We Are Family
LIAM
O f course the Muma would start shit. There’s a tenuous balance between Fae and many variations of magic users caused by centuries of in-fighting and ridiculous snooty shit on both sides.
Though, if I’m honest, much of it is on my people.
We’re a bitchy, judgmental lot when it comes to less…
pretty species, and it inflamed that rivalry more than we admit.
“She means she cannot use my given name, as no one can use magical powers to reveal a Fae’s true name.
It is a law older than most civilizations and it is to protect that which we cherish deeply.
She has to use the public name that is shared with everyone for my announcement or be called to the supernatural courts for a claim. ”
Morgana blinks, looking at me in surprise. “You’re saying she’s trying to start shit, right?”
“Indeed,” Kaspar replies with a dark glare at the gnarled old bat. “Ioanna hoped you hadn’t shared your name, or that Morgana would be unaware of the custom so she could drive a wedge between us before we enter. It’s a subtle trick, but never unexpected.”
The elegant woman I love smirks at the tiny creature, her raven eyebrow arched in derision.
“I have been on this rock for hundreds of years, witch. In that time, I have encountered plenty of Fair Folk. While I admit I don’t know everything about them, I am aware their true names are only shared with their immediate families and their spouses. ”
“Are you not one of those, girlie?”
Ouch. That’s a dig and I’m not sure who’s going to smack her first—Kas or Morgana.
Before I can decide, Lucas rushes forward, his large hand gripping the small creature’s neck and lifting her in the air so her feet kick helplessly. His expression is dark as he leans in to growl, “That’s enough. You do not seek to harm what is mine—any of them. Do you understand?”
“Hot,” Slade murmurs and I nod, my eyes wide as I agree.
Morgana moves to place a hand on the bear’s broad back. “Good boy, Lucas. Defending our family is definitely on the reward list. Slade’s right—it’s hot as fuck. But it’s time to put the nasty little woman down so we can get on with our business.”
His face is full of fury when he turns, and I see the bear in his icy eyes as he looks at our mate. The anger melts under her proud smile, fading until he grins sheepishly and sets the Muma on her feet. “Sorry, Lady M. I couldn’t help it.”
Kaspar snorts. “Great, now we’ve got a horny young shifter losing his shit with us. Fucking fabulous.”
“I just don’t see how that’s a negative, dickface,” Morgana says mildly, then turns to wink at me. “Perhaps you could learn something from his quick control, though, dragon.”
The affront and ire that radiate from my old friend are enough to choke me, so I give him a look that says he should tuck it away…
now . “You cannot rise to her bait every time, Kas. The two of you are in a tenuous detente and if you continue to feed the irritation to one another, one of you will go too far. We cannot afford that right now.”
Morgana has the grace to flush a little as she mutters something that I believe is affirmative. My guard, however, just crosses his arms over his chest and scowls deeper. It means he gets it, but doesn’t like my subtle command. I can live with that and we’ll bicker later on.
“This is quiet enchanting, but get a move on or I’ll?—”
This time, I step into the snide wretch’s space, looking down at her with the power of a future king of the Daybreak Court.
“I don’t care who you are the pet of, you impudent pervert.
One more harsh word towards my family will be considered a slight on the entire Court. Do you know what that entails?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” she whimpers, cowering as the glow of my magic lights around me. “I will be quiet. You have my word.”
As if I’m stupid enough to believe that nonsense from her kind.
My lips curve up as I murmur under my breath, sealing her ability to speak ill of anyone in my group until we are in the ground. Since most of us live a very long time, my curse will keep us safe from her vengeance—even if she tries to enact it through another being. “I’m sure you will, hag.”
“What did you do, Li?” Iggy says, his voice full of awe.
Shrugging, I step back from the nasty Muma , enjoying her fury at the minor geas. “I ensured our safety, Ignatius. We’ll discuss it more thoroughly later.”
The professor almost looks giddy at the prospect, nodding before he barks, “You heard the Prince. Let’s get this shit over with.”
Who knew witnessing my magic was the way to get that fucker to comply?
The path from the gates where the Muma announced us was long and filled with ostentatious finery, including expensive as hell motorcycles and statues of former presidents of the Sons of the Seven Seas .
It didn’t take long to figure out that the leadership of this gang has been passed down in Slade’s family for many generations, and I’d bet his father’s anger stems from the gentle siren’s refusal to take his birthright.
The closer we get, the louder the ruckus gets and the more Slade shrinks into himself.
He’s obviously miserable and maybe a bit scared to be in a large group of these aquatic shifters.
“Slade, we’re not going to let anything happen to you,” I remind him. “Morgana and the rest of your new family will stand ten toes on the ground to keep them from doing whatever it is you’re afraid of.”
