Page 131 of Rage of Her Ravens

Ember sucked her thumb while looking at me with watery eyes.

“The bad man burned up Bethamy Two.” Aurora jutted a finger toward her sister’s doll. “That is Bethamy Three.”

“Oh.” I clasped a hand to my heart, thankful the bad man had destroyed the doll and not my niece, but also so very fearful to know he was capable of so much evil. Next time, I feared he would try to harm one of my nieces. The thought was like a flaming poker stabbing my chest.

I stroked Ember’s cheek. “I’m sorry about Bethamy Two.”

She sniffled, a tear sliding down her cheek. “Me, too.”

“Where’s Mrs. Euphemia?” I asked them.

“It’s her family time,” Aurora said.

“I forgot about family time.” Nikkos looked disappointed as he dragged a hand through his hair. “Mrs. Euphemia always takes off Sunday and Wednesday evenings to visit her aunt in the village.” He gave me a forlorn look, and I realized he’d been hoping for a turn between the sheets with me.

Later tonight,I said to him through thought.I’ll make it worth the wait.

He waggled his brows.I know you will.

I turned at the sound of fluttering wings behind us, my heart nearly beating out of my chest when Drae landed on the balcony, a large bouquet of flowers in his hands. He strode through the door with the swagger and grace befitting the Lord of the Manor. My lord. My mate.

I jumped to my feet, drawn to him like a moth to flame. He took me in his arms, pressing the flowers to my back, and kissed me so deeply and so thoroughly, I could scarcely draw breath. I was panting by the time he released me, and I wanted nothing more than to drag him back to that big bed.

“Good morning,” he murmured in my ear. “Have a nice sleep?”

“Mm,” I whispered back, nibbling his ear. “The best.”

He chuckled and handed me a bouquet of multicolored flowers. That’s when I noticed the one large bouquet was actually three, two small ones and a bigger one. He knelt beside me and handed a smaller bouquet to each of the girls. His smile was as bright as the bouquets. “Flowers for my favorite girls.”

The children squealed so loud, my mates and I had to cover our ears. They twirled with their flowers while stroking their silky petals.

I kissed Drae’s cheek. “That was a sweet gesture. Nobody has ever given them flowers before.”

“I’m happy to be the first.” He tenderly stroked my face, his eyes shining with the brilliance of a thousand suns.I mean to be a good role model for them,he said through thought, his voice lacking that echo, so I knew he was speaking solely to me.So when they grow up and find their mates, they accept nothing less than to be treated like the princesses they are.

There were no words to convey my gratitude, so I kissed him instead, giving him a look that promised another night of passion.

“Any news?” Blaze asked.

Drae nodded toward the sitting room attached to his bedchamber.

“Girls, why don’t you play with your flowers by the hearth?” He pointed toward the hearth in the opposite direction. “It’s warm there, and there are tarts on the buffet.”

Flowers forgotten, they ran to the buffet and tried to lift the heavy silver lids.

Nikkos crossed over to them and gave them each a tart on a small plate. He then poured them each a goblet of juice and sat them at the table. He affectionately patted their heads. “Eat here, then you can play with your flowers when you’re finished.”

“Yes, Uncle Nikkos,” they both said as they sat in their chairs. They daintily tucked cloth napkins into their frocks and used their silverware to cut into their tarts. Where had these young ladies come from and what had happened to my heathen nieces?

I must’ve been gaping because Blaze leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Table manners were the first thing Mrs. Euphemia taught us, too.”

I took his arm, and he led me into the sitting room. Drae went to a big mahogany buffet server and poured us each a goblet of wine. I thought it was a little early to drink, but then realized by the grim look on his face that he had unsettling news.

Blaze and Nikkos sat on either side of me on a wide leather sofa. Draevyn sat across from us, his brow creased with worry. He took a long drink of wine before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “The nurses were found dead in that field not far from where the mages attacked.”

“I know. I saw them. Do you know how they died?” I asked.

He grimaced. “Their necks were broken.”

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