Chapter Six
Days had gone by, and with every passing moment, I missed my children more and more. I couldn’t place them in danger, and with war looming closer every day, I didn’t dare sneak away to see them. I feared for the Fae, and for the humans who had become their victims.
Vlad had brought us news of human murders that he and Adrian had investigated and believed had been killed by Fae. The instances of humans becoming FIZ were increasing at alarming rates. Likewise, the clubs had been packed with Fae who’d sauntered out of Faery into a new world, where they’d have unlimited food and entertainment at their fingertips.
It had gotten out of hand rather quickly, which was why I stood with half of the Elite Guard in front of the Spokane Guild. I’d sent a message to Lucian through Vlad, cancelling the meeting I’d requested with Alden. I didn’t want him out here, exposed. I could feel the eyes of the Enforcers on us, and knew they wouldn’t attack us here and now, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t if they threatened us. Alden would have been thrown into the middle of it, and he didn’t need to be.
“How many?” I asked, not bothering to turn my head as Adrian returned.
“Five or more, but they don’t seem to be making a move yet,” Adrian confirmed as he moved back to my side. “None are familiar to me. Not that I was around when the last group graduated to Enforcer ranks from this Guild. I’ve been gone longer than you have.”
“They won’t make a move against us, not here. They would be exposed, and we have the advantage. There are also too many unknowns. Right now, the only thing they’re sure of is that we can kill them. We outnumber them. We also hold the wild card on power and they can feel it. I made sure to tap the Leyline so that it would be felt by any close enough to get in our way. It will give them pause with the amount of power I used to do so.”
“Sending a message?” he asked, his turquoise eyes watching me with a sideways glance.
“Go big or go home, right? We’re moving in, and they need to know we won’t allow them to interfere. They can choose to get out of our way, or be put in the ground. Either works for me.” I blinked, startled as Ryder materialized in front of me. “Still protected?”
“It’s stable, but a fucking mess. Lucian wasn’t the only one trying to get in. From the look of it, I’d say we had a few interested parties trying to get past the wards,” he replied, his eyes looking past me, over my shoulder to where the Guild Enforcers probably hid.
“Ignore them; they’re just curious little monkeys, come to see what we’re all about,” I smiled.
“They’re an unknown, and I don’t like unknowns—or surprises,” he growled as he stepped closer, his eyes moving from me to Adrian and back with annoyance.
“Play nice, Fairy, we’re on their turf. It can’t be easy to watch us take it from right beneath their noses.”
“They’re coming,” he warned, and I turned, looking over my shoulder.
“Sure as shit, they’ve got balls. I’m impressed.” I gave them a cheeky grin, hoping they behaved, since Ryder could wipe them from existence with a single thought. I turned, crossed my arms, and waited.
“You need to leave here; the Fae have no right to be inside our Guild,” the leader shouted, even though I was close enough to hear him just fine. He was a thirty-something, blonde and blue-eyed little thing, but he held enough power to do damage; just not to us.
“No?” I countered.
“No, now turn around and get out of our world,” he sneered.
I moved without hesitation, grabbing his arm and bending it behind his back, and forced his head to the side as I held a knife to his throat with my other hand. Then, I looked at the others with a determined grin. “I don’t recognize any of you, so you aren’t from this Guild and have no right to be proprietary here. I am Synthia, born of the Fae but raised in this Guild. I may not have a right according to the Guild laws, but this Guild? This one is mine. If you think to take it from me, you better bring more than this little group of Enforcers, because I have the Horde and Faery in its entirety standing with me.” I looked at each of the startled Enforcers meaningfully. “It’s united, and while we don’t want war, I will fight to keep this Guild. I will personally tear down every fucking Guild in this world to keep this one safe, so I hope when you return to your Elders, you make it known that we are Faery. We don’t want war, but if you try to stop us, we will wage it—and make no mistake, we will win. We are here to take down the Fae who feed upon the humans against their will and to their detriment. However, we will no longer allow you to publicly assassinate them on the stairs of your Guilds to breed hostility and hate among The Guild or with the humans. After what the Seattle Guild pulled, you’re lucky I haven’t demanded blood. You get a pass today, but there won’t be a second one. The Guild has an infestation it needs to work on eradicating. Any attempts to interfere here will be considered an act of war, and we won’t hesitate to retaliate. Now leave, and if I were you, I’d start running,” I growled as I pushed the Enforcer away from myself, and watched him swing around at me. I didn’t flinch.
