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“Introduce us,” Ilena said, smiling encouragingly at Holly.
“This is Kieran.” Holly gave him a quick smile. “And that’s Kallan. They’re Commanders. This is Synora, she’s a warrior under Toan’s command, and that’s Luca.”
Holly deliberately used their titles and avoided saying anything more than necessary about Luca. Her papa related to titles as part of his nature, and hopefully that would soften him to her mates. When his expression didn’t change, she looked at her uncle, hoping he would help her out.
“While we always love seeing you, I feel like this call isn’t a social visit,” Frederick said. “Come inside. Let’s talk and you can tell us what brought you to Brandlevine.”
After a quick bargain with Luca to come back as soon as she was done, they all entered the manor house minus one grumbly dragon. Holly’s mates closed around her protectively, and Holly fought not to roll her eyes. She had known her papa would likely disapprove, but he wasn’t going to kill her over it. He would get over it with time.
Even still, she felt her dinner mask fall over her face a bit as she was back in familiar surroundings, or maybe just with familiar people. By the time they reached Frederick’s office, it was fully back in place, with only a polite smile on her face. Her papa glanced back at her as she passed through the door, and she kept the smile on her face as she met his eyes. Hopefully he wouldn’t be too rude. He could be cutting if he needed to be—Holly had witnessed that growing up—but he was never cutting to her. Just overprotective.
“Is this about the escaped prisoners?” Frederick asked as they settled onto couches. Kallan and Kieran sandwiched Holly between them, and Synora perched on the arm of the couch with a view of the room.
“Are you unable to locate them?” her papa asked rudely. With a subtle dig at her mates’ capabilities, they were off to a great start.
Kallan met his haughty stare with a level gaze. “The queen tasked us with a different assignment.”
“Is that what we’re calling her now?” Her papa looked at Frederick. “A queen?”
“Papa,” Holly said softly. “Please.”
Her papa didn’t even acknowledge she’d spoken, and Holly wanted to roll her eyes. She knew he was angry she hadn’t told him about her mates earlier, but they had been so busy. She was tempted to let her Empath magic out to influence him out of a bad mood, but she also didn’t want to draw attention to it.
Frederick shot his brother a side glance. “She is a queen. Queen of the Elves and Fae. Although some people feel strongly that Queen of the Realm might be more fitting.”
Her papa scoffed but didn’t say anything more.
“How is Claire?” Ilena asked warmly.
“Recovering well,” Holly said, with a small smile at her aunt.
“Any signs of her sight returning?” Her papa’s eyes narrowed at her aunt’s question, but he didn’t say anything, and Holly gave a brief shake of her head.
“So, it’s something else, then?” Frederick asked Kallan.
Kallan kept his eyes on Frederick as he briefly recounted the details of their assignment. He didn’t acknowledge her papa, which only served to make him angrier. Holly’s stomach sank and she shifted uneasily between the twins. Kieran laid a hand on her leg in comfort, and her papa’s eyes snapped to it. Shit.
She laced her fingers with Kieran’s and moved their joined hands to his leg. His eyes held a question in them, but she only gave him a quick half smile. She tuned back in to what Kallan was saying.
“So, we’re looking for Roland and Vanya’s right-hand man,” Kallan said. Surely, he wasn’t done telling the story of the last few weeks already? But it seemed he was when he stopped talking and let the silence linger between the groups.
Holly filled the silence. “We think that person might be a witch or wizard. Hence why we’re here.”
“Well, that’s just a hypothesis,” Kallan said quickly. “We’re going to explore multiple options.”
It was only because Holly had perfected her mask that confusion didn’t show on her face. Kallan had been sure the person was a witch or wizard. Holly had been the one that had recommended other options, and Kallan had shot her down. What was he doing?
She shot a quick glance at her papa and uncle, who were listening to him intently talk about other theories. Did he not trust them? Was that why he wasn’t telling them everything? They were her family, for the Realm’s sake. These two they could trust. When she went to open her mouth again, Kieran squeezed her hand and shook his head minutely when she looked at him. Holly bit the inside of her cheek. What was going on? When had they made this decision?
“We’d appreciate it if we could use your coven as a home base for the next couple of days as we search on this side of the Realm,” Kallan said to Frederick.
“Of course,” Frederick said. “Holly’s family, so whatever you need. Right, Benedict, Clarissa?” Her mama perched on the seat beside him and laid a gentle hand on her papa’s shoulder, silently coaxing him, as was her way all Holly’s life.
Her papa nodded, his eyes leaving Kallan and sliding to Holly. “Of course. It will be wonderful to reconnect with my daughter again. And get to know her… mates.”
Holly held in a sigh. Hopefully, he would soften with time. It wasn’t the life he had imagined for her, sure, but it was her life all the same. And she wanted her mates.
* * *
