Ilian steered her back toward the kitchen. “Why are we going to Cam’s?” she asked, plopping a slice of pizza from the open box onto a paper plate before heading over to the microwave.
Ilian pulled his phone back out and set it in front of her. “The Unit Commander’s mate created a Vanguard app for us to register. She posted updates as to what’s been going on in our world,” Ilian’s face darkened. “It’s more than we’re getting from the council.”
Reston clapped a hand on Ilian’s shoulder. “You know why things have been kept quiet.”
“Because people would freak out,” Cas said, watching her slice of pizza spin in the microwave.
“Exactly,” Reston said.
Cas turned away from her spinning snack. “Why do you have to go to Cam’s to register?”
Reston exhaled. “We have to be verified before we’re allowed to register.”
“Verified?” she asked, suddenly not really wanting to know the answer.
“The Unit Commander has evidence that there is a rogue unit out there,” Reston explained.
She snort laughed, then looked from Luca to Reston, then finally to Ilian. “You’re serious? Unit warriors don’t turn!” she protested.
Luca pulled her into a tight hug, then kissed her forehead. “It’s very, very rare, but it supposedly happened.”
Cassie looked to Ilian. “How do you get verified?”
He lifted his sleeve and pointed to his unit tattoo. “A simple glance, that’s it, honey. Black, we’re fine. Red, we’re feral.”
“I could have been one of the ones taken,” she whispered, reaching for the edge of the box serving as a kitchen chair. It was like she was processing things in segments.
Luca sat her down, then got her pizza. “Eat something, honey.”
“Thank all the gods you weren’t,” Ilian said, shaking his head.
Reston sat across from her. “I think the fact that you were living above and beside Vanguard warriors and were a single person kept you safe. It wasn’t worth the risk to take only one person.”
“Yay, for the single life,” she joked weakly.
“Cas, did you have anything else you needed to pack?” Reston asked.
She shook her head. “Everything is in boxes, I pulled this outfit from my bedroom box this morning. I returned my furniture last week, they were rentals.”
“So was ours.” He nodded. “Good, we can leave as soon as Coop is done loading your stuff.”
“What about our leases?” she asked.
“Don’t worry about them. We paid for all three apartments for the next ten years. Vanguard can use them when they’re in town, and Ms.Johnson doesn’t have to worry about vetting new tenants.”
Cas giggled. “She said she likes renting to you strong military boys.”
Reston’s cheeks turned pink. “She’s a nice lady.”
Cas took another bite of pizza. She had never met a warrior that wasn’t a closet softie. Maybe that many muscles released a kindness hormone or something.
Before she knew it, she was in the backseat with Luca heading toward the Monroe Vanguard’s house. When they pulled in, she could only stare.
“Holy shit.”
“You can say that again,” Reston said, then laughed.
All around her, men in a variety of uniforms were milling around out front.
“What the hell, Reston?”
Reston parked then turned to face her. “Hun, when the Queen put out the edict for all fae to return, did you really think Vanguard squads around the world, deployed or on missions would let our fae brothers return alone?”
She looked out the window. “It’s like Christmas,” she whispered.
“Come on, hun, let’s head in to get verified,” Luca said, taking her hand.
“Do I need to be verified too?”
Coop snarled. “I’d like to see someone try.”
“Down, big guy, I’m just saying, I’m the only woman here…” She smiled, then reached for the door. “What an amazing day!”
“Hey!” All five of her Vanguard friends protested at once.
Luca followed her out of the van.
“Fuck! Another squad just showed up, Cam!” a frazzled-looking warrior said, talking into his earpiece. “It’s like something got fumigated, and Vanguard are coming out of the woodwork.”
“Asshole!” another warrior called out, smiling.
The man turned to her, then broke out into a huge smile. “Hello, darlin'. How can I help you?”
She jerked her thumb toward where Coop now stood directly behind her. “I’m with this particular group of Neanderthals.”
The man looked them over and sighed. “This is going to take forever.”
Cas grinned evilly, then reached for the bullhorn at his waist. He was all smiles as she played with his belt disconnecting the device. But when she brought it to her lips, he frowned in concern.
Climbing on top of the van, she ignored Reston complaining about dents.
“Hello, gentlemen,” she began. Immediately nearly a hundred handsome warriors were turning and smiling at her.
“I believe you all are here to get verified.”
“Yeah!” many yelled back.
“Wouldn’t it go faster if you all stripped your shirts off and killed anyone with a red tattoo?” she asked.
There was silence then the men began pulling off their shirts.
“Cassandra Vi’Illiya, you are going to hell,” Reston chided.
Pulling the bullhorn away from her face, she blew kisses at him. “Pass me my Diet Coke and Doritos bag.”
Grumbling, he passed her the snacks and she passed him the bullhorn to return to the now gob-smacked warrior trying to organize things. “Better strip, darlin’. You’re falling behind,” she said, laughing.
“Godsdammit all, Cassie,” he scowled, then pulled off his own shirt.
“Like I said, what an amazing day.” She popped a chip into her mouth and watched the chaos created by so many men flexing for no damn good reason.
*****
Even with her helpfulness, it still took close to two hours to get everyone verified. It did go by faster as the men laughed and took turns posing for her. She would clap and whistle, and the vile lime-green color of fear began to fade from the warriors' auras. She was introduced to the Monroe squad who were equal parts amused and flabbergasted at her assistance.
Eventually, everyone was checked, and en masse, they headed toward the portal.
“How long has it been for you, Cas?” Luca asked.
“Since mother and father faded. Too much reminded me of them,” she said quietly.
“You have a place to go?” Reston asked.
She nodded. “I actually own a huge estate. I was going to offer up rooms to the Vanguard,” she said, pointing to the men around them.
Cam grabbed her shoulder. “Are you serious?” he asked, with a hope-filled expression.
“Of course, why?”
Cam exhaled. “Cas, all the fae have returned home. Space is at a premium.” He went to the front, then made two fae hoist him up.
“All right, listen up, men. Lady Vi’Illiya has graciously offered up space at the Illiya estate.”