Compounding Traumas (Artemis University #6) - Erin R Flynn Page 0,38
loyalty, Tamsin. What can I do for you?”
“Not for me,” I clarified. “For our people.” I smiled at her. “No more waiting to save hobgoblins. It’s time to start going on.” I went over what I was plotting and she smiled, knowing exactly what I needed.
Hobgoblin magic. I couldn’t leave a message that others could find, and leaving something in Faerie would scream a fairy was alive or behind it. We needed to be smarter, as the moment we made a move, others would be on alert.
Which Keya mentioned and asked to speak with her mate, Mourn, about maybe also focusing on other areas. If we jumped around, it was easier to trip people up.
“True, but it also gives people time to hide them away and lock them up so we can’t find them again. Or we can get them, but not their stuff.”
She smirked at me, her skin changing to red as the idea of that angered her. “Oh, I’m sure the fae dogs wouldn’t like that and would make a show of collecting the belongings of our people. They’ve been very happy with us now that we tend to them as we used to in Faerie, now that we have places to, thanks to you.”
“I’m doing what I can.”
“We all know that, child. You are a miracle, and we wish you would do more for yourself. It’s why we spoil you so much. We see how hard this is on you, and still you fight for so many. You deserve nothing but the best and all the love we can give to remind you that you are not alone.”
That explained so much, and I could finally accept the over-the-top behavior of the hobgoblins without any guilt. I nodded I heard her and then picked her up, bringing us through a portal to where Chief and the pack had stopped. We were cloaked, so no one saw us as I brought us over to the wall of the large estate.
I was about to climb up when she assured me there was no need. I felt magic, but it was some I couldn’t even see as a fairy. I didn’t ask, waiting until she was done before nodding at Chief that we needed to go.
He shook his head and I frowned, hugging Keya to me and jogging after the pack about two city blocks until we were at another estate. He went right to the wall and put his front paws up on it.
I nodded I understood and let Keya do her thing again as I flipped on my telepathy, mentally rolling my eyes at myself for not having already done that. He explained there were ten well-off hawk shifter families that lived close together in their kettle and all had hobgoblins they wouldn’t leave.
And they were some of the worst abusers.
And the pack was not happy about that.
Neither was I.
I debated what to do about that as we moved between the estates and Keya sent up a magical message only hobgoblins could see… Or so her thoughts told me. Part of me wanted the fae dogs to do damage to their estates in retribution, but someone could get hurt in the fires, and that would start more problems. Plus, the environment was hurting enough.
I smiled when we finished, knowing the answer. I communicated it with Chief, and I could feel his and the pack’s amusement, glad they agreed with me. I thanked them for their help and opened a portal to bring Keya back.
“What amused the dogs so much at the end?” she asked once we were safely in the office again.
I smiled at her. “After we get the hobgoblins out today, I told them to hunt some natural hawks or birds and let the shifters see them drop them off. Dead. Or eat them in front of them. People will talk on that and assume the fae dogs are helping hobgoblins escape.”
“Which will have them tell us where the fae dogs are so we get them out, not wanting to admit to that publicly,” she surmised, her tone amused.
“That, or people will be stupid and take shots at the fae dogs and end up dead,” I purred. “I like either ending if I’m honest. People who abuse hobgoblins and are willing to kill fair folk to keep our people as slaves deserve death.”
“You won’t get any argument from us, Tamsin.” She let out a happy sigh. “That was some needed excitement. I look forward to our next mission.”