About That #12
I really hadn’t meant to scare anyone. It’s not like I took them with me to watch that all go down.
I didn’t think they would see any of that.
Not that I would’ve done it differently…
but still. It was never my intention for them so watch it happen.
Anything they’d seen me do was not my doing.
Most things I did were in the shadows and they had no clue about them.
I felt bad when Tristan got upset. My brother felt bad about the decisions he’d made that led to Jason getting hurt. I knew how close to death Jason had come. If not for the watch I’d gotten him… he might be dead. ILYX’s readouts were bad.
Freya said, “Ajax is fine now but Apollo does feel bad.” I could tell. In that particular situation, I knew I could get Jason to Xander for healing…. so I knew Jason was going to be ok. I didn’t know Tristan had seen Jason’s return to the pack because I thought he was dead.
I thought I was the only family member pissed off about Jason’s situation. Addison linked, “Yeah, the second the fact we were in the Resistance came out, I threw down with Jase about that call.” I replied, “I mean… did he say why he didn’t link anyone?”
Addison answered, “He said he couldn’t, but he only knew that because Ajax told him. He wasn’t going to bring the pack to Hunter’s.” His BEST FRIEND was a Fairy who could pop in and out. Hunters were not prepared for a Fairy to show up… which was insane… but true.
I hugged Tristan and thought the conversation was over. It wasn’t. They kept insisting I was being taken advantage of. How would that even work? I’m taking advantage of myself? That didn’t make any sense. I linked Sierra, “T wants to make the Resistance pay?”
Sierra groaned, “I mean, he won’t later. He just doesn’t understand.” Well, it still stung. There was nothing to pay for. I’d saved them and the Resistance helped a lot of people. I was helping people. Addison linked me, “T just doesn’t understand.”
I replied, “They all think I’m some big bad thing like the Ring.” Addison argued, “No, Mel. They think someone recruited you and used the grief over their supposed death. It’s not really like they think the Resistance is bad.”
That honestly sounded like semantics. If you believed I was recruited out of grief… you likely believed others were too. I was the one recruiting, which means they all thought I was bad. It hurt more than I cared to admit.
Freya said, “That’s not how they mean it, but I do understand your feelings.” I appreciated that. I tried to make my point, but they were all stubbornly set against it. I saw Micah in the back of the room. At least he looked like he didn’t agree.
We had to go over guidelines. Everyone seemed stunned that the Resistance didn’t allow parents in the field. Seriously? I thought I lost my parents. I obviously wasn’t going to do that to someone else. Freya said, “It does seem quite obvious.”
They seemed to think my field actions were done for fun. I linked Sierra, “This was such an absurd conversation. At least when Caine came at me… it was never about the validity of what we do.” Sierra winced.
We got into the watches and what they do. Of course everyone’s watches had explosives… not armed, but they had them. Dylan practically sprinted from the room when I told him he had a watch in the lab. Jason brought the conversation back to who taught me to drive.
What was their obsessions with this topic? Who cared? Why did it matter so much? Xander’s anger started to build, and I cast him a side glance. What was wrong with him now? Freya hummed but didn’t offer any insight.
Everyone was talking to me with that that annoying tone like they are patronizing me, knowing something I don’t.
Xander was pissed off that a guy taught me how to hack and drive.
That was crazy. He’d trained women how to fight.
This wasn’t different. Freya said, “I would argue Oden’s point, but you make a compelling argument in your head. ” I knew that.
Micah came in with the save saying he’d found Yuri. I was flashing back to that night, but I quickly shoved those images from my mind. Yuri being in the Demon realm wasn’t surprising really. He had a lot of Demon friends.
I’m sure when Yuri found out what happened with me, he fled.
An insane notion when you consider where he was.
My mate was a Hackura Duke, and most Demons knew that.
Even if they weren’t marked by Iblis, they knew that a little tip to Logan meant they’d be rewarded.
Plus Masium was around a lot and would give them money for telling him where someone who hurt his family was.
Yuri couldn’t have stayed hidden there long term. Xander was going to get him, but for some reason he still wanted to know about the driving, hacking topic later. I don’t think he was going to like my response or argument I had prepared for it.
