“Who do you mean?” She scratched the back of her neck.
The woman with the long locks and deep brown eyes.”
“Oh, you noticed her, huh?”
“She had a dimple each side of her mouth, and a mole above her left eyebrow.”
Faith wiped her forehead. “Yep, you noticed her all right. Belle’s a protector, an empath, one in the know.”
“Damn.” Arms crossed, he drew his dark brows together.
Heck, Nicolas had noticed Belle just as greatly as Belle had noticed him. Could he be her mate? The one who’d never—
“I came because I’ve made my decision.” Nicolas nodded. “Alexo and Goldie were adamant your secret and Hope’s be kept. I’ve considered everything presented to me, and I’m in agreement.”
“You are?” Faith let out a shuddering breath. “My father protected my mother’s whereabouts for eighteen years when he knew Donaldo would never have accepted her Earthling status.”
“Yes, he told me, and of Hope’s journey in discovering your mother’s true Magioling heritage. He spoke of all those lost years, and the pain he endured. Already so many of our people suffer the same loss of their mated one because of the dome. As it is, you and Hope are full-blooded, and if Donaldo hadn’t forced your parents’ separation, then you wouldn’t have had to live here on Earth, but in your rightful place. I’m in accord, that you and I will provide a united front before Donaldo.” He leaned in, kissed her cheek. “It seems we’re dating.”
“Thank you.” She hugged him, tears slipping down her cheeks. “You and Maslin are amazing, and you won’t regret your decision.”
“We better not. We’ll make this work, somehow.” He rubbed her back and glanced at Guy. “We’ll catch you later. Faith and I need some time to plan.” He zapped away with her.
Guy pulled me into his arms. “Hey, you’re crying.”
“I am?” I wiped my eyes, finding my cheeks wet. “This is such a relief. Everything has hinged on finding an answer, and Nicolas and Maslin stepping up provides part of it.”
“They still have to convince Donaldo, and then there’s Killian and Abelard to get around.” He tipped up my chin. “Alexo’s arranged a formal dinner for tonight. He wants to ensure Donaldo sees the girls with Nicolas and Maslin. It begins with pre-dinner drinks at five sharp. We’re all expected.”
My heart skipped a beat. The dreaded Wincrest and the slayers in one room. Great. Yet this was what it was all about. Faith’s forewarning. “That doesn’t give us much time.”
“Yes, we need to get ready. You also have to put your clothes away.”
“My clothes? What do you—”
Everything darkened as he ’ported us. We passed through the stinky dome room and straight to his new quarters. “While you were at school, I moved some of your things here.”
A large pile of my clothing lay strewn over a king-sized bed covered in a thick white comforter. Plush red pillows rested against the graceful curve of the wooden headboard. “You got a new bed?”
He grinned. “Yeah, you broke the old one, and it was my favorite out of the two. What do you think of the desk?” A chunky oak desk held two wonky piles of very familiar looking cookbooks. “The books are copies of the same ones you had in your sitting room. I found replicas on Earth.”
“You did?” I lifted the top volume and thumbed through it. Yellow squares of paper marked several pages. “What are these for?”
Brushing up behind me, he skimmed my hips with his hands. “You’re welcome to make anything I’ve marked, and anytime you’d like.”
“Hmm, southern fried chicken and corn and cheese bread.” I flicked to his next marking. “Mama Maria’s meatballs in spicy sauce.” Continuing through, I hit the desserts, and almost every page in that section was marked. “Interesting. I think there’s only one you’ve missed. What’s wrong with the caramelized apples flambéed?”
He nuzzled my ear. “Knowing you, you won’t want to put the flambé out.”
“Good point.” I laughed and set the book down.
“Did you see the bed?”
“You know I—” He swung me into his arms and dropped me across the pillows. “—did.”
One serious expression darkened his eyes as he crawled in overtop. “You must be careful with what you say at this dinner. The entire leading eight will be there.”
“Okay, why don’t you prepare me?” I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“If anyone asks you a sensitive question, direct it back at me.”
“I can do that.”
“Don’t burn any of them.” He kissed me, nipping softly at my lips. “No matter if you want to.”
“No fair.”
“Let’s hang your clothes before we run out of time.” He swept me onto my feet. “We have a dressing room.” Scooping an armful, he inclined his head toward one of the two side rooms. “It’s not much, but it’s more than I’ve ever had before.”