2: Chapter 41

“We’re here in the Fae realm! Where are you?” Elre came back calmly.

“The Winter Queen has me hidden, keeping me safe from the Spring King. He kidnapped me to try and force me to marry him.” I spoke quickly.

“Come out then! We are here, staring at Waverest and Annarael now.” His voice calm and I could feel their happiness bubble inside.

“Aristoc how do I get out of here?” I whispered.

His shadow slipping through the wall as it opened once again. Slipping out he had turned back into his shadow shifter, standing over me as he watched for anyone who would try to harm.

“Come, it’s time to meet the others.” I smiled as I ran the way back, peeking out from behind the curtain that hid the passage I saw all five of them standing fully armored and highly pissed off. Staring down a man that had major ego written all over him, slipping from behind the curtain their expressions soften but then looked horrified.

“Anya step slowly towards us.” Rugan held his hands out as if I was a baby just learning to walk. Remembering Ariscot I turned around and held out my hand, once again his large hand enveloped mine as he shifted back to his person form. The men twitched a minute as I turned back and smiled.

“Calm down, he’s not going to hurt anyone. He is my sixth mate.” The men looked at one another wide eyed as they turned back to me. “The only monster here is the one who thinks kidnapping people and trying to force them to marry him, now that’s a monster.” I hissed at Waverest who had grown even paler yet managed to hold his sneer.

“Yes, that is a monster.” Elre looked at Waverest and I was waiting for him to keel over with how deadly Elre looked at him. “You mistake was not figuring out who her mates were first, well Waverest, we stand before you, now give me one good reason I shouldn’t behead you where you stand?”

“Elre,” I hummed catching his attention, his glare softening as he smiled at me. “please don’t soil Annarael’s floors, she has been a most hospitable Queen and friend. We shouldn’t allow such filth to be spewed acrossed her floors.” I spoke in a sickly sweet voice, causing the guys to all smirk. Annarael snickered as she looked at Waverest.

“It seems dear King you have messed with the wrong court, you have test boundaries with the other realm, yet how charitable for Anya to try and save your life.” She hissed at him. His face reddened, and within a second he was lunging towards Annarael, quickly thinking, I had already plunged one of my haladie blades into his gut. My eyes changing to a bright crimson.

“No one hurts my friends. I may look fragile and sweet but I have a temper and am quite hard to kill, let alone staying dead. Do not test these waters again, or it may be your last swim.” I hissed as I kicked him from my blade. Though the damage is severe he would survive from this wound.

“Take your king back to his court, now I’ll have to have the maids clean the floors again. Ugh. Spring King why must you spread your filth everywhere.”His guards dragged him away as I slipped my haladie back into it’s sheath.

“Well that was fun. Now,” I spun to Elre. “care to shed some light on the center court.” I said as I cocked an eyebrow. His face reddening as he smirked.

“It’s the rainbow court.” He muttered.

“Mmmhmm, that you are KING OF.” I now had my hands on my hips and leaned forward to emphasize my slight anger towards the secret.

“Anya, please don’t be mad.” He pouted his lip making my expression soften a little.

“Hmm, I guess the silent treatment will be punishment.” I said as I crossed m arms and turned my face from him. He whined as he came towards me.

“Oh man he’s done managed to get in the doghouse.” Rugan snickered.

“At least it’s him this time. I got it the last time I ate all the cookies.” Alastar smiled as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Yeah, I remember when I made a mess in the kitchen with jelly right after she finished cleaned it. I thought she was going to blown a fuse.” Lazarath chuckled.

“I ripped three pages in one of her books when I flipped through it. It took three hours and a good bit of tape to get me out of that one.” Shura mumbled.

“What’s a doghouse?” Ariscot appeared beside them making them jump.

“He’s not been taught our ways, he was outcasted at a very young age, you have to explain some things to him.” I told the men as Elre was latched to my side still whining for my attention. Reminding me of my favorite anime I had watched growing up, the men with large crying eyes there little stumpy arms flopping frantically at their sides as they pleaded for forgiveness. I snickered picturing Elre as one. The guys nodded at me and acted as if he had been with them for ages. Talking and explaining different things that had happened. Ariscot looking like a school boy with his wide smile nodding here and there as they spoke to him so easily and without an ounce of fear.

“No more secrets Elre. Is that understood?” I looked over at him. “I have shared everything of my past, even my parents. I know with how hectic things have been I should have explained that to you all sooner, but you are a Fae King who walked away from this realm over fifty years ago.” I said with my arms still crossed.

“I’m sorry Anya, I never really knew a right time to tell you but when you told me what was happening in your office I froze for a minute.” He breathed out deeply. “Please forgive me.”

