Patrick asked, “How long will that take?” Mom answered, “Ten minutes.” Patrick agreed, “Great. Heal me, then my sister and I will get that protection down around Melanie and the other girl.” Mom muttered, “You’d think it would fucking kill Warlock’s to say please and thank you.” Uncle Aiden snorted.
Fighting broke out all around us. Melanie’s army and our allies attacked the unsuspecting group that had gathered here. I told my cousin, “H, we can’t get inside that circle, but I think we should kill everything in our path on our way there.” Hastein smiled, “I like that plan, cousin.”
Dalton was holding a sobbing Paige while their pack protected them. I conjured my broadsword. Several people were staring at me as if I were a prize for them to kill. They were wrong. I was an Alpha Enforcer and they were my prey.
I could take them out with my mind, but I needed to kill them with my own hands. I yelled out a war cry alongside Hastein and we dove into battle. I drove my sword into countless people who stood in my way. I was covered in blood.
The blood in my veins was pumping me full of adrenaline. All sides of me loved a good fight. I switched between Oden and I aswe killed to reached Kingsley and Melanie as Paige and Patrick were popped to us. I snapped myself short.
Sherman hissed at Patrick. Patrick pointed out, “I found my sister, Sherman.” Oden argued, “He found his sister is an interesting interpretation of what happened.” Well, he’d been imprisoned so we could give it to him. Sherman snorted, “You worked for us. They won’t accept you in the pristine and shiny group of good people.”
Melanie countered, “Patrick did what… he had to do… to save his sister. You put him in an impossible situation. He was locked up with no one to turn to. He did what any good brother would do. Isn’t that why you kept me from my brothers? You knew they would do anything…. for me.”
“Anything to save me… and you couldn’t have that. It’s where the O’Toole’s failed. You instilled a lack of humanity in people. Rifstel…. you don’t even know the best part about Sherman over there. I’ve been studying…. a lot of books lately.”
Dylan yelled, “Yes you have! Go on with your Beta self, MelAshley!” I asked Uncle Aiden, “What is she talking about?” Everyone actually seemed confused. I asked Arthur, “How old is Sherman?” Arthur answered, “Older than me.”
Rifstel said, “Like I’d believe anything you say.” Melanie laughed, “Nothing I’ve said so far is wrong. Just like I know Sherman’s name…. wasn’t originally Sherman. It was Eamon O’Toole. The PARTIAL Fairy HUMAN son of Eire O’Toole and her human mate Harmon Stokes.” My eyes widened as shock hit the bond.
Mom yelled, “NO FUCKING WAY! This asshole got EVERY FUCKING ONE to hate partial’s and HE IS A FUCKING PARTIAL?! OH, FUCK THIS SHIT! I WILL TORTURE YOUR ASS EAMON! For fucking decades.”
Eamon said, “I used to be weak but now I am a Vampire hybrid. I killed off my weak human side! My whole life I was toldI was a disappointment to my uncles because they thought when their sister mated with a mere human the prophesied family was coming.”
The man scoffed, “Then I was a boy. The partial in the promised siblings was a girl. In a rage, they bound my mother’s womb and almost killed her! She was the only person who ever cared about me.” Well, this was no way to honor her.
Melanie snorted, “Your dad loved you.” Sherman yelled, “HE WAS A WEAK HUMAN WHO DIDN’T MATTER! He was the first person I drained when I became a Vampire. He was disgusting.” Melanie said, “False. He was fine… you’re the disgusting one.”
My wife lunged at him, taking him by surprise. Eamon flickered and smirked at her. Melanie groaned, “He can astral project himself…. Great.” Rifstel corrected, “He absorbs. He’s absorbing the person’s ability who can.” Aeidelyn cried, “You’re killing her!”
I told Hastein, “Neither man is there. Rifstel must have popped out when he popped them in there.” Hastein nodded. Sherman said, “You two have obviously outlived your use. None of your children have turned out to be anything special, Shailagh.”
Shailagh frowned, “I know they died but…” Sherman laughed, “Stupid woman, none of them died. Rif never spoke about them with you and neither did I. Other people told you and your sister they were dead. They just weren’t special. I can’t hold it anymore, Rif. We have to go.”
Shailagh cried, “Rif, please.” The man actually looked sad for a second then said, “Goodbye, Shailagh.” She cried out as both men disappeared and Paige got us inside. Mom had her sword at Aeidelyn’s throat in seconds.
Shailagh pleaded, “Please don't hurt her.” Mom scoffed, “I’m going to fucking kill her bitch ass efuckingventually.” Shailaghgasped, “We are family.” Uncle Aiden laughed, “Big words to be tossing around to the family you betrayed. Our brother is dead BECAUSE OF YOU!”
Aeidelyn winced before admitting, “Arion was never supposed to die. He was just supposed to be confined to Faerie, and away from Haley.” Shailagh cried, “I’m going to do this as my last act, Aeidelyn.” Mom warned, “Think very carefully before I behead you, bitch.” The bond told me mom had plans to heal Shailagh and keep her alive to torture.
A piercing scream hit the air. I looked around but didn’t see any of our people in pain. Aeidelyn gasped, “You didn’t!” My cousin Aria Lyons popped to us. Lucas and his sons, my cousins, growled. Aria studied Shailagh, “You took a soul, and I felt it. You ripped away from someone. That’s not how that power should be used.”
Lucas said, “Sweetie, go home.” Aria flipped Shailagh off then popped away. Melanie surmised, “You took Rif’s soul. His whole soul… not only the piece that would die with you. That’s the way you have a similar power to Soul Searcher’s.”
Shailagh whispered, “You’re smart. I can take souls. Just like their daughter, but I guess they wouldn’t know that. The books are hidden.” Melanie said, “First…. I’m a genius… who would have to lose OVER TWENTY I.Q. points… to be smart… you annoyingly obnoxious dolt. Also… I have the books.”
Shailagh nodded, “That’s how you knew what I did.” Melanie hummed, “I hope everyone noticed… she practically acknowledged… she is dolt…. Who betrayed her own family… for man who didn’t even try to save her.”
My mind was reeling with knowledge. My cousin could take people’s soul’s away?! Lucas and Cousin Emmaline were paling. I snapped Kingsley and Melanie clean of the blood and gunk that they were covered in.
Uncle Aiden cleared his throat, “Melanie, we need to sit down and go over everything you’ve discovered.” Melanie nodded, “Sure… that… is fine. It could take a while… but that’s fine.” She turned to Sierra who had walked up with Phil.
Melanie asked, “How many did we get?” Sierra said, “We have two hundred prisoners. Jeffery and some other Hackura men took the ones who seemed to have the most information. Thousands were killed. The war is over.”
Mom disagreed, “No, the war has just begun. The first battle went to us, and now we know who the fuck we are working against.” I asked, “Everyone is safe? The battle is over?” Dad sent the feeling down the bond he knew what I was about to do. He still answered, “Yes, it’s over and everyone is safe.”
I nodded saying, “Fabulous. My patience for the massive meetings where we all sit down and talk to my mate is over. We will see you all later.” I grabbed Melanie and popped away. EJ linked, “I saw that coming for the record.”
My wife stuttered, “Umm, I need to talk to my people and make sure everyone is ok. I need to talk to K… about her sword, and I need to talk about… ummm Fairy Ring people with your family. I have a lot to discuss with my research and I….”
