“Who knew my tutor had a romantic side to him?” Echo joined them with a wide grin, Aethan following.
Lore’s expression smoothed out to cool as he straightened.
“Glad to see you whole and back,” Aethan said, smirking.
“Has Michael returned?” Nia asked. “He said he had to go do damage control.”
“What?” Lore frowned at her. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“Oh, right. You weren’t yourself. Too much had happened for me to mention it at the time, and then I forgot.”
“He heard rumbles in the Celestial Realm,” Aethan said, putting his hand on Echo’s waist. “He sent a message for us to be on standby, just in case.”
“Indeed.” Lore’s jaw hardened. “They never like the order of things disrupted.”
Nia’s gaze darted between the men.Oh, no! More trouble?
His gaze softened as it met hers, probably sensing her anxiety.I feel you, my heart. There is no need to worry about anything,his voice coasted into her mind. Out loud, he said, “They have to accept it is over. I have left.”
“Echo?”a voice shrieked from below.
Laughing, her twin leaned over the banister. “Hey Kira, what’s up?”
“C’mon, girl. Don’t keep your sister and Lore up there. Everyone’s dying to meet this rockin’ goddess and find out how she conquered the almighty angel.”
Echo huffed a laugh, and Nia bit back her smile.
Lore’s eyes narrowed.
I’m not laughing at you, my love. But you have to admit it’s true,she teased.
His palm slipped to her lower back, expression even.Oh, you will pay for that later,habibti.
Can’t wait, er,mon amour,she shot back, grimacing inwardly at her lame comeback.
A faint smile tipped his mouth. Yeah, he knew what it meant, too. Ugh.
Aethan shook his head. “C’mon, let’s go before she corrals everyone up here for this meet-and-greet.”
They headed down the sweeping grand staircase lit by wall sconces.
Ready for this?Lore asked as they followed.
God, no. Back home, I dreaded when Nan held her dinners.
His brow furrowed.From what little I learned about her from her letter and her friends’ reactions to you, I can safely assure you the residents of this place are nothing like her.
Nia knew that. Still, crowds increased her anxiety. According to Echo, there were four other Guardians and their mates in residence. She rubbed her palm down her jeans.
As they approached the second-level landing, a tall, curvy woman with a riot of corkscrew auburn hair framing her latte-toned face waited for them. The blond man Nia had met several days ago—the one who’d mistaken her for Echo—leaned against the balustrade near her.
“Hey.” The woman grinned, revealing ridiculously gorgeous dimples. “Nice to meet ya. Wow, love all your piercings.”
“Er, thank you.” Nia rubbed her left ear with the multiple studs.
“Nia?” Echo hooked her arm through hers. “This is my best friend, Kira. We go way back to our preteen years,” she said. “And that’s her mate, Týr.”
“We met briefly,” Týr smirked, those slashing masculine dimples taking life as he straightened. His gaze shifted between her and Echo. “Damn, to see you both is surreal. But good to meet you, Nia. Nice job, taming the untouchable.” He shot Lore a full-on taunting grin.
