As soon as his father and a group of Illuminati were gone, he glanced down at Geras. “Like I said, he still thinks I’m your age, bit. And brainless to boot.”
Eyes wide, Geras clutched at Nephele’s arm while Urian led them from the hall toward his home. He used his telepathy to call for his sister so that she could meet him in the palace and have the beds waiting.
Luckily, she was at the door with Archie’s wife when he arrived. He would have teleported them, but given how weak Xanthia was and the fear of the children who cringed at every shadow they passed, he didn’t want to risk doing more harm or trauma to any of them.
Tannis gasped as soon as she caught sight of their bedraggled states.
Tall and lithe, and the epitome of beauty, his sister-in-law winced at the shape they were in. He’d never understand how Archie had been so lucky as to land a wife so beautiful or kind. Or why, having done so, the idiot would ever cheat on her. Yet his brother strayed constantly for reasons only Archie knew.
“Welcome, little ones. I’m Hagne. Why don’t you come with me and I’ll see you cleaned up while they tend your mata? I have hot water and toys waiting for you.” She cast a sympathetic, pained grimace toward Urian. “Are you all right?”
He nodded.
Her frown deepened. “Was Archie at least living when you left him?”
“Aye.”
“Thank the gods. ’Cause I want to be the one who kills him when he gets home.”
That was so messed up, but honestly, he couldn’t blame her for it.
Without a word, Urian carried Xanthia toward the bedrooms.
Tannis rushed ahead of him. “You can put her in my old room. I’ve already had the servants ready a bed. She’ll be more comfortable there.”
Since Urian knew his “guest” couldn’t see who was around them, he explained it for her. “Xanthia, this is my sister Tannis. I’m surrendering you to her care. She’s extremely gentle … at least to those who aren’t her brothers. And a good, kind lady to all.” Urian took her into Tannis’s room and laid her tenderly on the bed. “You’ll be in the best of hands.”
As he started to withdraw, Xanthia caught his arm. “Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it. Rest now. I’ll make sure your children are well cared for until you’re better.” Feeling horrible for what they’d done to her, he patted her hand reassuringly and released her, then headed back to the receiving hall.
Hagne was ordering servants to draw more hot water for the children to have a bath, and to bring clothing. As soon as she saw Urian, she pulled him aside. “Their father was killed in front of them. Did you know that?”
He winced at the thought of the nightmares they’d have for the rest of eternity. “Nay. I didn’t really get a chance to ask about their father. Things were happening too fast when I found them.” Anger and grief choked him. “Did they see what happened to their mother?”
“I don’t think so. From what I gathered out of watching them and listening, the boy’s father tossed him out the window and had him run into the stable when the humans came into their home. The boy looked back to see his father die. The girl, too, then she was hidden in their cellar by her mother in time to keep her out of their hands.”
“Thank the gods.” Otherwise Nephele would have been raped, too.
Suddenly and without warning, Hagne slapped him.
His cheek stinging, Urian gaped at her. “What was that for?”
“What were you doing there, anyway? Withmyhusband!”
Glaring at her, he rubbed at his abused jaw. Damn, she could hit almost as hard as a man.
Then again, she hit harder than a couple of his brothers. “Escorting Davyn to see his brother-in-law on his twenty-seventh birthday, which starts at dawn. He wanted to be with his sister when her husband died. He didn’t want her and their children to be alone for it.”
She slapped his arm where it was bare between his armored sleeve and vambrace. “You thoughtless ass! I could kill youandParis! Damn you both for your stupidity!”
Grimacing, he sputtered as he moved out of her striking range. Damn her for her long arms and their reach. She was like a toddler who could manage to stretch three times the expected distance. “Why? Archie hates us.”
“Hades’s loincloth, he does. He can’t get along with you and your twin because you’re just like him, but he loves the two of you more than his own life. He’d die if anything happened to either of you, hence his stupidity in going along tonight, instead of staying home where he should have been.”
Still unable to believe a word of it, Urian gaped at her. “Archimedes Strykeros? Big asshole? You know? The brute who spends his days trying to pummel me into the ground? Who holds me down and farts in my face?”
“Aye. The same disgusting creature.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste of his vulgarity. “Believe it or not, he’s trying to toughen you up so that no one can hurt you.”
