Are you sure this boy isn’t exaggerating?” Vander asked, slipping onto the couch beside Ivy. He lifted her swollen ankles onto his lap.

“Ooh, that feels good,” she interrupted. “My feet hurt.”

Vander rubbed her toes but waited for Jag and Riley to answer.

“The boy was very matter-of-fact, but I didn’t sense deceit. He was angry and scared, but his main concern was definitely for his sister’s wellbeing. The nomad talked to his mother about taking his little sister. That every time he came around, girls disappeared.”

“Girls,” Ivy repeated. “Not women.”

Riley shrugged. “It sounded like that’s what he meant. Lettie is only six, so if she’s any indication of this man’s interest, I think it deserves a closer look.”

Damen nodded. “The problem is growing, that’s for sure. Mates have been scarce for a while, and we didn’t know why. At first, it was grown women. Those poisoned, died, but those who stayed relatively healthy became targets for the black market. Now we know the source of the poison, but we still don’t know how it’s being smuggled into the city or the outlying villages.”

He exhaled. “We’ve closed off trade through the Mirror Mountains. Anyone who comes into the city is vetted, but somehow this problem persists, and now all evidence points to the black market targeting young girls.” He looked at Vander and Jag. “We need to do more.”

Vander looked at his security chief. “You said evidence. What evidence? If all we have is the boy’s statement, it’s not enough for me to accuse the mountain cave chiefs or the tribal lords across the sand. The jungle is its own problem, but the stranglehold we have on trade has them in check, at least for now.”

Ivy covered Vander’s hand as he rubbed her toes. “Maybe we should talk with these children. Now that they’re here and safe, we might be able to get a better description of this nomadic man. Perhaps they might remember something he unwittingly said that could give us a lead.”

“Lettie is excited to meet you. I think she’s got a romanticized idea of you and Vander.” She chuckled. “You know, very Cinderella. All glitter and rhinestones.”

Ivy smirked. “Right, and me with royal cankles courtesy of my swollen belly. How the hell am I going to last another three months? As it is, I feel as if I’m ready to explode.”

“Still.” Riley put a handful of cookies on a plate and handed them to Ivy. “I promised, and as their queen, you have to meet them. Besides, they are super cute. Lettie is missing one of her front teeth. She makes this adorable lisp when she speaks.”

Ivy nibbled on the end of a Galaxan biscotti. “I suppose we could meet them in the throne room. Really give them the works.” She looked at Vander.

“Ivy, be serious. With everything we have going on?” he replied.

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Yes, with everything we have going on. Besides, it’ll give me a chance to see you in action with children.”

Jag sniggered at that. “She’s your pregnant queen, dude. Best not to argue.”

“Dude?” Vander shook his head. “I see that time you spent on Earth went to good use.”

Jag laughed. “It helped me blend in.”

“Damen,” Vander ignored his brother. “I want you to talk to this boy as well. Maybe deputize him or something so he’s not frightened. We also need to find out about his parents.”

“They’re gone, Vander. Or at least that’s what Kes said,” Riley answered. “Where’s Henley, by the way? She’s an investigator, but maybe as a woman she might make the children more at ease.”

“Henley? She’s the one who told Damen to use waterboarding on Maddox.” Ivy snorted. “She’s with Karis and Gerri going over the politics of the guest list, but don’t worry, she’s up for hitting the clubs with you tonight.”

Vander looked from Jag to Damen and back again. “Gone. Does the boy mean dead?”

“The mother, at least. He mentioned she died shortly after the nomad spoke to her about Lettie, but he didn’t say anything to indicate the father was dead. Just gone.”

Damen nodded to himself. “It might be linked, but then again, it might just be coincidence. There are plenty of deadbeat dads in Palladia.”

“Once we have more information, I want it checked out. These children are living under my roof and there’s too much risk as it is without inviting more,” Vander said.

Ivy laid a hand on Vander’s arm. “They’re just children, Vander. They can’t be accountable for the sins of their father, if any.”

“I know.” He nodded. “I didn’t mean they were a threat, but if their father is still out there and up to no good, he might use them to his advantage.” He looked at his wife. “I know that sounds awful, but I won’t risk you or the baby, and if that makes me an overbearing caveman, then so be it. You are my mate and I am king. Enough said.”

Vander moved to get up, motioning for Jag and Damen to follow. He looked at Riley. “Help Ivy get ready. We’ll meet these children in the throne room in an hour.”

The men left, and Ivy and Riley waited before bursting out laughing.

“When the hell did they get so serious?” she said, shifting her swollen feet onto a pillow.

Riley tucked her legs under her on the chair. “As Hen would say, the minute the rabbit bit the dust.” She shrugged, grabbing a couple cookies for herself. “It’s a new ballgame, Vee. Vander was always the more serious of the Kasaval boys, but even Jag has a softer side.” She nibbled the end of her biscotti. “You should have seen him with those kids. One minute he’s drooling over the Galaxan version of the Manhattan Madam and asking me if I like to play, and the next he’s comforting a scared little boy. I can tell you, it threw me for a loop.”

“Wait? You saw a prostitute in the Palladian market?” She sat up. “In the middle of the day?”

Riley laughed. “They’re hookers, Vee, not vampires, and yeah, I saw one in broad daylight. They wear some kind of dress made from layers of sheer veils. I swear she was like something out of the Arabian Nights, but she had a definite effect on Jag. The boy’s tongue was hanging out. If it wasn’t so comically pathetic, I would have left.”

“Comically pathetic, huh.” Ivy smirked. “Nice try, Ri. You’re not Henley so don’t even. She would have laughed it off or even played along, but you. I know you.” She pointed at her friend. “You were insulted.”

Riley untucked her legs and sat straight. “I was not!”

“Yeah, honey. You were,” Ivy countered, “and that’s okay. Jag’s attention should’ve been on you and you alone. That’s the point of throwing you together. At least according to Gerri.”

Riley sniffed. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“C’mon, Riley. I’m carrying Vander’s baby. That means I get to experience some of his shifter perks…watered down, but yeah. Plus, I know you. You are so into Jag, it’s not funny. And you know what? He’s into you, too. His pheromones soak the air when he’s near you, so much so, even I can smell them, so don’t let him try to turn the tables.”

A secret smile twitched at Riley’s mouth and Ivy grinned, throwing a piece of cookie at her. “I knew it! Tell me now and don’t spare the details.”

“Would you give me a little credit, please? What did you think happened? That I dragged him into an alley and let him push me up against a plaster wall and fuck me in public?”

Ivy burst out laughing. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. You are so hot for each other, you’re going to self-combust.” She leaned forward on the couch. “Look, you’re going out tonight, right?”

“Yeah, and?”

“And nothing,” Ivy continued. “Use tonight to…to…experiment. Feel out the situation, because from what I can tell, that boy has quite the situation to feel.”

Riley crossed both her legs and her arms. “Yeah, well. Jag’s ‘situation’ is not something you should be noticing.”

Ivy reached her hand out for Riley to help her off the couch. “C’mon. You’ve been elected to help me get queened up for the occasion. Let’s give that little girl a royal thrill enough to make her believe in fairytales until puberty.”