Page 128 of His Greatest Treasure

Rhod whimpered and Glenwise put his arm around Rhod’s shoulders, pulling him close against his body. He glared at me.

“Do not frighten my mate, Lord Somerville.”

“Sorry, I’m sorry, but you came all this way back and now you’re not staying? How will I protect you if you leave again? Will you tell me where you’re going?”

Thingswere spiralling, I was starting to hyperventilate and Glenwise was glaring as though he’d storm out with Rhod any second now.

Blaze saved us.

He stepped forward and smiled at Rhod.

“Alfie’s told me all about you. He says you practically ran the whole castle. How did you manage it?”

Rhod spoke quietly. “I’m very organised.”

“I thought so. Your office is very neat. It’s only me and Kingsley who have been in there, you know. We didn’t want to touch too much of your stuff.”

“It belongs to the Somervilles,” Rhod mumbled.

“You’re a Somerville, though, aren’t you? Alfie wants you to come back to his clan. His dragon is all protective.”

Slowly, Rhod began to nod.

“I- I can help organise things.”

I didn’t mean to interfere but my relief burst out of me in a rush. “You’ll come back? That’s great. Because I need you to show me all of the systems. Father never let me see anything inside the officeand I have no idea how anything works. We did try, didn’t we?”

I indicated the group of us.

Rhod nodded again, and drew himself up. I got the impression he was holding himself tightly. The bonds he had with everyone went pale, almost like they were ghosts. Rhod’s face was blank, like it always had been.

Before I could say anything, Glenwise said, “No,” in a clear, cold tone.

Rhod looked up at him, wide-eyed with surprise.

Glenwise reached out and dragged Rhod against him again. Rhod went willingly and leaned into Glenwise as my older cousin wrapped his arms around his mate.

“No, Rhod is not being Lord Somerville’s PA again.”

Glimmer shimmered up to Glenwise and spoke in deceptively silky tones.

“Do you speak for Rhod now, Glenwise?”

Glenwise glared down at Glimmer. Glimmer was slender and a couple of inches shorter than Glenwise but he moved with a deadly sortof grace and the shark-like look he was giving Glenwise right then made me shiver.

Glenwise didn’t seem affected. He stood his ground.

“Do you speak for Lord Somerville now, Glimmer?”

They glared at each other and I was just wondering if they were going to fight and I was starting to panic about what I’d do if they were, when Blaze saved me. Again.

He interrupted and Glimmer looked over his shoulder at my mate, which I’m almost sure he wouldn’t have done for anyone else.

“Leave him be, Glimmer. He’s just protecting his mate.”

The bond between Glimmer and Rhod suddenly flashed, like a blade catching the light. I was sure Glimmer was annoyed becausehewanted to be the one to protect Rhod. Glimmer was so protective of all of us. It made me feel safe, having him here beside me, my Guardian. My clan was safe with me and Glimmer here.

Rhod peeked up at Glenwise. “You don’t want me to work again?”

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