Chapter Five #2
“Oh no!” the woman turned in circles. “Did I set a fire again?”
“No, hahaue,” the small boy on her left replied calmly.
Kiera waved her hands in front of her. “I can feel magic sometimes, fire magic makes my belly feel warm.”
Keran pulled on her sleeve. “Me too.”
The woman with bright red hair thrust her hand forward. “I’m Zoe Fabre, these are my sons, Yuki and Ame.”
Kiera took it. “I’m Kiera Sorrel, recently mated to Hunter Armstrong.”
Zoe looked at Hunter. “Unit warrior?”
He nodded. “Nu unit in Storm Keep.”
Zoe tilted her head. “Aren’t Meryn and Aiden in Storm Keep now?”
Kiera smiled. “We just left them to come here to get some clothes for dinner.”
Keran snapped his fingers. “Auntie wanted brownies.”
Zoe laughed. “That’s easy. Go down the street until you see a shop shaped like an oven. It’s run by a giant of a man named Peter. Just tell him they’re for Meryn.”
Keran looked at Zoe. “How did you know I meant they were for Auntie Meryn?”
“Because that woman was living off them when she was here.”
“Kiera let’s get her brownies, then head back. Unky Brennus said we can come back to do more shopping later,” Keran said, pulling her past the door.
“When you come back, do you want to play? We can introduce you to the other kids,” Ame offered.
Both Keran and Nicol looked at her. “Of course, you can come back and play.” She looked up at Zoe. “I don’t know when we’ll be back, but I’d love it if they could make friends.”
Zoe clapped her hands together. “Tell Meryn to give you all of our contact information. Anytime you want to come, I’ll show you around.”
“I like it here,” Keran said. “No fake uncles or Witches’ Council.”
Zoe gasped. “Oh, my goodness. Do you need to stay here? I can help.”
Kiera shook her head. “Hunter is handling it.”
Zoe took out her phone. “I’m texting my brother, if you need anything in Storm Keep, he can help.”
Kiera laughed. “I appreciate that, but I think we’ll be okay.”
“It’s no problem. My brother has been butting heads with the Witches’ Council anyway.”
Behind her, Hunter stepped forward. “What’s his name?”
“Mikel Appleblossom,” she replied, looking proud.
Hunter turned to her. “We served with Mikel for decades, he’s a great guy. I’ll introduce the next time we see him.”
“You know my brother! What a small world,” Zoe said, beaming at them both.
“It’s like you unit warriors are everywhere,” Kiera teased.
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” he boasted.
“Come back soon!”
“We will,” Kiera promised.
They walked out and headed down the street Zoe had pointed to.
“Kiera, do we have the same magic?” Keran asked.
“I think we may. Kendrick said he would look into it.”
Keran smirked. “Fake uncle was wrong.”
Kiera was overjoyed to hear him say ‘fake uncle’ without being scared. The support of Brennus and Hunter gave Keran the courage to speak up, and she would forever be grateful for it.
They walked for a bit before Nicol stopped. “It is an oven!”
Keran pulled them forward, and Kiera laughed at his enthusiasm.
They opened the door and heard a booming voice. “Welcome to the Brick Oven! What can I get you?” a large man called out.
Both Nicol and Keran stopped, tilted their heads back, and stared.
“He’s taller than Dad,” Nicol whispered.
Hunter stepped forward. “Peter, I take it?”
“That’d be me. Who do we have here?” Peter asked, looking down at the kids.
Hunter placed a hand on Keran’s shoulder. “I’m Hunter Armstrong, from Storm Keep. This is my mate Kiera Sorrel and her brother and sister, Keran and Nicol.”
“Do you have brownies for Auntie?” Keran asked.
Peter rubbed his chin. “Auntie?”
Keran’s eyes were locked on the glass case in front of him. “Auntie Meryn.”
Peter burst into laughter. His deep belly laugh had both kids smiling. “That one huh? Aye, I have plenty for our princess. What can I get you two?”
Keran looked back. “Can we?”
She nodded.
Both Nicol and Keran practically smushed their faces against the glass.
Peter just chuckled at their excitement while he boxed up a stash of brownies.
He handed Hunter the box that looked like a small brick.
“This one is for Princess Meryn. I think I’ve got the ratios right for that natural sugar substitute. Tell her to let me know if it’s okay.”
Hunter took the box nodding. “I will.”
“Sir? Could I try the one with strawberries on top?” Keran asked.
“I want that one!” Nicol said in a rush, then realized how that sounded. “Please.”
Peter nodded. “Great choices. One strawberry tart for you Mr. Keran and one bear claw for our Miss Nicol.”
Kiera watched in horror as he passed a pastry to her sister that was clearly bigger than her head, maybe even Hunter’s head. Nicol almost struggled to hold it. “I second thought, let’s wrap those up, for after dinner. We don’t want the food to go to waste.”
