“Hi, Winston. How are you?”
“I’m well, ma’am. You?”
“I’m great, thank you. Is anyone home?”
Before he had a chance to answer, I was picked up off my feet and twirled, then dropped into another pair of arms and finally set on my feet as I laughed so hard, I could barely catch my breath.
“Boys!” Samantha growled. “Leave your poor cousin alone.”
My aunt pulled me in for a much gentler hug as Liam and Phin grinned behind her.
“I’m fine, Auntie,” I assured, and she cupped my face.
“Thank you for jumping in today. Payton’s being pulled in a hundred different directions.”
“It’s my pleasure,” I said. “She and I spent a couple of hours last night going through everything.”
“Oh, that’s great—”
“Isla!” my cousin Billie squealed, making a run for me.
“You’re home too?” I asked, hugging her tightly.
Billie was one year younger than me and would be going to Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Since she’d graduated her prerequisites early, she’d decided to come home until the fall semester started. Okay by me. I missed her when she was gone. Especially, so far away.
“I’m home until July,” she said. “So, we will have lots of catch-up time.”
“Definitely.” I slipped my hand into her arm. “How are they going to keep you cool enough to attend classes in the States?”
Billie hadn’t wanted to attend anywhere other than Harvard, but not being able to actually harness the weather and keep things cool enough to be safe, it was a concern. I was glad Kade had a work-around because Billie would have been devastated if she’d had to pick a school closer to home.
“Da’s got it sorted. My home is close to campus and is temperature controlled. Plus, I have a driver and security who will be monitoring me. Colton is taking point on that, since he’s human.”
“Well, you just make sure you’re careful.”
“I will.” She squeezed my hand. “I promise.”
“Good morning, lass,” Kade said, and he walked into the foyer and gave me a hug. “Early as always.”
I smiled. “I’m a Gunnach. We’re always early.”
“Aye, ’tis true.”
“The car awaits, Majesty,” Winston said, and Kade nodded.
“We’ll see you later,” Samantha said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him.
He kissed her gently, then he faced me and waved his hand. “After you.”
I walked out to the awaiting Towncar and slid inside while Uncle Kade made his way to the other side.
“Mornin’, Isla,” his head of security, Alasdair, said.
“Morning, Alasdair. How are you?”
“Very well, thank you. Are you excited?”
I grinned. “Always.”
