Felicity glided forward, her hand outstretched. “It’s good to make your acquaintance, young man.”
Zane fought a wince. While his mom was probably a century or two older than the king, the woman looked thirty. Tops.
Dage blinked and took her hand, his grip appearing gentle. “Ma’am.”
That mother tone got them every time. Zane’s shoulders slowly relaxed. “I’d like to request asylum for my mother. She was mated to a vampire.”
Dage lifted a dark eyebrow. “I’d grant asylum regardless of mating. Where the hell is my niece?”
Felicity slowly turned. “Why is the king asking you that question?”
“Because he kidnapped her,” Garrett growled from next to his father, a furious vampire with golden eyes.
Zane nodded at Garrett. “Hi, kid. Good to see you survived your ordeal.” Reminding the kid that Zane had saved his life couldn’t hurt.
“You won’t,” Garrett ground out.
A woman ran out of the building, dressed in a worn sweatshirt and faded jeans. She headed straight for Zane, and only the strong arm of Janie’s father stopped her. “Where the hell is my daughter?” she asked, looking downright miniature next to her massive mate.
Felicity frowned. “Why is everybody asking you that question?”
Zane cleared his throat. “I took Janie out of a helicopter before the Kurjans could kill her.” True. But he’d also mated her, and the second Talen found out, Zane was a dead man. He needed to secure his mother’s safety along with his brothers’ security before that happened.
“Oh.” Felicity eyed the king. “Well, that was nice of you.”
“So. Where. Is. She?” the king asked again.
Felicity turned. “You saved her, but you didn’t bring her home. Why?”
Zane fought to keep from shuffling his feet. “I wanted to secure your safety first.”
Felicity rolled her eyes. “Oh. A simple misunderstanding then. Zane, go get the girl.”
Guns cocked.
Felicity stiffened. “Apparently not.” She sighed. “King, I do hope you know we don’t support my psychotic brother, Suri, and we are sincerely sorry for what happened to your brother. If we’d been in a position to find him and help him, he wouldn’t have endured such pain.”
The king slowly lowered his weapon. “If I’d known you were a prisoner, I would’ve laid siege to gain your freedom.”
Felicity smiled sadly. “As you know, my mate didn’t align with the Realm, so we weren’t on your radar, but thank you for the kind words.”
“Enough kind words.” Cara Kayrs pushed forward again.
Zane pivoted to face her, to reassure her that Janie was fine, but Garrett planted himself firmly in front of his mother. Zane gave him aDude, do you really think I’d hurt your momlook of irritation.
Garrett returned a very simplefuck youexpression.
God, Zane liked the kid. He focused back on Dage. “I’d like to request asylum for my brothers as well.”
“Granted.” Dage tucked his pistol in his back pocket.
The forces around them drew nearer. Apparently the soldiers didn’t like the king being unarmed.
“What about you?” Dage asked dryly.
Zane shrugged. “I have a job to do after I bring Janie home.”
“Which is?” his mother asked.
