“I’ll get someone to put the tea on,” Kenna replied before hanging up.
It wasn’t unusual for the Ironwoods to reach out for magical advice. They were family, after all, but it took a lot for Kenna to admit that she didn’t know what she was dealing with. The Ironwoods had a library almost as extensive as the Greatdrakes, and their bestiaries were second to none. If Kenna was worried, they all should be.
Bas showered quickly and hurried down the stairs when he saw Apollo coming up.
“Good lord, what are you doing awake before noon?” Bas teased.
“I came home early last night,” his brother replied with a slight shrug. That wasn’t like him at all.
“No eligible people left in Dublin to hook up with?”
Apollo chewed the inside of his cheek. “Wasn’t feeling it. Where are you going all bright-eyed?”
“Kenna just called and wants a meeting. Think something has her stumped. Want to come with me? Lots of hot hunters will be there to flirt with,” Bas offered.
Yes!Apollo’s mind screamed out in yearning. Bas quickly shut it off. He respected his brothers’ privacy even if their minds wanted to psychically shout at him.
“No, I got things to do,” Apollo replied unconvincingly.
Bas hugged him. “I’ll tell Lachie you said hi if he’s there.”
“Humph, ask him how his date was last night instead,” Apollo huffed. That explained why his sunny natured big brother looked so miserable.
“You sure it was a date? Bridget thought we were on a date too until I told her you are my brother.”
“They were on a date,” his brother repeated darkly.
Bas gave him another squeeze. “You can’t push him away at every turn and expect him not to take the hint, Apollo.”
“Doesn’t matter anymore,” Apollo replied. He let Bas go and started up the stairs. “I’m going back to bed.”
“Okay, I’ll wake you up when there’s food.”
“Not hungry.”
Bas let out a sigh before he headed for the garage. His brother’s love life wasn’t any of his business, but he hated seeing his bright, confident sunspot so upset all the time.
Val was also miserable, and Cosimo had gone to Florence to hunt down another possible lead on an ancient manuscript because that was just what he did. They were all grown men who could look after themselves.
At least that was what Bas tried to tell himself when it seemed like he was the only one who ever worried about everyone all the time.
No matter how much he tried to convince himself not to do it, he was still the one who fussed, cooked comfort meals, and doled out hugs and advice. He was a nurturer. He couldn’t helpit. He was the one most like their mother in nature, and after she died... Bas broke off the thought. He wouldn’t go down that rabbit hole in his mind.
Bas grabbed the keys to the black Audi and tried to distract himself by thinking about Bridget’s rum-colored eyes and crooked smile.
That only reminded him of how her scent had hit him in the face the night before and how he’d had to walk away from her before he did something that would completely fuck up the fragile thing growing between them.
His dragon side wanted to draw her under the protection of his wings and growl at anyone who got too close.
Stupid response. Stupid dragon. That kind of behavior would get him kicked in the nuts for sure.
Worth it, his dragon grumbled.
Go back to sleep, Bas responded and turned the car on. He needed to find out what was wrong with Kenna because if Kenna was worried, they all should be.
8
The Ironwood estate never failed to impress. It had been built in a time when having high stone walls and a forest meant you were rich and had enemies who wanted you dead. It was nothing short of a small castle, surrounded by training grounds.
