That earned him a couple of soft chuckles, then one of them said, “Well, it is Evander, after all. He is always the first one to rush into… new situations.”
Oh, he liked that. He liked that a lot. It was way better than danger or foolishness or any of the other things that they had all been accused of at one point or another.
“He’s very brave. Tisi is magical, and we all love him very much. We can’t repay Evander for what he did for our family.” He touched his belly and glanced up at his mate. “Or what you’ve done for me?”
Evander’s eyes flashed and his horns began to grow.
Their mother softly clucked her teeth, and Evander’s brothers, to a fae went, “Ew!”
Corbin began to chuckle because he just couldn’t not.
One of the envoys glared over, his fine features flushing. “How dare you laugh! You have just murdered one of our own.”
Corbin stood up before Evander could, his own eyes focused, his scales rattling. “Pardon me? You’re part of the envoy, aren’t you? Aren’t you supposed to be a fae warrior? Aren’t yousupposed to protect my lady mother from dangers? Aren’t you part of the royal court here somewhere?”
There was a pause, and just barely the word ‘half-breed’ sounded, and he pulled back, stung.
That was when his lady mother stood up, her finger pointing. Magic surged from her and huge rose bushes burst up from the ground with wicked thorns and blood-dipped petals. “Do not insult my sons.”
The envoy bowed deeply. “A thousand pardons, my lady.”
“Hmph!” She glared at the man. “My son is far more than a half-breed as you call him. He is a wondrous creation of magic. If he were some sort of an abomination, he would not be allowed here by the wards, now would he? I want you to go back where you came from and you will tell your family that I no longer have need of an envoy from their court because you have insulted me.”
She’skind of amazing, Ev said in his head.
She is, huh? She can insult me all she wants to, but nobody else better or she’d kick their ass.Corbin chuckled. He supposed all families were that way.
Ev inclined his head just the tiniest bit.That is how it is with me and my brothers. No one may injure one of us when all of us are there. But we may certainly give each other no end of grief.
Bron returned then, and he smiled at his wife, looking around at the rose bushes that had popped up. “Do you still wish to eat, my love, or shall we all retreat and come back together at another time?”
“I think we need to find out what happened here first,” Calla said. “This one,” and she pointed to the envoy who had insulted him,” is going home. Permanently. Someone will need to escort him and explain to his court what has happened.”
Bron scowled, which sent the man backing up a few steps, hands in front of him in a placating gesture. “I will see to it.”
“And then I want to send Forrest to the Court of Bells to inquire about how this could have happened.” She waved to the pile of ash, which was rapidly blowing about.
Corbin muttered under his breath, “I still think I should be the one to go.”
Ev shook his head. “You heard your mother. But I would like to send one of my brothers along with him for us as well.”
“I’ll volunteer.” That was the one Ev had called Alyster. “Can this Forrest take me through the trees as well, or will I have to meet him there?”
His mother studied Alyster. Her eyes were a dark verdant green. “Forrest can take you. Bron will show you where to find him and relay his instructions about speaking to the Bell Court.”
“Be careful,” Lord Archer told his son.
“You know me, Father. I am the cautious one among us.” Alyster gave everyone a glinting grin.
Evander rolled his eyes. “You are a?—”
Corbin had to laugh because Lord Archer cleared his throat as if telling his sons to behave themselves.
“The rest of you, not a word to your court yet,” Calla told the other envoys. “We do not want panic among the courts.”
“We were just saying that to one another, my lady. This could cause widespread migration if we’re not careful.” That was a stately looking lady with loops and loops of braids curled up on her head and robes that looked like the darkest midnight with silver stars. Perhaps she was from the Court of Dreams. But he couldn’t be sure. She was fascinating, though, her dark eyes having no color to them whatsoever. No differentiation between pupil and iris.
“Precisely.” Mom peered at Dad. “I think perhaps the family politics will have to wait until later on.”
