Bankhead Forest #2
Everly scoffed, “They didn’t want me to leave pack lands because I was ready to rip his babysitter’s head off.
I probably would’ve too. How do you just not notice my pup going missing?
” I offered, “Magic. They used magic to confuse her and everyone around them….since they didn’t want you to find him. ”
Everly gasped, “Really? I guess I might have to stop glaring at her.” I shrugged.
It would be nice, but feelings weren’t always rational like that.
Plus, I’d looked into that a little bit ago.
I definitely wouldn’t have let anyone live…
who was a threat to Kai. Everly snickered, “I’m fine with that. ” INSIDE THOUGHTS MELANIE! INSIDE!
We got back to work. I felt when Xander entered the realm.
It didn’t take long for him to find me either.
My husband walked out to the larger group and Haley snapped all the food ready.
My mother in law announced, “Everyone should be seated. Now, we just need to get everyone looking hot as fuck.” She snapped her fingers.
I ran my hands down the skirt she snapped me into and could admit I really liked it. I asked her, “Have you ever thought of owning a department store… or a boutique?” Zoe’s jaw dropped. Haley squealed, “What? No! Really? You’re fucking with me.”
I snorted, “No, I’m not. You conjured those super nice dresses for me in Switzerland when Xander proposed.
I bet if you opened a store in the mall in Faerie with the designs you envision and think of…
it would be really popular…. or like guaranteed to be…
it’s not like I have projections on it or anything. ”
“That would be weird… if I did have projections… I’d say that you could open a lingerie store from what I know from my mom’s badass girl gang days. Which is related to a childhood memory… I’m never discussing… ever… ever... like ever.”
I waved my hands, “Anyway based on my projections… that allegedly exist… you’ve got everyday clothes down too. You could even do one of those websites where you style people. They fill out questions about their style and you send them outfits.”
“Customers purchase what they want and send the rest back. Maybe that’s something I think you should run… and employ a lot of partial Fairies doing… it just umm… statistically speaking, a guaranteed success.”
Haley shouted, “THAT FUCKING EXISTS?!” I nodded, “Yes… pretty much everything does. Even a site where you can rent fancy dresses instead of buying them. You just select the date you want the dress and then send it back.”
Haley squealed and got out her phone while everyone else was trying not to laugh.
Haley said, “I fucking love you, Melanie Conners. This is the best fucking idea ever! Miley and I are going to have to draw up business plans. That you will help with, because you know the things and clearly have the projections for them.”
I laughed, “The things? Umm… I guess I know things… well …no… I do know a lot of things so… the plans… and projections are… umm… I could totally work on them?” Mom snorted, “Melanie Jane, you still can’t lie worth a damn. We know you have the projections.” Fine. Maybe I did.
Freya snorted, “I know you do and so does everyone else.” I tapped my watch and said, “Maybe… those plans and projections are in your email.” Haley squealed, “I fucking love you!” She hugged me.
When my mother in law pulled back, Zoe pushed me out of the kitchen.
Which was good since I’d probably start talking about more projections and things I knew about these people that I should not know yet.
Haley then popped to me and then popped us into the massive dining area.
I was stunned when Kingsley and Hastein stepped through a portal. Hastein was clearly a miracle worker. I threw myself at Kingsley. Freya told me, “Kayda is quite happy to see us.” I replied, “I’m sure she’s happy to talk to you. Kayda has always called me her pet.”
I could see it on Kingsley’s face that she was happy to be here. My friend felt like she belonged because she did. The Fairies popped in. My eyes widened. CRAP! I forgot Aiden would know what Kingsley was. He’d been reaching out to the Dragon realm since before I was born.
I quickly dragged him away. I whispered, “Space unheard.” Aiden spoke his chant looking deeply amused. I stated, “I know you know what K is, but you can’t say anything.” Aiden grinned, “I do know what she is. I’m curious how you know that I know she’s a Dragon.”
I hummed, “Umm… don’t most people?” Aiden shook his head no. Oh… weird. I explained, “I read a lot. The most powerful promised sibling can identify any type of Supernatural from a glance. You don’t have to meet them to know what they are.”
