Baldwin took a deep breath, then nodded.
“Ah, yes. That is the crux of the matter,” I said. “Whyareyou here?”
Margarida made a sweeping turn that flared her skirts out, then looked at me with red eyes that glittered with worry. “For you, of course.”
“Yes, I guessed as much,” I said. “But why?”
“We’re concerned, of course.” Margarida said.
I stared at her, dumbstruck.
I can’t have heard that correctly.
“You,” I said haltingly. “Are concerned for me?”
Margarida nodded.
I shook my head, unable to comprehend what I was hearing. “You lot,” I repeated. “And by you I mean Broke Baldwin,Professional Mourner Margarida, and the ice twins allergic to all fun and happiness, who I have so far pretendednot to know are sleeping more and more these days, but allow me to assure you that pretense is evaporating as we speak—are concerned forme?”
Margarida’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Yes,” she said.
I turned to look at Killian.
He held his hands up. “As usual, I am not with them, just an unfortunate bystander as you’ve chosen my city to hole up in.”
Well. At least that’s something.
“Margarida is concerned for you.” Amée stood, tugging on her suitcoat, then turned to me. “She thinks you might be lonely, or something equally as stupid.”
“Because he must be—besides us he has no Family,” Margarida objected. She tried to hug me but centuries of experience had me sidestepping her before she could reach me.
Perhaps I was mistaken. Margarida isn’t almost my second favorite Dracos offspring,
“Then share, Amée,” I drawled. “What has brought you here? Illuminate me.”
Amée turned to Auberi, staring at him until he hastily stood and joined her so they were shoulder to shoulder. Amée then nodded and turned to me. “Concern for ourselves, that you are planning something.”
“Uh-huh.” I looked back and forth between the twins as I strolled closer to them. “And what if I am? Do you really thinkyoucan stop me?” I settled my gaze on Auberi first, then Amée as I let a little of my power loose.
Auberi swallowed sharply, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and Amée looked away.
I patted them on the cheeks, purposely making the motion gentle and light so it gave them goosebumps. “Stop wasting your time.” I ducked around them heading for the door. “Instead,I suggest you head home—before you annoy Killian and he forcibly expels you from his mansion.” I made it to the door and reached for the door handle.
“No.”
I slowly turned around to see Baldwin scowling at me, his shoulders hunched up, while Margarida patted his side in a show of comradery.
“What?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous.
Baldwin wilted, but he balled his hands into fists. “No,” he said. “We will be staying here.”
He must have been dimly aware that the statement not only challenged me but Killian, because he glanced at his younger brother.
Killian was unbothered—he’d tuned out a while ago and was texting someone with his cellphone. Without looking up from the screen, he waved a hand in the air signaling his indifference.
Baldwin stiffly nodded then returned my gaze, his mulish expression back.
I rolled my eyes. “Do whatever you want,” I said. “Just remember your responsibility to your own Family, who you chose to take on. The Dracosdo notabandon their offspring.”
