Page 10

Alexander is Twelve Years Old

Alexander was excited. I glanced at EJ and sent my uncle’s the fact we knew they were here in the bond. They sent their amusement in response. EJ linked, “So much for coming alone.” I replied, “We knew they’d be here.”

Honestly, Cassie should be here too. She was ready just like we were, but as the only girl besides mom in the Cambridge line, it wasn’t happening. My mom had argued with them repeatedly, but it just wasn’t sinking in for them.

Oden snorted, “That doesn’t upset us.” I replied, “If Cass was more upset about it, I would be too. She’s really fine with it and understands.” I just hated it for her. At the same I’m relieved. It made for some interesting feelings.

My dad sent me his feelings to focus and to knock it off.

Oden linked, “Thor said mom is pranking everyone.” I linked EJ, “Ask Brutus about mom’s pranks.

” He replied, “All he will say is that there are pranks.” I winked, “I think this mission should get dragged out. One must be thorough after all.” He grinned and we both chuckled.

My dad sent a warning that whatever mischievousness we were feeling needed to stop. My Hackura Uncles were basically shaking their heads at us. I feel like they understood the feeling better having grown up with my mom.

Our mission was fairly straightforward because EJ and I were simply observing today. We all knew this mission wasn’t a priority. From the files I’d read our family’s first missions tended to have something go awry that Uncle Bjourn or Grandpa Titus blamed themselves for.

It seemed to me like Aesir’s hand was in all but Uncle Harper and Uncle Gunner’s first mission. That was clearly foul play. The rest seemed like well timed warnings to stop things from spiraling out of control for our family. Because of that I was on high alert, and I’d told EJ to be the same.

I’m sure that added a level of pranks to my mom’s hijinks she was pulling.

She’d had our bond close to her for weeks in anticipation of our first time out.

She’d know we were prepared for everything to go haywire and have to step in more than just listening.

I could tell my dad wanted to link us and check to see how we were doing, but he wasn’t going to.

Oden linked, “I’ll let Thor know we are fine.” I grinned because I truly loved my wolf. We’d been together all my life, which was unprecedented for Werewolves until me and my siblings were born. My cousins had them too, but we were the first.

I knew people were jealous that we’d had our wolves our whole lives. We had a link and bond with them most didn’t have for quite some time. EJ and I faded back the second someone came near the tree we were in.

The guy looked up and snorted, “Damn being the low guy on the totem pole.” He yelled, “I don’t know what the fuck kind of joke this is, but no one is here!” I sent EJ my confusion in the bond. Someone yelled back, “Well, the note we have says there are two men here listening to us.”

He scoffed, “Well, they aren’t.” I linked EJ, “Mom gets notes that appear out of nowhere and now those notes are trying to ruin our mission?” He snorted, “You know as well as I do who those notes are from.” I did because they were always from Alania Holloran.

The guy huffed, “I repeat, no one is here.” He muttered, “Damn notes appearing and making me work my ass off even more than these people do. I’m only here because they’ve got my girl. Now, I’m their fucking errand boy.”

I linked EJ, “We have to help him.” He reasoned, “We aren’t supposed to.” I asked, “Can you let this go?” He admitted, “Nope. I feel my Alpha and Hackura blood firing, but so does everyone else.” He was right about that.

I wished I could wall myself off to get this done like my mom could. I hated that ability she possessed more than any of my siblings. My mom and I had an empathic connection, so I could tell when it got cut off easier than they could. I could literally feel the walls snap into place.

Moments like this, I was jealous I didn’t have the ability like she did.

I used to think it was a Fairy power, but I’d researched that at length in Faerie.

I couldn’t find a single thing about it, so I’d asked a Fairy.

They’d snorted and told me it’s not an inherited ability then all but ran away from me.

I could’ve chased them, but that told me it had something to do with being a Fairy but not a power.

We were still faded back but I got down to follow the man running around. The guy in charge stared right past me. He asked, “Well?” The guy replied, “Like I said, no one is there.” He put a finger in his face warning, “Your girl loses a finger if you mess up.”

The guy stiffened, “I don’t even know what the fuck you do here! I still don’t know why you took her or why I’m here.” The man replied, “And you never will. Do what we want, and she’ll be free.” I linked EJ, “So, they are setting him up as the fall guy? Because I caught that evasion.”

