James frowned. “I know you love a good fight Nicky, but I think it’s best if we –“
“Stop this!” Bree suddenly shouted.
“None of you are going anywhere near Draken!” She said firmly. “You have no idea how – how dangerous he is. I would never forgive myself if something happened to one of you. I appreciate your willingness to help but I can’t ask you to do this.”
“You’re not asking. We’re offering to help.” Nicholas replied.
Bree looked at Avery and Tristan. “Tell them they cannot go with me.”
Tristan shrugged. “They’re adults Bree.”
She snorted with anger and knelt beside Avery, taking her hand and squeezing it. “Please my lady. Your children will die if you let them go to Draken’s. You can’t be okay with that.”
Avery rested her hand on the top of Bree’s head. “But you want me to be okay with you going alone and dying at the hand of this Draken?”
Bree flushed. “I am not your child. You barely know me.”
Avery smiled at her. “Aye, and you barely know me. But it doesn’t mean that I, or anyone else in my family, will allow you to just go to your death. If Sophia, Nicky and James want to help you, I won’t stop them.”
Bree tore away from her and stomped to the far end of the kitchen. She glared at all of them. “I won’t let you go with me. Do you understand?”
“You can’t stop us little one.” James said softly.
She scowled at him. “I’ll sneak away again. I swear to the gods I will. You – “
Leta burst through the doorway of the kitchen, her tanned face glowing happily. She jumped into Tristan’s lap and hugged him excitedly. “They’re here papa! They’re here!”
Tristan laughed and stood up, dangling Leta under his arm and swinging her back and forth before smiling at Avery. “They made good time.”
Avery stood and held her hand out to Bree. “My sister is here Bree. Come, I want you to meet her.”
Bree stared at her. “I – we have to – I mean…”
Avery put her hand up. “We’ll discuss this more later. I promise. Do you believe that Draken will kill Kaden in the next few days?”
Bree shook her head slowly. “No. He is big and strong, and they value him as a slave. They tend to hunt the weaker ones.”
James made a snort of disgust as Avery took Bree’s hand. “Then give us a few more days. I promise you we will think about the possibility of letting you go alone.”
James opened his mouth to protest and Avery gave him a hard look. “James, Nicky – go and build up the fire in your grandmother’s room. It is a cold day and she will appreciate a warm room.”
She led Bree towards the door. “Come my sweet, I am excited for Maya to meet you.”
Chapter 15
“Avery!” A slender blonde woman and a woman with grey hair were standing in the front yard.
Avery dropped Bree’s hand and embraced the smaller woman. “Hello Maya.”
Bree watched as the sisters hugged before Avery led Maya to her. “Maya, this is Bree. She’s staying with us for a while.”
“Hello Bree. It’s nice to meet you.” Maya smiled and held out her hand.
Bree shook it briefly. Although Maya was smaller and had blonde hair instead of red, she smiled exactly like Avery smiled and Bree could feel herself wanting to like the woman immediately. She gave Maya a nervous smile as Sophia brushed past her.
“Welcome home grandmamma. I missed you.” Sophia hugged the grey-haired woman hard, and she winced before returning her hug.
“Gently Sophia. I’m old remember?” The woman’s shoulders were stooped with age, but her dark brown eyes danced with laughter as Leta barrelled into her and wrapped her arms around the woman’s waist.
“Grandmamma! I have a dog now! Well, actually she’s Bree’s dog but Tia loves me just as much and she’s been sleeping on my bed and playing with me.”
“A dog?” The woman raised her eyebrow at Tristan who hugged her gently.
“Hello mother.”
“Hello Tristan. Where are the boys?”
“They’re just – “
He paused as Nicholas and James, followed closely by Evan, came out of the house.
“My sweet Nicky.” Vivian held her arms out and Nicholas embraced her gently. She stroked his blonde hair and kissed his cheek before turning to James and Evan.
“Here are my handsome boys.” She grinned at them and kissed James before putting her arm around Evan. “I swear, you’ve grown a foot in the month I’ve been gone Evan.”
Bree was surprised when James approached her and took her hand in his large one. He smiled comfortingly at her as he pulled her forward.