snickered sarcastically while spooning veggie soup into my mouth.
“That’s you, Evie,” Cassidy said. “And we haven’t decided which bachelor to root for. Team Rowan or team Baron?”
I almost choked on my soup before I glared at him.
Rowan patted my back. When I straightened to swallow better, Baron brushed a kiss on my temple, his lips lingering while he inhaled my scent.
The Fae kings never hesitated to show their affection toward me in any circumstances.
I blushed, pondering if I should shove them away, and if I could without hurting their feelings. I still needed to maintain a big-bad-sister image in front of my siblings. I’d demanded they treat me as their commanding officer to keep them in line.
Safiya’s eyes went big and round as she watched the Fae kings compete for my affection. Envy brimmed in her brown gaze. She always wanted what I had, no matter what it was.
Emmett darted a cautious glance at the kings, then at me, before he shrugged a shoulder and went back to his pie.
The twins grinned at us like identical idiots. I knew as long as I fed them well, they had no care whom I ended up with.
Cassidy clasped his hands and smiled like a pimp. “Healthy competition is good. So, Rowan and Baron, what do you have to offer Evie and us? Our family’s votes decide which suitor Evie will go for.”
I blinked at him. Seriously?
Rowan and Baron smiled indulgently at my little brother, enjoying the game he proposed. Then they scanned my other siblings, who peered at them expectantly, even Fawn.
Baron whistled, and two Summer knights sauntered into the dining room with several big boxes wrapped in fancy ribbons. They opened four of them and laid the boxes of every kind of the best chocolates and cookies over their arms like fancy New York waiters. Some of the goodies looked shipped overnight from other countries directly to my house.
My siblings gasped at the sweets in greedy glee.
Baron waved a hand generously. “Have at it, young ones.”
Then he picked up a piece of dark Belgian chocolate and brought it to my lips.
My siblings dove for their treats like a bunch of bandits while still managing to watch Baron feed me.
I flushed furiously.
Rowan selected a bar of delicate white chocolate, ignored Baron’s glare, and brought it to my lips as well.
This was getting ridiculous again. I hoped this wasn’t the Fae kings’ idea of courting.
“Thanks.” I snatched both chocolates from the Fae kings and tossed one at Asuka and the other at Cassidy.
The boys caught it.
“Thank you, Commander,” Cassidy said with a salute before he bit into the chocolate with an appreciative grin.
A knock rapped on the front door, and my heart leapt. Rydstrom was here.
How was I going to handle one extra sexy god-like being in my humble abode while keeping my siblings from embarrassing me?
Chapter 6
Everyone’s attention snapped toward Rydstrom as he strode inside without waiting for anyone to answer the door. The Night King fixed his eyes on me for a few seconds, ignoring the hostility and menace rolling off Rowan and Baron, before taking in my siblings.
Nightly shadows coiled around the Night King, but my siblings couldn’t see through his Fae glamour. From their dropped jaws, I could tell how impressed they were with Rydstrom, the same way they’d reacted to Baron and Rowan when they’d first hung out with the two Fae kings.
They weren’t afraid of the Winter King and Summer King anymore, but they didn’t know Rydstrom. They instinctively perceived a predator roaming among them. Naturally, primal fear spiked in their minds and eyes along with awe.
“What are you doing here, Rydstrom?” Baron growled before I could greet my boss.
Rowan breathed out a trail of frosty air, not happy either.
Rydstrom bared his teeth. “Must I explain why I need to see Eve?”
I opened my mouth to say something, but my little sister beat me to it.
“Welcome,” Fawn said, smiling enigmatically. “All courts and kings are welcome.”
All three kings blinked at her. The bone witch in my sister knew they were Fae kings, but the kings didn’t know that an ancient witch who could glimpse fragments of the future cohabitated my little sister’s body. And I wasn’t keen to share the information either.
“Uh, Rydstrom,” I cut in hurriedly. “We’ve just finished dinner. Maybe I can heat up something for you?” Then I realized offering a king leftovers might be offensive. “Or for your knights?”
Rydstrom hadn’t led any of his people into the room, but through the window I