Page 93 of Protected By Her Mate

Picking up on my thoughts, Lennox says, “I get it, they can be a lot, but it can’t be worse than showing up for a date only to be faced with a few dozen Lopezes.”

I laugh. “You’re right, I’d rather face a Rage Witch than my sister, Maria, when she’s pissed about something.”

Lennox links his fingers with mine and we walk back to the door leading into the castle, nodding at a guardsperson as we pass. Security is tight with all the dignitaries making their way to Wolf-Haven to meet with the wolf shifter king.

“Investigator Lopez, a minute.” I stop and Lennox and I wait as Lyle Roth, the US diplomat to Wolf-Haven, catches up with us. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Which is why I was on the top of the castle. Since my mostly successful effort to save public monuments and buildings from being blown up by ASHRA, I’ve become somewhat famous, and it’s in part thanks to Lyle Roth. He’s been working overtime to make sure the world knows a human Latina woman from New York put her life on the line to save human-shifter relations. I suspect his PR stunts are being helped along by a certain witch, but I have no proof.

“I have a team on standby ready to conduct a photo shoot at the fire station whenever you’re ready.”

I frown, glancing at Lennox. “I’m not sure when we’ll be back in New York.”

“I understand you’re here recovering after your ordeal, but we really need to cash in on the good PR while we – ”

Lennox slips an arm around my waist and inserts himself between me and the fast-talking diplomat. “You can schedule an appointment with her secretary.”

Lyle looks taken aback, which is fair since I don’t have a secretary, but before he can speak, Lennox whisks me down the hall so fast my feet barely touch the ground. “Stay away from him,” Lennox growls. “He’s a leech.”

“He’s just doing his job,” I defend, but grin as I snuggle under Lennox’s arm.

Is there a curse still hanging over our heads? Yes. Should we be touching each other every chance we get? No. But keeping our distance isn’t working either, which is why we’re about to have a family meeting.

Stopping in front of the King’s conference room, Lennox asks me seriously, “Are you ready for this? The Wolven-Norths can be an intense group.”

Is it possible to be ready to face all of Lennox’s brothers at once?

“Not all,” he responds to my thought. “Not Fallon.”

“I’m sorry.” I keep forgetting about the oldest brother, which makes me feel terrible. Lennox loves all his siblings but his feelings toward Fallon are murkier than the others so to avoid the pain, he doesn’t think about his brother often.

We enter the room, interrupting what looks like a joyous family reunion. Vanessa is hugging Sarena, talking to her animatedly while Rush is shaking hands with Keenan.

Though the brothers look strikingly similar to each other, especially twins Lennox and Keenan, each one is distinct in his own way. Lock is tall and rugged with broad shoulders and a dark shaggy beard and head of hair. While he has a regal presence suited to a king, I can easily see the woodsman in him.

Rush, the only brother I haven’t formally met, has a frown pulling his heavy brows down. His lips are set and he has one hand on the butt of what looks like a knife on his belt while the other hand is firmly wrapped around his short, blond wife.

Keenan is tall with sandy-coloured hair, leaner than the other two, with an easy grin and a gaze that strays back to his wife, Vanessa, over and over.

The women in the room are beautiful, almost to a fault, which would ordinarily make me feel inadequate, but they’re all so nice in their own ways that it’s impossible to hate them. Vanessa is open and welcoming, excitable and fun, despite her status as a big-time actress. She’s chatting up a storm with Magdalene who’s wearing a leather mini skirt with a T-shirt that reads: CUNT (Cute, Unhinged, Numinous, Transcendent).

Staring at it, I say, “That takes some mental gymnastics.”

“Lennox, Charlie, come in!” Lock says more jovially than I’ve heard him say anything. He must be pleased to have so many of his family in one place. He touches my arm and asks, “How are you doing?”

I’ve barely had a chance to speak with the King between him attending peace meetings and me being suddenly in demand as a spokesperson for humanity. It’s been a disorienting week and he seems to understand, giving me a sympathetic look.

“I’m good,” I tell him, and he nods, directing us to sit at the table.

“Charlie!” Vanessa calls, spotting me. She rushes around the table and seizes me in an unexpected hug. “I’m so glad you weren’t blown up!”

I pat her on the back, glad at least one member of Lennox’s family seems to like me.

Lennox leans in as he pulls a seat out for me. “They’ll all love you once they get to know you.”

Lock’s sharp ears pick up our conversation from where he’s taken his seat at the head of the table, his wife on his right. “We already love her. She saved us from another long, painful war that could have ended in the total destruction of society as we know it.”

Flushing, I wave my hand at Magdalene who slides into a chair on the opposite side of the table from us. “It was a group effort.”

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