freya offered, “Their excuse will be that it had to be there for balance.” I snorted, “They wouldn’t know the meaning of the word balance…. if it slapped them…. in the face.” Freya said, “I agree. They certainly tip the scales to evil more often than they do toward good.”
Which made their whole spiel about balance grate on my nerves. Xander kept pointing out he wasn’t going to die at the Ring’s hands. No, he wasn’t. I didn’t know what trap I was going to bait… but I was going to bait one. I would protect him like I’d always done. Freya concurred, “We will protect mate at all costs.” Yes, we would.
We got around to the Arion piece of it. I’d found a text that said if the Enforcer was in the Beyond, he could manifest into his human form. It would require a lot of effort, and training, on his part; however, once he mastered it, he could be around for an hour. Or so the texts said…. my projections said it would be longer in Faerie.
Maybe he could figure out how to make it longer… in this realm. I really wasn’t going to put restrictions on Arion’s power. I knew he wouldn’t be able to stay around twenty-four seven… as things stood now.
The man was dead, but maybe he could manage to maintain human form for a few hours… in our realm before he faded out… if he could stay a whole day in Faerie… that had merit according to my tables. We’d find out.
I just needed to get Aiden and Haley the passage, and they could give it to Arion. I nearly jumped out of my skin when Arion took form and said hi. Freya snickered at me, “You normally know when things like that are coming.” Ok… well, dead people didn’t take form to say hi often.
Arion must have gone looking for the passage. It wasn’t like it was hard to find. It was in the middle of my desk, highlighted and everything. Haley was really emotional about Arion being able to be with them even if it was for a short period.
My mother in law instantly thought of Megan. I mean she had time… to explain it to Arion’s ex… probably not for long… mate. Megan would probably take her rejection back. Arion couldn’t appear again today though. Well… here. Megan could go to Faerie.
The man would probably be practicing on getting stronger doing this in the Beyond. Arion could still practice the basics… and he could practice appearing in other realms. I’d have to discuss that idea with him.
Titus Cambridge wanted to speak to me. Oh, dear sweet baby Jesus. Freya reasoned, “It’s obviously nothing bad.” I argued, “I don’t think he’s an Arion fan. So… it might not be good.” Freya snorted, “You worry too much.” That was probably true.
My worrying saved people sometimes though. So… was it really bad? I think not. Freya chuckled, “You are amusing.” Everyone filed out. Titus observed me but stayed silent. What was with the Hackura and doing that?
I started talking, “I don’t understand why as a group you all ask to talk to people… and then stay silent. Cayden does it and…well… so do Micah, Aaron, Bjourn, and now you. It’s like you all just want… Oh my goodness you’re trying to make people talk.”
Freya snorted, “Duh.” Well… that was hardly fair. Titus laughed, “Yes, and it works so well with you.” I sighed, “I don’t really like silence. Ok… it’s more than that… it bothers me… a lot.” Titus smiled saying, “I’ve observed that. I wanted to thank you for what you just did for my daughter.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. Titus spoke again, “You thought I was upset.” I said, “Well, you can’t really like Arion… and…” Titus laughed, “No, I can’t say that I do, or ever will, like him. His death has been a weight around my daughter’s neck for some time.”
I pointed out, “It wasn’t her fault.” Titus agreed, “No, it wasn’t. I can understand Arion to a degree. He was manipulated by people who should’ve cared for him. He hurt my daughter though. I care that he can appear because it will make her happy.”
Titus looked at the door then said, “Haley will feel less guilt about killing him now. My daughter feels guilty because of Megan too. She feels all of this was her fault, and you have helped her.” I nodded. We stayed in silence for another several moments.
I sighed, “You want to say something else, or we’d be outside with everyone else.” Titus laughed, “I do. You have a plan.” I corrected, “Not exactly… I have a pl.” Titus asked, “I’m sorry, what?” I said, “I don’t have a full plan. So… I just have a pl.”
Titus threw his head back and laughed. Once he finished, he told me, “We will help you once you have a full plan.” I agreed conditionally, “As long as the plan doesn’t develop… spur of the moment… I can work with that. Sometimes with the information we get in the Resistance, I come up with stuff quickly.” Titus studied me again.
My mate’s grandpa observed, “You know something.” I winced because he was very observant. Freya chuckled, “You knew that.” Knowing and having it happen to me… was not the same thing. That made sense though.
I admitted, “I have visions… because of the whole White Wolf thing. I’ve had a vision of myself… Well, I’m pretty sure it’s me and I was… captured. I’m pretty sure I use myself as bait and get ‘caught.’ Given what we know now… I’d say that’s exactly what that vision is.”
“I just don’t know where it is or when it happens. The visions…. are pretty annoying, honestly. I don’t get very much information when I get them. Which is irritating….and unhelpful.” Freya snickered. Titus was about to say something when people started shouting.
I ran into the hallway just as Xander disappeared. EJ growled, “How come the damn Ribbon keeps taking you two when you are awake?” I answered, “Probably because Azoney is upset with us. At least that’s what I think… probably… the goddesses suck.”
I continued, “I’ve told them that…. and so has Xander. They are being petty in the ways they can.” I was positive I was right. EJ punched a wall shouting, “We can’t just lose you or Alexander at key moments. He will flip the fuck out if you just disappear.”
I actually laughed thinking about getting captured then just disappearing. That would be pretty funny. I said, “We haven’t ever been taken at key moments. Just a moment where… I wanted to be normal…. and a moment where he was surrounded by you guys isn’t a big deal.”
I acknowledged, “It’s annoying and obnoxious, but not bad. I don’t think Azoney will pull either of us from a big moment. That’s beyond being petty because we don’t like her.” Bjourn admitted, “Melanie has a point.”
I went upstairs to wait for Xander. I asked Freya, “Remember when you said we could go to Limbo? How do we do that?” Freya instructed, “Lay down and give me control.” I did as my wolf asked. Freya instructed, “Close your eyes.” I did. Then she said, “Open.”
I looked around me, startled. Several people were looking at me. I heard a laugh I was certain I knew. Why was he here? I turned and questioned, “Arion?” Arion smiled, “Yes. I came here to visit a certain she wolf. I wanted to brag, and I do so love throwing things in her face. Why are you here?”
I answered, “I wanted to talk to Cassandra.” Arion smirked, “Oh boy. This is going to be a good day. Come with me.” I followed him. I recognized features in the Conners brothers in the woman he was leading me to. It struck me that I’d never seen her picture.
Cassandra studied me greeting, “Hello, Melanie McAlister.” I asked, “How do you know who I am?” Freya growled beside me. Oh. My wolf was actually beside me… fun. I began to pet Freya’s head. Cassandra snorted, “I know people.”
