Chapter Four
Hunter stood and placed his mate on her feet before taking her hand. “We’re going to visit with the kids before dinner.”
Caiden waved them off. “We got this, we’ll see you in a few hours.”
Hunter led her back to the front door, and they started back to his parents’ house. “How are you doing?” he asked.
“That small woman, she’s kinda amazing.”
“We think so.”
“Thank you for giving me some time to absorb all this.”
He squeezed her hand. “As much as I love having you by my side and knowing the kids are safe. I almost wish you had stayed away until everything is settled. I would keep this darkness from you if I could.”
“I’m glad we’re together. That way you don’t have to face it alone.”
When she looked up at him, he could see the sweetness in her eyes. He hadn’t been lying when he said he wished she was far from this, even if it took her from him. He didn’t want any shadows to eclipse the light in her eyes. “Are you really okay with Kendrick running tests on you?”
She smiled wide. “That man had the Witches’ Council running circles when he lived in Storm Keep. He has been studying magic almost longer than I’ve been alive.”
Hunter kept his smile frozen in place. He’d let Kendrick decide if he wanted Kiera to know about his true identity. He chuckled nervously. “I’ve heard he knows a lot about magic.”
She nodded and kept going. “He not only can do high-level magic, but he actually studies it too. I wonder if that’s something you have to have magic to do.”
“Is that something you’d want to try?”
“I’d love to figure out how certain magics work together.”
“I bet he’d be interested in hearing you admit as much.”
“Maybe.”
When they got to his parents’ place, he opened the door and walked in. He was about to call out like he normally did, but remembered Nicol had been sleepy when they left. He walked into the kitchen and was surprised to see his Ma spooning out soup into separate bowls. “Where are the kids?”
His mother jumped. “Hunter! You scared the living daylights out of me. Why didn’t you call out like you normally do?”
He felt himself blushing. “Nicol was sleepy when we left.”
His Ma paused, then smiled at him. “You’re such a good boy. The kids are actually with your father out in the garden. He said he needed their help bringing stuff in.”
Hunter eyed the bowls. “Are those for Caiden?”
She nodded. “He loves my beef vegetable.” She then shook her head. “As if he didn’t know all he had to do was ask and I’d make it for him. Silly boy.”
Hunter stared. “Ma, he said he’s old enough to be your father.”
She waved her hand at him. “Maybe even my grandfather, but that doesn’t matter. To me, he’s a good boy.”
“We’re going to play with the kids.”
“Have fun.”
Hunter led Kiera out the back door. “My Ma is amazing.”
“She sure is. I would never call Caiden Ironwood a ‘good boy’.”
“I think it’s because she saw him unravel on a pretty consistent basis when he was raising Amelia. He was constantly going to her for help.”
“Everyone loved hearing stories about her hijinks,” she said, laughing. “Don’t you men call her the Little Terrorist?”
“We sure do and Meryn is called Menace.”
“Kiera!” the children called out before racing over. Both wore bright smiles and dirt covered their hands and faces.
Keran held up his basket. “We’re helping Grandpa.”
Kiera practically melted. Hunter was sure she was thinking the same thing he was. It was the first time they actually looked and acted like kids. “I bet you both have been a huge help,” she said.
Nicol nodded. “Grandpa said his knees hurt, so we have to help him get the vegetables closer to the ground. He showed us how to look for squash and cucumbers!”
Hunter looked over at his dad and raised a brow. The older man simply winked.
Keran held up a tomato. “He said they taste better when you pick them yourself. I want this one on a sandwich. But, we can eat it together.”
Kiera pulled both kids in for a hug, heedless of the dirt. “I’m so proud of you two.”
Both kids beamed.
Hunter knelt down. “We’re going with Grandma and Grandpa to the Nu estate for dinner. I want to introduce you to my unit family.”
Keran quieted and his smile faded. “Are they nice?”
“Do you think I’m nice?”
Keran nodded. “You’re really nice.”
“The men I work with are honorable, kind and selfless. They would do anything to keep you kids safe. It’s our job to protect everyone in Storm Keep,” he explained.
“I heard that the warriors wanted to get rid of the Witches’ Council because they wanted to go back to being the ruling upper class,” Keran said, allowing his basket to sway in his hands.
“Do you know what that means?” Hunter asked.
Keran shook his head.
“Our other three pillar cities are ruled by their Elder Councils. One member from each race helps to govern the city they serve. It allows everyone to be represented. In addition to the Elder Council, each city also has Founding and Noble families. They are usually the ones with the oldest or most powerful bloodlines. But, because they are revered, they also have a lot of responsibilities. They help the Elder Council take care of the people. Here in Storm Keep we have an Elder Council. My unit leader’s father is Elder Marshall Ironwood, he’s our witch representative.
