Smoke from the burning incenses and herbs clawed its way up Ren's nostrils; the acrid-sweet fumes tickled his gag reflex. The thick smoke coated everything in the enormous basement, underneath the Celestial Sphere bookshop. Meant to be an uplifting aroma and provide a calming effect on everyone. Yet the seven adults that sat around the huge table, locked in a heavy argument, remained unaffected.

Ren grimaced at the pandemonium before him. Normally he would've thrived in chaos, feeding off of it, and like any light fae, lending a mischievous-helping-hand to stir up more. But it had already been two weeks since he and Julia returned home from Europe ̶ to this dull town, hidden deep within the redwood forest on the Oregon/California state border. And in that time he had to put up with an endless stream of pointless secret meetings exactly like this one. The fun and excitement of adding fuel to this fire had dried up, leaving his nerves on edge and his limit for tolerating bickering morons full.

Ren yawned as he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. His eyes narrowed, regarding most town elders with animosity, as they swept across the room. Despite appearing to be the youngest in the room, he was the oldest in attendance. Although that fact never seemed to matter to the town elders; they still treated him as if he were a snot-nosed-child. Ren wouldn't have even bothered coming tonight if it hadn't been for Rosalie begging him. He still had a hard time saying no to her.

His beige skin radiated a warm glow, like pure honey, and the edges of his lips turned up as he likened the halfwits in front of him to annoying ants. They begged to be squashed under his boot. Ren let out a sharp grunt and forced himself to focus on the discussion.

Bjorn pounded his fists on the table. "How could you allow those dark fae in this town? It's outrageous."

Such a fat piggy, Ren thought glowering at Bjorn Lessard. I bet if I cram an apple down that big fat gob of yours that'll get you to shut it.

"I agree with Bjorn," Christopher said in a calmer tone. "I take pride that Havenswood is and always will be a very liberal community, welcoming any of the supernatural races that want to live peacefully in our community. But the one thing that has always been agreed upon is no dark faeries. Lest we forget what happened in Salem in 1692. What if the Guard finds out?"

Ren sneered at Christopher Roman. Leave it to the prat to bring up the Salem Witch Trials yet again. You love acting like you were there, had front row seats, and were one of the lucky few that made it out alive. But everyone here knows you weren't even born in 1692, you lanky, repugnant asshat.

Although Christopher was disagreeable for the sake of it, but Ren had to grudgingly admit Christopher made a weak point. Which, left a very sour taste in his mouth.

Salem was much like Havenswood in that it too welcomed supernaturals of all races, even dark faeries. Many of them formed mixed race relationships and had mixed-blood children. Except Salem took it a step too far and allowed the dark fae to have mixed-race children, breaking one of the biggest laws in the paranormal world. A law that was absolute, and if disobeyed would bring down the swift and ruthless hand of the Guard to exact punishment. Nevertheless, Havenswood letting three dark fae brats move into town was completely different to what happened in Salem.

Felicia Delarosa, shook her head. "Oh please," she scoffed, "don't be so dramatic, Christopher. Salem was a different situation. I would know; I was there. Besides, the Guard is too busy caught up in the dark fae war. They have all but forgotten about those of us that have nothing to do with the war."

Aubrey Luna shot out of her seat forcing Ren's attention on her. Whenever he looked at the ill-natured woman, the urge to slap the scowl, permanently glued to her face, off engulfed him.

"It's only a matter of time before that war comes to our front steps," Aubrey caterwauled. "Rosalie, you did this to us when you got involved with that dark faerie. I still can't fathom what in the names of the gods you were thinking." She shook her fist. "We should've never allowed you to bring your half-breed abomination into this town, let alone ̶"

Rosalie stood up towering over Aubrey. "Com t'atreveixes! You three are a bunch of cowards," her Catalan accent colouring each word. Her long fiery auburn hair took on extra flames and her tan complexion glowed. "And I swear to the gods if you say that about Julia again you won't live long enough to regret it."

Ren confined his laughter to a snort and perked up enthralled by the burning rage in Rosalie's big hazel eyes.

Edrys Corona, the council leader, shouted "enough." Her greying copper hair pulled back into a severe bun, highlighting the harsh look she gave everyone. "Sit down, both of you. Aubrey, you are out of line. If we keep this up, we'll get nowhere."

"Need I remind you that everyone in this room, including the Faerie Queen, agreed to allow Julia live here hidden?" Ren said. Then he directed his acid stare at Aubrey. "And if you say anything like that again, Aubrey, you won't have to worry about Rosalie," his British lilt turning razor sharp. "That goes for the lot of you. I am here for one reason and that's protecting Julia."

