Chapter Four #3
Nicol edged closer until she stood behind her brother. She reached out and held onto the back of his shirt.
“You are very brave, both of you,” Darian commended.
“Dad said I was brave too,” Keran said.
“Now, let me show you the land of the fae,” Darian said, leading them toward the portal.
Hunter held out his hand, much in the same way Darian did, and Kiera took it quickly. In a low voice, she said. “We need to find out what happened.”
“We will.”
“Have fun! See you at dinner,” Anne called out.
“Bring me back some brownies!” Meryn ordered.
Hunter nodded and walked through with his mate.
*****
“Whoa!”
“It’s gorgeous!”
Darian was showing the kids around the large family room.
“Are these the kids who need to go shopping?” Amelia asked, walking in. Behind her, the previous queen, her consort, and Cord, walked in.
Nicol stared up at Queen Aleksandra. “You’re so pretty.”
The Queen laughed. “I think you’re the pretty one.” She easily scooped her up and carried her on one hip. “Look at those curls,” she said, fluffing Nicol’s hair.
Lily Camden stood beside the queen. “Amelia had curls like this when she was younger.”
Keran was standing in front of Brennus, his head tilted all the way back, staring up at the fae.
Hunter could understand. Though Brennus had passed on the title of Consort to Amelia, he was still an imposing figure as a warrior. Hunter gave his mate’s hand a squeeze, then walked over to Amelia. He plucked her up off her feet and swung her around.
She squealed and batted at his head, as she usually did. “Hunter! Put me down this instant.”
“Huh?”
“Hunter!” she screeched, laughing the entire time.
He put her down. “That’s from ma, she said to give ‘Amy’ a hug.”
Amelia hugged his arm. “That’s for her. Oh! I do miss her so.”
Hunter pointed to Amelia. “Your grandma helped raise Amelia. She used to help your grandpa in the garden, just like you both did today. The pretty lady holding your sister is Meryn’s Auntie and the one next to her is Amelia’s mom and Meryn’s other Auntie.”
Keran smiled up at Amelia. “Auntie Meryn said to ask you for her Auntie’s bracelet so I can buy my sisters things. Which one should I ask?”
Amelia looked from Keran to Hunter and back. “Auntie Meryn?”
“She called us nuggets.”
Amelia laughed. “It’s official then.”
“That’s what Unky said.”
“Unky huh?” Amelia asked.
“We’re not using the term ‘uncle’ right now,” Darian said, mouthing the word.
Queen Aleksandra looked to him. “Is that being handled?”
Hunter looked down at Keran. “When they’re ready.”
The queen nodded then carried Nicol over to a side table.
She pulled out a gold bracelet from the drawer and handed it to Keran.
“My daughter Izzy gave this back to me when her mate insisted she use the one he made her. Don’t worry about the jewels, those are buttons for portals and alarms. Just show this to any shop owner and you can get whatever you want. ”
Keran stared down at it. “A magic bracelet.”
The former queen laughed. “Now he sounds like Meryn.”
Amelia turned to Darian. “I want to get them things too. His mother practically raised me and they are her grandchildren.”
Darian wrapped an arm around her, making faces at Nicol, making her smile. “We’ll pay for half of whatever they want.”
Hunter groaned. “Ma wanted to pay for things too.”
Queen Aleksandra nodded. “Let her pay for half, Darian. She will want to provide for her grandchildren, we’ll get everything else.”
Kiera walked up behind Keran. “That’s too much.”
Hunter could see how uncomfortable she was. “Darling, I don’t even think Queen Aleksandra knows how much money she actually has. It will bring her great joy to buy things for the children.”
“Queen!” Kiera squeaked.
“Oh, dear,” Amelia murmured.
“Queen!” both Keran and Nicol exclaimed.
“Cool!” Keran said, looking down at the bracelet in his hands with renewed interest.
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. “I forgot to tell you. Darian is Meryn’s brother, but he’s also the new King of the Fae.”
That was as far as he got. He moved quickly, catching his mate.
“She didn’t even fully pass out when she heard about the bad stuff,” he said, holding her close.
Brennus chuckled. “Meryn has a way of making things seem so commonplace.”
“My Unky is the King of the Fae?” Keran asked.
“Are you his mama?” Nicol asked, pointing to Darian from Queen Aleksandra’s arms.
“I am.”
Nicol gave a serious nod. “I could tell, because you’re very pretty.”
Hunter held his mate and began lightly tapping her cheeks. “Hun, it’s okay.”
His mate slowly began to wake up. “What happened?”
“I think you found your limit for the day,” he said, kissing her forehead.
Kiera looked to Nicol and Queen Aleksandra. “Your Majesty, I am so sorry.”
Aleksandra waved off her concerns. “Nothing to be sorry for.”
“Kiera! Unky Darian is the King of the Fae!” Keran announced.
Kiera’s right eye began to twitch.
Hunter fanned her. “It’s okay!”
When she turned to look at him, he knew he was in trouble. “I probably should have said something huh?”
“You think!”
“Crap.”