Page 10 of My Pleasure

“Is he okay?” his mate asked, rubbing a hand over Nicol’s hair.

“He will be, this I swear,” he said, cuddling the boy closer.

“Nicol, honey, what happened?” Kiera asked.

Nicol buried her face in Kiera’s neck. “Nothing bad. It’s just we don’t think uncle likes us, so we have to be extra good.”

Kiera met his eyes.

No child reacted like this if it was simply a matter of not being liked.

“Did he feed you?” Kiera asked.

“Yes.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No,” the girl replied quickly.

Kiera shot an exasperated look his way.

“Doesn’t matter now, they’re both moving in with us,” he paused. “Wherever that will be.”

“That doesn’t exactly give secure vibes, Hunter,” she said, sounding annoyed.

Nicol giggled.

Hunter was already in love with both kids. Keran for his bravery and strength and Nicol for her resilience and light. “You all could move in with me in the Nu estate, I know the guys would lose their minds wanting to help, but things have been… different lately,” he said, curtailing his words, not wanting to scare Nicol.

“Witches’ Council crazy?” she asked.

He nodded. “What have you heard?”

“That your unit leader threw their enforcers against the castle.”

Nicol looked over at him. “Did they get hurt?” she asked, looking concerned.

Hunter hesitated. There was no world where he was going to tell this sweet child what actually happened. “I’m pretty sure they didn’t feel much pain, hun.”

Nicol nodded, satisfied by that answer.

Kiera raised a brow.

‘They didn’t feel much pain, because they probably died on impact,’ he thought to himself.

He smiled at his mate, who shook her head.

“Or, we can get the kids settled in with my parents and you could move in with me at the Nu estate.”

“No!” Nicol protested.

Hunter leaned in and shocked the small girl by kissing her forehead. “You say that now. But, have you ever been spoiled by a grandma before?”

Nicol shook her head, her blonde curls bouncing around. “Never had a grandma before.”

Kiera smiled sadly. “Both of my parents lost their parents before I was born.”

Hunter wagged his eyebrows up and down comically and was rewarded with another small giggle from Nicol. “Grandmas are like superheroes. They always know how to make you feel better and make the best food.”