"Do you have everything?" asked Daddy, and I nodded.

"Do you?"

Daddy kissed my cheeks and helped me out of the car. "I do, baby. Thank you for asking."

I sighed as we turned towards the convention center where the conference would be conducted. Angel was already here with John Crow, his secretary, and Uncle Andros was on his way.

"Are you nervous?" asked Daddy, and I gazed up into honey-gold eyes before they turned green.

"Yeah, pretty much. I know there's nothing to be worried about because Clyde was in the wrong, but I can't quite shake this feeling that something is off."

Daddy looked upset and tense at my words. "Then something will probably happen."

"Daddy, you're supposed to tell me that everything will be okay." I pouted, and he chuckled whilst patting my head, but his expression turned serious again.

"Anwyll, you are so powerful that I would not be surprised if you had strains of premonition abilities. Let's just be careful and keep our eyes peeled."

That made me worried, but I agreed with him. We entered the building and there were lots of people around, most of them reporters. They rushed towards us, but Daddy picked me up and maneuvered us through the madness without a word, then entered a "Restricted Area" door and slammed it in their faces. Daddy climbed the stairs to the second floor and then opened another door and walked down a cement hallway to yet another door.

Angel was waiting behind that one, and I could tell he was so stressed out. I reached for him and Daddy placed me in Angel's arms, then he patted Angel's shoulder and took a seat on a small leather sofa.

"Are you okay?" I asked quietly, hugging his neck while he held me tightly. "Take a few deep breaths, Angel."

After he did so, he buried his nose in the junction of my neck and shoulder, then breathed deeply once more. He let out a relieved sigh and all of his tension was released. I stroked his light blond hair, gently kissing his cheek.

"You'll have your name cleared soon, Angel. Don't worry about that."

"Then what should I be worried about?"

Daddy heaved a sigh. "Anwyll may have some premonition abilities because he's so powerful because he feels really uneasy about today, so just be careful, Angelique."

Angel cupped my nape and kissed my neck, then my cheek. "I will, thank you. Did you have any trouble bringing him here, Alexandre?"

"Other than having a tidal wave of the bastard media almost capture us, there was no trouble at all." Daddy chuckled, so Angel wasn't as tense.

Angel even managed a small laugh, but he was clearly feeling the effects of fatigue. I squirmed a bit higher and kissed near his horn, then sensed his arousal. I giggled and kissed his cheek.

"Angel, let's have a little celebration when everything is done." I whispered, my tail curling in excitement.

Angel nuzzled my jawline. "All right, sweetheart. Sounds good."

A knock came on the door. "Are they here, Mr. Michaels?"

"Yes, John. Please come inside."

John opened the door and his eyes widened when Daddy got up from his seat. "U-uh, who—?"

I grinned. "This is my daddy, my birth father."

John's jaw dropped slightly as he took in Daddy's impressive height and build, then shakily held out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. My name is John Crow."

"Alexandre DeLuca, at your service."

"Right, the Lucaon's brother. Younger, I assume?"

Daddy chuckled and eyed me. "Yes, and thank you for helping my family."

Angel squeezed my body and formed a word of question on my skin. Family? He seemed confused that Daddy thought of all of us as one big family. I giggled and kissed Angel's cheek, then held out my hand to John.

"It's good to see you again." I stated, and he took my hand.

"You as well. Did all go well with your trip?"

I nodded. "Much better than expected. Thank you for your hard work."

John shook his head. "There isn't a need to thank me. I find it extremely unfair what people are saying about Mr. Michaels when they don't know anything at all."

"I still believe you deserve thanks for that because you are one of the few non-family members that are supporting Angelique." I smiled, then tilted my head. "What's your favorite color and flower?"

John looked incredibly confused by my second question, but answered me, "Lemon-yellow and an orchid. Why?"

I chuckled and held out my palm. His eyes grew enormous as he watched a branch of lemon-yellow orchids start to appear. When it was formed, I grasped it and handed it to him.

"This isn't enough as thanks, but it will do." I smiled, then hugged Angel's neck again. "It's time, isn't it?"

He nodded and stepped past his stunned secretary. "It's time, Anwyll."

Angel set me down and grabbed his briefcase, then Daddy patted my head as we left the room. John hurried after us and followed our group down the hallway to another set of stairs that led to the backstage area where people were bustling around with electronics.

Daddy bent down and rubbed my back. "Breathe, baby."

I took a deep breath in and then let it out, then took the small stack of papers that Daddy had drawn out of his magical storage box. Angel looked down at me, his sky-blue eyes filled with worry.

"We'll just have to be careful, Angel. Something may happen and it might not. You never know."

Uncle Andros jogged up to us and bent over to kiss my forehead. "Was I almost too late?"

I tilted my head. "No, but what took you?"

"Work, as usual." he grumbled. "I would enjoy it if you spent some time in my arms later, my little wolf."

I giggled. "Okay!"

He stroked the back of my head, then adjusted his tie. Angel greeted him with a firm handshake. John hurried up the steps onto the stage and reached the microphone, and the convention hall was filled with haters of Angel in the back and the lying media in the front, and on the other side of the stage was the bastard that got us into this whole situation. The nasty Clyde Graham.