He snorted, “Warlocks never understand Fairies always catch their evasions.” The guy sighed, “I just want my girl back.” The Warlock replied, “Then do what we are asking.” The frustrated man yelled, “I AM! I do everything you ask and all I get are hair and pictures! She hates getting her hair cut. She cries every goddamn trim and now…”

I nearly gasped out loud because that likely meant his girl was a partial Fairy. Oden growled, “We have to get her to mom.” I linked EJ, “I have to get her. Come with me.” He put a hand on my shoulder, and we walked away.

My Uncles were getting worried, but my mom shot her belief in us. It felt like a warm blanket telling me to follow my instincts and she knew we’d do the right thing. I faded in with EJ and we nodded to each other before we popped to the girl.

I faltered realizing I had made a false assumption. I thought when the man said my girl, he meant his girlfriend, wife, or partner. He meant his daughter. Oden snarled, “SHE IS A PUP!” She was maybe five years old.

She stared at me and EJ with curiosity. I put a finger up to my mouth to indicate she needed to be quiet. She grinned, nodding at me. EJ and I hid as our uncles were practically cursing at us through the bond.

I knew several were trying to link us, they’d joined the pack for the ability to do so.

Oden said, “I have it blocked out.” I knew that too.

A guy came in, “Ok, little freak here’s your cold ass food.

You can warm it up yourself. Don’t even think of pulling your freaky tricks on me.

I won’t be scared this time, I’m prepared. ”

She must have used her Fire powers on him. I grabbed him by the neck whispering, “Boo mother fucker.” He tried to scream for help, but EJ shifted into Brutus and killed his backup. The little girl clapped, “Go wolf man!” We probably did look like men to her.

I asked, “Do you know what you are?” She shrugged, “Daddy says I’m special. I miss him, but they won’t let him visit.” EJ picked her up and we popped back to where her dad was. I grabbed him and popped back to where my uncles were.

The dad groaned and fell down. His daughter screamed, “DADDY!” He managed to sit up and hold her tightly. I greeted, “Hey Uncles of ours, fancy seeing you here.” My Uncle Bjourn yanked me into a hug. He asked, “What the fuck, Alexander?” I said, “They had a girl they were holding hostage.”

Uncle Evin said, “Yes, a partial Fire Fairy.” Her dad snorted, “I’d say you were full of shit, but she does love fire. If she gets mad enough, she can melt things.” She pouted, “I didn’t do it right in that house though and I tried. I got PLENTY mad they wouldn’t let you visit.”

I consoled her, “I’m sure they were putting iron into your food. I’d like to heal you.” Her dad agreed, “Please do it.” I let my healing light take over. When I pulled back, she was perfectly fine. Her dad asked, “What do we do? They will come after us. I don’t know why they wanted us.”

Uncle Bjourn said, “They will be taken care of.” The dad asked, “Were you two the ones the note said were listening in?” Uncle Harper grunted, “Note?” I snorted, “I think we all know who the note is from.” I felt their lancing anger in the bond.

I told her dad, “I’d like to take you to meet my mom.” The girl squealed, “Sure. Is she like us?” I knelt down, “She’s the Princess of the Fae.” She gasped, “Does she know my mom?” Her dad made a face. I asked, “Where is her mom?” He answered, “I don’t know.”

The little girl said, “She loves me a lot, but she had to go.” The look on the dad’s face told me he’d lied to her. So, we’d have to get that story. Fire Fairies loved partials though. EJ linked, “I sense a little earth blood in her.” Still, she was mostly a Fire Fairy.

We popped our group to my mom. She grinned, “You’re back!

” She jumped and hugged me then EJ. My dad came running into the room.

He linked, “Oh hey dad, we are back. No worries, we are just trying to give you heart palpitations on top of the pranks mom is pulling.” He yanked me into a hug first because mom still had EJ.

I whispered, “Hey, dad. We are back.” He snorted and clapped me on the back then yanked EJ into a hug. My mom said, “And you brought guests. Hello, cutie.” She knelt down and tapped the little girl on the nose.

The little girl asked, “Are you the Princess?” She answered, “I am.” My dad said, “Maybe do not say who you are in front of him.” He pointed at the dad, who was human. I said, “He knows.” My dad groaned, “Great.”

The guy said, “It’s not like I’m going to call you all crazy. I knew my daughter was special, so I understand all this. Honestly, it’s nice to get her around people who understand her and I.” The little girl grinned, “It’s me and daddy against the world.”