“I’m going to talk to Kian,” Amanda said after Anandur filled her in on what was going on. She’d practically muscled him into one of the empty classrooms and forced the story out of him.

It was so much bigger than Brundar getting shot. The ice prince was in love. Not that Anandur had mentioned the word love, but the words fate and mate and affinity had been thrown into the mix of his otherwise matter-of-fact account.

“Don’t. And please, for the love of everything that’s dear to you, don’t spread the story. Especially since it is not my story to tell. You trusted me with yours way back then, and I’m trusting you with this.”

“You’re not the only one who needs to fight for Brundar. I’m going to fight for him too.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, I really do. But your brother is in one of his shite moods today. He told me to get out when I dared mention Tessa and Jackson and the leeway he is allowing them. He will just blow up at you.”

“Tessa and Jackson have nothing to do with Brundar and his girl. Each story is different. It was a strategic mistake on your part to bring them up.”

“In hindsight, yes. But I don’t understand why.”

Amanda re-crossed her legs in an attempt to get comfortable on the desk she was sitting on. “Tessa is like Eva’s daughter. She would never do anything to betray the woman who saved her life and raised her as her own.”

Anandur tilted his head. “That’s a story I would like to hear.”

“I bet. But it’s not my story to tell.”

“I told you Brundar’s.”

“Nice try. It’s not the same. I barely know Tessa, while Brundar is your brother and you’re trying to build a team to fight for him.”

“I am?”

“Sure you are. That’s why you told me his story. You want my help.”

“Honestly, I wasn’t thinking in that direction at all. I just needed someone to hear me out, and as I said before, I trust you.”

“And I owe you. Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did for me when I was fighting for my right to be with Dalhu.”

Anandur let out a sigh. “Why is your brother such an ass?”

“He is not an ass. He is stressed out and overworked, and he needs to take time off. I think he is nearing a breaking point. He snaps at everyone, except Syssi, that is. She is the only one who can calm him down.”

“In that case, we need her on our team.”

“We need my mother.”

Anandur crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t know about that. You are her daughter, so naturally, she was inclined to assist you. But Brundar is just one more clan member, no more special than the next. She will not go against Kian for him.”

Amanda smirked. “Men think so linearly. I will not ask her to come here for Brundar. I’ll ask her to come to help Kian. He needs a vacation, and she is the only one who can force him to take one.”

Anandur looked doubtful. “And who is going to run things when he is vacationing?”

“I can take time off from the university and run things for him while he is gone.”

Anandur tried to stifle his snort but failed. “With all due respect, Amanda, you’re a smart and capable woman, but you can’t fill Kian’s shoes. He’s been running this conglomerate since its creation. You wouldn’t know where to start.”

“True. But contrary to what Kian believes, the world will not come to an end if he is not holding it up on his shoulders twenty-four-seven. Our business empire will not crumble during the two weeks he is gone, and World War III will not start because he abandoned his watch.”

“Dream on, princess. You’ll be lucky if he takes the weekend off. Don’t even mention two weeks if you want your head to stay attached your shoulders.”

She shrugged. “I’m not afraid of him.”

“Yeah, that’s why you’re thinking of pulling out the big guns, meaning your mother.”

“It’s not because I’m afraid, but because I know she is the only one he is going to listen to. He has no choice.”

Anandur sighed. “I have a feeling we are getting carried away. Conspiring against Kian, asking Annani to come, it’s like we are preparing for war. I don’t want that.”

Amanda put a hand on his bicep. “I was meaning to ask my mother to come and stay with us for a while even before you told me about Brundar. Andrew and Nathalie are dragging their feet about taking little Phoenix up to Annani’s sanctuary. They are leaving that child vulnerable for no good reason. So instead of harping on at them to take their daughter up there already, so the goddess can induce her transition, I figured Annani can come for a visit and spend time with the baby, which she loves doing. Phoenix can transition right here without leaving the keep.”

“I like it. It will look less like a conspiracy if Annani comes for the baby, but then notices that Kian is at the end of his rope and needs a vacation.”

“Exactly.”

“You are a deviously brilliant woman, Amanda.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “And that’s news to you?”

He chuckled. “No, not really. But I keep forgetting that you are so much more than your gorgeous face.”

“A mistake a lot of people live to regret.”

“So let me get this straight. The goddess comes and forces Kian to take a vacation. How is it going to help Brundar’s cause?”

Amanda rolled her eyes. “Darling, did you forget already that Kian needing a vacation is only the excuse I’m going to use to lure her in?”

He frowned. “I thought it was the baby.”

“Both. She will ask what’s going on with Kian, and I’ll give Brundar’s situation as an example of Kian being unreasonable. Annani is a sucker for romance. She will intervene on your brother’s behalf.”

Anandur crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not sure you’re right. She might be a sucker for romance, but she is the one who made the rules about staying away from humans. Not that she wasn’t absolutely right to do so. I happen to believe that an exception needs to be made in Brundar’s case because it is crucial for his mental health, but I’m not sure Annani will share my opinion.”

“That might be. But do you have a better idea?”

“Can’t say that I do.”

“That’s what I thought. We will do the best we can, while praying to the Fates to smile upon us. It is better than doing nothing and hoping everything will turn out fine on its own.”

“True.”