Chapter 46 The Blade Addresses Her Concerns
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’s commentary, 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 for bad 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.
Interesting.
Michaela might be a good friend for Taurus if we can keep her on our side. I’ll do some more digging into her presence here before I talk to him about it, though. Our family has enough internal problems without more people jumping into our relationships and fucking them up.
“I agree, too,” Tamara interjects with a big grin.
It takes everything in me not to laugh in her face.
Not only are she and Rita some of the most active folks writing up adventures full of crazy sex, but she showed up to Deli’s party on a leash.
She’s ridiculous, especially if you count the times she’s almost lost her spleen when Deli found out that Tamara was making secret plays for Taurus via text message.
“I’m friends with a lot of guys, but I don’t have any interest in any other relationships. Preston and Aidan are my companions, and if I feel comfortable enough to write about racy stuff, it would be with them,” Michaela finishes.
Then why does she have all the other droids and shit? What the hell is that about?
“I’m the opposite, by the way. You’ll never see a detailed story about Taurus and me.” I shrug and give her a half-smile. “It’s too personal.”
Sari growls and sends me a glare. Her reaction is followed by a soft growl at the other two, who flinch perceptibly.
“That’s bullshit, Talia. I’m one of the more ‘open’ people around here.
By my count, out of a hundred-plus tales I’ve shared in the archives, only about five to eight percent are NC-17.
Perhaps you and Taurus need to curb your hormones. ”
Deli moves closer to the circle, but I send her a warning to let me handle it. “I’ve been here two months, and when I look at the public stuff, all I see is sex, sex, and more sex. Oh, and occasional domestic violence, but that’s a separate issue.”
“I see a bigger picture than you because I’ve been here almost two years. So I know these people better than you, and I haven’t shared or done anything this month other than arriving at Rafe’s party.”
The coyote’s grin is fanged, and I almost bark at her to put them away. Before I can, Deli raises her hand. Lily sighs in relief as the stick passes to her co-mayor. The cat opens her mouth, but Michaela cuts her off.
“I think in the beginning—when neither of you were here—there was more sex, actually.”
Sari gives her an incredulous stare, but my mate snorts in amusement. Michaela must be telling the truth, but Deli won’t press it. She knows it will lead to a discussion that will hurt Taurus or me.
The kitty waves the stick for a second, and once everyone looks at her, she gives them an angelic smile again.
“I think it has increased in the past few months in public venues. Whether or not I agree with the negative assessment of that, no one is being accused of doing something bad. Talia and Michaela’s thoughts are opinions, so we should treat them as we do any other kink or preference here—we don’t shame them. ”
“I’m not saying sex stuff is bad, by the way. I’m responsible for some of it,” I add. “I would just like a place specifically not used for hookups, so those who don’t want extra partners are comfortable socializing.”
“So many people are sharing tales this month that I don’t always have time to read them all,” Rita says petulantly. “Having another space might make that worse.”
Tamara nods in agreement, and I grin. They can’t weigh in if they’re not reading things—that’s a perfect admission for them to make. It only supports what I’m going to say next because the proliferation of shit is because of everyone going hog wild on crazy sex shit to impress one another.
“I want some ‘1950s milk shoppe’ fun so my primary family can get to know everyone better. That’s all.” I glance at my mate and she nods, settling back in her chair. I hope she gets where I’m going now.
“We have the Zoo for that, right?” Rita asks as she gets up to head over to the buffet.
She heaps her plate full of food quickly, and I understand how she got in the position she’s in.
Her emotions are tied to food, and she’s caught in a pattern I know well from my past in the other place well before I met Taurus.
I almost feel sorry for her, but then remember how much trouble she supports Tamara causing and let it go.
“No,” I reply, “The Zoo has been used for sexual things and as a weapon against people. It is not a clean, fun venue.”
“What do you mean, Talia?” Michaela furrows her brow at me curiously.
I sigh, finally getting how Sari roped these idiots. They pay no attention to anything that doesn’t involve them and believe everything they are told. That’s why they don’t perceive who the real problem is.
“I’ve seen video feeds of sexy songs. Plus, someone who no longer lives here used a song about bitches and fences to punctuate her departure.
It set an aggressive tone that I was uncomfortable with because they meant it to attack people.
” I peer at Sari, letting her realize I see her bullshit plotting.
“Would you care to name names, or are we going to malign people in their absence?”
“Sari, you sang a song just last week about getting drunk and screwing. I don’t think we need to spell it out for you,” I shoot back with venom, tired of her pretending she’s oblivious and innocent.
The cat stands, waving the stick again. “Her point is valid. From its inception, The Zoo has been a place people have used to take a swipe at others. Its stated mission is that it has no rules and violence is encouraged. It is not meant to be PG-13 by definition. That was announced completely disrespectfully, so we all know about it. Also, its former bouncer has moved out, so we can’t trust that it is safe for everyone. ”
“I never saw it that way, so maybe the snipes weren’t meant for me,” Rita says, plopping back in her seat. “I thought it was supposed to be fun.”
Tamara raises her hand, so my mate gives her the stick. This woman is on no one’s side but her own, but she’ll sow discord for no other reason than she likes it.
I don’t trust her, but she’s about to take the stage and suck up the spotlight.
This is definitely going to suck.