"Families are messy. Immortal
families are eternally messy.
Sometimes the best we can
do is to remind each other that
we're related for better or for worse...and try to keep the
maiming and killing to a minimum."

~~Rick Riordan
~The Sea of Monsters

****************

~Nevada~

The house was quiet after Nova left with Hatter and felt way too big as I wandered aimlessly. With Hatter gone, August had to do the ground patrols and basically move into the watchtower at the same time. I told him that Dominic could take watch since he wasn't doing anything else useful, my words still colored with irritation. But August had declined, saying at least for the moment he would.

I wasn't going to deny I was a little resentful towards Nova for leaving and causing August to have to spend more time away from me in the process. But something was going on with Hatter, and obviously between the two as well, and just like every other relationship drama going on, it needed to be dealt with. If shit got bad and we were all still squabbling like a bunch of hens, we would be in big trouble. So, like a mature adult, I directed that negative energy towards something productive.

Ignoring my father. His danger and immature antics could have done some serious damage. Ignorant of the situation or not, he could have killed the both of us by accident! It wouldn't have even been a fair death. My obituary would have just said 'Oops, my bad!' And who the hell wants that?!

My phone vibrated in my hand, Nova's face popping up with a video call request. He had only been gone a few hours, to where I had no idea, and I was curious about what was going on. Sliding my screen over, Nova's face filled the screen.

"Hey, how's the trip?" I asked.

"Damn, who pissed in your cereal? Answering the phone with that look on your face makes me wonder who you killed," Nova laughed, glancing at something off screen and speaking again to someone else. "Not literally so don't have a stroke."

"Who are you talking to?" I asked, laughing along.

"Some lady in the corner looked like she was about to have an aneurism or something," he answered with a dramatic roll of his eyes. "Anywho..."

"Nothing, just...," I started but shook my head. "It's just quiet right now and I'm restless."

"Where's your boy?"

"Double guard duty," I replied, raising an accusing brow. "Someone needed a vacation. Speaking of, where are you?"

"Grabbing some food. Robbie went up to order and told me to grab a seat," Nova said as he moved around, turning his head and searching with his eyes. "Wanted to check on you while I waited."

"Awe, he's buying you food?" I gushed.

Nova scowled but the tips of his ears turned pink despite it. "Shut up, Nev."

I laughed and let it drop, watching his anxious face scanning the area around him with a smile on my face.

"Still no idea where you're going?" I asked, changing the subject. "Or why?"

"No and not really," Nova answered with a sigh. "Trying not to be pushy but, gods his emotions are all over the place and I feel like I'm going to be one big exposed nerve before we get there."

I frowned. "Mental blocks aren't helping at all?"

"No. I swear they're Robbie resistant," he admitted, concern slipping into his voice when he spoke again. "Besides, this is some intense shit, Nev. I don't - oh fuck, here he comes. Hush!"

"What?" I laughed at the flash of panic on his face, over exaggerated wide eyes and comically repositioning of his body. "Nova, you're a mess."

"Oh jeez, shut your pie hole, he might hea- hey, Robbie!" Nova cut himself off with an overly cheerful greeting. "Oh look! Food!"

Nova propped his phone against something and both of their faces entered the screen on each side. Hatter was trying not to smile as he shook his head.

"You weren't talking about me were you?" Hatter asked with narrowed eyes.

Nova feigned innocence and plastered on an insulated expression. "Why would you even think such a thing?!"

"Because I'm all you think about," Hatter teased with a smirk as he handed Nova his food.

Nova's face flushed as he glared in response, mumbling something I couldn't hear but Hatter laughed having heard it.

"Okay well on that note," I interjected, "I think I'll let you go. Be careful, both of you."

"Don't worry, Nevada, I'll take care of him," Hatter replied, looking at the phone with a completely serious expression. "He's safe with me."

I smiled. "Of that I have no doubt."

Nova flushed even more, scowling deeper at the two of us. "I'm hanging up now."

"Love you, big bro!" I laughed and Nova rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, love you too," he said before ending the call.

I sat back on the couch with a slight smile on my face, feeling a little better after talking to him. Even though Nova had laughed and joked as he usually did, I hadn't missed the worry in his eyes. Whatever was going on, I hope it wouldn't be too bad, for both of their sakes.

Sighing, I turned on the TV and began flipping channels, barely registering the images that flicked on the screen. The sound of a door closing upstairs drifted towards me but I ignored it. August was wandering around the woods at the moment which only left two other people in the house other than me. With no desire to strike up a conversation with either one of them, I did my best to ignore the approaching footsteps.

I heard their steps pause in the doorway but I kept my attention trained on the TV, ignoring her. Alana's presence was unmistakable and I could feel her hovering behind me but I refused to acknowledge her. She had known what Dominic had been planning to do, had known August and I had a connection, and yet had been involved in the catastrophe anyway.

