"Fine! Remember how I said I found something of interest in the history books? It was a reference to the Dear Gentle Reader column. After that, I subscribed to the paper and started reading all the columns. Once the nasty ones about us started, I went to the library in Lycaonia with Noah and looked at all the back issues of The Observer, and I noticed a trend that started about five years ago. A lot of the major articles were pulled from sources found on Facebook and online message boards run by paranormals. I had pulled all that content trying to find correlations with the missing persons so nearly all the articles looked familiar. Daphne may have flooded the city with gossip, but all I had to do was carefully place one or two reference documents online and the rest is history." Meryn grabbed the cookie basket back from Beth who stared down at her in shock.

"Even if you had placed something on a message board, they would have checked sources before printing that in the paper," Beth said.

Meryn nodded. "It wasn't that hard to create a business website for a plastic surgeon. I even hacked the Plastic Surgeons of America and added his name. For all intents and purposes, he is as real as you or I online. Hacking into the local police department was easy since I had already done it last year. It took two seconds to create a police report filed by a concerned local farmer."

Amelia sat up straight and hugged Meryn close. "You little genius!"

Meryn frowned, looking up at Beth. "She's doing it again."

Beth shrugged and grabbed a cookie. "She's family, she's allowed."

Meryn sighed. "True."

Amelia released her baby sister-cousin and sat back. Losing control had been terrifying. She couldn't help noticing that she had only started having these episodes after making love to Darian. It was as if some of his darkness had seeped into her. Never before had she felt such rage. If this was what her mate had faced alone, it was a miracle he hadn't turned yet.

Ryuu walked over and bowed low in front of Meryn. "Well played, denka, well played, indeed."

Adelaide tapped her chin. "But does this help us or hurt us?"

Amelia watched in amazement as Meryn huddled in on herself and began sniffling, wiping at her eyes like a child. "But Elder Vi'Ailean, I didn't do anything. She lurched at me and I was so s-s-scared! I'm only human; I was afraid for my baby!" Meryn broke down into tears. Seconds later, she sniffed once dramatically, dried her eyes and resumed eating her cookies. Amelia held up a hand silently. Meryn gave her a crumby high five and grinned.

"If anything, this should silence the faction that was feeding into the tripe about the Alpha Unit losing its effectiveness. Those who play the game will see this for the power play that it was. Excellent work, Meryn," Beth praised.

"Vaginoplasty," Meryn snorted.

That was all it took to send Amelia into uncontrollable laughter. Beth crumpled into a ball of giggles taking the seat on the other side of Meryn.

"Oh girls, you're good for my heart," Adelaide said.

Meryn stood and stretched, rubbing her lower back. "We better get back home. I kinda want to be there when Aiden hears what happened."

"So that he knows that you're okay?" Adelaide asked.

Meryn shook her head. "No, so I can watch him freak out."

"Oh dear." Adelaide shook her head and hugged Meryn tight.

Amelia and Beth were still grinning.

Meryn turned to Ryuu. "I'm hungry."

He sighed. "Of course, you are. You've only been eating nonstop all morning."

"I want a Colton sandwich, it seems to be the only thing that satisfies Meryn two-point-oh." Meryn said, a dreamy look on her face.

Amelia turned to Beth. "Colton sandwich?"

Beth shuddered. "A crazy sandwich Colton and Aiden created as a child. It has peanut butter, mayonnaise, pickles, cheese, and beef jerky."

Amelia licked her lips. "That actually sounds kinda good."

Ryuu looked from Meryn to Amelia. "I think I need hazard pay."

"Man up, squire, you have sammiches to make." Meryn grinned evilly at Ryuu.

"Of course, denka."

"Ladies, your coats." Marius appeared in the doorway with their coats.

"The phone call to Byron should be interesting," Adelaide chuckled.

"Tell Dad I said hi." Meryn had one arm in the sleeve of her coat but kept turning in a circle trying to find the opening for the other sleeve. Ryuu stopped her spinning and held the coat open for her.

"You girls stay safe," Adelaide said as she walked them to the door.

"We will," They replied in unison and grinned at each other.

"Definitely need hazard pay," Ryuu murmured under his breath as they headed to the car.

Amelia kept smiling, but inside, she was worried. Just as she started to feel the darkness in her heart begin to lighten, she feared that whatever light Darian had carried would be turning back to darkness.

CHAPTER NINE

"Hold on, Darian, I'll help you with that," Oron called from across the training grounds. Darian looked up and nodded. He had been expecting his brother to say something sooner, but they had both decided to keep the fact that they were brothers low key to keep their queen safe.

Oron fell into step beside him as they lifted their weight equipment to carry back into the storage shed. Aiden wanted the course clear before Penny came out to play. Once inside the shed, Oron turned to him.

"Brother, your light..." he started.