AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And, to make it worse, each time Kallan had asked the coven leaders who they thought were the most powerful magic users in the land, her papa had made it on the list. One coven leader was nice enough to include Holly, but Holly knew that had more to do with the Brandlevine name than Holly herself. Fernwood was just as obsessed with lineage as her papa was, and Brandlevine had always produced great witches and wizards.
From the tension in the group on the walk back, Holly knew her mates were thinking that the chances of it being her papa had increased, but just because her papa was rude and grumpy at times didn’t make him a traitor to the Realm. And despite Kallan’s comment about her Empath magic being unreliable, Holly also knew she would sense that type of evil. There had to be something they weren’t seeing.
Luca crooned at her, and Holly scratched his neck with a smile. The dragon had been remarkably well behaved today as they traveled, keeping Holly in sight as much as he could. Holly had encouraged him to take short flights to build the strength in his wings, and he had even hunted successfully.
Holly smiled as she remembered him dropping a full deer in front of them on the path. Holly had to convince him she wasn’t hungry before he ate it. His scales were already looking shinier just a few days out of his hoard.
Holly gave him one last pat on his neck before she climbed the stairs with the others to enter the Brandlevine manor house. All she wanted to do was lie down in bed. Maybe even next to one of her mates, if the tension between them would dissipate.
“Holly?” Ilena’s voice had Holly freezing in the entryway. Her aunt gave her a soft smile. “Your father stopped by and asked that you and your mates attend dinner tonight at their house.”
Holly held in her groan. Of course he did. He likely had gotten over his surprise at her mates and wanted to interrogate them now. He didn’t like not knowing things, and her mates were a big unknown. She pasted a smile on her face for her aunt. “Of course. Did he say what time?”
“Half past six, my dear, so you might want to hurry.”
Holly nodded as Kallan placed a gentle hand on her back. “What can we expect from this dinner?” Kallan asked as they walked into their suite.
Holly shrugged. “He likely just wants to get to know you.”
They didn’t have time to talk further, as it was already six o’clock. Each of them hurried into their rooms and changed quickly. Holly pulled out a gray dress with a demure style. Her papa always liked her dressing like a princess, but also not drawing too much attention to herself. Maybe if she dressed appropriately for him, he would be in a better mood.
Synora frowned when she saw Holly’s dress but didn’t say anything. Kieran studied her for a moment longer than he usually did, but offered her his arm with a tentative smile. Holly took his arm with a tentative smile of her own, and his smile morphed into a larger one. “You look beautiful,” he said.
“Thanks,” Holly said. “We should go if we don’t want to be late.”
Kallan nodded and held the door open for them. They walked out the back of the manor house and down the path. Holly’s parents’ house was the first one on the left, so it was a short walk. Holly lifted her free hand and knocked on the door. She could have pushed it open, but she had a feeling tonight was going to be formal, a way for her papa to feel like he had some control of the situation.
Holly all of a sudden felt very tired. She loved her parents and aunt and uncle, but she didn’t miss all the politics of being back home. Kieran frowned down at her in concern, but she didn’t have time to reassure him before the door swung open.
“Holly,” her mama said softly, standing there dressed in a pink lace dress. “Come in. I don’t think we’ve been officially introduced,” she said to the others.
“I’m Kieran, ma’am.” Kieran offered her a charming grin. “This is my brother, Kallan. This is Synora, and… this is Luca. He’s going to stay outside.”
Her mama’s eyes flicked over Kieran’s shoulder to where Luca had made himself comfortable. “We will actually be eating in the garden, if he wants to come around the back. As long as he doesn’t squash my roses.”
Holly’s eyebrows rose. They usually ate in the house’s formal dining room. Maybe her parents were making an effort to be more welcoming?
“Thanks, Mama,” Holly said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “It’s good to see you.”
Her mama tucked a piece of hair behind Holly’s ear and gave her a rare, warm smile. “You too, my darling. It’s not been the same here without you.”
Holly smiled at her mama and then stepped by her to let the others file through. While Kallan and Synora greeted her mama, Holly sent an image of the gardens to Luca with a strong warning not to crush any flowers. Luca grumbled back but agreed, and Holly could feel the tremors in the earth as he walked around to the back of the house.
Her papa’s study doors opened, and he stepped out. His eyes slid over the group coolly before he straightened his vest. “Shall we eat?” he asked with an arched eyebrow.
Holly bit her cheek, praying that everything was going to be fine.
* * *
“Thank you,”she whispered to Kallan as he pulled out her seat in the gardens.
He pressed a gentle kiss against her temple in response, and Holly ignored her papa’s eyes boring into the side of her head.
Kieran pulled out her mama’s and then Synora’s chair. Her mama smiled at him, but Synora rolled her eyes, and he shot her a grin. Holly was glad they were getting along well, even if things had been tense lately. Well, that was because of her, she guessed, but still.
The first course had just been served when her mama asked, “So, how did you all meet? Holly is usually such a good girl and tells her parents these things, but maybe not anymore,” she said pointedly.
Holly didn’t roll her eyes, although she sure wanted to. Although her papa always wanted more information, her mama could be just as nosy. Not knowing who her mates were was likely killing her, but that didn’t mean Holly didn’t talk to her ever. It just meant her relationship with her parents was… complicated.
