Chapter 19: Chapter Eighteen

Over the next couple of days, we trained Conner and saw a vast improvement not just in his skill but in his attitude as well. The evening before our next assignment was supposed to start, Daniel mind linked me, “Can you come to my office please?”

I walked into his office, “What’s up?”

“I’ve made my decision. You can go on the assignment solo, but you need to check in every two hours.”

I blew out a breath at the idea of checking in every two hours, “Fine. If that’s what it takes for you to let me go alone.”

He nodded, “You should leave around four tomorrow morning, and it shouldn’t take you more than a week.”

I gave him a doubtful look, “If they’re as well organized as you say they are and spread out as far as we think. It could take longer than a week.”

“Well then I haven’t trained you as well as we thought I did,” he said, throwing my own words back in my face with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, yeah. Stuff it old man,” I smiled at him.

“Speaking of old. We need to talk about you taking over here and your title.”

“What about it?”

“What do you think about Jace taking over for me, giving you an opportunity to run Storm Industries and act as queen without seeming basised. Plus you can’t really police yourself right?”

“What were you and mom going to do about it?”

“It helped that the clan was mine, technically, so if a matter came up in the clan that needed outside review, she didn’t grow up here and could be relatively objective. You didn’t grow up here either, but you couldn’t be absolutely objective when it’s your decision being questioned.”

I nodded, “That makes sense. Do you think Jace is up for it?”

“I think he is, especially once he makes it through training. He has a good head on his shoulders. When he finds his mate, he’ll be even more grounded.”

“I agree, but for now I’ll hold onto my title as Princess. Outside clans might not understand our decision because of Joseph.” He started to speak but I held up my hand, “I don’t feel like justifying it until Jace is completely ready and in control.”

He nodded, “Sounds good. Go get some rest.”

I nodded, walking out, “Jos you want to do a movie night?” I mind linked her on my way to the kitchen.

“Sure. You get the guys. I’ll bring Alanza and I guess Conner,” she linked back.

“Sounds good. I’ll bring the popcorn.” I linked her, “Movie night guys. You know the drill,” I linked Jace and Ian while starting the popcorn. Once it was done I met everyone in the media room.

“What are we watching?” Alanza asked.

“Zombieland!” Ian shouted, causing Josie and I to groan.

Conner looked at us, “What’s wrong with Zombieland?”

“Nothing when it isn’t the fifteenth time you’ve seen it,” Conner opened his mouth, but Josie stopped him, “No, that’s not an exaggeration.”

“What about Silver Linings Playbook?” Josie said, causing the guys to groan.

“No rom-coms!” Ian shouted again.

“Can you stop shouting?” I said, elbowing him in the rib cage, “What about Ant-Man and the Wasp? We haven’t seen it fifteen times and it’s not a rom-com.”

“Yes! I haven’t seen that one yet,” Jace said.

Josie, Conner, and Alanza nodded too, “I still vote Zombieland,” Ian grumbled.

“Of course you do, but you’ve been outvoted. Pout and enjoy the movie,” Jace told him. I rolled my eyes when Ian actually did start pouting. I put on the movie, and leaned back with the bowl of popcorn in my lap. “Oh! Pass the popcorn, Amaya.”

Instead of passing the bowl, I threw a handful at his face. “Is that enough?”

“No, you fucking asshole. Pass me the bowl.”

I turned up the movie, “Sorry what? I couldn’t hear you over the movie.”

I shoved a handful of popcorn in my mouth right before he dove over Josie and Ian to get to me and the popcorn. “Children! Cut it out! We’re trying to watch a movie.” Josie said, smacking Jace in the face, as she put her hands up between the two of us.

“Are they always like this?” Conner whispered to Alanza.

“Only on movie nights. That’s when their brother and sister genes come out, even though they’re just cousins,” she whispered back.

We got through most of the movie without anything else happening. By the end of it I was actually pretty tired. “Come on, Amaya. One more movie.” Ian said, “I mean how can you say no to Zombieland?”

I stretched as I stood, “I can’t. I need to head to bed. I leave at four.”

“You’re shitting me. Daniel actually agreed to let you go alone?” Josie said.

“There’s only three or four hunters. I’ll be fine,” I said with a shrug before walking to my room in the complex.

Niamh woke me up a few hours later, and it didn’t take me long to make it out to the field. Daniel was waiting on me when I got there. “Remember every two hours. If you get into a tight spot, we’re just a half an hour or so away.” He put his hands on my shoulders, “If it’s too much and you can’t handle it, do not be too proud to come home and wait until the rest of the team is available.” He pulled me into a hug, “I can’t lose you too.”

“I promise I’ll pack it up and come home if I need to,” I said into his chest. “You won’t lose me. Love you, Dad.”

“Love you too,” we pulled apart and I watched as he left the field so I could shift.

It took me no time to make it into acid dragon territory, near the site of a few of the kidnappings. I slipped into some of the clothes I brought with me and put on my gear. I tried to reach out to Daniel through mind link, but found he was just barely out of range. I fished out my cell phone from my bag and sent him a text letting him know I made it. I took in the forest surrounding me. Taking in a deep breath I followed the human scents I picked up until I came upon one of the traps. Putting on a pair of gloves from my bag, I quickly dismantled the trap. I followed the scent I picked up at that trap to several more, and dismantled those as well. “Niamh, is there any indication on where the hunters are exactly?”

“Not that I can tell. I say we continue on dismantling,” she responded.

“Agreed,” Each trap I came upon I dismantled quickly before moving onto the next one. Niamh told me when two hours had gone by since my last check in, so I called Daniel. “I’m fine,” was all I said before hanging up, not waiting for him to respond.