Lanie


    “Zane. Hold him,” | sent through a private link. “He’s going to lose his s hit.”


    “Got it,” Zane thought in reply.


    Together, we wove a tapestry of calm for Mason, but | was surprised that instead of bursting into rage, he startedughing. He


    shook a finger at Melina. Sheughed gently


    “If you''re going to read my mind,” he said, “you''d better be prepared for what''s in there.”


    Zane and | shared confused looks. Melina, however, simply glided forward like she was walking on air and took Mason by the


    shoulders. She kissed one cheek, then the other, her lips brushing the air over his skin without actually touching.


    “My dear new friend. You cannot leave without a bath, dinner, fresh clothes, and the assurance that you have our protection. We


    treat our guests with the utmost hospitality,” she said, then paused. “But | suppose


    you are not guests, are you? If you are family to Mchi, you are kin to us a all.”


    1-1


    “What did you think to her?” | heard Zane ask through the group link, but Mason only grinned and shook


    his head.


    “Melina, perhaps our guests would be better prepared for what we have to share with them if they''re


    shown to their rooms and given a chance to rest. Reflect Refresh.”


    The gray-haired man at the back of the group said this a bit sharply, and | wondered what his rtionship was to Melina. She


    didn’t seem at all taken aback by his tone. If anything, the look she shot over her shoulder


    made me think he amused her.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    “Allow me to introduce Jacques,” Melina said. “He is a warlock.”


    “And her husband,” he said sternly, his brow furrowing


    “So, men can be witch kind,” Xander said aloud.


    Mchi nodded “Your world is going to get so much bigger over the next few days, son. | hope you’re ready for it”


    “Tim Penelope,” offered a pretty brte whose eyes tipped up at theers when she smiled Tm a vampire witch No wolf in


    me, but I’m fascinated by how you shift I’d love the chance to learn more about how It all works | mean, where does the for even


    come from? And where does it go?


    “Pen, let’s get them to their rooms so they can rx a bit before dinner Melina chided kindly


    Penelope moved closer to link her arm through mine | do hope we can be friends, Lanie i promise you, I’m not always so nosy


    Eve just heard so much about you from Charlotte Well, we all have. I’m so very excited to have you here!”


    | looked around the group of those who’de to oreet us, wondering how many more lived here it had 1/2


    “You have the advantage, | guess,” | told her with a small, self-conscious chuckle. “Since none of us had


    any idea about any of this before a day ago.”


    Gabri hefted ina higher on her hip. Isaac clung to her leg. Both pups were staring, goggle-eyed, all around them. “These


    two little ones could certainly use a change of clothes. So could |. We''d be very grateful if you could show us where we''ll be


    staying.”


    “I''ll take them. You, Penelope, stay here and help prepare for the dinner tonight. You''ll have plenty of time. to get to know Lanie


    later. Give her a chance to settle in,” my grandfather ordered. To me, he said, “I''ll take you all to your rooms. Your belongings


    have already been taken there.”


    We gathered ourselves and the kids and followed him out of the courtyard, through an area dominated by the fountain I’d heard


    earlier, and then through a set of wooden doors that matched the ones on the outside


    wall. These, though, hung open in a way that suggested they were rarely closed. Inside the main building, the


    enve turned out to be a maze of stairs, halls, andmon rooms.


    “Is that thing


    ing safe?” This time, Xander was the one with a suspicious re at the elevator in front of us.


    The doors were of borately scrolled metalwork that formed so many small scenes | thought | could


    spend hours looking at them all. My grandfatherughed and opened the door to usher us inside. Despite the antique


    appearance, all eight of us fitfortably. Mchi hit the button marked seven.


    “This building isn’t even seven stories high,” Mason said.


    Mchi shook his head. “Floors zero through four are above. Five through eleven.


    go below.”


    The elevator shuddered and began to move, but without his exnation I’d have been hard-pressed to


    know if it was going up or down.


    “It''s like what the humans call witches’ stairs,” Gabri murmured admiringly. “Meant to confuse anyone.


    who’s not supposed to be here.”


    Mchi grinned at her. “You got it.”


    The doors opened to let us out into a small, cozy entry foyer that looked like it belonged in a boutique hotel. That was surprise


    enough, but when my grandfather unlocked and pushed open the door, | couldn’t he back my cry of utter shock.


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