“You won’t get away with this,” he sneered, and I smiled coldly.
I let my power wrap around him, feeling the moment the Fae behind me followed my lead. The air crackled around us until Ryder released his and the lights around us shattered. Street lamps blew out, car alarms went off, and the air around us was thick with the rich scent of ozone. I’d missed his unique power; the shit was addicting. It slithered around me; the hair on my arms rose in awareness of the raw electricity that sizzled from him. I pushed more, seeing if I could match his, and windows of the cars and buildings around us exploded outwards and rained down on everyone in a glittery, prismatic display.
“Too much?” I asked Ryder, feigning innocence and ignoring the sheet-white faces of the Guild Enforcers.
“Yeah, just a little bit; dial it back a notch and try again,” Adrian laughed, his eyes smiling as he turned to me and winked.
“Do we have to pay for the car windows?” I winced.
“We could leave notes,” he offered.
“Yeah, let’s tell people to bill it to the Guild—you know, their Guild, not ours. I would hate to start off in debt—and they kinda owe us.”
“What the fuck are you?” the Enforcer demanded, which forced me to stop joking around with Adrian.
“Something that you couldn’t even imagine in your worst nightmares,” I growled. Adrian laughed. “Too much again? Damn, I always wanted to say that.” Okay, so I was a dork, but I could live with that. “Seriously, though, we’re the Horde. You know, the ones whispered about in the Guild history lessons. The ones you know nothing about because the King was thought to be on a walkabout? Well, I found him, and he’ll be helping me run this Guild, so make sure that when you tell the Guild you got your ass whooped by Synthia McKenna, you tell them I brought friends to restore this Guild that we are claiming for Faery. Now, run.”
I watched as they stood still, watching us as they considered what the best option was. I tapped my foot, wondering where the hell they’d found this group at. “Adrian, how many of them do we need to let live to deliver a message to the Guild?”
“One.” He smiled coldly, and we watched as they turned and tucked tail as they ran for their lives.
“They’ll be back soon, Pet.” Ryder nodded after the retreating Enforcers.
“I’m planning on it.” I smiled and then grimaced as I looked at the silent Guild. “Now, let’s go check out the damage.”
“Troublemaker,” Ryder smiled. His head tilted and his eyes narrowed as I watched him. When he righted his head, he looked torn.
“What is it?” I asked.
“We have a lead on Ciara,” he replied softly, his eyes searching mine as he frowned.
“Go,” I said as I stood on my tiptoes to kiss his lips. “Go find her. Bring her home to her family. I’ll stay and take care of this.”
“I’m not leaving you,” he argued.
“I’m not alone, Fairy. I have Adam, Adrian, and Vlad with me. I’ll be perfectly fine. You take Ristan and Zahruk with you,” I replied confidently. “Your men have already made sure that it’s safe for me, and they’ve been scouring every inch of the catacombs for any threats. I can do this; you go and find your sister,” I purred as I stood on tiptoes to kiss him again. “No one said it would be easy, but then again, nothing worth it ever is. Two worlds need us,” I smiled as I placed my hands on his chest. “Yours and mine, remember? We can’t be locked at the hip every moment of the day. I can handle the rebuild while you search for Ciara.”
“You better sift if there is any sign of trouble, woman,” he growled as he placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “I want you home tonight; we’ve no babies in our bed, and I plan to ravish you.”
“Ravish me? That almost sounds like a threat?” I teased.
“Jesus,” Adam grumbled in mock disgust, his eyes smiling at me.
“Vlad.” Ryder gave the man in question a pointed look. “She doesn’t leave your side,” he warned as his fingers softly threaded through mine as he brought my fingers to his lips. “Under no circumstances does she leave your sight.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” I mumbled as I pulled my hand away and placed them on my hips. “I’m a grown ass woman.”
“I just got you back, Witch. I’m not taking chances with you,” he laughed as he winked and sifted out before I could argue further.