Kal Galloway is a wolf shifter, he’s the Elder for the shifters.
Arnaud Barrat is the Elder for the vampires, and Geon Vi’Ilrey is the Elder for the fae. With me so far?”
Nicol blinked, but Keran nodded, so Hunter continued.
“The unit warriors work with the Elder Council to make sure everyone follows the rules. We also do patrols to make sure no ferals attack our people. Now, the Witches’ Council came about after the Elder Council was formed.
At first, they just handled all the public works problems like running electricity to the Lower City and finding water sources, so the Elder Council could focus on other things.
But now, they want to make the rules and tell people what to do. ”
“But they say they make choices that help us,” Keran said.
Hunter smiled. “On the Witches’ Council, who is looking after the shifters?”
Keran’s lips pursed.
“Who is looking after the fae or vampires?”
“No one,” Keran said.
“Exactly. Storm Keep may be the home of the witches, but it’s also home to others too.”
“Like Grandma and Grandpa?” Keran asked.
“Yes. Normally, if Grandpa had a problem, he would go to Elder Galloway, but he doesn’t have anyone to go to on the Witches’ Council.”
Keran frowned. “That’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not. That’s why the Elder Council is trying to fix things now with the Witches’ Council,” Hunter explained.
“We like the warriors,” Nicol said, in a quiet voice. “They would always wave at us when we sat out front.”
“My good friend Zev had eggs and rotten cabbage thrown at him today. It made him very sad,” Hunter shared.
Keran looked shocked. “But that’s mean.”
“People hear things like you did and believe them. They think the warriors are trying to take things away.”
The young boy put his hand on his hip. “You need to tell them what you told me, Dad. Then they’ll know you are helping.”
Hunter felt his heart flutter again when Keran said ‘Dad’. He didn’t think he’d ever grow tired of hearing it. He bent down and scooped the boy up. “I’ll do my best.”
Kiera picked Nicol up. “How about we get cleaned up?”
The small girl nodded. “I want to look pretty to meet Dad’s family.”
Together they carried the kids inside and showed them two separate bathrooms.
Hunter looked from Keran to Nicol, and back to Kiera. “Are they going to be okay?”
Nicol giggled.
Keran rolled his eyes. “We can take showers, Dad.”
“Let us know when you’re out.”
They both darted to their own bathrooms.
Hunter led his mate to what was now a guest room. “This was my room. Keran is in Graham’s old room and Nicol is in Ewan’s old room. They can sleep together in either one until they’re ready to sleep on their own.”
Kiera pointed to the large furniture. “Definitely made for bear-shifting boys.”
“I’ll get stools later.”
She sat on the bed and looked out the window. “You made everything sound so simple earlier when you were explaining things to Keran.”
“It’s not really that complicated.”
“Before I heard what you said to Keran, I never second-guessed the Witches’ Council, now I’m wondering why they think they can overrule the Elder Council.”
“Mostly due to the scary stuff we’re not talking about right now,” he said, jerking his head toward the bathrooms.
“Right.”
Hunter wanted to change the subject, she had heard enough gloomy stuff already. “Do the kids have athairs?”
She shook her head. “Neither mother nor father were really close with anyone outside of family. Why?”
He grinned at her.
“You have someone in mind?”
“Two someones.”
“Have I met them?”
“You have. I’d like to ask Caiden to be Keran’s athair and Zev to be Nicol’s athair.”
Kiera’s stood and began pacing. “We can’t just ask Caiden Ironwood to be Keran’s athair.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s an Ironwood.”
“I know.”
“His father is our Elder.”
“I know.”
She opened her mouth to keep arguing; he stood and placed a finger over her lips. “He’s my unit leader and one of my closest friends.”
“He won’t get mad?”
“I bet he will be ecstatic. No one has asked him to be an athair yet.”
“If, you’re sure.”
“I am.”
He led her back over to his large king size bed and made her lay down.
She looked toward the door. “The kids…”
“I’m not about to ravish you. You have had a lot thrown at you this afternoon. Lie down and rest for a bit,” he suggested, pulling the quilt up.
He watched as her eyelids began to droop. “Maybe for just a minute.”
He rubbed his hand over her hair until her breathing evened out.
About a half an hour later, Hunter heard the kids walking toward them.
“Kiera?” Keran asked, standing in the open doorway.
Hunter held a finger to his lips, then waved them over.
They ran in.
He lifted the blankets and both kids crawled in to lay next to their sister, their heads wrapped in towels.
When he tucked them in, he was about to leave when he heard Keran. “What about you, Dad?”