Page 108 of Blade

Oh.

“But what is he?” Because that was weird.

Blaine and I both waited while Suit Guy chuckled. “A type of electric eel.”

Was I allowed to think that was cool even if he was evil?

“I don’t think they’re on the Monster server or even the general shifter one.” The Monster one also needed better advertising because I hadn’t seen a single water thing in general chatter about going to the Solstice Festival.

Oh. If that was held in the desert, could he have even gone?

He was probably just a regular shifter, so it wouldn’t matter.

Wait. Did being in that kids’ movie about the mermaid make them Legends?

“Why did you call my mate the Leap Mate?” Blaine’s change in topic was probably logical but I had more questions about aquatic shifters. Titles could wait. Fascinating new people could not because Council Guy was looking toward the portal.

The way Suit Guy inclined his head as he turned back to Blaine said it might be important, though. “Your family line has changed since you were…trapped.”

His sigh said he was trying not to blast the coven, which made me like him even better. “You were third in line to run your Pride but now you are in charge, although your people are spread far and wide.”

Well, that was frustrating.

Blaine seemed too shocked to process how hard it was going to be to manage people spread out all over the place. He nodded but I could see his brain slogging through the idea. “Thank you for letting me know.”

He was going to have questions later but I didn’t know what to pester the Council Guy on while we had him.

“Can I get your email address? Are you on either of the main servers? You don’t scream monster or Legend to me but I don’t want to assume.” It all seemed reasonable but he blinked at me.“We’re going to need some information about that. I’m human and he’s basically lost in time.”

I really needed to figure out what trope we were living because people resonated with those better than with vague explanations.

Council Guy had to press his lips together but he managed not to smile. “I will have someone appropriate contact you.”

Hmm.

“Thank you.” Blaine accepted that conversational detour entirely too politely. “Is there…is there anything you can share about why they came after my mate?”

“Oh, how did you know what was going on when you came through?” I knew it was a good question but Blaine went still. “Um, thank you?”

Maybe I should’ve said please?

Council Guy’s lips tightened, but after a second, he nodded. “It is part of our magic as long as they fall under our domain. It allows us to know immediately who is most dangerous as we come through so innocents are not…harmed.”

Don’t kill the angry good guys who might be slinging around magic.

Smart.

“Do you know why he was trying to kidnap me?” A heads-up would’ve been nice but I wasn’t sure Euston knew what was going on.

Nope.

Head shake.

“All he knows is that your parents wanted you home.” Frowning, Council Guy studied Euston. “He thinks this was about marrying you off?”

“God, we’re going back to that whole legitimate heir nonsense? They don’t own anything to pass down besides trailers and bad ideas.” My family was insane. “My brothers keepknocking up women who are too smart to let them in the kids’ lives.”

Not smart enough not to sleep with the assholes to begin with, but at least they figured it out sooner rather than later.