Page 69 of Curse of Ancients

“Love you too,” they said together.

Carleigh disconnected and stood, tucking her laptop under one arm. “Let’s go eat.”

Gemi and Katherine were setting the table, and Julian was pulling a pan of biscuits out of the oven. Carleigh took Juni to the half bath and helped him wash his hands. While eating, Carleigh told Gemi about Sebastian and Dakota and mentioned taking a trip to see them. She described the land and the lodge, hoping the female would be interested in visiting.

“That sounds like Anjailang without it being an island. I do miss the mountains.”

“Then I think you’ll enjoy visiting,” Carleigh hedged. “I promised we’d visit as soon as Bayu returns from Japan and has a chance to rest.” Her phone buzzed with an alarm from the gate. She checked it to see Dominic letting himself in.

“What about your job? Don’t you need to work?” Gemi ducked her head, blushing. “Forgive me. It is none of my business.”

“Nothing to forgive. I can work from anywhere as long as I have an internet connection. Harlow, Nikita, and Madsen are handling everything for the time being. That’s the beauty of having several people who are gifted with computers. If one of us needs time off, the others take up the slack. Most of what we do is for our Clan and the Hounds. We only take paying jobs if they are worthy of our time. We’ve been approached by the government on more than one occasion, but we always turn them down.” Carleigh didn’t explain that they didn’t want anyone in an official capacity anywhere near their jobs.

“Do I smell biscuits?” Dominic asked as he sauntered in from the side door. Carleigh did a doubletake. She had never seen the twins’ dad in anything other than his pirate-style clothing. This morning, he wore black cargo shorts and a loose T-shirt with flip-flops.

“Who are you and what have you done with Dominic Dubois, swashbuckler extraordinaire?” Carleigh joked.

“Och, Lass, I like to keep things interesting.” Dom winked at her as he rounded the table to squat beside Juni. “And how is the cub this morning?”

Juni held out a squished biscuit. “Bite?” Dominic pretended to nibble the bread, making ridiculous sounds as he did so. Juni giggled before shoving a huge bite in his own mouth.

Dom stood and then helped himself to a cup of coffee. Bayu hadn’t wanted to leave until the older Goyle arrived, but Carleigh assured him Julian could look after them until he did. Gemi stood to fix Dom a plate, but he waved her off.

“I appreciate the offer, Gemi, but I don’t mind helping myself.”

“Did Lilly not feed you?” Julian asked.

“Of course she did, but I’ll never turn down homemade biscuits, even if you made them.”

Julian shook his head, laughing. Dom had started off being good friends with Carleigh’s Uncle Gregor since their mates were cousins. Tessa and Lilly met before either one of them were mated to the Goyles. Lilly, being adopted when she was born, hadn’t known Tessa was related to her. That story intrigued Carleigh. Not that Lilly had been adopted, but how Tessa traveled the world looking out for the half-bloods who had yet to meet their mates. It was bad enough they never knew when they would transition, but some of them had no idea they were Gargoyles. When Lilly became pregnant, she asked Dominic if they could move from New Orleans to Atlanta to be closer to family. They did, and Dominic became a favorite with his love of rum and the stories he told. They kept their house in the Garden District, and Solara lived there when she was in the city working at their store in the French Quarter.

Thinking of Solara brought Violet to mind. “How is Violet?”

“Poor lass is as jumpy as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but my girls will bring her around. Elle offered to help too, but I think the fae will learn more from the teen than vice versa. Violet is powerful, but she hid what she was capable of from her father. Whenever you or Julian get the opportunity, she needs identification. If we were certain she doesn’t have other Black Lotus looking for her and the means to find her, I’d order her birth certificate and Social Security card through the proper channels.”

“Of course. It’s the least we can do after she helped Bayu.” Carleigh’d had time to think about the teen, and holding a grudge merely because she’d been raised by an evil mage was wrong.

“Much obliged.”

Carleigh’s beast rumbled in her chest, but it was a happy stirring. She looked inward and felt Bayu’s Tiger. The two seemed to be chatting. She found it odd the two could converse without involving Carleigh or Bayu.

Tell him we miss them.

Already did. Tiger hates flying, by the way.

“Carleigh?” Juniper poked her in the side, making her wiggle to get away from Juniper’s sharp nail.

“What?”

“I asked if you and Dad talked about getting a jet.”

“Oh, yeah. We picked one out, as long as you’re okay with it considering you’re paying for a quarter of it.”

Juniper stood, taking her empty plate to the dishwasher. “You and Bayu will be using it more than anyone, so I’m fine with whatever you choose.”

Julian placed his napkin on his empty plate. “Since we’re all in agreement, Carleigh, why don’t you move all the money to one account, and I’ll get in contact with Connor and get the name of his sales agent. Silas already called his brother when we first discussed this. He will need time to pack up his house and find one here, but he said he could rent something if we need him quicker than that.”

“I think we can wait that long. At least I hope Bayu doesn’t have to travel again so soon.”