Page 59 of My Pleasure

“Bro, heads up.” Rory said, then tossed Augustus a leather portfolio.

“Thanks. Let’s go,” he said, and led them from the room.

*****

Kiera walked with Hunter into the drawing room. When they entered, her uncle stood. She never quite knew what to make of him. He looked just enough like her father that in the past it softened her stance and had her capitulating more than she should have, but after what the children told her, it made looking at him difficult.

“Uncle,” she said, as Hunter steered her to a small sofa across from him. Augustus took a wingback chair, set down the leather portfolio on the table between them and her uncle, and they all sat down.

Her uncle looked from the portfolio, to Hunter to Augustus. “My name is Ellar Sorrel, Kiera’s uncle. And the two of you are?”

“Hunter Armstrong, Kiera’s mate. This is my cousin, Augustus. Since you’re here, we wanted to take the opportunity to say hello.”

Kiera saw her uncle’s features tighten at the word ‘mate’.

Smiling pleasantly, he turned back to her. “Kiera, are Keran and Nicol with you?”

She nodded, then shook her head. “They’re staying at the Armstrongs. Myra and Johann absolutely adore them and wanted them to spend a few days there. I didn’t have the heart to say no when I saw how much they loved having grandparents for the first time.”

Her uncle raised a brow. “Grandparents?”

Hunter chuckled low. “We know you’re busy with the Academy and we’re young. We don’t mind taking the kids of your hands for a bit.”

“That won’t be necessary. They are my brother’s children, I have a duty to them,” Ellar countered.

“Uncle, you’ve done so much for us already. Now that I have Hunter’s support, taking my brother and sister in won’t be a hardship. I hate to imagine how much they have been a distraction to you,” she said, then smiled gently. “I know how much you love your work.”

For a moment, his expression softened, then he shook his head. “I expect them back in two days. We’ll have our normal family dinner, I’m assuming you’ll be there.”

Kiera squeezed Hunter’s hand desperately, but kept her voice calm. “Of course.”

Ellar stood, then looked down at Hunter. “No need for you to come. It’s family only,” he said, then gave a short nod, and walked from the room. Moments later they heard the front door open and close.

Augustus held up a finger when she opened her mouth. “Kendrick, can you come in here for a moment, I’d like to hear more about your book restoration project.”

When Kendrick walked in Augustus pointed to his ear, then around the room.

Kendrick’s eyes narrowed and he began to whisper softly. From under the table, a small glowing yellow speck floated towards him. “Covers and spines haven’t been the problem, it’s the interiors. Older inks fade dreadfully,” he continued, keeping up the ruse.

Over the next minute, no less than fifteen small golden motes of light had gathered in his hands. “If you want us to really make some progress, we’ll have to look into…” mid-sentence, he crushed the lights and they were gone.

They all made their way back to the living room where he cast another soundproofing spell.

Kiera sat down as her legs were just about to give out. “He bugged us, that fast?”

“Asshole,” Meryn muttered.

“Was anything said in here while we were gone? The soundproofing was taken down,” Hunter asked.

Pip giggled. “Meryn talked about her lovely visit with the council.”

Meryn flashed them a weird ‘v’ sign with her hands.

Kiera turned to Augustus. “Isn’t bugging a unit estate illegal?”

“Absolutely it is. Two problems.” He held up one finger. “One, we don’t have any proof. Two. Even if we did, they probably wouldn’t do anything.”

Kiera took a deep breath. “I don’t care if it’s a duty of not, we can’t send the kids back.”