Page 41 of My Pleasure

Keran pulled out his bracelet. “I’m paying.”

Peter eyed the bracelet and waved him off. “No charge for Meryn’s brownies and I’ll send a form to Portia. I hope you come back to see me.”

Keran nodded. “I would come every day if I lived here. We don’t have shops like this in Storm Keep.”

“You’re always welcome.”

“You have my thanks,” Hunter said and held the door open.

The walk back to the palace felt surreal. So much changed since that morning. “Hunter…” She couldn’t articulate what she wanted to say.

He looked back her. “Yes, love?”

She stopped. “Is this real?”

Hunter set Nicol down and went to her, and pulled her into his arms. “Does it feel like a dream? Everything is too good to be true?”

“Yes!” She pointed to their surroundings. “This morning I was calculating rent estimates, now, I’m walking through Éire Danu, my mate at my side and my brother has a gold bracelet from the queen.”

“And brownies,” Keran added seriously.

“They’re smiling,” she said, pointing to her siblings. “Everyone I’ve met is royalty!” She clutched at her chest. “My uncle should be on a short list to go to hell…” She tried to breathe but couldn’t quite catch her breath.

“Let me guess, another warrior upset their mate,” a male voice drawled.

Warm hands rubbed her back. “Take a deep breath and hold it, then let it out slowly,” he advised.

“I have not upset her!” Hunter protested.

“Casek, is she okay?”

The one behind her, helping her to breathe, yelled back. “She’ll be fine in a second, Dav.”

“She’s upset after getting desserts, then you most definitely messed up young man,” Dav chided. “You should bring her in for a pint.”

“We have to go to dinner and deliver brownies to Auntie Meryn,” Keran said, holding up his box.

“Our princess loves those,” Casek said.

“She’s a princess?” Kiera screeched, as the words finally sunk in.

Hunter nodded. “Well, yeah. Brennus is her uncle remember?”

“I mean I knew, you all said, but I didn’t…”

Casek kept up a breathing count for her.

“Hunter, you dumbass! Regular folk don’t normally hobnob with royalty,” Dav fussed as he carried out a small shot glass. “Here you go girlie.”

Kiera didn’t even hesitate. She shot the liquid back. A small bonfire flared in her stomach, then settled down to a nice cozy warmth. “I think I can breathe now.”

Dav clucked his tongue. “Found a way to add distilled Blessed Chamomile to Forbidden Fruit. It’s been too popular lately.”

Kiera stared down at the empty shot glass. “I don’t drink, but that, can we buy that?”

Dav nodded. “I’ll do you one better.” He disappeared for a second before he came back with a bottle, which he handed to Hunter. “I’ll send two more bottles to Caiden. That’s where Meryn is staying, so that’s where the chaos will be. I have a feeling you all will need it more than anyone.”

Casek gently pushed her toward Hunter. “He’s spent too much time with Caiden to realize how intimidating it can be to meet the leaders of our world.”