Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The unicorn is still staring at the shredded paperwork. I think I may have broken something in his head. “I need to confirm… It’s not possible… He removed your horn…,” he mumbles.
“Oh, and that’s something else.” Oh boy. I haven’t finished yet. Let’s just say they might see a seventeen-year-old girl, but in my head… In my head I’m a trained tactician. Thanks to an incredible man that will always be my grandad. Not this unicorn dickhead.
I nod my head, and the magic at the table behind them shatters.
The expensive Don’t See Me Now potion dissipates, exposing the table’s single seated occupant, a sad and furious woman.
Dressed in a navy skirt and a crisp white blouse, her designer outfit emphasises her small waist and willowy frame, with her orange, red and yellow hair secured in an elegant chignon bun. Like mini rainbows, her livid eyes shine with a multitude of colours.
The lady rises from her seat and steps gracefully away from the table. Her sky-high heels rhythmically click on the floor as she strides towards the councillors.
Her hand whips out and slaps the unicorn shifter across the face. The crack echoes around the deathly silent room. The unicorn’s cheek blossoms red from the impact. He doesn’t move an inch.
The shock on his face… is crazy satisfying.
“When a rude young girl video called and told me all about her concerns, I laughed in her face. Her concerns were based on rumour and conjecture… They lacked facts. Evidence.” She glances at me, and I see the regret shining in her eyes. She swallows, and her attention lands back on her mate.
“I told her she was a liar and that I would come tonight to prove to her how wrong she was.” She shoots a glare at the other councillors, and every single one of them fidgets in their seats.
“I came here to disprove her, to make her look like a fool. As there was no way…” She shakes her head.
“There was no way that you, my beloved and moral mate, would ever lock a child up and use her. No way you’d behave like that…
like the vampires.” Her voice cracks. She swallows again and licks her bottom lip.
“I know our race has our moments… but not you. Not you.” Her hand flutters to her mouth.
“I told her you had integrity, compassion, and loyalty. The man I love, the man I have been with over the centuries, would never ever do that to a woman. Least of all a child.” She coughs, and her hands ball into fists and drop to her sides.
“She baited me and got under my skin, so I came tonight to shame her.” She looks back at me.
“What I didn’t know is that she is my granddaughter.
You know I don’t even think she did at the time of our video call. ”
I shake my head. “I didn’t,” I whisper.
I only got the paperwork back an hour before the meeting. It is kind of karmic, fated, now that I think about it. She was the only mate that I could find that had a backbone.
I still didn’t think the councillors would go so far, be so disgustingly open about their intentions as they did tonight.
“No, I didn’t know that she was our granddaughter.
I’ve just found out at the same time as you have.
But even without the knowledge, I had to sit there—” She points at the table, and then the same finger swings around and points at her mate.
She tilts her head to look down her nose at him.
“I had to sit there and listen to your filth. You are not the man I mated. You are dirt. Even before she handed you those DNA test results, I was going to protect her. Protect her from you and your cronies. But now—by God, she’s my blood.
This boy’s club you have going on is over.
Times have changed. The shifter council is antiquated, outdated, and frankly, it’s immoral.
I will not stand by and let you ruin us, ruin our race anymore.
How many of our women have to die? Tru was right. Look at how far we’ve fallen.”
She turns and addresses the dragon. “General, you need to clean this shit up, use the hunters guild, use the hellhounds. This happening on top of what happened with your ward? When this all comes out, there’s going to be anarchy.
You must be ready. If the council do not step away from power quietly, make them. ”
To my shock, the General nods.
“Please Ann, we can talk about this,” the unicorn begs.
“Absolutely not. Oh, and Denby, don’t you dare even think about coming home. I’m done with you.”
Her eyes meet mine. Tears now run freely down her cheeks, a mirror of the tears running down my own face. She gently lays a soft hand against my cheek. “Forgive me, child,” she says, wiping away my tears with her thumb. “Please forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” I croak out. “You came. Whatever the reason, you came. I didn’t think they’d be this bad. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve made a mess of your life.”
She leans forward, and the comforting scent of grass and wildflowers fills my nose.
“This is not on you. It’s not your fault that my rose-coloured glasses were pulled away from my eyes, broken, and ground into the floor.
” She huffs sadly. “Things happen for a reason. I have lost a mate, but I have gained an incredibly smart and brave grandchild.” She kisses the top of my head.
“I will speak with you tomorrow.” Softer, she whispers, “You publish the video now, the whole thing.” I nod.
She smiles at Story and with a gentle finger clucks her underneath the chin.
My unicorn grandmother’s heels click, the bell above the door jingles, and the door gently clicks behind her.
“Video?” the wolf huffs. He’s the first to shake away the shock at my grandmother’s tirade.
“Oh, you heard that, did you? Yes, Mr Richardson—”
“Councillor,” he snarls. From what I know, the wolf shifter is a replacement, and he’s only been in his new council role for a week. Sucks to be him.
“Not anymore,” I say with a smirk and point to the surrounding air.
“Micro cameras. I recorded everything you’ve all said tonight.
If you look carefully, you might see the dozens of tiny cameras buzzing about.
” The magical and tech cameras have been incredibly handy.
I am so glad my grandad had them in his pocket dimension storeroom.
“You will give me the footage,” the cat shifter snarls, standing from the table and flexing his impressive arms.
“Or what?” I ask sweetly. “What are you gonna do? Sit your bum down.” I snarl.
“So you’re under the assumption that you’re going to release a video, is that right? You will do no such thing, you insolent bitch. Let’s lock her up,” the wolf demands.
“You still don’t get it, do you, Charles?
” I shake my head and pout a little. “I couldn’t leave anything to chance what with my whole life on the line.
As soon as my grandmother gave her permission, the recording of this meeting started streaming.
The footage is now live. Wave to your adoring fans. ”
“What have you done? You will incite a civil war,” the rat shifter whines.
I shrug. “That’s all on the council. I guess you have about five minutes to get somewhere safe.” I drop my voice to a whisper. “The hellhounds are coming.”