- Damien -

"Maybe it has something to do with the fae maybe not. But we can't do anything unless we receive orders to take action." I said to her and the rest of my squad in another of my usual evening meetings.

Gabriella looked at me in disappointment and I averted my gaze. What she said was true about the cases of students commiting suicide.

Being here in the university isn't just for me to take a break from the usual missions, even though technically we're currently on one, just a different kind. Jonathan has been gathering intel lately and he had already been suspecting that these students' deaths are unnatural.

But without direct orders from the HQ, we cannot make any obvious moves. And I for one refuse to budge on this.

Not now. Not when Isabelle is here. I don't want to risk this opportunity.

"But..." She is trying to persist in convincing me about the matter, and I applaud Gabriella for her spirit.

"Everyone. As I told you guys before that we had an additional member. Let me introduce you guys. This is... Isabelle."

I stepped back from the door of our dorm, where I was hiding her behind my back. I was contemplating whether to introduce her as Bella or Isabelle, but in the end my stubbornness won. There is this hopeful thinking of mine that they would get along well together and so I wanted to remove her alias.

"Hi. Please call me Bella." Isabelle smiled as she waved at the rest of them.

I watched as her eyes light with the delight of getting to meet my squad mates. I've told her many stories about them and told her about how we are a family. Nervousness churns in my stomach and I fiddled the buttons of my cream white silk shirt.

Will she like them like how I like them as a family? Will they accept her as one of ours?

"I've heard so much about you guys." She said simply. Vesna raised her brows as she studied Isabelle.

"Oh wow. I thought she would give off a sort of more punky vibes since she takes on solo missions and all."

"Really? Do tell what sort of vibes I give you then?" Isabelle asked her, smiling dangerously. She mirrored her raised brow. I almost laughed. Nobody messes with Isabelle Ytger.

"Oh I don't know... You're more like a lone wolf, I guess? Like someone who shouldn't be messed with and I kinda like that cold ice princess thing too." Vesna eyes her approvingly.

"I don't get it. If she is as good as she is, why is she assigned into our squad?" Fenrys asked, a little confused. "Don't get me wrong. To get a promotion approved by the higher ups, you're probably highly skilled. But, shouldn't you be assigned as a squad leader to a squad if that was the case? Why put you here? And another thing, I don't feel any of your magic imprint."

Ice princess thing? "Hang on. What are you guys talking about." I looked between Vesna and Izzie puzzledly. Does that mean they didn't like her? What the hell is going on?

"And since we are on the topic of powers, I think it's rude to ask such a private question. Isabelle, you don't have to answer him if you don't want to."

"It's nothing you have to be concerned about Damien. Of course you can't feel it. My magic doesn't work that way. It's an innate thing and I rarely use it unless I want to. After all... I'm an empath." Isabelle huffs, staring straight back at Fenrys, who is surprised to find her not backing down.

I'm grateful that both my 2nd and 3rd in-command seem to view this meeting importantly, but to take it upon themselves to test her abilities without my permission? This is getting a little out of hand. Glancing at Isabelle, I tried to reel in my alarm and surprise. Isabelle rarely talks about her powers, especially sharing them to others. Because it comes from her fae parents and they died when she was really young. Even though she couldn't remember much about her parents, it is a sensitive topic.

The powers of a fae is also an intimate part of themselves, telling others about it feels like baring themselves to them.

Fenrys whistled appreciatively. "An empath. Wow."

"Yes. Empaths are very rare and hard to find. We are glad to have someone special like you in our squad." Jonathan gave Isabelle an apologetic smile before whacking his brother on the back roughly.

"Hey what the!? What did I do now?" Fenrys protested as his brother shushed him. "Hush Rys. Just keep your mouth shut for once please." Much to everyone's amusement.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Welcome to the S.P.A.D. Isabelle." Qas said as he reached over to shake her hand politely. Raziel nodded at her from his position against the wall.

"So were you the squad leader of your previous team?" Gabriella asked her curiously. In all my excitement and nervousness, I've forgotten about her. She was the least person I expected to speak up. Then I remembered my previous conversation with Gabriella and how I've dismissed her, a wave of guilt crashed into me.

"Hello, you must be Gabriella. No, unfortunately I wasn't." Isabelle's expression darkens. "If I were the squad leader I would personally recruit my members. They were such pain in the necks. Gosh. Talking about them is just a waste of my breath." She huffed and pouted. Pulling off an annoyed frown and a "woe is me!" look. Only Isabelle could pull it off without looking like her muscle spasmed.

Some of her fans tried to imitate her signature expressions and honestly to me it felt like they looked constipated. They can never pull it off naturally.