Everyone wanted me to stop talking. Again, with that annoying tone like I should know something I don’t. Xander kissed me then left to go to the Demon realm. My brothers and dad went with him. Mom said, “Ladybug, we should talk.”
I threw my hands up lamenting, “I hate that tone! That ‘you should know this you’re so cute because you don’t’ tone. Because I do want to talk to you… you’re my mom…. but that tone. It irks me. This entire conversation is sexist! That’s what I know.”
Addison choked out a laugh. Elise asked, “Huh?” I asked a leading question I knew the answer to, “Xander teaches women how to fight, right? One on one?” Elise said, “I feel like you know the answer is yes.”
I replied, “I do… I know that he trains a lot of women… not even a handful. I have a full list it’s in the hundreds.
There’s even a Female Lead Warrior he spent A LOT of time training individually.
How is that ANY different? I’m not mad at her for spending ALL that time with him…
when I wanted to…be the person he was spending time with. ”
Elise asked, “How do you know that?” I flushed.
Freya laughed in my head. The answer was I’d hacked Xander’s calendar a long time ago.
I brushed that off, “That’s not the point!
Xander’s trained a lot of women on their Fairy powers and fighting skills…
he can’t be mad that a guy taught me to do something.
Neither can either of you with patronizing tones! ”
I left the room, but I heard Haley chime in, “I really fucking like her and my daughter in law is not wrong.” Thank you. I slammed the door to our bedroom. Freya warned, “Heads up.” I asked, “What?” Someone cleared their throat.
I let out a slight scream, turned around, and put my hand on my chest. I gasped, “Aiden.” Aiden smiled saying, “I found an interesting piece of paper.” I questioned, “And you decided to scare me half to death over a piece of paper? I guess… I’m glad it was interesting.”
Aiden handed it to me and I sighed. It was my company name and alias for the Resistance. Aiden beamed proudly at me saying, “It’s you. All these people want to know who is behind the Resistance and little do they know she’s living under this roof.”
I added, “Plus they insult me saying I’m a bad guy.” Aiden laughed, “I don’t think they see it that way.” I asked, “Are you going to tell everyone?” Aiden snorted, “Not a chance. That’s not the Fae way, but you knew that.”
I agreed, “I do know that. I also know t it doesn’t mean you wouldn’t tell them because it’s a matter of safety and you care about that.” Aiden chuckled, “You being in control makes you safer. If it was someone else in charge, I would tell them.”
Aiden paused then added, “Outing you as the leader would get me in trouble with my sister. She’s all about people telling their stories in their own ways. Plus, I find this fascinating. Tell me, how did a fourteen year old start all this?”
I shrugged, “With some help and inside knowledge… start up capitol… because I donated the money that I had earned to charities for families ripped apart by murder. I used papers from Prince Gunner to start hacking… then the guy who taught me about dark web hacking… and that sort of stuff trained me on things Prince Gunner doesn’t… . ya know… put papers out about.”
Aiden asked, “Humor me with the answer of who taught you to hack.” I answered, “Charles Lennox.” Aiden stared then started laughing hysterically. I asked, “What?” Aiden clarified, “Do you mean the Vampire, Charles Lennox?”
I replied, “Yup. You know Charles?” I knew he didn’t but he’d know who Charles was.
Aiden snorted, “I know of him. He has a fascination for learning things and used to charge for his services to hack but has long since stopped. Charles only helps if he wants to. So, he must find you intriguing. Who could blame him, really? We all do. That will not make my nephew happy though.”
I frowned, “Again… that’s sexist. Plus, it’s a good thing I know how to do all those things! Charles says I’m a quick study.” Aiden smirked, “I’ll bet he did. Werewolves and Fairies tend not to get along with Vampires.”
I argued, “But this group does.” Aiden laughed, “Of course we do, Alexander has had a different upbringing because his mother and his cousin LOVE King Arthur and his family. King Arthur will be highly intrigued if Charles pays a visit.”
I hummed, “I mean… I know that they know each other… they are friends.” Aiden smiled admitting, “They are.” Ok then.
That appeared to be all he was going to say.
I added, “Charles is a good guy.” Aiden didn’t agree exactly, “He has his own moral compass. I wouldn’t say he is good or bad.
He has a great wealth of knowledge and chooses to live alone, for the most part.
He hasn't had a protege in centuries and now there’s you. ”