“Oh.”
The door was thrown open, his tall, gangly assistant, Lars, almost falling into the room in his hurry to get to him.
“The spell!” Lars heaved as he lunged at him, out of breath.
“You’ve been running?” he asked him incredulously, following the trail of sweat that trickled down his assistant’s forehead.
Lars nodded, bending over, his hands braced on his knees as he tried to regain composure. “I … I … I still … haaaa … haven’t … mastered the communication spell you taught me.” He gulped for air again, wheezing as he flopped down beside him.
“Well obviously you rushed with a purpose, spit it out.”
Lars turned to him now, his eyes bright with excitement. “The protection spell is down. She’s unprotected.”
He stiffened at the news “You’re certain?”
“Positive. I’ve been on Marion duty for two years. Her protection spell on the girl has been dropped.”
A tingling of anticipation and bitter hate rushed through him and he found a slow, predatory smile stretching his lips. It was his first smile in many days. “Well you know what this means…”
“It’s time?”
“Activate our agent.”
“They’re on their way, Magnus.” Lucien strolled into his sitting room. Magnus was sprawled across an armchair while his mother Ella poured them all coffee.
The Elder looked up at him and smiled brightly. “I get to see my Cy again.”
“I forgot how fond you were of the little brat.”
“You were too busy chasing anything in a bra at the time to notice the little blonde kid who was constantly perched on his shoulder,” Ella pointed out wryly.
“I remembered her,” his voice was low, tone a warning. Instantly a chill fell over the room.
Ella stood slowly, her eyes narrowed on her son. “No one would dispute that you were very aware of Caia’s existence, Lucien. I meant only that you avoided her, so you knew nothing about her.”
“She was a cute kid.” Magnus chuckled, straightening up beside Ella, his warm teasing bending the steel of tension emanating from Lucien. His huge hand came down on Ella’s shoulder. “You got any more of those cookies I like?”
Nodding stiffly she left the room, muttering under her breath about sensitive dogs.
Magnus turned to the Alpha, a young man he considered a son. “You need to ease up, Lucien. Everyone is well aware that you’ve fulfilled your responsibilities to this pack and that you intend to fulfill the one that’s on that plane. Defenses down, please.”
Lucien grunted. “Thought I was the Pack Leader?”
Magnus laughed and cuffed him across the head, pushing him into a seat. “You’re still a pup.”
After Ella had returned with more coffee, and it was clear the tension had eased between son and mother, talk returned to pack business.
“So when do they get here?” Magnus queried, his excitement evident. Lucien had been so wrapped up in dealing with what was to come from Caia’s return that he had forgotten about the one person who was actually looking forward to it. The girl had never known anything but Albus and Ella, and in particular, Magnus.
He didn’t want to burst Magnus’ bubble but they needed to get serious about the situation. “Magnus-”
“Don’t start with that tone... this is a happy occasion. This is what your father fought for: the safe return of Rafe’s daughter.”
Lucien sighed. “I know. And I am happy to finally have that realized. Goddess knows for this reason only I will have made the old man proud. But Magnus,” his hard silver eyes searched Magnus’ happy ones, “We have to deal with the pack.”
Reluctantly, the Elder nodded in agreement. “Stupid, scared judgmental lykans.”
“That may be, but they’re our lykans, and we’ve got to make sure the pack is happy.”