Page 1 of King’s Kismet

Five Years Before Druid Dreams

Sunday, May 10th

The late spring wind whipped through the garden behind Papi’s house, turning the pages of my book. But it also carried with it the conversation my parents and Jack are having on the other side of the open kitchen window.

Before, I had simply let their words fade into muted nonsense so they wouldn’t distract me from my reread of The Time Machine by HG Wells…

Now, though? With my place in the book lost, their voices held my curiosity.

“Are you sure?” Jack asked, a sense of urgency in his tone that made me sit up straight.

“No,” my father—Nate—acquiesced. “It’s not time, but the situation is forcing our hand.”

“What about the others?” Charlie rumbled.

Though he was the Supreme Alpha, he rarely used his no-nonsense voice with his co-mates or children. Family lunches or dinners were usually so relaxed for him, those days when he didn’t have to be in charge.

“My apprentice is finishing up his degree in dentistry,” Sam commented, causing me to tilt my head.

What were they talking about?

Nate snorted. “Dentistry? Really?”

“Well, you know he’s a smartass,” Papi remarked, as carefree as the Second Devil of Hell could be. “He thinks it’s ironic. I don’t know what else to say about it, other than if you break a fang, I know a demon.”

“I’ve got the eldest Elliott,” Charlie commented as I inched closer to the window. “He’s been back in the states for a couple of months. I’ve already told his brother what’s going on, so they won’t push the subject when I send him out of North Fork.”

“How did I get stuck with three of them?” my father complained.

“Divine intervention,” Papi dryly replied.

Nate sighed. “I’ll send my apprentice and his fae friend within the next few weeks. The young vampire needs a task to keep himself busy, so I’ve got to set something up. Will they be staying with—”

“We’ll have to move them into a bigger place,” my dad cut in.

“We can’t move them far,” my father argued. “The mage apprentice has a job at the college.”

“Student at one, professor at another,” Charlie growled under his breath. “At least the other three won’t be such a challenge.”

I wandered inside, my curiosity getting the best of me. “What are you four talking about?”

“Are you reading that book again?” Jack asked, taking my worn paperback from my hand to flip through the dog-eared pages.

There was a perfectly untouched first edition on the shelf in my bedroom. That was one book that would never see a creased page or highlighted line. But this book? It held bright yellow streaks over my favorite passages and ripped corners from saving my spot too many times.

“Yes. It’s my favorite,” I replied, then repeated, “What are you talking about?”

It was a strange sight to see the Supreme Alpha unsure of himself, though that was the feeling I was getting from him.

“We have a job that needs a certain level of discretion,” Charlie stated, tugging at his neatly trimmed beard. “We’re hoping you’ll be up to the task.”

I shrugged. “Depends on what you’re asking.”

“We need you to free the fae king and rescue the druid prince,” Nate responded, the hint of a smile flashing across his mouth.

“Uh-huh,” I hummed. “Sure.”

Jack cut his glare to our parents. “I told you she wouldn’t believe that.”