Good thing Remiel caught her around the waist because, for a moment, Sue-Ellen kind of lost her shit.

Betrothed? Who was the hussy who thought to sink her claws into Sue-Ellen’s man?

“You can calm yourself, angel. I am not betrothed. If they’re claiming anything, then it was done under duress without my consent.”

Deka leaned against the doorjamb and jerked a thumb at the hall. “Well, you might want to explain that to them because she’s here, and she didn’t come alone.”

“My brother is with her?” His expression brightened.

“Yes, he is. Think you can put in a good word for me?” Deka replied.

“I’ll go, but you stay here and guard Sue-Ellen. I don’t want Anastasia anywhere near her.”

With that imperious demand, he strolled out the door. Thinking he could make decisions for her.

Ha. Not likely.

Sue-Ellen scowled as she wiggled her pants back up over her hips. “Why, that arrogant idiot. Acting like he’s the boss of me. Going off by himself, with no plan of action. He’s going to get himself killed.”

“Killed? Not likely. Right now, he’s a hot commodity. Accidentally married on the other hand? High possibility.”

“Like hell is he getting married.” Remiel was already claimed, and now that it had happened, she could totally defend it.

Despite his order, there was no question of Sue-Ellen staying behind. Not with Remiel possibly in danger.

Deka made no move to stop Sue-Ellen from leaving Xylia’s lab, but the Silvergrace girl did feel a need to run a commentary as they followed Remiel to the main floor. “Looks like someone got deflowered, and by a king no less. Should we hang the royal sheets from the walls that all the Septs might know of your union?”

Cheeks hot, she grumbled, “I’m going to hang you if you say a word to anyone.”

“A word about what?” Brandon asked, having heard them as he came down the stairs.

“Nothing.” Said a little too fast by Sue-Ellen, but that wasn’t what gave her away. Her brother sniffed the air. His brow wrinkled. His lips pursed, and small hands gripped him around the biceps. He didn’t seem to notice as he raised his arm, lifting his wife.

“He’s dead,” he growled.

“Don’t you dare touch him!” Sue-Ellen yelled. “I mean it. He didn’t do anything to me that I didn’t want.”

“I heard the moaning. She’s not kidding,” Deka added to help the situation.

“I don’t want to hear this!” Brandon stuck fingers in his ears and sang, “La. La. La.”

Aimi had given up holding his arm and, instead, leaned against the wall, laughing. “And I thought my family was entertaining.”

Sue-Ellen had more important things to worry about than her brother’s misplaced sense of chivalry. Sue-Ellen was a grown woman, and as such, she had no problem stalking past her brother—and throwing a cheap shot to his groin that had him gasping for air.

She bolted past him and up the remaining steps, following that now much thicker thread between her and Remiel.

She tracked it to a hall showcasing gray slate floors and white plaster walls. The silver sconces held no light, as daylight streamed through the windows. It helped illuminate the crowd gathered outside the huge double doors, ears pressed, listening.

Listening to what?

Deka elbowed her way to the front and dragged Sue-Ellen with her. In no time, Sue-Ellen’s ear was pressed against the smooth and cool surface, straining to pick up sound.

She first heard a female murmur. Then a barked, “Not likely.” Remiel didn’t sound pleased. But Sue-Ellen was because she distinctly heard him declare, “I’m already claimed, so you can forget your matchmaking plans.”

The heat of his words bathed her with pleasure, and she couldn’t help a stupidly large smile—he chose me.

Of course, that meant that something just had to go wrong. The house suddenly went silent as the power went out, and for a moment, not a sound could be heard, not even a single person taking a breath.

Anticipation had no noise.

In the stillness, nobody could miss the whup-whup-whup of a helicopter approaching. But of more immediate concern was the glass that started shattering because bullets were being fired!