“I suppose it happens,” I smiled at him. “I forgive you.”

“Annarael I thank you for keeping her safe. I’m sorry for such a short visit but I hope we can visit again soon.” He bowed to her.

“It was an absolute pleasure please come visit anytime, my home is always open for you HighKing, Anya, and all of your mates.” She smiled

“Until next time.” I smiled at her as we went through the color vortex once again, everyone landing safely in our livingroom. Ariscot, back in his shifter form, was like a child picking up numerous things, putting it down, and grabbing the next. The children hurriedly running towards us came to a sudden halt as Ariscot turned to them.

“COOOOOOL!” Lucian yelled as he launched onto Ariscot’s face.

“Lucian!” I gasped. Before I could grab Lucian Ariscot held the little one up a bit as he cocked his head sideways. Lucian rubbing his horns and rubbing his face.

Edna not even batting an eye had walked right past him and held her hands up to Shura.

“Lucian.” Ariscot spoke and caused Lucian’s smile to widen even more.

“He is our son.” Rugan smiled as he patted Ariscot shoulder.

“I….I have a son.” He whispered.

“You have a family.” I smiled at him, causing him to shift into a man, his grin wide as his eyes lit up. He held Lucian to his chest as he hugged him Lucian giggling back. I guess wandering the woods for so long it feels good to be wanted and loved. To have a family who treats you equally. He smiled as he sat Lucian down, and then was tugged by him to go play. I was content with my family and though it was up another king I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Gathering up the bits and bobs the children had strung across the floor, I went about cleaning. Setting my cloak on the coat rack as I went about. Hands wrapping me in tight hugs, and then the next

“You scared the hell out of us but telling us what was happening was a very smart move.” Shura smiled.

“How did she even get in?” Rugan asked.

“Fae are tricky creatures, they warp and bend wards and some magic goes null when they come into contact. It’s probably one reason he picked a lower spring fae because of her abilities to nullify the guardian magics.” Elre chimed in.

“Well, we may need to post a guard with her at all times.” Lazarath suggested.

“Well, Ariscot can stay with me, he was concealed the whole time when we were in the Winter court and can hide within my shadow or wrapping my body.”

“True, Ariscot may be our best bet, plus he seems to have Fae in him as well.” Shura nodded.

“But first, let’s get him trained, he seems really uneasy with people.” Alastar added. “No offense but seeing him tremble made me upset. Then again we’ve been taught to fear shadow shifters.”

“Then we teach him and the masses that they are not to be anymore feared than other beings. Everyone can be good or bad, giving someone a chance is better than casting them out.” Rugan spoke with determination, a familiar warmth and sparks wrapping up my leg as the shadow spun around me.

“Yes, he and his kind deserve to be fairly view just as everyone else. Look at the vampires, everyone feared them but they are a major part of the community now a days.” Lazarath smiled. Rugan smirking.

“Uhhh maybe we should go over what everyone is.” I rubbed the back of my neck as Shura gave me a knowing smile. Lazarath looked at me questioningly, causing me to chuckle. All of us sitting at the table we went over what we were, when Rugan shared Lazarath had his aha expression. The table erupting in laughter.

“So just to clarify,” I spoke gently. “Rugan is vampire half shifter. Shura is Demon half Elf, Alastar is Valkyrie half Oni, Lazarath is Harpy half nymph, Elre is Fae, and Ariscot is Shadow Shifter.” I had wrote it down as trying to remember all of that, on top of everything else right now, I’ll forget by dinner.

“Let’s not forget the goddess who is wolf shifter and a dragon shifter.” Rugan playfully smiled as he burped Aspen.

“Edna and Lucian are both wolf shifter and goddess and god blood.” Shura said in a very flat tone, making me look up at him. He seemed lost in thought as he held his chin in deep thought.

“Shura, are you okay?” I squeezed his leg under the table causing him to jump a bit.

“Sorry Anya just thinking of the soulless again. I don’t understand how they are pulling it off, it’s tipping the balance.” He said as he wrapped his hand around mine.

“From what I have gathered, some love the chaos, the darkness, the pain, the cruelty, and the corruption. They’ll side with the one most likely to bring it. Others are fueled by revenge, anger, and devastation. But, some I believe are being tricked into it.” I was saddened by this truth but the world wasn’t always sunshine and butterflies. Cruel, dark people lurked everyday and some you wouldn’t even suspect. Monsters aren’t just the one eyed sharpened teeth creatures that lurk under your bed, they are your neighbor Billis who sells children, Ferdan who attacks his wife every night, Marquis who preys on the innocent. It’s sad but we can still fight to right the crimes and cruelty. Even if it is my last dying move, I will win this war.