Exton

I watch the three of them. Raina's anger is understandable. I even empathize. But...

"Excuse me. Raina, I need your input. You are outraged. I understand that more than you know. I am, above all else, Romanavich. Children are sacred." I pause for a moment, thinking how I want to say this. "What I need from you is thoughts on how best to protect Alise and Pandora. Ob knows what was said. He was open to everything said. He transferred it to Stoney."

I lean against another booth, ankles crossed.

"Admittedly, Fae twist things. I am not asking you to put yourself in his place."

Raina sputters, ready to vent and I hold up a hand. "Hear me out... Not everyone is as strong as you are. Some of us," I motion to include the men and myself "have done things of which we are not proud. Circumstances sometimes lead us into very grey areas, sometimes, very black."

I sigh, thinking, talking aloud, hoping to elicit thoughts from Raina or the men.

"This Fae,  Morgan, will try to get close to Alise or Pandora. To do that, she would try much. Do I trust Gareth? No. This could be a ploy. At no time shall he be left alone with our mothers-to-be. I know Ob is worried about Pandora when he is stone. Stoney is less worried, as the shields at the Manse are closed to all but who they let through."

I look at Raina and smile. "Alise also has you."

Nick speaks up, his eyes black as death. "She has me, too. I don't care who tries to get those kids, Gareth or Morgan or the whole Unseelie Court. They'll have to kill me to take them."

Erik stands, seeming somehow taller than before. "Me, too." He glances over at Nick. "Hell, who wants to live forever?"

"Gentlemen, I knew where your hearts lie, as I know where Raina's does." I nod slowly. "Keon has already started investigating Morgan. Tip's information will further that, I hope. We have other eyes already watching both the Fae. We will know if Gareth is an active partner, or truly coerced."

I look up to see Ob and Pandora coming down the stairs. His face is set, eyes hard and icy. His arm is around Pandora and he scans the room before he lets her join the others. I smile as he touches my mind. NO ONE is taking his woman or baby girl.

Stoney and Alise are close behind them. Alise looks shaken and I can see that Stoney is fighting hard to be calm for Alise's sake