With Aram and everyone on our team, it wouldn’t be a task to root out all the corruption. We’d need to clean out anyone loyal to Lux and his vision. There were still facilities like the one Phillip was held at, so they’d need to be found and taken down.
“We all agree that no more hybrids are to be made after this,” I finally said to the group. “That shit dies with us.”
Everyone nodded.
The plan was to rework the Organization from the ground up and keep the Hunters we already had loyal to us. But we’d also include every other supernatural type willing to support our new vision moving forward.
Our goal would still be to protect humans in this realm who had no idea what lurked in the shadows, but we’d do it with community in mind. No more ostracizing groups based on stereotypes concocted by the Organization. It didn’t matter what or who you were, your actions determined whether or not you were seen as a threat.
Every person started with a clean slate.
It was Grams’s suggestion we keep our focus simple and straightforward, and that we build a better community with the supernaturals living in our world. She was extremely well-connected, so she had a bunch of contacts who weren’t Hunters and would be happy to join. No real surprise there.
Our efforts would span both realms now that we had the Fae on our side. Like Aram mentioned, humans were no longer enslaved, which meant they’d need protection. Humans were already at a disadvantage against the supernatural types around them, so they’d need someone in their corner, or freeing them wouldn’t mean anything.
At the end of the day, we still all believed in one thing: keeping humans safe. And we weren’t short on supernaturals who wanted the same thing as us.
I really wished Nigel could be here to see the world he’d been desperate to unite do just that. I missed him so damn much, especially in these moments he’d helped me fight for. But I’d be doing it all in his name. I’d make damn sure it was Shifters we reached out to first.
Mia and Claude, more specifically.
Grams was next to Kris and Sungho, who were a couple feet away from Kate and Big. The pixie hadn’t stayed the entire timeI was out, but I found it funny the minute he appeared after hearing I’d woken up, the giant pixie wandered over to Kate first. Her sneaky grin my direction was the cherry on top. She was absolutely over the moon about it.
I’d argue the crush was one-sided, but the way Big stole looks at my friend suggested maybe that wasn’t completely true. I was already shipping the two, and I’d kick his ass if he hurt her. The pixie was playing with fire, literally, if this ended in my bestie’s heartbreak.
Kate had become something of a human mascot for our new operation, saying as much to Grams when she entered. It was the most Kate thing she could do after everything, and I was so glad to finally have her in this world, too.
Phillip had me on his lap after Aram kept me in his arms and fused to his chest for the first hour. Cash cast several meaningful glances at me, but he’d gotten his phone back, so mine had been going off nonstop since I’d come into the room.
Little messages about how much he’d missed me. How he couldn’t wait until it was his turn to spend time alone with me. How barbaric Phillip and Jo had been the last few weeks. How annoying Aram was when he didn’t have any right to be. The list went on and on. Every message came with the usual assortment of emojis, and I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed them.
I didn’t fail to read a single one he sent. I opened them immediately and laughed when the one I tossed his way calling him adorable made the grumbly Dark Fae blush and smile like a goof to himself.
At least Cash never changed.
It was odd to be in a room made up almost entirely of people I was bumping naughties with, but it also felt completely right. And they weren’t fighting.For once.
Aram had been open about the Nether Fae history leading up to the fight, and it was the first time both Jo and Cashopenly admitted to being wrong about him and his brothers. Neither one seemed to like him much, but at least they weren’t demanding he leave either.
Small mercies.
Grams clapped her hands together and addressed Kris, “Guess the vacation is almost over. Get the Hunters ready for a full assault. It’s just about time to raid the main headquarters and seize control. It’ll give us a perfect path to all the facilities across the world.” Her gaze went to Aram next. “Your people will take care of the rest, right?”
Surprised to hear it, I glanced at him. His arms were crossed over his door-wide chest, and he had that kingly look about him. “Of course. Consider it done, Hunter Rose. Rayis and Dagon will have our Fae ready to move to the locations indicated and work with your teams to secure each one.” He addressed her, but his eyes were on me. “But the favor I asked for in return…”
Grams sighed out loud. “You Fae and your deals.”
“Excuse you,” Cash interjected loudly. “What bloody deal?”
Phillip growled behind me, and even Sloan seemed bothered by the mention of a deal. Jo pinned Aram with a fierce glower, a dagger dancing around her hand in open threat.
I spoke too soon. Here came the argument.
Aram shrugged and acted like none of it bothered him, but he couldn’t hide the excitement he felt ruffling the rest with the bold statement. He might want to make me happy and be putting up with them for my sake, but he’d do it his way.
“Nothing untoward,” he answered nonchalantly. “I simply requested a moment away with my mate before all of this business took place. Our time together has been somewhat under duress, and unlike you, our relationship didn’t start on the best terms. I’d like a little time to rectify that. I think I’m owed at least that much after everything.”
I laughed out loud. “Um, all of these guys were basically assholes when we met, save maybe Jo and Sloan. But it was hardly insta-love in any of their cases. You might want to revise that statement a bit, my dude.”
