“Leave my brother alone.” Ren growls, his body tensing, ready to jump between them.
“Touch my mate, and I don’t care if you’re an Elder; there will be a problem,” I state. She snorts and heads in the opposite direction. Bram, noticing the same thing I did, rallies his mates, and they Velcro themselves to Trick.
Dad clears his throat, guiding us to the next person,
“Elder Rhett, it’s been a few years,” Dad says as I look at the newcomer. He’s 6ft 5, as broad as Bram, and has similar markings to Darby.
“Mr Shield, it’s nice to see you again, and under better circumstances this time.” He double-takes at my words.
“Wow, I didn’t recognise you, but we must reminisce before I leave.”
I smile and nod when he steps over to talk to Darby. Dad raises an eyebrow at me.
“He was at Elise's funeral,” I say quietly, and he nods.
Ren squeezes my hand as the next Elder approaches,
“Elder Blair represents the mages, she’s an oracle,” Dad states, she’s the only person who looks old with white and gray streaked hair, with gold, copper and silver threads woven in an intricate design adorned with pearls, her skin is covered in laughter lines, she looks like Helen Mirren, I blink at her but there are subtle differences for her to not be the actress. I bow my head and feel Ren mimic my action; she smiles softly at us.
“Your troubles are ending, my dear. I will leave my address with the lovely Alma so you can put me on the mailing list for signed copies of your books. I would also like one of your paintings. I will let Alma know which one, as you are yet to paint it.” She gives me a cheeky wink and heads over to Alma, Dad, and Ren have matching shocked looks on their faces but manage tosnap out of it.
“Elder Knox is my name, as your supposed father seems shocked by the old crackpot, I will introduce myself,” The nightmare says, holding his hand out, but when I try to shake his hand, he jolts back, and his hand smokes from the burn.
“Humm, brave of you to try and touch another’s mate, lucky for you, only one of my nightmares has marked me.” I click my tongue, and he glowers and disappears into the shadows.
A small man appears, followed by Trent.
“Hello, I’m Elder Colin. I knew your mother, but I would rather have that conversation in private.” I nod and take his business card, and he quickly shifts into a robin and flies away. I don’t know if I ever want to know his view on my mother, but maybe one day.
A bouncy guy swaggers up. He’s only 5ft 9, but he’s as broad as Timber, with a beaming smile, ripped jeans and a Stone Sour t-shirt. Before we can react, he pulls me into a hug.
“Where have you hidden Uncle Reggy, Sparkplug? I was hoping to catch up, you’ve changed a lot from the photos Auntie Natty sent over.” He lets me go with a beaming smile.
“There’s a bike event going on, so they are flat out at the garage. Even Pops must pull his weight; it’s just down the road.” I manage to chuckle.
“Oh, hey Paxton, long time, no see.” The guy moseys off towards Pax with his hands in his pockets. I laugh. He’s so much like Ryland, it’s amazing.
“His name is Daniel, the pup always forgets to introduce himself.”
a Polar Bear shifter says, holding her hand out, she’s built like an Amazon goddess at 6ft, with dark skin, plugs, and piercings covering her ears and nose,
“I’m Jessica, the Predator Elder. It's nice to meet you, Miss Ivanova.”
I try to smile, but it’s the first time I’ve been called that, so my emotions have tripped trying to decide how I feel about it. She nods at my dad and Ren, then heads over to Grumps. The lastmember steps forward, and I feel Ren go on guard at my body's reaction.
“Madam Celest”, I say and tilt my head in faux respect. She was the house mother at one of my group homes. She was never cruel, but she did dismiss me for being human.
“Miss Ashes, you have grown, and I see you embraced sin instead of sacrifice to let your mate find a partner worthy of them.” She sniffs at me and heads towards Becky ‘Talk about sin,’ an Angel and a Succubus being besties is a new one.
CHAPTER SEVEN
MAKAYL
My daughter will have a few problems, mainly the Angel, Nightmare, Incubi, and Succubae Elders, but that is only 4 of the 11, so not terrible odds. Declan is deep in conversation with the Demon Elder and looking panicked, but my mate looks stressed, so I head there. Dec is a big boy and will yell if he needs help, noticing Ember smirking at her big brother. I guess I don’t need to worry about him too much.
“It is time for you to come home and stop being selfish. You have already disgraced our family by breaking the contract with Lord Atticus to shack up with a Knight when you could have bedded a future King, now, I find out you’re whoring yourself to a worthless shifter, that isn’t even the pack Alpha.” Damon's words silence the area, and I hear titters from his wife and the Angel, both smirking. I step next to Lily and bend my arm so she can take it.
“Prince Liam and Sir Nathaniel saved my life from starvation; neither wants a mate, and I welcomed the friendship. And until Alpha Makayl, I had not partaken in a physical feed since my rescue, and even that took time to get past my reactions to a male touch, we will be mated soon, and I will not be returning home for you or Father to sell me off to the highest bidder just so it will increase your power, I suggest you leave if that’s all you want.” I hear Ember mutter something in Latin, and Celeste's eyes go wide and then her top lip curls at my daughter. Within seconds, the scary demon trio, as my children call them, backs my daughter, and my little girl raises her eyebrow at Damon.
