Page 18 of Those That Defy the Realm

Mitch has been another welcome addition to our growing numbers. After we broke into his hotel room, tied him up, interrogated him and killed the other male vampire he was with, of course. He’d been sent across the water by Adicious to follow up on a lead they’d had about Ty being in the capital. He’s still bonded to Adicious but used to share a bedroom with Ty and clearly has zero loyalty to the leader he swore himself to.

“We need to move soon,” Ty warns. Indeed the boat is empty of passengers now, if my senses are accurate. There’re only infrequent footsteps and I’m picking up far fewer heartrates in the very close vicinity. If we don’t want to look suspicious to the staff, we need to get going.

Slowly moving from our hiding spot in the stairwell to the cabins, we catch up to Antares.

“A couple of males have approached him.” My eyes immediately turn towards the docks and yes, Mitch is still there. Two other males are gathered around him, gesturing and frowning as their conversation heats up.

Thankfully, after a little more back and forth they all turn to leave.

“Now’s our chance,” Ty says.

Acting as casually as we can, we walk the short distance to the gangway and out onto the busy quayside. On silent feet, we sneak until we’re in the crowd. The natural chaos of it all, of people zipping about and merchants moving crates and barrels of their wears, gives us great cover, but also means we might not sense one of Adicious’s pack until they’re upon us.

My eyes continuously scan the moving thrum around us, being tall has its advantages sometimes. Catching Antares gaze in my periphery, I glance down to see him looking to me for guidance, like he knows I will be the one to raise the alarm if we’re spotted. It’s a look I never thought I’d see from him, so it’s a little unnerving.

We’re friends, but the little shit has never once taken my advice. The way he’s keeping watch on me suggests he will move at a single sentence uttered from my lips. I guess we’re both feeling the pack instincts kicking in.

It’s not until we’ve made it into an alleyway that the tension we’re all feeling eases a little. With the cover of buildings and the shade they provide, Ty is able to pull on his power without raising an alarm. The darkness thickens with his shadows, concealing us as we start moving into the city.

Ty has lived here for decades, having grown up in Froan, and Rory has been here for several as well, moving here for university from one of the tiny towns on the other side of the mountain range that cuts the island in two. They easily navigate the streets between them. Froan isn’t a huge city, but it’s full of historic looking buildings that make many winding streets and passageways. I wouldn’t stand a chance of ending up where we need to go.

Moving through a mix of merchant warehouses, no doubt part of the large import and export industries here, and streets of local bars, taverns, and restaurants, the city oozes its history. It mainly avoided the open combat of the war and so much of it remains original to its birth nearly a millennia ago.

Froan was one of the first cities the Fae founded when the veil fell. There were already urban spaces forming in this realm on the continent, but this island already had more infrastructure and a growing trade industry. It was a town until the Fae arrived but it quickly became a city, and many of the buildings still hold the intricate details of the old architectural style. Carved wooden beams and adornments on the joinery. Patterned metal work and cobbled streets. It’s beautiful in its craftsmanship. The larger buildings, used for shops and businesses, as well as the warehouses which support the shipping industry are all works to be admired. Each one feels unique and despite their age, most do not look weathered at all.

We cross the city and take a bridge over the river into a more suburban feeling quarter. The houses here are even more ornate and the streets are lined with trees just starting to blossom with their new leaves.

It must take us over an hour to reach our destination and none of us has spoken on the walk. Having run through our plan at least a dozen times on the ferry over we all know each part in detail. I would’ve liked to ask questions about the city as we made our way here but the tension is still palpable. We’re not safe until we’re inside, and for our plan to work, no one must know we’re here.

Rory takes the lead as we turn down another street of housing. She drops her glamour, telling me we’re close to our destination. Her and Ty’s fingers remain firmly linked as she turns up one of the entryways and onto the property of a rather splendid looking house. It’s paler in colour compared to its neighbours, double storey and has some type of flora growing up the front, wrapping around the overhanging porch and large bay windows across the lower floor.

Stepping up the small flight of stairs Rory pauses, taking a deep breath before raising her free hand and knocks on the door.

We’re meeting and staying with another of Rory’s friends, one she and Bree lived with during their time at university. I expect the reaction, the utter glee and recognition as Rory’s friend swings the door wide like she’d been waiting behind it for the knock. The female squeals of delight as they embrace after being separated for a long time. The relief her friend emits at finally seeing Rory in the flesh and unharmed. I bathe in the happiness of the two females, who are clearly dear to one another, being reunited. What I don’t expect is the stomach dropping recognition of my own when I finally get a good look at just who Rory’s friend is.

CHAPTER 7

ASH

Growling, I shuffle the various stacks of papers, quickly growing frustrated that the one I need isn’t on the top of any of the piles. I saw it recently, I know I did. But which one did I put it in?

Finally getting my hands on it, I realise I’ve gone and lost the one I had just been reading, the one which made the reference I needed to check.

Fuck’s sake.

Slamming the sheets down that I just spent five minutes searching for, I let out a huff as I lean my head down onto my palms, heels of my hands pushing against my tired eyes.

This stuff is so hard.

“Need some help?” My father’s voice breaks through my spiral. Blinking up at him, it takes a second for my eyes to adjust to the bright lighting overhead where I’m sitting in our main common room.

“I certainly have a new appreciation for what you and Mum went through and all that you do to keep the pack safe.”

Dad pulls out one of the dining chairs and takes a seat opposite me. He turns a few of the various pages around so he can see what I’ve been looking at. “It was all your mother; she was the one that did most of the negotiations.”

My parents might share the responsibilities of running the pack with other alpha couples, and one throuple, but it was solely them that secured our species survival in the war. Without my mother, and the support of my father, we’d be as extinct as the vampires. Or at least living the same hidden existence they do, considering they’re not really extinct.

“This stuff is so complicated, I can barely get my head around it and I’m just reading it. I can’t imagine actually thinking of and brokering half of this stuff.”