“Our line is—correct me if I am mistaken, Lily—when you can prove someone is disparaging, maligning, or harming you in a public venue. We cannot adjudicate what happens in houses, on dates, or in private internet shit. Airing your dirty laundry is your problem; we do not have to solve those for you. The end,” Deli says softly.
I concede for the moment, deciding it’s time to move on to another pain point. “Fine. I understand.”
She nods and looks at Lily. “Who’s next?”
“Since she confirmed she had issues, and she’s been following the stick rules, Talia should take her turn.” Lily tosses the wretched thing over to the bronzed woman with a grin.
Oh, perfect. Here comes the good part.
The Blade Addresses Her Concerns
TALIA
“You’re arming her? That seems like a dangerous plan.” Tamara smirks, thinking she’s super clever.
She’s not—I’m a weapon even without handheld items.
Deli tilts her head, looking puzzled as she studies the brassy, box-dyed redhead like she’s found prey. “Sin is always armed.”
I chuckle and give her a loving smile. I hold it long enough for the little troll to see, and turn to Lily. “There are no deaths on my agenda tonight—cross my heart.”
The mousy co-mayor nods at my statement, a smile playing on her lips as she looks at their constituents. Lily knows me well enough by now to understand that simply because I didn’t plan to kill someone doesn’t mean I won’t. But she doesn’t say it because she’s also pissed at their chutzpah, even if she’s not entirely on our side.
Deli was smart to remind these idiots that I’m dangerous in a ‘jokey’ way. My idea of a fierce debate might offend the delicate sensibilities of these sheep-like bitches. After everyone’scommentary, their postures tensed, making them less likely to come at me. That’s what I want—cautious respect, even if it’s performative.
If they don’t attack, I won’t need to counter it, and we’ll be fine.
The kitty is also on the prowl, and with her ethereal glow, I realize she’s focusing her magick—and maybe her little slugger’s—on making everyone perceive her as they would Mary in a Catholic church. That balances out my vicious smirk and obvious aggressive posture in a way that should help us wrest control of this nightmare soon. If we do that, we can end this bullshit and go have some fun with the guys.
She knows that, and it’s why she’s trying to get her idiotic townspeople to say whatever they need to and move on. Though, honestly, since she mated with Taurus, I think she might be just as willing to gut them all and start over. But that’s her nuclear option—as much as I love her vicious streak, when I see her with these people, I realize she kept control of everyone with her affection before the troll moved in. She knows them all to their core, and played to their needs like her droid played a fiddle in the Zoo a few weeks ago.
Since we don’t have her on the table, we have to be craftier than her ex.
“First off, if anyone has a personal problem with me, I welcome them to address it when I finish,” I say as I rake my gaze over each person. “But before that, I’m going to admit my issues.”
Lily looks surprised, but I ignore her in favor of giving my new mate a small, apologetic look. I didn’t tell her I might do this, but I made sure Taurus knew in case it went poorly. I’m prepared forbad shit to happen, but it’s not fair for everyone to get a say but us.
“I have had a hard time interacting with this community because it seems like all anyone wants to talk about, post about, or highlight is sex or some sort of tragic journey. I like sex; in fact, my mates will tell you I love it. However, I find it deeply personal, and I’d like to know that there are places my family can go that are just for normal fun. I want there to be places where my family can hang out and it not be misinterpreted as an invitation to jump into our beds.”
The cat blinks at me, arching a sculpted brow, and I shrug.
Our family ‘adventures’ are well known, but we don’t send every detail far and wide. However, I’m stating this emotion out loud for a reason. Taurus and I can’t help her manage these people if they’re going to try getting into our bed every time we show them a crumb of attention. We need a safety zone so we can charm them for her.
Michaela raises her hand, and I pretend to swat her away.
“I have the stick.” She giggles and I continue, “Taurus doesn’t feel like he can go up to a random person and start a conversation without it being misinterpreted. I’d like for my family to be able to interact with you guys without it being linked to naughty bits. Maybe we could build a dance hall and host a monthly event? Everything in that space would need to stay PG-13, though, or it won’t work. That’s all I have to say. Hit me with what you got.”
Dear Lord, let their response not be so ridiculous that I end up losing my shit.
“Michaela, were you going to say something?” Deli asks carefully. She’s not frowning, but I feel her balking at what she’s thinking is my judgement of her home. That’s not what I’m doing, but we will have to discuss my true motivations later.
My mate calling on the bubbly blond was purposeful, though. Of anyone, she trusts Michaela, despite the crap she pulled earlier. Deli knows the Council upset her friend with their ruling about droids like Shane, and she’s not holding it against her because of their history. The bloody tiger Sari objected to was a gift from Michaela’s droid for the cat’s birthday, for fuck’s sake. That’s one person—aside from Lily—who should have been firmly on our side, and she wants to give Michaela a chance to redeem herself.
I doubt the chit realized what she was signing on to when she sided with the Safe Haven misfits, but I still distrust her willingness to defect.
Sari raises her hand, but Michaela cuts her off by taking the stick. “I agree. I don’t know how, but all the kinky stuff has become the norm, Talia. It didn’t use to be, and I don’t have any interest in participating in those kinds of games. That’s not why I moved here.”
Ah, sexual repression saves the day. Whatever happened to this chick in her past made her allergic to the ‘creativity’ that many of the members portray in their relationships with their partners. That’s why she never defines herself as mated to Preston or Aidan.