“You also know she’s royalty because… it’s part of your powers. Just please don’t say anything. We aren’t sure if K’s safe…. and you’re on good terms with the Hackura… so outing her would lead to bad things… she deserves to open up in her own time and…”
Aiden laughed, interrupting, “She does. I wasn’t going to say anything. I’d like to talk to her though.” I shouted, “WAIT! You’d know… more about the Dragon realm…and could tell her about it.” Aiden nodded, “Yes, I can.”
I asked, “Why are you so shocked?” Aiden answered, “They have never replied to me, and I know they know I want to talk to them. Dragons tend to stay in their realm and have for centuries at this point. Everyone else thinks they have died off.”
“To say I’m surprised your friend has been here for a long period of time is an understatement. In our older texts, there was a time when the Dragon and Fairy realm were the strongest of allies. Then the family before mine took over and, as they do, ruined it.”
“The Dragons closed themselves off, and they allowed rumors to run that they’d died off. I’ve been looking to re-establish our lines of communication, but they are closed down. Which you seem to know. I do wonder what K, as you called her, is doing here.”
I explained, “Kingsley doesn’t have her memories from back home. Are Dragons friends with Witches?” Aiden laughed, “Yes and no. There are Draconian Sorcerers. They are Dragons, but they possess Sorcerer and Fae magic.”
“It’s a great honor in their realm to be a Draconian Sorcerer. Their ancient blood passed down through families manifested in those deemed worthy by their god. Our witches would be quite jealous of their skills. Well, that might not be true. I would be if I was them though.”
I absorbed that. I asked, “So, Dragon royalty would know these… Draconian Sorcerers?” Aiden nodded, “Yes, they would. They are sworn not to harm royal family members though. I will be intrigued to discover why her memories were taken. Because, whatever the reason, the Draconian Sorcerer could not have intended her harm.”
I said, “I don’t think they did. I think they were friend.
” Aiden nodded, “That is likely. It’s also handy for me.
Once Kingsley rediscovers her memories, I can open channels of communication again.
Their realm , according to the stories, is second to our beauty in Faerie. I would love to see it firsthand.”
I said, “Yeah… pretty sure we will all be going there… it’s one of my theories anyway… well… yeah. Definitely.” Aiden asked in an amused tone, “Really? Why is that?” I squeaked, “Uhh what? You… me no… so…We should get back.”
Aiden agreed, “We should. My sister likes her google holidays to go well.” I snorted, “Fairy versions of going well and everyone else’s are different.” Aiden laughed, “This holiday is already a success in my books.”
I reasoned, “Because Kingsley is here.” Aiden grinned saying, “Yes, I intend to meet a Dragon of royal blood. That’s pretty tough to beat. Particularly when we are in the Hackura realm which takes out the element of a possible attack.” I snorted and Aiden popped us back to the meal.
Kingsley tapped her arm. It was our sign asking if there was a problem so I tapped my thigh letting her know there wasn’t. For many reasons. Aiden wouldn’t want to offend Haley being top of mind. The second, he didn’t want anything to mess up his chance to go to the Dragon realm.
Kingsley is the only link he had to that. She was the only Dragon he’d ever come across AND she was royal. Aiden was going to play the smart, long game with her. He might tease people that he knows what she is, but he’d never tell. Of that I was confident.
Freya linked, “Because he won’t. The Fairy King is a good man.” My wolf was right, he really was. Aiden probed for information about Angelique. My friend was more than happy to answer his questions. In fact, Angelique looked more relaxed than I’d ever seen her.
I looked around the table taking everyone in. All my friends were relaxed because for once we were all safe, loved, and no one was going to threaten to beat us later. I couldn’t help but smile at each of them. We’d come pretty dang far.
The conversation turned to pups. I linked Freya, “Does my decision to wait on pups upset you? I know you’ve been waiting a long time to come to me.” Freya said, “I can’t speak for other versions of us we help; however, in our case we are new to each other.”
“We were supposed to have two years before we moved to Black Mountain together to be with our mate. We were supposed to be learning together. I am a goddess, but I’ve always been in wolf form. Selene prefers her human form, but I don’t.”
“I was always meant to be with someone and be their wolf half. I’m not upset you want to wait, I’m glad.
We need to work together and practice our powers.
We require time together to grow. It would be complicated doing all that and being pregnant.
We have all the time we need so there is no rush here. I think it’s smart to wait.”