"Oh." Gabriella says a little disappointed. She stares at Isabelle admiringly.

I grinned. Isabelle has that kind of effect on others. Her beauty is otherworldly and one of a kind. Fans called her Snow White.

"Izzie- I mean Isabelle." I corrected when I saw her narrowing her eyes. "You will be staying with the girls in the adjacent dorm for the time being. I think this arrangement would be better for us in case we need to be at full strength." I've been hoping that we could have some rare alone time, but not so quickly. Maybe when things have settled down and when the rest are used to having Isabelle around. We can probably work something out. Secret escapades from my squad sounds rather exciting, it reminds me of old times.

Isabelle only nodded and Vesna volunteered to show her to her room. With that, the meeting was over and they dispersed. Each heading out to do their own things. I sighed as I plopped down onto the sofa.

The date for my father's talk is looming ever closer and I have no intentions to change my decision. I made it clear that I wanted nothing to do with his political seat and he had flipped out on me. If our relationship has always been tense, then this topic is making it strained. I won't be surprised if one day in a fit of rage, he would disown me and throw me out on the streets. In fact, I hoped things would turn out that way.

It would be the best outcome.

I will have nothing to do with his political power and his group of loyal ministers who I feel are just greedy entitled men eyeing for the spot of power.

They don't care for the citizens of Soren and sure as hell won't bother to look twice at the orphaned demi-fae thrown into our world. But there is just one problem about that outcome.

I would lose my privileges as S.P.A.D.'s leader and get replaced by the next candidate they want. Thinking about how Fenrys and the others are depending on me, I feel bad for dropping my position just like that. And there's Gabriella. As well as Isabelle.

Izzie would definitely be disappointed in me.

I lay down on the sofa and stretched my feet out at the other end of the arm rest. I'm quite tall around 1.8 m and my expensive oxford shoes dangled over it easily. Swinging it slightly, I leaned against my arms folded behind my head.

I was just being there, indulging in what ifs and what nots when suddenly my phone vibrated with a text message and I silently cursed Suola for not giving me a break. The Dark Queen has been asleep in a deep slumber for many years since the war with the Old Gods, and sometimes I feel that if she was awake, things wouldn't be that bad. I mean I've heard stories of how the Dark fae are a bunch of bloodthirsty warriors, ready to die for their queen. If she was alive and ruling over things on her side, maybe there would be lesser goblins coming over to the Human World.

Maybe, just maybe, my workload would lighten a teensy bit if she is still sitting on the throne and I don't have to worry about faerie kidnappings, mysterious suicides and answer to that many anonymous IDs.

With a sigh, I switched on my phone screen and stared at another anonymous ID. This time my screen doesn't even show the person's contact number. Frowning, I open the inbox and read the contents.

"To whoever it may concern, I am reaching out to the S.P.A.D. for a certain favour. Please meet me at The Royal Lè tomorrow. 12 am. I have news concerning the Fae World and highly classified information.

- Yours Truly, Mr Beast."

I scratched the side of my nose puzzledly and decided to hit the search engine. The place the person wants to meet us is a high class bar in town, known for its highly secured VIP rooms and variety of out-of-world drinks.

"Out-of-world", the term strikes me oddly.

This place is definitely for the rich and those who have too much money to splurge on. The bouncers and security levels are no joke especially since the rooms are prepared for important people like ministers to have meetings. I wouldn't even be surprised if my father actually uses the place for his private meetings.

Even as the Prime Minster's son, I've never heard of this place and I'm surprised that whoever this Mr. Beast is, he seems to know a lot about such dealings. Maybe an expert in the field.

I eyed the message suspiciously. How does he know my number?

There is only one way that this person could get a hold of my private phone number. Either he was an acquaintance of my father, that or my father has recently found a lead to that case and the person of contact is this man. It seems there is only a way to find out. I typed back the words and in seconds my message was sent.

The reply came in several minutes later.

"Who am I, you say? A being who cares about the state of the Human World as well as the future of my population. As your father's son, I'm sure you understand my stance."

He's online and waiting for my reply.

"Why are you seeking the S.P.A.D. members?" I typed back. It doesn't make sense. If he was my father's acquaintance he would reach out to him directly. Yet he had specifically asked for a squad, not me.

The person said nothing. Nor did he type a reply. I waited for a while longer but his status changed to offline. Frustrated, I sighed. The reasons why I hated anonymous IDs, especially if my father used one to contact me. If he thinks it's cool or cute, I can say for certainty it is not. Not cool at all.

To hell with this. I will think about it when the time comes.

Maybe it is time for me to check on Isabelle. See how she's doing and settling in her new quarters.

Running my hand through my short hair, I sat up and opened the adjacent door of our apartment.