did not tell Captain Kindros or anyone on board the Lady Anna about Admiral Jenkins or my friends. I did not want to risk their safety. But because of the attack on the base, you need to send a ship right away. We do not want the IN to find them. And the MacKays need protection. You need to send soldiers.” The sooner they got to Jenkins, the better. Marcus promised to not let Patrick kill Jenkins, but Bannon did not realize until he was on the Lady Anna that he had not obtained the same promise from Marcus.
King-Consort Raleigh nodded. “It will be done. Now, who are these Regelens? You said a lieutenant commander and his spouse?”
“The Marquess of Winstol and Marquess-Consort Winstol.”
There were gasps of surprise from everyone except King Steven, King-Consort Raleigh, and Admiral Hawkins. King Steven went suddenly pale and gripped the edge of the desk until his knuckles turned white. King-Consort Raleigh just stared at Bannon with no expression whatsoever.
Admiral Hawkins didn’t react at all either, but his eyes looked haunted. And who could blame him? How hard would it be to give up the son you raised? Not that Bannon thought Marcus and Patrick would make him, but he’d still have to share.
Finally, King Steven spoke. “Are you certain?”
Bannon nodded. “Positive. Marcus and Patrick are alive and well.” He grinned, thinking of the men. “I’ve become rather fond of them both.”
“As have I. They are our friends, and they are most definitely who they say they are.” Louie stood and came across the room to him. She gripped his hand, then turned back to the room at large. “Marcus was instrumental in getting us home. He made a beacon to signal Captain Kindros and let her know our whereabouts. We promised we would not breathe a word of their existence until we spoke to you.”
Everyone started talking at once, firing questions at them, but a commotion from the foyer stalled all answers.
The door to the study swung open, and Bannon’s father strode in, followed closely by his sire. They both looked as unkempt as Bannon had ever seen them. His father looked as though he had not slept for days, and his sire had lost weight—weight he could not afford to lose, as he was already very thin.
Eversleigh glanced around the room until his gaze landed on Bannon. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out, then strode forward. “Thank galaxy you are alive. It’s a miracle.” He rushed in, followed by Bannon’s sire, who slapped a hand over his mouth. Both their eyes filled with tears, and then Bannon was immediately engulfed in their embrace. They stopped only long enough to grab Louie and include her in the hug as well.
Bannon’s head swam. His chest swelled. He’d known they would miss him, but…. He had no idea they’d miss him this badly. His father could be an absolute stickler for propriety, but he didn’t even seem to care they had an audience.
“Bannon?” Blaise pushed into the embrace, maneuvering both their parents out of the way. “Little brother, you gave me a scare!” He held Bannon at arm’s length long enough for Bannon to catch a glimpse of Dalton standing next to them smiling.
“Glad you are okay, Bannon.” Dalton slapped him on the arm.
Then Blaise pulled him back into his embrace. “You are not leaving Regelence again. I’ll go to war with our parental units over it, I swear I will!”
“No need for that, son,” Sire said, and he separated Bannon from Blaise. “Your father and I will not be letting him out of our sight for the next decade or so.”
Another round of hugs ensued for him and Louie, then Father put on what Bannon thought of as his ambassador face. He turned to King Steven and King-Consort Raleigh and said, “Have you been briefed?”
King-Consort Raleigh nodded. “Yes. We were in the middle of that when you arrived. Have a seat. We’ll let Bannon finish, and then we’ll fill you in on the rest later.”
With a hand in each of his parents’, and feeling as if he had fallen into an alternate universe, Bannon allowed his parents to drag him to the sofa.
Louie went back to the other sofa, and Blaise and Dalton sat next to her.
Bannon smiled when he noticed that Blaise was holding on to Louie’s hand.
After Bannon finished his story, the room erupted into endless chatter, discussing strategy and asking the occasional question. Neither of his