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“You aren’t afraid I’ll set you on fire?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Nope, but even if you do, I will not blame you because I know you would not do it on purpose.” He flexed his opposite arm. “Besides, I am a vampire, and Aiden has been showing me exercises so I can be strong. I bet I would heal really, really fast.”
“You have?” Meryn asked in a soft voice, looking up at her mate.
A flush worked up the back of Aiden’s neck. “He said he wanted to be able to protect you, and I want him able to defend himself so no one mistreats him again.”
Meryn simply climbed over his thigh, under his arm, and settled into his lap. “I love you, babe.”
Smiling, Aiden rested his cheek on the top of her head. “I love you, too.”
“That’s so sweet,” Zoe observed.
“They are the best brother and sister a guy could ask for,” Pip added.
“Since Meryn said I belong to her now, I’ll share my brother and sister with you, Pip,” she offered.
His eyes widened. “Really?” he squeaked.
“Yup, they are going to love you to pieces.” Zoe was certain they would spoil the vampire rotten. He was too cute not to.
Pip frowned. “Meryn, we need to find our new brother,” he said in a serious tone.
Meryn gave a short nod. “Babe, call your secret number or whatever and tell Mikel to come here.”
Aiden was already pulling out his phone. “I was going to reach out to him anyway. It’s not like him to miss her birthday, especially her coming of age.” He tapped the screen of his phone then held it up to his ear.
“Mikel, it’s Aiden. Where in the hell are you?”
Zoe felt her breath catch. Her brother was really on the other end of the phone?
“Why am I asking? Because I have a very distraught Zoe in front of me, who is worried sick over you. What? No, I’m not in Storm Keep. I’m in Éire Danu. Why? Long story, but I’m glad I’m here since ferals started appearing. Yes, Zoe is here.” Aiden pulled the phone away and scowled at it before returning it to his ear. “I’ll have you know my mate is also here, and I would never let anything happen to either of them. Hmm. So, when are you getting here? Why? Do you need an extraction?” Aiden paused. “Then why?” Aiden listened some more. “You know what, you tell her.” Aiden tossed the phone to Cord, who was still standing behind her. He easily caught it and presented it to her by laying it on his forearm. “Lady Zoe.”
She brought the phone up. “Mikel?”
“Baby girl, what are you doing in Éire Danu?”
“The queen requested the Fire Temple Head since they’re having problems with their lights, so Caroline made sure I was able to leave.”
“Fire Temple Head? You?”
“Yes, I had my coming of age last month… alone,” she added for good measure.
“Oh, honey, I would have been there if I could have, but what I’m working on, it’s for both of us, okay?”
“Can’t you come home? Caroline said I shouldn’t return to Storm Keep unless you or Morrigan were there.”
“Why on earth would she say that?”
Zoe hesitated. If he was truly working on something important, then she didn’t want to upset him.
Pip nudged her. “Tell him.”
“Tell me what, who is that?” Mikel demanded.
“The council came to the manor and packed up my things and moved me into the Fire Temple. Then they assigned me an assistant that tracked my every move. He wasn’t very nice,” she admitted, her voice cracking. Under the table, Pip took her other hand.
There was a long silence before her brother spoke again. “Zoe, baby, you never have to return to Storm Keep if you don’t want to. You are with people now that will protect you until I can return to your side. Know that I love you very, very much, and I’m doing everything I can to come back.”