Ugh, are all bio parents this idiotic?, I growled to myself.

"Wait, will you turn that back?" Alana asked tentatively as she stepped around the couch and peered at the screen.

Sighing, I indulged her request, flipping back to the news station she had indicated. Images of a structure fire followed by its aftermath filled the corner of the screen as a young brunette woman spoke into the camera.

"We've been informed that the survivor of the incident was a male Fae and was a part of the Folmorian community," the brunette informed the viewers. "The man is currently in critical condition with severe burns and lacerations. There has yet to be any new information in regards to the cause of the fire but it's been speculated to be arson. Authorities say they will continue to investigate the incident and to contact them at the number below if you may have any information. We will keep you informed as reports become available."

The woman gracefully transferred the attention to the sports newscaster which I immediately tuned out. Alana's brows were drawn together, her face scrunched in thought as she slowly turned back around.

"Another fire?" she mumbled absentmindedly. "Two in such a short time?"

"What?" I asked in surprise, forgetting momentarily that I was mad at her.

"Ashira's house burnt, what, a week ago and now this," she clarified gesturing towards the TV. "It can't be a coincidence."

"No such thing," I pointed out before chewing on my bottom lip nervously. "What could it mean?"

"I don't know, hold on." Alana walked swiftly to the stairs and yelled, "Dominic Drakos, get your ass down here!"

My eyes widened as she called her husband like a parent would a misbehaving child, biting my cheek to keep from laughing. Moments later, a door slammed and heavy footsteps stomped down the hall. Dominic appeared at the top, arms crossed as he glared down at his wife.

"Stop your pity party and come down here," she admonished before spinning away and coming back into the living room. "Things are happening and if you continue to sulk like that nothing will ever get done. Now, let's go."

Dominic scowled, mumbling under his breath as he stomped down the stairs and leaned against the entrance wall. He wouldn't look at me, fidgeting restless with his hands while trying to appear nonchalant. Alana looked from me, my body stiff as I sat on the couch, to Dominic who wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Okay, we need to talk about this first," she said, mildly exasperated but her eyes were soft when she looked at me. "I'm sorry for what happened, Nevada. I should have paid more attention but... I haven't exactly been in the greatest state of mind the last several days, which isn't much of an excuse, but there it is. I fucked up and was a part of something that never should have happened. And Dominic is a man child -"

"Hey!" he burst out, sounding guilty and offended at the same time.

"Who doesn't always think everything through properly," Alana continued as if he hadn't spoken but the corners of her lips quirked up indicating she had. "It was stupid and uncalled for and I apologize. Hopefully we can start over and try again?"

I contemplated her words, my eyes drifting to Dominic who looked like a guilty toddler pouting in the corner. Suppressing an unwanted snort of laughter, I pressed my lips together. Alana looked at her husband and rolled her eyes.

"Dom, is there something you want to say?" She gave him a pointed look.

"Ugh, okay, I'm sorry, Nevada," he groaned, sounding embarrassed but sincere nonetheless. "I shouldn't have done that and I never meant to hurt you. Never in my life would I intentionally cause you pain or to suffer. I hate that my behavior resulted in it and if I could take it back, I would. I don't want us to be like this, constantly snapping at each other's throats and wondering if things will ever... be okay between us."

My heart ached because I didn't want us to be like this. I had lost one father already in my life and I didn't want to lose another, but I couldn't trust him blindly, not after that. Calming my features, I met his eyes, emerald green and bright with regret.

"I want to believe you but what happens when you see August and I together?" I asked, keeping my tone even. "Can you honestly tell me that you're okay with that?"

Dominic grimaced and I narrowed my eyes but didn't say anything.

"No," he answered regretfully after a moment, "I can't tell you that I'm okay with it, and -"

"Then I'm not sure there's really anything else that we need to discuss," I bit out before turning away, glaring at the coffee table.

"By the gods, I swear...," Dominic muttered in frustration. "Lana, do you see what happens when I try to talk? I told you she wouldn't listen."

"Because she's stubborn just like you," Alana snorted.

Dominic growled, cursing under his breath. Footsteps whispered across the floor and then suddenly he was in front of me, perched on the table like it was a chair and I had no choice but to look at him. I watched him warily as he rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands loosely between them.

"I know you don't trust me and I have given you plenty of reasons not to," he began, his deep voice steady and his eyes serious as they bore into mine. "I've fucked up so many times that I've lost count and this morning was definitely one of my more epic moments. I won't deny it and I'll own my shit, good and bad."

He drew a deep breath, eyes darkening with something unknown before he continued.

