A rebellion answered

Lilith P.O.V.

1 year later

The sun has barely left the horizon when the currier finds me in the library, which has become the rebellion headquarters. He silently leaves an envelope on the table, nods and leaves on silent feet. I have deep respect for the curriers. They risk the most these days going back and forth between both sides to make sure correspondence makes its way to the right people. 

We have been in this stalemate for the better part of a year now, and today, I realise, it’s actually exactly a year since my father received news to commence the attack to overturn the throne and take the crown by force. He has not succeeded yet, and he won’t. Not as long as I live and breathe. He and my family still have no idea I’m spying for the rebellion, they think I’m spying for them. I almost rolled my eyes. As if I would ever help them.

Not only have they always been mean, ignorant and horrible to other people, but they have always been the same way to me. I was the last child, the third one they had to have because of tradition and the picture to the world. I found out when I overheard them talking one night, that they didn’t want another child, but they felt obligated to, so they had me. It resulted in me being the left out little sister who everyone could just treat as they wanted. My mom usually ignores me, unless I embarrass her in public, my sister likes to torment me with everything she can think of, and get me into trouble, so my mom gets involved, my brother mostly ignores me, unless he wants something, and my father. Well, my father knew how well liked I was amongst Nobel's and commoners, and he knew he needed someone who could talk to everyone to be his ears and eyes, so he recruited me. Or more accurately, he ordered me with the threat that he would sell me to the lowest bidder if I didn’t do as he said. 

So, he really thinks I’m spying for them. And granted, I do give them minor accurate details once in a while, which Drake and Iloni knows about, because I have to. But never anything important, and never something that’ll cost lots of lives. I think my siblings at least suspect me of not being totally honest, but as long as they get to live comfortably, they do not really care all that much. I do, however, know that Miriam either knows, or highly suspects me of being a double agent, and I’ve been careful of staying under her radar for the last year.

I open the note, reading it over quickly and frowning. It’s from Alpha Nate and he is requesting a meeting in person. I wonder what’s going on. We agreed early on to keep communication on a low level, and never in person to keep Miriam and her cronies off our trail. Something big must have happened for him to request a meeting, and I decided to mindlink Drake and Iloni about it.

They walk in 5 minutes later, Elenie hot on their heels and Tristan not far behind her. He has been back and forth between here and the Umbral Moon pack keeping everything running smoothly, undermining the imperial idiot they put in to lead the pack, and moving vital pack members out one at a time to keep the overseers from noticing. 

“Let’s move this conversation.” Drake says, nodding to me. 

We walk in silence to the back of the library, over the hidden magical lines of protection, and into the secret office I keep here. To the naked eye it looks like we just entered a restricted section, but anyone who has not been cleared to go through the protection out front will hit an invisible forcefield, be very confused for a second and then remember something important they have to do somewhere else. Iloni and Allie made it with the help of the former Queen of dark faes. Similar offices and conference rooms have been made all over rebellion territories, along with secret tunnels going from one pack to another, hideouts in plain sight and refugees within the dragon lands to help keep key members safe. It’s where Allie and her family have been hiding out, and where we moved Christy and Dominic after we extracted them from their pack. Tilly and Tristan stayed on, ‘surrendering’ and working under the new management, doing whatever they can to sabotage them every step of the way. 

Miriam is too far up her own ass to see it. Which is honestly hilarious. The only thing I regret is not getting to Athena and Alec in time, but we were not organized, and that was a mistake. It didn’t take long after the coordinated attacks for us to come together and create an order within our own ranks. 

“You called for us, Lilith.” Drake says, dragging me from my thoughts. 

“Yeah, sorry.” I say, shaking my head. “I was given this missive by a trusted currie half an hour ago.” I show them, and let them read in peace.

“Nate knows we do not meet in person, it must be very important for him to want this.” Drake says, frowning. 

“I had the same thought, Drake. And I was thinking; how about you invite him here?” His eyes snapped from the paper to me. 

“Here?” He asks, sounding confused and a little agitated. 

“Yes, what better way to meet face to face than inviting him to have dinner?” I state calmly. “You invite him and his mate to visit our lovely court, and you show a face of good faith to Miriam - not that we’re going to do her any favors.” 

“It’s actually not a bad idea, babe. I’ve been wanting to meet Luna Olivia, and have a formal dinner between an enemy pack and our leadership, maybe on the pretense of working out a deal between him and you? It would piss Henri the fuck off and make Miriam gleeful to the point where she is bound to make a mistake.” Iloni says. 

“But I’m not the King.” Drake states, crossing his arms. 

“No, right now you are defending his throne and holding it until he returns. A negotiations dinner with Nate would be a perfect excuse to have him and his Luna on a visit and the meeting in person.” Iloni says calmly. 

Drake sighs. He knows we’re right, and he also knows it’s the best solution for the situation. He concedes and lets me write a formal invitation for this evening back to them. Then he mindlinks the kitchen and lets them know about the potential guests. 

“I’ll have to tell my father about the visit.” I say, pondering. “But the dinner can be a private affair in the secure dining room where no one can listen in.” 

Drake nods, and Iloni smiles as she magically sends the message to our friends. Then she says she is going to have a swim, and is off before we can talk her out of it. Tristan is quiet, but I know his brain is working over time. 

“Spit it out, Tristan.” I tell him, sitting down again. 

“Drake will have to invite you to the dinner, so you have ‘spy’ against him. But he’ll have to have a good reason to.” 

“Iloni already thought of that, and she promoted Lilith and Elenie to her personal Lilliepad Ladies, which is something a royal or high ranking siren would have if she was at home. She has made that tradition here, and said she only needs the two right now, as she knows it’ll be a costly affair and doesn't want to strain the people. Both Elenie and Lilith went on to say that they would pay for their own things, because they of course would not dare to strain the people either.”

“So, it’s like ladies in waiting?” Tristan asks, and I almost vomit. 

“More like combat comrades.” I answer, giving him a grin. “We’re her eyes and ears. Her two spymasters, each looking in different directions.” 

Elenie laughs. 

“Lilith looks for the outside who is trying to fit in too much, while I’m watching the insider trying to be too trustworthy.” She explains, and Tristan whistles.

“That is awfully clever.” He says. “And it makes the worry I had for tonight redundant. I’ll go back to the pack then, make sure to call if you need me.” 

“You and Tilly will need to be here for dinner. You two are also invited as the third in command.” Tristan sighs. 

“We’ll be here. It’s getting increasingly difficult for Tilly to leave the pack without someone getting kidnapped or murdered while she is gone. She doesn’t want to be gone more than an hour tops.” 

Drake and I exchange a look, and I nod. 

“We’ll make sure someone is there to intervene if they try anything tonight.” He says, reaching out and patting Tristan's shoulder.