Page 155 of Home to the Hollow

Boone doesn’t even react, just rubs his hand on the back of his neck, looking confused. “Uh, yeah, pup, she is. What’s that got to do with the war tax on whiskey?”

“It means she wouldn’t ever let our magpie be in danger, no matter how blasted they got. My darling boy is trying to tell us the Irish lass probably took her home—toherhome.”

That sparks the dominating Edgar I’m more familiar with. “Clothes now, gentleman. We have a lady to rescue from a fiery haired warrior.” He beams at Lucy, walking over to ruffle his hair fondly, and I watch the fae’s face light up like a Christmas tree.

Oh, yes, I love it when a plan comes together…

* * *

“Sorry,folks. No time for introductions. I’m going to take Tilly home to get cleaned up and see if she can sleep the rest of this off. The rest of you can fuck off until I call you.”

Lucy turns back to us as Boone tugs Jolene out from under me and bolts out the door. His perfect features pull into a pout and my heart gives a squeeze. He doesn’t realize that out girl is so damaged from whatever happened to her with thisTrevoridiot that she’s struggling to parse her emotions about some new woman who is stealing all the attention from her bestie and her lover.

Sure it’s a little immature, but who among us is without some sort of trauma that makes us behave in a less than healthy way at times?

“Prez, where’d they go?”

Pushing to my feet, I walk over and pull him to my side, pressing my lips on his temple. “Jolene was a little overwhelmed by whatever drug they gave us and maybe a smidge of jealousy. Your Guardian and her men are a bit flashy, and our girl is admittedly gun shy about relationships. I think Edgar swooped in to take her for some decompression time.”

The fauxLegolasgives me a saucy wink. “Understood, mate. We’ve got one like that as well—and looky there, she’s the Guardian ofyourbroken toy.”

“She’snota broken toy!”

My eyes widen when Wolfie’s wings pop out and sparkles fill the air as he glares at Zasha. Despite the small control issues he’s having since Jolene arrived, I’veneverseen my darling absolutely lose his temper like that. Every bit of his bearing shows the royal blood in him as he strides over to his former Guardian’s entourage.

I’d interrupt, but honestly, this is hot AF and the other half of our polysquare is going to be sopissedthey missed it.

“Fletcher, I did not mean?—”

“Wolfgang, calm down. You know you can’t?—”

“Aren’t you going to tame your little mate?”

I arch a brow at the last statement, giving the huge wyvern a disgusted look. “I don’ttameanyone. If Lucy feels you owe him, and our girl, an apology for your careless words, far be it for me to correct him.”

His ethereal coloring and dust from his gorgeous wings distracts the others long enough that the submissive Fae is able to gather his thoughts. When he speaks, it’s with an authority I rarely hear. “Julia, I have missed you, but your men need to mind their manners. You all may have the advantage of age and natural aggression on your side, but I believe you’re aware of who’s got the biggest… wand… in this room.”

I mean, he’s probably not wrong, but I doubt that’s what he means. The wyvern might give him a run for his money based on size…

He blinks and turns a light purple as the blush on his cheeks mixes with his blue coloring. “Notthatkind of wand, Presley!”

Whoops. I must have emoted that too strongly.

Julia gives us both an amused look, nodding at Tharin and Zasha. “Wolfgang is correct. His lineage makes him the most powerful person in this room—though age and experience might give us an edge for a short time. He’s also correct that Zasha was careless in his wording and you, Tharin, were defensive. Apologize so we can move on.”

Mumbled words and petulant pouts are their response, and I sigh. I hope to hell that’s not what we look like when magpie takes us to task. “Good enough for you, love?”

Lucy nods, taking a deep breath as he calms himself so he can slip back to human form. Once he’s gotten his magic under control, he looks over at Saoirse. “You’ve been extremely quiet during this hullabaloo. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Her expression is mournful. “I’m mired in guilt for lettin’ Peanut get dosed—hell, all of us get dosed. Also, I’m having a bit of trouble processing Zasha’s broken toy claim, so I’ll need a tick before I’m useful.”

Zasha raises a brow at us as if to say ‘see what I meant?’ and I chuckle. Clearly, he wasn’t wrong, and Seer is going to be distracted by figuring out her own love life for a while.

“I can give you that, leprechaun, but we’re going to need a plan. We have to confirm or deny that you were all dosed with fairy dust, and we need to make sure Jolene is checked out. Being unemerged and still under the suppression spell, she could have an adverse reaction to anyone using supernatural powers on her.”

Tharin strokes his beard and rumbles, “You are a caladrius, are you not? You can do it yourself.”

“He is Tharin, but we will need to run blood tests and take samples. Caladrius are the magical healers in our enclaves, but they are also familiar with scientific methods. At times like these, it’s a blessing that the Society sends them to medical school and to apprentice with an elder—Presley will be able to identify our issue regardless of whether it was caused by a supe or an incredibly talented human.”

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