She made her rounds, then stopped at their sire’s chair. He turned his head to gaze at her, no smile or expression of warmth. Quinn worried that the king’s dour demeanor scared Ellie, but instead, she laid her little hand on his leg. Their sire set his eyes on their mother and it was obvious to Quinn they were speaking to one another, although no one else could hear their words. Then Quinn’s father did something unexpected. He picked the girl up and set her on the table in front of him.
Connell stiffened and Quinn quickly said using the brother pipeline, “He won’t hurt her, Connell. Stop your fretting.” His brother answered with a short nod of his head.
“My mommy was sick all the time and I don’t think she really liked me, but Connell and Lynn do. I want to stay here with them.” Ellie gripped two of the king’s long fingers and inspected them. “You’re very old, aren’t you?”
He nodded, watching her intently. “I am nearly a millennia. That’s almost a thousand years, which is a very long time.”
“Will I get that old?”
“I don’t know, Ellie. It is possible, if your Vrykolakas blood is strong enough.” He gently held her chin between his thumb and fingers. “Connell tells me that you have nightmares.”
She nodded slowly.
Pausing for a moment, he then said, “He also mentioned you won’t speak of them.”
Her big blue eyes widened. “I don’t like them.”
“You hear him, don’t you? It’s normal for a father to speak to his child. To hear his thoughts. Is Padraig your father?”
Ellie’s eyes shifted to her lap and she shrugged. “I don’t think so.”
“But you hear Padraig. You know why he’s looking for you. You’ve always known, haven’t you? That’s why you wanted Connell to keep you.”
The little girl fiddled with the king’s finger, but didn’t answer.
“Little batling, look at me.”
Her long, dark lashes flicked and she bravely stared into his eyes. “You now belong to a distinguished clan. The Connelly Clan. A very old and respected family. Your grandmother is the wisest female I know. She was once human, like you, and now she is Vrykolakas, like you. Through our long years, I have come to realize how brave she truly was to face her fears, and she had many. My mate believes that you are the future of our kind. What’s important for you to remember is that the Ágiros, who are my kin and yours, are the bravest of all the Vrykolakas. We face our fears as a challenge and we don’t hide from them.”
Ellie hugged her bear tightly and nodded quickly. “If I’m brave, will you be my grandpa? Will you teach me things?” She paused, then added. “And let me show you my pony?”
Quinn and his brothers saw something they’d never, ever, in all their years seen before. His father smiled. Actually, honestly, smiled.
“I agree to your terms, Lady Ellie,”
A smile as bright as the sun shone from her face. She glanced over her shoulder to look at Lynn. “See?” she said, “I’m a princess now.”
Quinn looked at Connell and Donnor and they appeared just as amazed. Then it occurred to Quinn what had just happened. The little imp had hazed a nine-hundred-year-old vampire.
He thought about pointing it out, but decided against it. Ellie had been intimidated by his sire, maybe she didn’t even realize what she’d done, only that she wanted his acceptance. Or maybe, like any six-year-old, she just wanted to show him her pony. But whatever had just transpired, there was no doubt the little girl had succeeded in making a pact with one of the oldest nobles of their species. To accept her as one of his own meant his fearless protection for eternity.
“I am a princess, aren’t I, Seanmháthair?” she asked as Claudette picked up the girl from the table and set her feet on the floor.
The queen held the child’s hand. “Yes,” she answered. “You are, indeed.”
Lynn and Ari both chuckled.
His father began to rise from his chair and stopped midway, tilting his head at the child. “Connell, did you explain our family lineage to her?”
“No,” he darted a glance at Lynn.
Lynn shrugged and shook her head. “I didn’t know until Ari told me.”
Lord Liam raised a dark streak of brow at the girl, then followed his mate up the stairs to take Ellie to bed.
“Holy shit,” Donnor breathed.
“Was that what I think it was?” Connell asked, blinking.