Page 67 of Guardian of Shadows
Elle patted her brother’s arm. “Fine is one of those words with several meanings. In this instance, she was saying you are exquisite.”
Thran puffed out his chest. “Oh. Well, that is acceptable.”
Anthony bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. To get them on track, he said, “Nekoma has a plan. Let’s gather in the living room, shall we?”
When Nekoma returned from upstairs, he laid out what he thought was the best and easiest way to take down Grevolus. Anthony’s Gargoyle ranted several times about Elle’s part in the plan, but Anthony assured it she would be safe. He would make sure of it. They talked about contingencies, coming up with Plans B and C. If they had all been shifters, they would have waited until dark to go after the male. Since the fae couldn’t see as well in the dark, they were going in immediately.
While Nekoma, Elle, and the twins retreated to the barn to gather the items Nekoma brought from Autumnvale, Carleigh reached out to Nikita to make sure she had H3 covered while she and Harlow were away from the office. Nikita assured her that she and Madsen had everything under control. Once back inside, Nekoma asked Elle to follow him upstairs. He came down a few minutes later wearing his fae clothing. He had leather pouches attached to his belt, which contained the potions and other items Nekoma spoke about earlier. They were part of Plan B.
When Elle strode down the stairs, Anthony could only stare at his mate. She was now wearing ice blue leather pants tucked into gray boots. Her hooded top was the same blue, but the long-sleeved tunic had intricate silver designs down both arms. The belt around her waist was also gray leather. Her hair was plaited down the middle, ending in one long braid hanging over her shoulder. His mate was ready for battle, and Anthony had never been more turned on in his life.
“Holy goddess,” Luna muttered. “Where can I get one of those outfits?”
“I will make you one, My Lady,” Nekoma offered. Luna opened and closed her mouth several times, clearly at a loss for words for probably the first time in her life.
Elle held her head high and approached their group. “Everyone clear on the plan?” When they all confirmed they were, she said, “Then let’s do this.” She took the quiver from Anthony, which contained poison-tipped arrows, and helped Tessa strap it on. Once it fit, Anthony handed his mother Elle’s bow. Tessa inclined her head, more solemn than he’d ever seen her. Gregor looked at his mate with both love and admiration.
Elle took Anthony’s hand and led him out the back door, with everyone else following. When they gathered close to the fire pit, Nekoma didn’t immediately open the portal. He closed his eyes, with his head tilted back. No one spoke while he communicated with his raven brethren. When he refocused on the group, he nodded once before opening the vortex. He stepped through first, with Elle and Anthony next. Yari and Thran brought up the rear.
“That is so fucking cool,” Harlow whispered when she looked at their new surroundings. Nekoma had brought them to a clearing in the woods, directly in front of the farmhouse where Grevolus was.
A raven flew toward them, landing on Nekoma’s outstretched arm. “Thank you, my friend.” The raven gronked in return before flying off to perch on a branch, high above them.
Gregor remained with Tessa who pulled an arrow from the quiver, careful not to touch the tip as she nocked it. Nekoma and Elle called on the shadows and hid everyone. Instead of asking the ravens to create noise again to get Grevolus’s attention, Carleigh removed a portable speaker from the bag she carried and connected her phone to it. She chose a Cyanide Sweetness rocker that she, Harlow, and Anthony knew the words to and hit play. Anthony couldn’t sing for shit, but in this moment, that worked in his favor. With Shaking the Stars playing at maximum volume, he and his cousins belted out the lyrics. Thran may have stuck a finger in his ear and wiggled.
It didn’t take long for Grevolus to throw open the front door, stomping outside, and searching for the source of the obnoxious noise. Elle and Nekoma raised their hoods. Anthony wasn’t sure how either one could see, as the material covered their eyes. Carleigh cut the music, and Nekoma stepped out of the shadows. “Grevolus of Winterhaven, you stand accused of the attempted murder of Elledan of Summerland.”
Grevolus strode to the edge of the porch and spit on the ground. “Attempted?” He laughed. “That chínt is with her mother in the otherworld. Go back to wherever you came from, or I’ll send you to join them.”
Nekoma formed two green fireballs and hurled them toward the dark fae. Grevolus produced a staff out of midair, deflecting the fire. Elle stepped out of the shadows, joining her brother. She called forth purple fire, and together, she and Nekoma pelted Grevolus. He deflected most of them, but a few found purchase.
Grevolus pointed the end of the staff at Elle, sending a blast of energy toward her. Anthony’s beast broke free, roaring loud enough for all the birds to scatter. The blast bounced off Elle, and she laughed. His mate fucking laughed as she lowered her hood.
“Odette? I killed you!”
“My name is Elledan,” Elle seethed. “You tried to kill me, you coward, but as you can see, you failed. I am stronger than you ever hoped of being.”
Grevolus yelled as he launched himself off the porch. Before he could reach either Elle or Nekoma, a perfectly placed arrow hit him in the chest. Grevolus stumbled backward, gripping the shaft with both hands. He grunted as he pulled it out, tossing it onto the ground. “Is that all you have?” he yelled, looking for the archer.
Tessa let another arrow loose, hitting Grevolus in the same spot. Damn, his mom was a quick study.
Grevolus hollered again. With the poison from the first arrow taking effect, his grip faltered as he attempted to grab hold of the shaft. He finally managed to pull it free as Tessa strode out of the woods, Gregor in step with his mate, another arrow nocked and ready. “You fucked with the wrong person, you sack of shit.” Like everyone else, Tessa wore a language translator around her neck that allowed them to understand Grevolus if he spoke in faelish, and he them.
“Wh-who are you?”
“We’re Elle’s family.” At Tessa’s words, Elle and Nekoma dropped the shadows, and everyone else gathered around them.
“Wh-what did you do to me?”
Nekoma pushed back his hood, revealing his dark hair. “My mother taught me all about potions, including those that cause paralysis. It’s fitting, don’t you think, that what you did to Elle and her mate is returned to you two-fold?”
Grevolus had the audacity to stutter, “Odette? You’re going to kill your own f-father?”
Elle laughed again, sending shivers down Anthony’s spine. “You are not my father. That honor goes to Ballymar and now Gregor as well.” Elle gestured to where Gregor stood next to Tessa. “Look around you, Grevolus. This is what family looks like, not whatever it was you and Asherah played at. Everyone here is willing to lay down their life for me, and I them. Family is more than blood. It’s honor. Protection. Love. I really should thank you. If you hadn’t dragged me through the portal after the battle, I never would have found my mate. If you hadn’t made me steal money, I wouldn’t have been captured by the most amazing being in two realms.” Elle held out her hand, and Anthony threaded their fingers. “You accused me of sleeping with him to garner his help. He did it without asking anything in return.”
Grevolus fell to his knees, his head listing to the side. “If you’re going to kill me, get on with it.”
Nekoma squatted a few feet from the male. “Killing you would be too quick. Too merciful. For all the pain and suffering you put Elle through these past fourteen sun cycles, we are going to leave you for the animals after Elle’s family takes whatever form of retribution they see fit.”