"A flaming pile of good that did," Bjorn snorted. "For gods' sakes, Oren, what were you thinking letting her go to Europe? I bet you knew this would happen."

"Maybe I was bored," Ren replied looking at his fingernails as though they were worth more of his attention than Bjorn. "Or maybe, I knew this would happen." He looked up with a goading grin. ''What are you going to do about it?"

Bjorn stood up his face turned puce and rushed Ren. "I should choke the air out of your worthless body."

"I'd like to see you try," Ren said, still leaning against the wall. He kept his arms folded and sniggered as Bjorn wrapped his hands around Ren's neck.

In a flash of movement, Ren's exquisitely honed body sprang into action. He grabbed Bjorn's hands in-between his fingers and twisted him to the ground before Bjorn even had time to register what was happening, let alone react.

Ren chortled. His jade-green eyes glowed like cats' eyes with a mischievousness that could turn deadly at any second, depending on how the wind blew.

Underestimating a faerie, not to mention angering them had seen many a life taken. For all the beauty they possessed, faeries were quick to anger and were inconceivably lethal during a fit of rage.

Edrys slapped her hands down on the table, pulling everyone's attention back to her, even Ren let go of Bjorn. "That is enough! If you can't stay calm, then get the hell out."

Bjorn wasted no time scurrying back to his seat like a mouse that had narrowly escaped a sabre-toothed tiger. Ren slid into an empty seat, placing his feet on the edge of the table he leaned back in the chair.

"What's done is done, the dark faeries stay," Edrys said rubbing her temples. "All of us knew this day would come. Don't forget they're here to help."

Christopher looked at Ren with his beady eyes."Yeah, but someone didn't have to expedite matters. You're just like your cousin."

Ren shot him a murderous look and Christopher cowered further into his seat."Don't you dare associate me and Goodfellow together, we're nothing alike. If I wanted, I could cause trouble the likes of which you couldn't possibly imagine."

Ikusaba Usui, who'd been quiet the whole time said, "don't push him, Christopher," with a chuckle. "You know what faeries are like when they're in a good mood, let alone when you piss them off."

Ren arched an eyebrow at Ikusaba; being the youngest member of the town elders earned him more respect from Ren than any of the others. "Yes, listen to Usui if you know what's good for you."

Christopher replied with a haughty, humph.

"What does the Queen say, Oren?" Edrys asked.

Ren cocked his head to the side and arched his eyebrow at Edrys. "My Queen has far better things to occupy her time with than the likes of this petty squabble."

Bjorn glared at Ren, shaking his head causing his jowls to jiggle. "I wouldn't call the dark fae war that threatens to spill over into our lives a petty squabble."

Ren laughed at the stupid little man. "You lot are still so young. When you live as long as the fae do then all of this seems like a petty row."

"The Queen said nothing," Edrys said, desperation lacing her voice.

Ren let out a deep sighed, sat up in his chair and ran his long fingers through his bright red hair. "My Queen made it very clear that Julia's safety trumps everything," his voice was steady yet gentle. "And that everyone is expected to protect her. If you cannot, then I will take her back with me to Arcadia and the borders will be closed."

"She can't just close the borders and turn her back on everything," Aubrey screeched. "That would be madness."

"Oh can't she now?" Ren sneered at the stupid woman. "You have never seen the depths of her madness or rage. And believe me when I tell you my Queen wouldn't hesitate cutting the rest of the world off and sitting back to watch it burn if she thought it would be to her advantage." He licked his lips savouring the horrified look on Aubrey's face.

Rosalie rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I don't want those dark faeries anywhere near Julia, but if they will keep Thorsen from getting his hands on her, then so be it."

Christopher jabbed the air with his bony finger at Rosalie. "Both you and Your-."

Rosalie's face tightened into an icy scowl. "Don't you start!" she cut him off before he could utter another word. "Ásgeirr died protecting all of us. If it wasn't for him, Thorsen would've taken Julia."

Christopher didn't heed her warning and continued, "He may have laid down his life to stop Thorsen from using Julia as a weapon. But, that still doesn't change the fact that, because of what you two did in the first place, we have to deal with the fallout. We will be lucky if the Guard doesn't come for us all before this is over."

Rosalie's whole body quaked and the muscles in her jaw clenched. "Bastard," she said through her teeth. "Every one of us in this room agreed we would stop that monster from using Julia as a weapon by any means necessary. Now that those means include the help of dark faeries, you decide it's too far. I should burn you for being so spineless."

Edrys gave Christopher a disparaging glare. "Look, we can sit here and argue about this all night long. But Rosalie's right. Therefore, the dark faeries stay." Edrys banged the gavel down. "This meeting is adjourned. I expect everyone to cooperate."

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JJ