Lore lifted an eyebrow. “You make me sound like I was some sort of plague.”
“An angelic one.” Týr grinned. “Now he even speaks to us lesser beings.”
Lore sported a faint frown, andNia bit back a smile.
But deeper, the awareness rose. There was nothing lesser about this immortal, Týr, either.
Nia hooked her hand through Lore’s arm, enjoying their snarkiness. Her mate was more of a watcher, no pun intended to her ancestors.
“Come on,” Kira chimed in. “Noon tea is waiting.”
“Yeah, I’m starving,elska. Thanks to our workout.” Týr threw his arm over her shoulders as they headed down. Kira snorted and pinched his side, and he laughed.
If the rest of the couples were like them, then it would be okay.
As they descended the grand staircase, Nia glanced around, a little overwhelmed by the undeniably beautiful castle. They hit the ground floor, and she stopped, her gaze fixed on the floor-to-ceiling stained-glass window on the left. It depicted knights and their ladies from a time gone by, with angels abound… “Wait, are those knights the Guardians?”
“Hardly.” Aethan snorted behind her. “We would never pose for that.”
“Nope,” Týr added. “We don’t like ‘em winged dudes.”
Nia frowned and glanced back as the girls rolled their eyes, seeming used to this banter.
“These warriors were quite the antisocial lot back then,” Lore said, tone dry as kindling. “They have improved in the last two years or so.”
“Look who’s talkin’,” Týr baited, and Nia bit back her smile, but she sensed Lore’s amusement as they continued down the corridor.
At one of the shut doors—man, Nia lost count of how many they’d passed—Kira pushed it open, and the mouthwatering aroma of something cinnamony baking wafted in the air.
Nia followed them into an airy kitchen. On one side, there was a sea of oak cupboards, and a large central isle separated the spacious dining section. Two couples currently occupied the long table set for afternoon tea.
A man with bronze skin and multiple warrior braids relaxed next to a slender redhead. Opposite them, a curvy brunette with a messy topknot and caramel skin sat next to a man with cropped dark hair, who listened to her with his head lowered.
Nia was sure both men were Guardians, judging from the perilous air around them and their otherworldly good looks.
They looked up. Smiles followed, then the women went back to their tea and conversation?—
Their heads snapped up again.
A pin drop could be heard in the silence that swept through the kitchen.
Then their smiles started, and the men smirked, at least the blue-eyed one did. The guy with the warrior braids just watched.
“That was so worth it!” Kira laughed, joining Týr in the kitchen, who’d already scooped a slice of chocolate cake onto a plate.
“Everyone, this is Nia, my sister.” Echo flashed them a wide smile. “And you all know Lore.” Then she slid into the intro. “Nia, that’s Darci with the topknot, and the model next to her is her mate, Blaéz.” The man chuckled, his blue eyes bright with laughter. He dressed like he should be in a photo shoot or something—just like her man.
I am no man,habibti.
My bad.She bit her top lip to stop her smile.Yes, I know, my angel.At her dry tone, his amusement drifted along their mate bond, warming her heart.
“The redhead is Shae,” Echo continued. The woman gave a little wave and smiled. “And the warrior watching all this hoopla with nonchalant detachment is Dagan, her mate.”
The male’s citrine eyes flickered, almost as if in amusement. While the others had teacups in front of them, this warrior held a glass of red wine.
“Nik and Shadow aren’t here as yet,” Echo told her. “She’s pregnant and resting. You’ll meet them a little later.”
Nia nodded. God, she hoped she could keep all their names straight.
