Betrayal by Cyndi Goodgame

purpose in this world and I was not..and none of them were sharing.
    They weren’t amused as they all three realized what I’d done, but I quickly snapped at them, “Okay, fine.  So the big daddy in charge mimics that of Ian’s mother, but isn’t that why I’m here?  To change that.  And you act all high and mighty Kin, but you can quit playing Jekyll and Hyde with me.  Either you’re like your father or you’re not.” 
    I know I suddenly turned cranky like a switch in the weather, but with their consistent need to make me feel needed and then try to overpower anything I decide, I wanted them back in their places.
    I have many dead people who talk to me, whisper advice into my ear in the finest of moments.  I take their advice in those moments where life shouldn’t allow you to make your own decisions.  This was one of those moments.  The dead whisperer? Eleanor Roosevelt.  The advice, “ Do one thing every day that scares you. ”  Here goes!
    “Not!”  He said it coolly, but I knew him better now.
    “Now that’s the Kin I know so well.  You say you’ve changed, but it will take a hell of a lot more than holding your temper to convince me.  You never needed me to step in your court to return, a factitious hoax.  One of your many.   I want to know what he knows and why he seems to think it’s such a big secret, but not at the expense of my court or the people I love.”
    His face distorted at the last word.  The small piece of the new Kin was in visual heartache.  Maybe the others didn’t notice, but I did. 
    “Fine, then he will meet you elsewhere.” His teeth gritted.
    “Where?” I felt silly.  I wanted to just call the dude on a cell phone and get it over with.  This archaic way of transferring information gets old after a while.
    “The lair my sweet gem.”
    He knew I’d say no all along.  “Convenient that the meeting place is easily changed at a moment’s notice.”
    “He and I remain prepared.”
    Funny. Dear ole daddy’s son was still lurking somewhere inside there.  “We will be there.  I will send a message to you for as to the when.  Be sure to tell daddy to be on call.”
    “Can I talk to you, privately?” his voice was nonthreatening, but desperate.
    “Not a chance!” Ian said.
    “Not in this life,” spat Pike at the end of Ian’s words.
    Kin eyed me with a different look than I’d seen from him, yet I knew what his eyes wanted.  They went to where my winter court pendant would be hanging in the bottom of my shirt if it were located there at the second.  I opened my mind and blocked other places intending to gave a mere ten seconds.
    Can you hear me?
    Yes.
    Grace, I only want what I want.
    I know.
    I can’t be myself around these clowns.
    Understood.
    My father wants to tell you something that will throw you into my arms and make you run away from your court.
    And you’re telling me why?
    Ian and Pike figured out our little deceptive mind talk now and were trying to break through.  They couldn’t.
    Because I don’t want you hurt.
    Why?   I eyed him cautiously.
    Grace, don’t make me say what will never be.  I just want you to know that my father....
    He trailed off in his mind.  That’s a hard thing to read since it isn’t exactly a science for me yet to follow completely.  Yes?
    He knows about your father. 
    WHACK!  If this is what it feels like to be hit by an eighteen wheeler, then dang it hurts.
    I jumped on complete advice taken from Mrs. Roosevelt herself or maybe just plain anger wishing now my impulsiveness could see the future of my actions sometimes.  I didn't foresee it.  “What.do.you.know.about.my.father?”  I held his shirt in my hand twisting and yanking him to me.  I hit his chest hard.  He was a brute force who ignored his own strength and allowed me to do it. 
    My two guard happy boys beside me jumped onto me and held on.  I continued, “ IF he so much as harms one hair on my parents head, I will kill him and