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"Ella is a grown woman and can handle a few questions," Taranis replied.
Oberon was watching Mananan in his silent knowing way that made him defensive.
"What?" he demanded.
"Nothing. I've just never seen you remotely concerned for a human before," Oberon replied, the corner of his mouth lifting in a grin.
Mananan's eyes narrowed. "I saved her life. I'm obligated to make sure she's okay."
"She's totally fine. I made sure of it. Obligation over," Taranis said and grinned at Bayn. "What do you think my chances are of getting her to say yes to a date? I can shield better than any of you, and I doubt she's met anyone who could physically touch her without sending images into her mind." Water rose from a glass decanter in front of Bayn, before the liquid splashed into Taranis's face, making him curse. "What the hell was that for?"
"You had it coming, and you know it," Oberon replied, his big brother tone warning them both to drop it.
Taranis wiped the water off his face. "If you're not interested in asking her out, Manan, you have no right to object to me doing it."
Mananan hissed, low and threatening. "Stay the fuck away from her."
"That's going to be hard to do if she's working with us," Taranis goaded.
"Enough, Taran. Don't be an asshole," Oberon snapped.
Taranis held his hands up in mock surrender. Mananan walked out of the room. His brother was in a mood to piss him off, and if he kept at it, things would end with Mananan smacking him into next week.
Mananan paused as Ella came out of the kitchen. She smiled brightly up at him, and it was like getting punched in the sternum.
"Survived the interrogation?" he asked, trying to get his breath back to normal.
"They are fine. It was friendly interrogation and not hostile like I usually get from people I don't know. They added me to their group chat," Ella said, her cheeks going red. "They said I have no choice but to be their friend. I don't… I don't make friends easily."
It was an admission Mananan didn't expect from her. He could understand it though. Humans had never been accepting of what they thought was different or unique. Ella was definitely the latter.
He wanted to hug her but stopped himself just in time. "You're about to have so many, you won't know what to do. They are good women and genuine. They are good friends to have," he replied.
Ella pulled at the sleeves of her sweater. "You said that you had something that I could use to track down the Fomorians. Can I see it?"
Mananan gestured to her to follow him. "My nephew has it. I apologize in advance for my brothers. Taran is in a mood, and Oberon is curious. It can make them intense to be around."
It seemed a nicer way to say, 'They are annoying bastards who think it's hilarious that I'm trying to make friends with a human.'
Ella laughed. "You're rather intense yourself, Mananan. Besides, I'm sure you'll protect me if they get out of line." She was teasing, but he felt the truth of it deep in his guts.
"I promise I will protect you from everything that tries to harm you," he said before he could hold it back.
Ella's blush deepened. "Then let's go see your brothers."
9
Ella had been more than warned about how the fae males would behave. She had been told straight by Freya, Elise, and Chrissy that their mates and uncles were bossy males and teased each other mercilessly.
They are family. Ella had always wanted siblings or cousins to play with. She had only ever had her grandmother, and after the accident, she had to be home-schooled. People only triggered her, but the fae seemed respectful in ways that normal humans never were. Maybe she would be able to keep these friends for a while.
Ella fidgeted with the sleeves of her shirt, instinctively pulling fabric over her skin to protect it. The castle was so old that she was worried that the briefest touch would send her into a memory spiral.
Mananan opened the door to a study, and Ella's heart skipped with nerves. Four fae males were talking all at once. She knew Bayn and Taranis, but the other two were strangers. Both had antlers which she wanted to touch just to check that they were real.
Kian, the Blood Prince, had been in the media enough in the past years that Ella recognized him immediately. She had an overwhelming urge to bow but resisted it.
"Ah, so you are the woman Manan pulled out of the sea," the older fae male said, rising to his feet. He surprised her by giving her a small bow. "I'm Oberon, and this is Kian."
