Lore put his hand on her hips and drew her to him as if he needed to touch her. Though he appeared his usual cool and collected self, she felt more through their mate bond now. His exhaustion tugged at her, and his skin appeared paler from his blood loss. He needed food and more liquids.
I’m fine,he said through their mind-link.Stop worrying.
The French doors opened, and a windblown, auburn-haired woman hurried inside. Her pale cheeks bore the flush of the wintry air or maybe from a run. She halted at seeing them.
Her cool, dove-gray eyes morphed to warm. “Two peas in a pod. I’m so glad you and Echo have something for us to differentiate between you two,” she said in a husky voice.
Behind Nia, Echo laughed. “Maybe I should grow out my hair, get my ears and nose pierced, oh, and get contacts again. Then you’d all have to learn us.”
The woman laughed.
Finally, Nia understood Týr’s odd remarks when he mistook her for her sister the first time she met him.Biwas likely Echo’s bicolored eyes, and her twin had probably worn contacts at one point.
While Nia was glad to see her sister happier, the nagging feeling that Echo wasn’t quite herself wouldn’t leave.
Aethan got a glass of golden-hued juice and put it in Echo’s hand.
She glanced at it, and a soft sigh escaped her. “Thanks,” she said, then smiled back at them. “Nia, Lore, this is Jenna.” She waved a finger at the woman who’d just entered the room from outside. “Shae’s mom.”
Wow, the woman didn’t look old enough to have a grown-up daughter.
Nia met their friendly smiles, inhaled deeply, and said, “I’m so glad to finally meet you all, and I’m sorry for taking so long to do so. I wasn’t in a good place.”
A soothing warmth seeped through her. She leaned into Lore’s side and slipped her arm around his waist, careful not to touch his upper back.
“It’s all right,” Kira said, setting out plates, glasses, and cutlery for two. “We know the feeling, one way or another. Sit, you guys.”
“Never thought I’d see this,” Blaéz said, smirking at Lore as he ushered Nia to a seat farther down the table so they could see everyone. “Though I did have an inkling of a takedown between you and a human female. Damn glad the human won.”
Jeez, did all the Guardians gang up on him? Yet Nia didn’t sense any unkindness, just good-natured ribbing.
“No, I won,” Lore said. “I have her.”
“Well done.” Blaéz smiled. “And welcome to the castle and matehood. So?” He rose from his seat. Man, he was as tall as the rest of them. “Want to learn how to play pool, foosball, or basketball?”
“You should. It’s fun,” Týr added, eating the last of his cake, his expression amiable, tone…suspect.
Aethan snorted, leaning against the counter, watching them.
“You two, stop,” Kira groaned as she set out rolls and a dish of butter on the table.
“What?” Týr cocked a brow at his mate, energy drink in hand. “It’s an innocent question.”
“I think I’ll wait awhile,” Lore said. “Nia’s going to show me how to play other, er, games.”
The men stared as Lore took a seat next to her. Nia blinked at him in confusion, then a furnace exploded in her cheeks at his innocent stare.
“Thanks for that,” she grumbled.
Without missing a beat, her man said, “Arcade games.”
Laughter broke out, and Nia wanted to hide under the table.
The door opened, and Hedori walked inside. He slowed his steps when he saw them, and his eyes crinkled, warmth lightening his expression. “Sire, it’s good to see you up.”
“It’s good to be on my feet again,” Lore murmured.
With a nod, Hedori headed for the kitchen. Jenna turned from the fridge with a soda and almost bumped into him.
