8. Finley #2
Mason snorted at her comment. “That’s not what he’s talking about, ninja barbie.
What he’s asking is why you don’t have a scent, a smell that is you and unlike no one else.
Like how fingerprints are different for every person alive.
Werewolves use scent to identify, track, and remember who or what they are.
Seems that elves don’t carry odor for us to use the way we normally would. ”
Ayla turned to me. “Is he right? Do I not have a scent? You knew I was here. I could tell even though you didn’t tell the others.”
“I knew it was you based on your magic, but no, you don’t have a scent that can be picked up on,” I explained. “Rath doesn’t either, so I wouldn’t be too worried.”
“Wait, you knew she was there and you didn’t say anything?” Zander demanded. “Little dove, I understand she is a friend and is here to help us, but I feel like that is something you should have told us.”
I walked over and sat on the ottoman, facing all my men as I prepared to tell them the part of my plan I had left out so far.
“Lane asked me to share the whole plan, and the part I was holding back on was to see if you could tell Ayla was here with us. When I go after these people, I want Ayla to be my partner, she is talented in concealment magic, and as you said, she carries no scent. All of these things help me as I hunt these assholes down.”
Rath frowned, crossing his arms. “What would we be doing in the meantime?”
“Causing a distraction,” I answer. “I saw the invitation to the party in New York a week from today. If we go as a family to this party, then I can slip away and meet Ayla to deal with these men. Together we can hit them fast, quiet, leaving no trace, and I’ll be back at the party with none the wiser. ”
Zander spluttered at this idea. “You had that planned in your head for longer than today, didn’t you? There’s no way you could come up with something that solid in a day.”
“You can when it’s all you’ve ever known,” I reasoned. “From the moment I was brought into the Organization, this is exactly what I was trained for. The interesting part is now that I’m the way I am, it makes me even more deadly than when I was a mere human.”
Colt rose to his feet and paced behind the couch, running his hands through his hair.
“So you go out into the night, kill a bunch of people and come back like it’s another average Friday night?
Then there’s us, just hanging out at a party for some poodle’s birthday?
I’m not sure I can fly with that little one. ”
“There needs to be a valid reason for all of us to go to New York City,” I argued.
“We promised not to split up again, and I’m trying to keep that promise, but nine people with a famous rock star isn’t something we can keep on the down low.
The party explains why we would be there, and I would go with you, have him introduce me since I’m sure everyone wants to meet Zander’s new mate.
While we are in town, Derven can get what he needs, and it’s a win-win for us all. ”
“This feels like we are in an Ocean’s Eleven movie or something,” Lane muttered.
“Nah, I think snuggles’ plan is way cooler than any of theirs,” Mason argued.
Noah rolled his eyes. “That’s only because you get to play a part in it.”
“Can you blame me for thinking our woman is a total badass? I mean, she came up with this whole thing in less than twenty-four hours,” Mason reasoned.
“This plan is nowhere close to being ready,” I stated, bringing the conversation back to the matter at hand.
“This is the rough outline, and before anything can move forward, I need to know you’re all on board.
If you hate the idea, then I’ll scrap it and try something else that will make you all feel better. ”
“Little one, no idea you have is going to make us feel better,” Colt reasoned.
“None of us will like the idea of you going off into the night killing people. As your alphas and your mates, that sounds like the worst possible idea to us. That being said, it needs to be done, you swore an oath to take down the Senate, and the Dark Ring is part of that. If you believe this is the smartest way to see this through, putting you in the least amount of danger, then I’m in. ”
Lane sighed, his head falling back to rest on the couch. “I’m with Colt. This whole thing is a terrible idea, but we can’t avoid seeing it through. That would hurt you far more.”
“So I guess I should RSVP then,” Zander muttered as he made his way downstairs, where the invitation was lying on the counter.
Derven cleared his throat before speaking, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I know I haven’t earned my place to speak on these matters yet, but would someone fill me in on this oath?
I’ve heard it mentioned a few times, and it has me curious and slightly worried that my Blood Bond has a contract on her life. ”
“The nitty-gritty version is, Zander’s mother, Senator Morwyn, wants out of her marriage, out of her place in the Senate, and to be free to live her life with her real mate, who’s her bodyguard.
They showed up one night and asked Finley to kill her father-in-law, take down the Senate, destroy the Dark Ring, and give her back her freedom,” Mason explained.
“Apparently, when you make a deal with an elf, and you shake on it, your life is tied to each other to ensure no one goes back on the deal. Morwyn is supposed to get us Delilah and the gorilla, while snuggles does all the hard work.”
Derven looked at me, his brow creased, and worry filled his eyes. “Sangele meu, is this true? Did you make a contract that you would take down the Senate or die?”
“That and a few other things must be completed as well,” I answered.
“I understand your worry, but I was going to do this whether I was contracted to or not. They will keep coming after me, and when they can’t get to me, they will start to hunt those I care about.
Before, I didn’t have anyone they could use against me and now I have more than I ever could have imagined. ”
None of them had been happy when I made the contract, but it was done and sealed. The mark on my wrist proved it.
“I know you all want to keep me safe and protect me from the monsters that go bump in the night. The thing that you’re all forgetting is that I’m one of those monsters.
A trained killer who silently moves in the shadows and leaves dead bodies in her wake.
I will do this. The Senate and the Dark Ring will be destroyed by my own hand, have no doubts about that,” I announced, lifting my chin and holding my head high, pretending to be the queen they kept saying I was.
Ayla came to stand before me, dropping to one knee, a dagger in her hand slicing the flesh of the other. “I vow myself to the queen of the elves. May she find my offering pleasing and use this vessel as she sees fit.”
I had no idea what to do, but Rath reached out and whispered how I should respond if I wished to accept her oath. Reaching out, I took the knife and wiped her blood on my palm and called my magic to burn it off my skin, accepting the offering Ayla had given.
“Your queen is pleased with your offering and accepts your vow. Now rise and be at ease until your queen has need of you,” I answered, feeling the power in my words.
Ayla wasn’t bound to me like a mate but more like a member of my pack, making me her alpha. So started the beginning of my vision to see a blended world where elves and werewolves lived in harmony.