She squatted in front of Charlie. “Why couldn’t I hear him before now?”
Callum straightened. “My guess is the bond wasn’t strong enough. It takes fifteen years for a royal’s magic to mature enough to bond with afamiliar. I’m surprised Charlie came to you early.” He eyed Amelia. “It’s interesting, indeed.”
“Tell him to stop staring at you like that, or I’m going to claw his eyes out,”Charlie pushed down the bond.
Amelia sputtered out a laugh.“You sound like Rennick.”
“What did he say?” Rennick asked her.
She waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing important.” Charlie’s feline mouth turned down, and Amelia stifled another laugh. Of course, herfamiliarwould be a lynx version of her husband.
Callum turned to the others. “Why don’t we offer our congratulations and let the happy couple have the night to themselves?” Following his own lead, he embraced his son and whispered something in his ear. Rennick hugged him tighter, nodding. Callum released him and opened his arms to Amelia. “Welcome to the family, little one.”
She stepped into his embrace. “Thank you.”
He released her with a fatherly smile. “I look forward to getting to know you better.” He nodded to his son, gave Amelia’s shoulder a squeeze, and walked away.
Finn took his place and stood in front of Amelia with his hands behind his back and a sheepish smile on his face. “I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you.” He glanced at Rennick. “Had your husband seen me anywhere near you, he would have ripped my head off.”
Rennick grunted, and Amelia elbowed him in the stomach. “I’m going to hug him, and if you try to stop me, you won’t touch me tonight.”
Rennick growled. Actuallygrowled,but he wasn’t the only one. She glared at Charlie. “Stop it. Both of you.” Finn engulfed her in his arms and held her tight. “I know what you did for us, and I’m sorry you had to shave your head.” She stage-whispered the last part, earning a snort from Rennick.
Finn released a full belly laugh and extracted himself from her hold. “He’s a good man, and he deserved to be happy. I was happy to do it.”
“No, you weren’t,” Rennick laughed. “I had to bribe you.”
Finn shrugged. “And your bribes made me happy.”
Rennick shoved his shoulder, almost knocking him over, but brought him back in for a hug. “I am forever indebted to you. Anything you need, it’s yours.”
“I guess Ora finally got the message,” Finn remarked with knowing eyes. Rennick dipped his chin, and his friend nodded. “It was the right call. She would have hurt Amelia, eventually. Congratulations, you two.”
Amelia studied Finn as he walked away. He just found out they’d killed his childhood friend and he’d shrugged it off like it was nothing. Either he never liked Ora, or he hid his emotions well.
Clover wandered over, bashful as ever, and offered Amelia a hug. “Congratulations.” She released her and added, “Don’t be upset with your brother.”
Amelia spotted Amos brooding a couple of yards away. “I understand his motivations were good, but he shouldn’t have forced you to give up your home.”
Clover ran a hand nervously through the ends of her hair. “Your brother didn’t force me. He’d never do that.” She looked away and Amelia thought she saw a sheen of tears in her eyes. “I’m not saying what happened was right, but he didn’t force me by any means. I could have said no.”
Amelia sensed there was more to the story, but she didn’t want to pry. “How long will you stay? I’ve never heard you speak this much, and I don’t want to miss my chance to ask you a million questions about yourself.”
Clover smiled sadly. “I’ll answer them someday, but I’m leaving tonight.”
“Like hell you are,” Amos all but yelled as he stalked their way. “You’re not crossing the border at night.”
Her nostrils flared slightly, and she closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she opened them and said, “You are not my keeper, Amos.”
“I am yourking,” he seethed. “You’re not leaving.”
Rennick and Amelia watched the two square off. Never in a million years did Amelia think Clover would argue with anyone, least of all a fae king.
“You owe me the right to do as I please.” Though Clover’s voice remained quiet, it was anything but meek. “Haven’t you done enough?”
“Don’t ask this of me,” Amos pleaded softly. “You know I can’t let you go alone.”
Clover scoffed. “It never bothered you before.”
