Page 77 of My Pleasure

She turned back to Hunter. “This is the gold thing?”

Hunter nodded. “Yes, the gold thing.”

Darian raised his hand, and a portal shimmered into view. “You’d be surprised what makes it into vaults nowadays.”

They walked into the Nu estate’s living room. Connor took their bags and headed to the kitchen.

Augustus lifted Kiera and swung her around, causing her to squeal.

“Dammit Augustus, put my mate down!” Hunter growled.

Augustus put her down and ruffled her hair. “She’s our little lucky star. Because you met her, we get kids to spoil, me and my brother’s get the assistant we’ve been needing, and we found an amazing banker.”

Kiera smoothed her hair down. “You forgot the lobster rolls.”

Augustus winked at her. “And had amazing lobster rolls.”

Eoin leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “I see how it is. I shmooze and submit paperwork, and you all get food.”

Hunter pointed to the kitchen. “We brought back leftovers.”

Eoin turned and went to the kitchen.

“Don’t touch my pie!” Kiera yelled.

“Got it!”

Meryn waddled in. “I thought you’d be more upset that your uncle filed a counter claim.” Pip was at her side, lightly holding one arm.

“What?” Hunter asked.

“What?” Augustus demanded.

“What!” Kiera screeched.

Nicol and Keran popped out from around Meryn to look at her.

Keran looked up at Meryn. “I told you she’d yell.”

Darian kissed Meryn’s cheek, set down her boxes, then opened a portal. “If you need help with that let me know.”

She waved him off and he stepped through.

“Eoin!” Augustus bellowed.

“Whaaa?” Eoin said, when he reappeared, mouth full of food.

“You could have told us that before you went for lobster rolls,” Augustus said, then pointed to the space in front of him. “Get over here.”

Eoin swallowed and walked over. “I was about to come back in here.” He reached into his pocket and handed Augustus some folded papers.

“Ellar appeared before the council just after we arrived. He petitioned a counter claim for custody. He said that uprooting Keran and Nicol would be detrimental and that as their Elder and member of the Academy, he would be better to oversee their education.”

“Then what?” Augustus asked. “What did the council decide?”

“Elder Marshall moved to reconvene when Kiera and Hunter could be present,” Eoin said.

Augustus scowled. “It was only supposed to be a petition, not a hearing. I should have been there.”