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“Very well.” I heaved a frustrated breath. I had a castle to run. I didn’t have time to play nursemaid. Then again, I probably owed the girls this, a way to redeem myself after my earlier behavior, and Mrs. Euphemia clearly needed a break. I forced a smile. “Tell me what to do.”
The girls shared a look, and I wondered if they were telepathically speaking. I’d heard that twins sometimes had that ability.
“Haven’t you ever played hide-and-seek?” Aurora finally asked.
“I suppose Blaze and I did when we were very little.” Though I didn’t remember.
Mrs. Euphemia cleared her throat as she leaned forward and poured herself a cup of steaming tea. “Lord Inferni became Lord of the Manor when he was seven and didn’t have time for games after that.”
Ember slipped her hand in mine, looking up at me with glossy eyes. “That’s so sad, Uncle Drae.”
I smiled at her, stroking her smooth cheek. I had no idea how these little sprites had managed to worm their way into my heart, but I didn’t think I could ever get tired of them calling me Uncle Drae. If only their aunt would warm up to me the way they did, though I couldn’t fault Shirina. Children forgave easier, and I’d given Shirina plenty of reasons to stay angry.
“We’ll teach you how to play again,” Aurora said.
“We’re very good at it,” Ember added.
I laughed at that. “I bet you are.”
“Cover your eyes and count to ten very slowly,” Aurora said, “and when you’re done, you come find us.”
I wrapped myself up in my wings. “Like this?”
The girls giggled. “Yes. Like that.”
When Mrs. Euphemia gasped, I peered at her through my feathers. “What is it?”
Her mouth twisted in a scowl as she heaved herself from her chair. “I’ve told them no more teleporting, but they did it again.”
Flames of dread raced through my veins. They wouldn’t leave the castle. They knew better, didn’t they? “Well, they couldn’t have gone far, right?”
“No. Not too far.” Mrs. Euphemia jutted her hands on her hips, spinning a circle around the nursery. “Princess Aurora can only teleport to places she’s seen before.”
Places she’s seen before? Holy flames, that could be anywhere! “It won’t take me long to search the castle.” I had a feeling they were in the dining room or the kitchen, wherever they could get access to tarts. “Why don’t you wait here for them?”
The nursemaid bowed, though her face was still pinched tight. “Yes, My Lord.”