Peter passed her two boxes, and the kids dutifully packaged up their desserts. Kiera reached for her wallet. “How much do we owe you?”
Keran pulled out his bracelet. “I’m paying.”
Peter eyed the bracelet and waved him off. “No charge for Meryn’s brownies and I’ll send a form to Portia. I hope you come back to see me.”
Keran nodded. “I would come every day if I lived here. We don’t have shops like this in Storm Keep.”
“You’re always welcome.”
“You have my thanks,” Hunter said and held the door open.
The walk back to the palace felt surreal. So much changed since that morning. “Hunter…” She couldn’t articulate what she wanted to say.
He looked back her. “Yes, love?”
She stopped. “Is this real?”
Hunter set Nicol down and went to her, and pulled her into his arms. “Does it feel like a dream? Everything is too good to be true?”
“Yes!” She pointed to their surroundings. “This morning I was calculating rent estimates, now, I’m walking through éire Danu, my mate at my side and my brother has a gold bracelet from the queen.”
“And brownies,” Keran added seriously.
“They’re smiling,” she said, pointing to her siblings. “Everyone I’ve met is royalty!” She clutched at her chest. “My uncle should be on a short list to go to hell…” She tried to breathe but couldn’t quite catch her breath.
“Let me guess, another warrior upset their mate,” a male voice drawled.
Warm hands rubbed her back. “Take a deep breath and hold it, then let it out slowly,” he advised.
“I have not upset her!” Hunter protested.
“Casek, is she okay?”
The one behind her, helping her to breathe, yelled back. “She’ll be fine in a second, Dav.”
“She’s upset after getting desserts, then you most definitely messed up young man,” Dav chided. “You should bring her in for a pint.”
“We have to go to dinner and deliver brownies to Auntie Meryn,” Keran said, holding up his box.
“Our princess loves those,” Casek said.
“She’s a princess?” Kiera screeched, as the words finally sunk in.
Hunter nodded. “Well, yeah. Brennus is her uncle remember?”
“I mean I knew, you all said, but I didn’t…”
Casek kept up a breathing count for her.
“Hunter, you dumbass! Regular folk don’t normally hobnob with royalty,” Dav fussed as he carried out a small shot glass. “Here you go girlie.”
Kiera didn’t even hesitate. She shot the liquid back. A small bonfire flared in her stomach, then settled down to a nice cozy warmth. “I think I can breathe now.”
Dav clucked his tongue. “Found a way to add distilled Blessed Chamomile to Forbidden Fruit. It’s been too popular lately.”
Kiera stared down at the empty shot glass. “I don’t drink, but that, can we buy that?”
Dav nodded. “I’ll do you one better.” He disappeared for a second before he came back with a bottle, which he handed to Hunter. “I’ll send two more bottles to Caiden. That’s where Meryn is staying, so that’s where the chaos will be. I have a feeling you all will need it more than anyone.”
Casek gently pushed her toward Hunter. “He’s spent too much time with Caiden to realize how intimidating it can be to meet the leaders of our world.”
She looked back and gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
He winked at her. “Send any single friends our way.”
Keran frowned. “She doesn’t have any friends.”
Kiera scowled down at her brother. “Brat.”
“Hunter, get her home and get some dinner in her, then follow up with another shot,” Dav advised.
Hunter pulled her close. “I didn’t mean to forget to tell you, but…”
Kiera placed a finger on his lips. “It didn’t matter to you because you care about them the same regardless.”
He nodded.
She traced his lip, causing his eyes to widen before she moved away to stretch. “Dinner sounds good.”
Hunter whimpered causing the men to laugh.
“Come on, I’m getting hungry,” Keran said, taking her hand.
“Dad!” Nicol demanded, holding her arms up.
Hunter picked her up and sat her on his arm.
“Congratulations on your beautiful family,” Dav called out as they walked away.
Hunter smiled from ear to ear. “Thanks!”
*****
“You remembered! Gimme, gimme!” Meryn said, with out-stretched hands.
Keran handed over the box with flair. “For you Princess Auntie.”
Meryn blinked. “Okay, that’s even better than just Auntie. I knew you were a smart nugget.” She took the box and inhaled deeply.
Hunter passed the bottle to Caiden. “Kiera has had a rough day. Dav said a shot of this after dinner would help. He’s learned how to infuse Blessed Chamomile with Forbidden Fruit.”
Caiden tucked the bottle away in the fridge.
Hunter’s mother went to Kiera and pulled her into a big hug. “You doing okay now?”
Kiera nodded and rested her head on his ma’s shoulder. “I didn’t know everyone was royal.”
“Did you tell her about me?” Kendrick asked.
Hunter shook his head and waved his hands.
Kiera straightened. “Huh?”
“Shit,” Kendrick muttered under his breath.