56
Lucy
We talked a bit longer before he let out a deep sigh and stopped writing.
“This is a mess, honestly, and I wish I could do more right now without having to deal with the Council on my ass.” He tutted and shook his head as he put his tablet away. “All right, Lucy, here’s what I can guarantee. It’s not the best, but it’s the best for now.”
I swallowed and nodded. “Okay.”
“Unless you explicitly want to have sex with them, engage in luna-related activities, or even be involved with the pack at all, you won’t have to. There will be no threat of being tossed out, sent back, or whatever else you fear might happen if you refuse them.”
I swallowed and met his gaze. Yvonne put her hand on my shoulder.
“Is it really that simple?”
“In your case?” He chuckled. “It is hardly simple, but I can guarantee this for you.”
I worried my lip and nodded. “That… is more than I could really ask for, I think.”
“Well, prepare to be amazed. That’s only part of it. If, at any time, you feel as though they are infringing on your wishes.” He pulled a necklace out of his pocket. “You only need to activate this beacon. It will knock out anyone within five hundred yards of you and erect a barrier until I can get here.”
He held it out to me and showed me how it worked. When I held it in my hand, the crystal started to glow with a soft white light like the light of the moon. I took it and settled it around my neck.
“Now, as for your distinct lack of knowledge, I can arrange tutors to get you up to speed with at least a general education of the supernatural world if you want. I can arrange a human one as well with a bit of time. I suggest the supernatural one for your protection, so you’ll know your rights in case you have to deal with any more supernatural government operatives.”
I fiddled with the necklace. “I have rights in the supernatural world?”
“Of course,” he said. “You’re just barely of age in the supernatural world, but you’ve had no exposure, so you’re basically a minor. While it might serve their agenda to keep you ignorant of how the supernatural world actually works, it would never serve you, even if you never left the Blue Moon Pack.”
“Do I have to stay?”
He shook his head. “You can leave as soon as things are settled with the Council. I can push it through if you prefer to return to the human world.”
I licked my lips. “I-If I went back to the human world, why would I have to interact with any other supernatural operatives?”
“You’re mostly an unknown, so the Council and the SCF will want to keep an eye on you, but it wouldn’t be invasive. A check-in, just to make sure that you’re safe and not accidentally revealing the supernatural to humans.” He smiled. “Considering you went so long without even raising any flags, I don’t foresee that it would really be a problem.”
I nodded. “And then… what would I do?”
“What do you mean?”
“When I’m back in the human world?” I asked.
“Live,” he said easily. “I’m sure Yvonne wouldn’t be opposed to helping you navigate your studies and developing a career. I would offer, but she, frankly, has more time.”
She grinned at me. “I’ll make a highly esteemed professional something out of you if you want.”
“She’s a slave driver,” Dagon said. “But, you’ll ace just about any test you need to take.”
I nodded. “I would be very grateful. I… promise I’m not that bad of a student.”
She pinched my cheek. “I’ll take it easy on you because you’re young.”
Dagon took a few more notes. “Anything else I should be aware of before I go out there and tell them how it’s going to be?”
I worried my lip and shook my head. “I think that’s all.”
“Good,” he said and stood. “Let’s go pull some alpha heads out of their asses.”
I stood. My stomach was still churning, but as I followed Dagon to the door, I felt better. Yvonne walked beside me. Then, Dagon opened the door, and mere seconds later, I heard Tony’s voice.
“Well, are you going to take that—”
“Watch what you say about Dr. Bluescale,” Dagon said. “I don’t think I have to explain to you what will happen if she chooses to leave the employment of the Blue Moon Pack.”
Matt growled. “Where is Lucy? You don’t have the right to keep her from us.”
“Actually, I do. And if not for the long list of fucked up laws on the books, I’d be taking her away today. Consider yourself lucky.”
I heard them both growl, but Dagon didn’t move. He didn’t even seem to flinch.
“Pretend that you’re your age. Imagine for a moment the long list of laws you’ve violated just by keeping her presence here a secret—”
“It’s none of your business—”
“Then, remember that I could and would gladly burn you both to a crisp.” The twin growls seemed to soften, but they didn’t end. “I am open, if Miss Lucy is open, to having a debrief with you, but in no way, shape, or form am I going to allow you to pressure her a second more.”
Dagon turned back, still blocking my view of them. “Would you like to be present for this, Miss Lucy, or will you be joining Dr. Bluescale for dinner.”
I swallowed and worried my lip. I felt like I should just so that they wouldn’t be even more angry, but I really didn’t want to see them. My hands were shaking. I heard screaming in the back of my mind. I shut my eyes as fire and blood danced behind my eyes.
“It’s okay,” Yvonne whispered, drawing me into her arms and stroking my hair. “Deep breaths. You’re safe, even if they are being assholes.”
I took a deep breath. “I… I’m okay with it, so long as they don’t yell o-or growl.”
Dagon smiled at me. “Lion-hearted little cub.”
He turned back. “You heard her. At the first sign that either of you can’t contain yourself, Miss Lucy will be leaving, and you’ll have to deal with it.”
I heard one of them let out a grumbling sound before Dagon motioned ahead of him.
“I assume you can manage to get some dinner together, hm?” Dagon asked. “A formal dinner as befitting a Liaison Call. She hasn’t eaten, and aren’t you wolves all about your mate’s needs?”
I heard them shuffling off. I heard them yelling through the house and took a deep breath. Dagon turned back to me with a smirk.
“I’ll have some more questions about what you remember from when you were forcibly removed from the Estate, but that can wait. Would you like to wait here while they get dinner together?”
I nodded, grateful not to have to leave the safety of Yvonne’s chambers yet. A little while later, Dagon escorted me to the dining room. There was a lot of food laid out. Their beta, their nanny, and several other members of the pack were there. Matt and Tony sat at the table, looking like they’d rather be growling than trying to sit across the table.
Dagon ushered me into a seat in front of all the food. I looked over all the food, but I didn’t touch it. Dagon sat beside me and waved his hand over the spread. The watch on his wrist lit up, and light floated over the spread. Nothing seemed to happen.
“It’s safe to eat,” Dagon said.
“You’re going too far, dragon!” Matt growled. “You think we would poison our mate?”
“The way I’ve heard it, you don’t have enough control of your pack to guarantee that it won’t happen again.”
Matt and Tony’s eyes flashed. The rest of the room gasped, but for the first time since they had bought me from the auction, I felt really relaxed. I reached for the nearest serving spoon and served myself a plate.
Dagon pulled out his glass tablet. “If you two are ready to begin, I’ll need you to certify that all the members of your Pack who are in this room with us are willing to take a magical oath regarding the trafficking and mistreatment of a protected supernatural.”
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