Page 96 of Fae Farewells

He leaned back on his heels before standing to give her a hug and shake Reagan’s hand. Then Valano hugged his son, too… slapping his back as a smile stretched across his lips.

I wondered if this was what family reunions were supposed to look like. They were so thrilled to see each other, and I couldn’t recall a time where I was that happy to see anyone.

Was I required to hug my parents every time I saw them?

Should I have hugged my mother?

No. That felt wrong to even think about.

Maybe one day.

But that would take way more time and boundaries.

Probably some tequila, too.

Saturday, June 20th

Afternoon

When Vaughn and I returned from the cove, our fancy prison was crowded with creatures. Freya and her mates had joined my guys, along with the younger two winter sisters and Thatcher.

Everyone seemed to be waiting for us. No one wanted to start the discussion, except for Tilly.

She came straight to me as I closed the door. “Alania has issued a warrant of arrest for you and your mates. She thinks Vaughn is still in the dungeon.”

“I’m not surprised,” I admitted, genuinely tickled over Alania thinking she could keep me in a cell.

Unless she was getting magic restraints from my mage, those flimsy wards and iron bars weren’t going to hold me back.

“Did you hear why?” Vaughn asked his youngest sister.

“Theft,” Thatcher answered. “She’s accused your mate of stealing her crown.”

“For Devil’s sake,” my fae mumbled.

“No. This is perfect,” I told him, grinning at his exhausted expression. “We need her to attack first, especially if there are witnesses around to see it.”

Vaughn glared at me. “And accusing you of theft is suddenly part of your new grand plan?”

“No, but I did kind of steal her crown,” I confessed. “Not directly... Though it’s mine now.”

“True.” He narrowed his eyes. “What are you planning?”

I glanced around the room, taking stock of all the players on our side of the board. It was difficult to assume what they could do from their looks, but I knew enough of them could fight. The question was, would they?

My guys and Sarge would… Levi wouldn’t object if I asked. Ruby was here to kill, and Freya wasn’t some delicate, blushing virgin.

Zyus was a wildcard, in my humble opinion. He was built like my mage, tall and lean, though I couldn’t tell if there was a fighter behind his pretty face and blunt words.

Thatcher was a slim inch taller than Vaughn, with shoulders just as wide. I was guessing, since he was a guard, he probably knew how to fight fae soldiers better than most of us in this room.

“What are the numbers for the summer soldiers?” I queried, tapping my index finger against my chin.

“Twenty-five,” Thatcher responded. “I checked in on them just before you two got back.”

I nodded as I counted. Freya’s group was four, mine was seven... Plus Thatcher and Ruby. I didn’t know if Tilly would fight, which wasn’t a bad thing, because she already had a major part in the plan swirling around my mind.

I turned to Vaughn. “I need you to make a deal with me.”