"You're my daughter, Nevada, and I know I missed watching you grow up into the amazing young woman that you are but you'll always be my baby girl." Emotions darkened his eyes even further. "August is my best friend and I have no doubt that he will take care of you, but in my eyes no one will ever truly deserve you."

"You're right, I don't deserve her," August's voice spoke from behind me, the strong rumble washing over me like warm honey. When I turned to look at him, he wasn't focused on me but Dominic. "I'll never deserve her because I know she's too good for someone like me. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to try every damn day to be even a fraction of worthy enough to have her."

Dominic stood, the two men staring each other down for long, tense minutes. I glanced at Alana who was lounging in one of the arm chairs and didn't seem the least bit concerned. Her eyes were soft, the violet pigment warm and fond as she watched her husband, a gentle smile pulling up the corners of her lips. When she felt my gaze, Alana's smile widened and she winked before looking back at my father.

From Dominic's stern expression and the tight muscles of his shoulders, I expected another fight or argument to ensue. I braced myself for chaos.

"You better or I'll rip you apart," he promised quietly but then ruined the dramatic response by shuddering, "and please, by the gods, don't ever make me witness that shit again!"

My jaw dropped open and words fled my mind as I just stared at him in shock. I looked at August who had raised a brow, eyes suddenly burning with a challenge and his lips twitched as if suppressing a smile.

"You mean this?" He asked and then my body was standing, legs stumbling but strong arms held me up as his mouth descended on mine. I vaguely registered anything else around me as I wound my arms around his neck.

"Goddamn it, August!" Dominic cursed before whining like a child. "Laaana... make him stop!"

I smiled against August's lips, pulling back to look up at his face. "I love you."

"I love you more," he whispered, kissing me again.

"August, you jackass," Dominic said in frustration.

A brief prickle of magick tickled my skin just as the crackle of energy zipped through the room. Pulling back I glanced over August's shoulder in time to see Dominic flick a tiny ball of blue sparks at August's head. The moment it touched the back of his neck, a shock ran through my like static making me shriek in surprise and jump away.

"Can we focus please?" Dominic asked, eyes dancing with laughter as Alana giggled. He had moved to stand behind her chair, his arms draped over the back as his fingers slid absentmindedly through her hair.

I glared at my father but August only smirked and shook his head before pulling me back down onto the couch, his arms around my shoulders.

"If you're done with the show of testosterone, we can move onto other important topics," Alana chimed in.

"As in?" I asked, my thoughts going back to the news report that had triggered all of this to begin with.

Alana quickly filled Dominic and August in on what we had learned, pointing out the similarities in the two recent fires.

"I don't think what happened at Ashira's was an accident," she said, her eyes darkening with anger. "There are too many holes and questions in Edith's story, if any of it was true."

"She did tell Hatter that she was doing Torch's bidding," August pointed out. "But it may not have been to protect Nova or her supposed mate."

I frowned at the memory of Jackal and how he had acted towards me the first time I had encountered him and then again at the bookstore. He didn't seem like someone that had found their mate, not the way he was flirting and pushing himself on me so aggressively.

"Yeah, something is off there for sure," I agreed, furrowing my brows. "The few times I met Jackal, he was beyond cocky trying to get in my pants but he was also there the night Nova and I were attacked by wolves."

August stiffened beside me. "I don't think Edith was telling the entire story. Hatter believed her to be sincere but she's had a few centuries to master her deception. The ability to twist the truth would be as easy as breathing for her."

Something snagged at the corner of my conscious and I followed the thread until I found what I was looking for. When I realized what it was I gasped. The night the wolves had attacked us, there had been a female elf there as well that had thrown up a glamour to keep away onlookers. I had seen her two other times, once at the bookstore before that had happened and then again in my dream after the showdown with Michael. I had no idea what the dream meant but I knew this mystery woman was somehow involved.

"What's wrong?" Alana and August asked at the same time, both looking at me with concern.

"There's another woman.. an-an elf," I rushed out, tripping over my words as I hurriedly told them everything I had remembered of the encounters as well as what she looked like.

I hesitated when telling them about the dream, unsure of its relevance, but forced myself to spit out the words. When I was finished, the room was quiet as everyone looked at me with different expressions. Dominic looked thoughtful and August looked even more worried, but it was Alana face that shocked me. Her violet eyes were burning with rage, jaw tight and fists clenched in her lap.

"What? What is it?" I asked nervously.

"White blonde hair and blue eyes so pale they almost look white?" She grit out and I nodded. "That sounds like Valyndria."

The three of us looked at her in complete confusion.

"Valyndria's family was killed by hunters when she was young and my father gave her a job as a kitchen wench centuries ago before she was even an adult so I grew up around her," Alana growled, barely able to contain her anger. "She's also Ashira's sister."

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A/N: Oooh, we're getting somewhere now!!

Thoughts or theories?

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~SM~