He gives me a wan smile. “Thanks, Liam, but it’s going to be rough no matter what you guys do.
My father throws his weight around every time I come home, and each time it feels like he’s making my escape harder.
I have no idea what to expect; however, I won’t have any support amongst my kin.
They all think he should force me to accept the mantle. ”
“Aw, bro, we’ve got a great competition for that role between all your sibs.
None of us want you to stay—at least, not for that reason.
We want the crown and we know you don’t.
” Tracer claps his hand on the smaller shifter’s shoulder, but his forehead is creased with worry.
He believes what he’s saying, but he doesn’t trust their family, either.
Ignatius harrumphs, moving closer to Slade’s side. “I’ve kept him from working his bullshit on you before and I will again.”
Morgana stops, turning to look at all of us. “What bullshit, Iggy? What do we need to be ready for?”
“His relatives,” the professor says with a grimace.
“His mother, Azul, is a siren/mermaid hybrid. She’s no fan of Axel because of his adultery, but she also misses her eldest and favorite son.
She’d happily fuck over his chance to live outside of this world, just to have him back in the fold.
Last time, she tried every trick in her magical repertoire to get him to agree to marry some other Old Lady’s kid so he’d have to stay,”
Our woman looks horrified, and within seconds, she’s hauled Slade into her arms to hug him tightly. “It will never happen. Her charms don’t work on my kind—either of them—and I’ll take her head if she even tries.”
Hot. As. Fuck.
Clearing my throat, I give the others an amused look before turning to Morgana. “Maybe be careful how enthusiastically you discuss killing people to defend us. Going into this mess with a giant hard-on probably isn’t the best condition for negotiations.”
Her face flushes red, making me smile in delight. I adore that we can make someone as old as her do that. “Stop it, Li. Now I’m inappropriately armed for battle.”
“Take note, folks. No squishy stuff for Lady M and no murder for us or we’re all going to have distracted brains,” Lucas smirks. “We all have our foibles.”
“How about we all focus and none of that will be a goddamned problem.” Kaspar scowls at every single one of us, even Tracer. “Tell me about the rest of these people; who else is important to watch?”
The kraken shrugs. “My sisters—Coral, Isla, and Roxy—are triplets. They’re all hybrids and have various powers from selkie to mermaid to siren to shifter.
Their parentage has always been in question and they’re gunning for the head of the class hard because they always feel like the bastard children. ”
Great. Triplets with huge chips on their shoulders.
“Don’t forget the twins. I trust them the least of all,” Slade mutters. “They don’t have magic, but they’ve got brute strength and are dumb enough to do shit no one else would risk.”
Iggy snickers. “Duke and Beck are both hammerhead shifters like their dad. Parentage very clear, and they know it. They hate that the softer, smarter, legitimate child is the heir apparent. The two of them function as Axel’s seconds, and they’re ruthless in their defense of the gang because they think it will earn them the spot all the kids are after. That is, except for Slade.”
“Holy fuck, that’s a lot of land mines.” Lucas rubs the back of his neck. “I could handle the sharks because I’m better on land and fabulous in water, but…”
“Iggy and I will be able to deal with the magical aquatic family members. I’m much stronger and older, and Ignatius is from one of the most powerful families in the country. They won’t be able to withstand our power, should we be forced to use it.”
A low, dark laugh escapes Morgana’s lips and she arches a brow. “If I get close enough, this statue garden will have more displays. Stone sinks very quickly, and I’ll drop their ass in the middle of the fucking ocean one by one.”
Damn, she’s so fucking self-assured when it comes to her powers and strength.
“I suppose if you defeated an elder dragon like Magnus… I shouldn’t worry. Right?”
She looks down at Slade, her expression soft as she murmurs, “No, you should not. Magnus had the power of a centuries old dragon behind him. He also had a lot of… enhancements I don’t think most people knew about.
I sure as hell didn’t until I was cornered, and some of that is why I…
Well, that’s not a discussion for public places. ”
Kaspar tilts his head, his gaze very curious now.
Dragon politics interest him as much as Fae politics, as he still keeps in line with what the dragons demand.
His expression smooths back out to uncaring quickly, but I know he’s going to demand she share what the fuckface did later on.
“Alright, enough soft shit. Move it. I’d like to get back to our home turf before this party gets out of hand.
And I’m certain it will, given the beings in attendance. ”
The snort Slade’s brother lets out tells me my guard is absolutely correct, so I nod. “Let’s enter the lair of the fish men. We’ll see just how stupid these gear heads are.”
“Very,” Tracer mutters as he opens the doors to the building. “Don’t underestimate anything while you're here. It would be dangerous as hell.”
Luckily, danger is something I’ve been in every day of my life as a Fae royal; I’ll be just fine.