He smirked gleefully when he caught my eyes. I snapped my fingers and he couldn't open his mouth, his eyes wide with fear. I grinned evilly, the cold glare in my eyes not lost on him. He'd regret playing the victim and going down the path of revenge to hurt my hardworking unicorn.

As John started speaking to explain what would happen, Clyde was looking around and pointing to his mouth, but only his lawyer was paying attention to him. I snorted, then I masked my gleeful expression and plodded up the steps with Angel and Uncle Andros to the seats closest to our side.

As soon as Angel's haters saw him, they booed and shouted obscenities, calling him a "child predator" and a "rapist." I was ready to shut them all up, but Daddy and Uncle Andros shook their heads ever so slightly. I growled and clenched my jaw, but I'd save it for now. I wanted to reach for Angel's hand, but I had this sneaking suspicion that he'd slap my hand away or move away for fear of more backlash. I wasn't upset.

The reporters began to ask questions—shout them, really—and snap pictures. I blocked my vision and plugged my ears when I heard the microphone squeal. People groaned in pain, then John cleared his throat.

"Once the other side gets settled, you can ask your questions in an even and orderly fashion." he stated, then glared at the bastard and his lawyer. And when they were seated, John stepped off to the side with the microphone and its stand.

There was a short table in front of both our groups with microphones in front of us, so we were ready to speak once the cameramen were rolling. The cameras would be putting our faces and whatever evidence we have to show on the giant screen behind us, so all of those nasty people in the back could see they were in the wrong.

One woman stepped up first. "Mr. Michaels, is it true you kissed a child on the lips?"

Angelique clenched his jaw. "For the thousandth time, no, I did kiss a child on the lips."

"Then you think of the one next to you as a person of legal age?"

"It's not think, honestly. How about you ask what his real age is and we can get on with this farce?"

The woman looked irritated for being slighted. She had no right to look so pissed off, though.

After the woman plopped down in her seat, man stood up next and took the microphone from her. "What is your age and name?" he asked, looking at me.

I chuckled. "My name is Anwyll DeLuca, and I am a very short eighteen-year-old."

Dead silence fell, then laughter broke out. I rolled my eyes, then opened the file and pulled my birth certificate out. The camera zoomed in on it and silence slowly draped over the crowd.

"That can be faked! One of our presidents did that!" exclaimed a woman from the back, and a chorus of agreements followed.

I sighed aloud, then looked off the side. "I believe my own father knows what year, month, and day I was born. Wouldn't you like to meet him?"

Daddy raised an eyebrow, but walked on stage and leaned over Uncle Andros and me, pressing his face against his older brother's cheek. When gasps rang out, I looked up to see Uncle Andros smiling and Daddy was grinning away. It really warmed my heart to see them so happy together.

A woman stepped up for the next question. "What is your relationship with Mr. Lucaon?" she asked, the question directed at my daddy.

Daddy chuckled. "He is my older brother, which means Mr. Lucaon is my boy's uncle."

The elites who had come to watch my uncle fall swallowed thickly and their faces paled, then they tried to slowly back out of the building, but I used magic so they'd stay still. They started freaking out, but I laid a blanket of peace and quiet over them without even lifting a finger. My attention returned to the pale faces of the media and chuckled, leaning forward on my hands.

"Now, I wonder who started this farce?" I asked, turning my head towards Clyde and his lawyer. "Did you ever ask the source of your misinformation why he was the driver of Angelique Michaels one day and was fired the next?"

The collective group of people swung their attention to the opposition party and I couldn't help my snicker.

"We have video footage that Clyde Graham—the accuser in all this—tried to beat me and strangle me, which can easily put him up for charges of assault and, with all this fuss, harassment as well."

"May we see it?" asked a man.

I nodded, then waved my hand as the signal for John to have it roll. The TV screen began to play the footage from the cemetery. Since we were near lights, everyone could clearly see what I said was true. Of course, they couldn't figure out what stopped Clyde from actually hurting me, but I manipulated the footage to show my fist hurtling into his stomach.

"Since Clyde Graham was humiliated, he retaliated by saying hurtful things about my family. He said horrible things to me, of course, but I won't forgive anyone who hurts those I hold dear." I said coldly, my glare icy as it slid over everyone.

I heard thick swallows from the front row and the protesters in the back were starting to get panicked.

"I have my government-issued passport, the only true identification I have other than my birth certificate. I am eighteen years of age, I am just short and youthful—which is a blatant curse at the moment. All of this slander on Angelique Michaels will be turned on you all, and every single one of your jobs will disappear with the lies you've told and hurt us with!" I roared, and the hall rang with the sound.

The people who could move in the hall crouched down and covered their heads as the building began to shake. I appeared next to Clyde and his lawyer, the latter of which curled in a ball while his charge stared fearfully at me.

"If only you'd listened." I whispered, sliding my hand under his jaw. His eyes widened dramatically as I began to squeeze his throat. "For all of the baseless lies you've told, you will speak no more. Your voice is mine now because of your actions. Maybe if you beg sweetly you can get it back." I smirked, then laughed. "Oh wait, you won't be able to."

Clyde clawed at my hand, then I released him and he scrambled away. He started opening his mouth, his throat moving, but no sound came out. Once he realized this, he stared at me. I wiggled my fingers and turned, but noticed him pull something out.

"Anwyll!" screamed Angel, but he didn't need to worry. I had a barrier, he didn't...

My head snapped up just as the gun went off.