a lot of them, shit, it scares me after so long. Structures and rules that we can't adhere to. It’s a system that’s set up to betray us before we've even started. My guys didn’t have the best start in life, they don’t mix well with others, and they’re arsonists and thieves and worse. They're everything nobody wants. I wouldn't let them mix with your people."
Elise laughed. Merrick really thought her crèche was squeaky clean, and that just proved that he had been away a really long time. "More excuses. I run the most liberal nest in the fucking country John, I always have ever since I took over for Elenanora. You think Olivia or Ramona would have welcomed Carmen into their ranks at all, especially being a viper? Regardless of whether Reece and her were together, I would have. Chrissy came from a Rogue existence too, living in a brothel in Greece. None of them wanted her without the assurances that she would marry. I never asked for that from her, though she did fall for Remy. Sebastian, Wendell, Tami... all thieves, all in trouble with the authorities, kicked out of their nests for issues that never came up for them with me. I offer freedom..."
She sighed. "I offer freedom, a safe place to change and feed, a sanctuary, and no strings. You taught me that. A member shouldn’t owe allegiance because it’s what expected of them. They should feel safe where they are accepted, and want to be part of something."
"And you do a good job of it too... I'm glad you found Carmen a home, it was touch and go for a while with her. Tell me, have you ever woken up in the middle of the night in the middle of a fire because a scared little boy set your bed ablaze? Have you ever found human girls locked in your basement because someone didn’t know any better? How many deaths have you had to stage because someone messed up? Because when I tell you that my kids have problems I mean it. Thieves are nothing; hell Carmen's the best pickpocket I've ever met. It’s the arsonists and the schizophrenics, the womanizers and the killers that I have to deal with and none of them are getting near you and your kids."
She smirked. "You would do well to leave the womanizers out of the list, before they got mated, Remy and Reece were some of the best, hell even tried on me a time or two. Look I get it that you’re a bit further in it than I am with the charity cases, though Penelope did try to gas us all once... that wasn’t fun and we lost the east wing to that explosion, but you’re right, I haven’t had to deal with anything on the level you have. That still doesn’t make it right that you have chosen to stay away from me, not even letting me know you’re alive. I don’t care what you were doing, or are doing, it never mattered before. You just had to be a selfish fuck and never consider that I would like to know that you were alive, that I would like to see you." she sniffled and sat on her bed.
"And now I have to deal with seeing everyone else who knew we had a thing, sneer at me and look down at me for not being able to keep hold of my promised mate so much that he went and faked his own death to get away from me. No Archon should ever have to do that and frankly I don’t care that it makes things better for you. This is the worst kind of embarrassment, and their faith in whether I can hold the east is now in question and my territory is compromised. So thank you, John. Now not only
~30~
do I have to help look for your missing girls, I’m going to have to fight to keep what’s mine in order to keep my people safe."
He sighed. "I get that you’re hurt and embarrassed, I'm doing a shitty thing and I wish I had another choice but I don’t. I haven't always made the right choices where you were concerned. I’ve been trying so hard to keep the balls in the air that I've let ours drop... I don’t want it to be this way anymore."
"It doesn’t matter does it? You’re here, in official capacity, with her. You’re recognized
Elise laughed. Merrick really thought her crèche was squeaky clean, and that just proved that he had been away a really long time. "More excuses. I run the most liberal nest in the fucking country John, I always have ever since I took over for Elenanora. You think Olivia or Ramona would have welcomed Carmen into their ranks at all, especially being a viper? Regardless of whether Reece and her were together, I would have. Chrissy came from a Rogue existence too, living in a brothel in Greece. None of them wanted her without the assurances that she would marry. I never asked for that from her, though she did fall for Remy. Sebastian, Wendell, Tami... all thieves, all in trouble with the authorities, kicked out of their nests for issues that never came up for them with me. I offer freedom..."
She sighed. "I offer freedom, a safe place to change and feed, a sanctuary, and no strings. You taught me that. A member shouldn’t owe allegiance because it’s what expected of them. They should feel safe where they are accepted, and want to be part of something."
"And you do a good job of it too... I'm glad you found Carmen a home, it was touch and go for a while with her. Tell me, have you ever woken up in the middle of the night in the middle of a fire because a scared little boy set your bed ablaze? Have you ever found human girls locked in your basement because someone didn’t know any better? How many deaths have you had to stage because someone messed up? Because when I tell you that my kids have problems I mean it. Thieves are nothing; hell Carmen's the best pickpocket I've ever met. It’s the arsonists and the schizophrenics, the womanizers and the killers that I have to deal with and none of them are getting near you and your kids."
She smirked. "You would do well to leave the womanizers out of the list, before they got mated, Remy and Reece were some of the best, hell even tried on me a time or two. Look I get it that you’re a bit further in it than I am with the charity cases, though Penelope did try to gas us all once... that wasn’t fun and we lost the east wing to that explosion, but you’re right, I haven’t had to deal with anything on the level you have. That still doesn’t make it right that you have chosen to stay away from me, not even letting me know you’re alive. I don’t care what you were doing, or are doing, it never mattered before. You just had to be a selfish fuck and never consider that I would like to know that you were alive, that I would like to see you." she sniffled and sat on her bed.
"And now I have to deal with seeing everyone else who knew we had a thing, sneer at me and look down at me for not being able to keep hold of my promised mate so much that he went and faked his own death to get away from me. No Archon should ever have to do that and frankly I don’t care that it makes things better for you. This is the worst kind of embarrassment, and their faith in whether I can hold the east is now in question and my territory is compromised. So thank you, John. Now not only
~30~
do I have to help look for your missing girls, I’m going to have to fight to keep what’s mine in order to keep my people safe."
He sighed. "I get that you’re hurt and embarrassed, I'm doing a shitty thing and I wish I had another choice but I don’t. I haven't always made the right choices where you were concerned. I’ve been trying so hard to keep the balls in the air that I've let ours drop... I don’t want it to be this way anymore."
"It doesn’t matter does it? You’re here, in official capacity, with her. You’re recognized
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