She glanced at Aiden.
“Oh, of course, I keep forgetting that Aiden is the reason Karros won’t be fae royalty.” Caleb groaned. “Fate is messing with us.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about fate messing with us. Not when you have Elise’s grandmother in there.” Flora covered her face with her hands. “I haven’t spoken to her since I left this realm for Wishing Moon Bay.”
“Yeah, from what Karros said she’s pissed with you, too, Flora.” Elise reached for the door handle. “Come on, we’re in this together, let’s face it together.”
“Is this one of those times where you’re going to protect me?” Caleb asked as he got out of the truck.
“It might just be.” She walked toward the cabin but then stopped and waited for Flora and Aiden to get out of the truck too.
“I was trying to convince Aiden to make a run for it.” Flora hooked her arm through her mate’s. “But he said he couldn’t leave his twin here alone.”
“All joking aside,” Caleb began, “we’re here because Zara needs us. We’re here because we need your grandmother to help us dream walk so we can remember what happened to us.”
“And hopefully, that will lead us to the person who is stalking her.” Aiden nodded firmly. “No one can get in the way of this. We do what we have to do.”
“My grandmother might see that as a challenge.” Elise sighed and rolled her shoulders as they approached the house. “Why don’t you let me do the talking?”
“Okay, and should we not eat anything? Or drink anything?” Caleb asked.
“You think she’ll try to poison you?” Elise rolled her eyes.
“No, but we were there when Flora gave a piece of fruit to Sapphire and she instantly forgot fae existed,” Aiden reminded them.
“Oh, yeah.” Caleb shook his head. “I don’t want to forget you and I don’t want you to forget me.”
“The sycombre fruit won’t work on shifters like that,” Flora told them. “If it did, my father would have forced us to eat it.”
“The fruit is okay if it’s a memory that’s not anchored in deep emotions. Plus, I’d just told Sapphire, so the thought hadn’t had time to spread through her brain. Sycombre fruit works best on short-term memory.” She tapped her head. “Although, there’s some skill to using it. And Elise’s grandmother is the most skilled wise woman in any of the fae realms.”
“I don’t think they needed to hear that.” Flora clapped her hands together lightly. “We’re safe, nothing will happen to us. Nothing physical at least, but I’ve known Elise’s grandmothers my whole life and they are...” She sighed. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Elise went to the door and knocked. The two shifters and Flora hung back a little way as if ready to make a run for it. She half-turned to look at them. “Try to relax.”
“Okay.” Caleb rolled his shoulders, but the tension didn’t leave his body.
“Nonthreatening,” she whispered and pointed to his clenched fists.
He held his hands up, his fingers splayed wide. “Nonthreatening.”
“Better.” Then she snapped to attention as the door opened and an old woman with hair as white as snow faced them. “Grandma Hannah.”
“I wondered when you would get around to knocking. All that whispering.” The old woman glanced at Elise and then tilted her head sideways to look at the others. “Flora. Boys.”
Elise ducked her head and smothered a smile, wondering if the boys were going to insist they were men. They chose to simply nod and say hello.
“Grandma Hannah.” Elise held out her arms and leaned forward to embrace her grandmother, only hesitating for a moment when she noticed the old woman’s raised eyebrow.
“It’s good to see you, Elise. Even if you have brought two shifters to my door.” She hugged her granddaughter and then fixed Flora with a sharp look. “And the woman who broke your brother’s heart.”
“Can we come in?” Elise asked quickly.
Her grandmother inched her head back and studied Elise’s face. “You bring trouble with you.”
“Not exactly.” Elise’s eyes misted with tears. “But we do need your help.”
“Then you’d better come inside. All of you.” With a quick, disapproving look, Elise’s grandmother turned around and headed into the cabin.
Elise glanced over her shoulder, inclined her head toward the interior of the house, and then followed.
Chapter Twenty-Six – Caleb
“Why does this feel worse than when we entered the dragon’s lair?” Aiden whispered.
“Because Elise’s Grandma Sylvie is probably fiercer than Fiona.” Flora put her hands to her mouth and wiggled her fingers. “Only without the