Broken Dove (Fantasyland #4)(125)

Boots were sounding down the hall but he didn’t look, nor did Madeleine.

Instead, she assured him, “I’ll be fine, honey.”

“If you wish to leave. You go. But you do not go alone. I or one of my men goes with you and takes you immediately to the witch.”

“They have a witch in there,” she told him. “I saw her too.”

“Regardless, do as I say. Understood?”

She held his eyes as he felt others join them and he only looked to them when she nodded.

Alek and Hans had arrived.

“They have them?” Hans asked.

“All of them,” Apollo answered. “Save Franka. She’s staying at a cottage not far from here. They’re collecting her. ”

Hans jerked up his chin.

“The children?” Apollo asked.

“Quincy and Balthazar play guard. Calder has sent a witch as well.”

This time, Apollo jerked up his chin.

Hans looked to Maddie. “Word on Loretta?”

“She’s fine, Hans,” Maddie said quietly. “Stitched up and now resting.”

With mild surprise, Apollo watched a cloud shadow Hans’s face before he moved into the room. And this cloud formed even as the news he received about Loretta was good.

Alek had already gone in.

Apollo took Maddie’s hand and led her in.

When they entered, he saw Eirik and Calder nose-to-nose. He also saw Valeria standing to the side, watching in a detached way, arms crossed on her chest. And last he saw Kristian squatting in a corner, head down between his knees, the fingers of both hands shoved in his hair.

Kristian. Clearly the weak link.

Apollo cast his eyes further through the room and saw Frey and his own men standing about, as well as Garik. Finnie was standing in the shadows resting one shoulder against the stone. Her booted feet were crossed at the ankle, her arms crossed on her chest, eyes to Calder and Eirik.

When they entered, she looked over her shoulder, caught Apollo’s eyes, then hers moved to Madeleine, down to their clasped hands and back to Apollo whereupon she winked.

He again felt his lips twitch.

Then his attention was taken by the action.

“Three witches I paid a fortune to watch over my wife, my unborn child, and my home and you connive to tear that protection away?” Calder clipped into his father’s face.

Clearly, the interrogation had advanced during his absence. No one knew about the conspiracy.

Except the conspirators.

Apollo knew, however, that Frey had warned his brother and Calder had taken precautions. This was the reason why Apollo felt safe bringing the children and Maddie to Brunksar.

In his fury, Calder had obviously informed the occupants of this room who previously might not have known.

Unless they did.

Something they would soon find out.

“I’ve done no such thing,” Eirik returned.

Calder’s eyes sliced to the witch who was standing shoulders against the stone wall, eyes to the action.

“Indeed, as I reported, the enchantments we cast were broken,” she stated.

Calder looked back at his father.

“Explain that,” he demanded.

“I’d hardly connive to put my own son and unborn grandson in jeopardy,” Eirik returned.

“Just to say, she carries a daughter,” the witch put in.

“Your further input is hardly welcome,” Eirik bit out.

Maddie leaned into him and whispered in his ear, “Cool that Melba and Calder are expecting a daughter.”

Apollo shook his head while tipping his chin to look down at her and lifted a hand to press his finger to her lips.

She rolled her eyes.

He felt his mouth quirk as he looked back to Eirik and Calder, dropped his finger from her lips but lifted the hand he was holding and folded it into his chest, drawing her nearer.

“You fail to grasp your position here, father,” Frey noted and Eirik looked to him.

“I fail to do so because it’s beyond unseemly to escort the Head of a House to his own dungeons,” Eirik shot back.

Calder’s back shot straight and his face turned cold.

“I will repeat, you fail to grasp your position here, father, and it would appear you do it in more ways than one for you have not been Head of this House for some time,” Frey returned.

“Can I ask at this point,” Valeria cut in in a bored voice, “if someone will bring me a chair? I’ve been dancing all night and my feet are killing me.”

“Holy cow.” Apollo heard Maddie breathe in disgusted shock and he squeezed her hand but did not take his eyes from the players on the stage.

“It would seem, mother, that you too are uncomprehending of what is transpiring in this room,” Frey noted.

“We have been informed of what occurred this night and really.” She shook her head in mild rebuke. “My dear son, you know my husband, nor I, would conspire with malevolent forces to bring down the powers that be on two continents. Not with a son who is The Frey and The Drakkar. A son married to the Winter Princess and a grandson who inherits the crown to this realm, a realm that is vast in size now that it’s rightfully reunified.”

“Too true,” Frey allowed and his eyes dropped to his mother’s throat. “Though I must take this moment to compliment you on the ice diamond you wear.”