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“Getting them safely out of here, I suppose,” I murmur. “And then…I don’t know. Cole says his mother works with refugee children all the time. She’ll know better what to do.”

Grace nods, accepting this as truth.

I sigh, trying to figure out what to do next, even if I’m sure that our Queen will handle it all. I mean, I still want to be involved - I amverydedicated to ensuring that these pups receive the happy lives that Cole and I promised them. But I’m still just a nurse. I have noideahow to do that. I frown, looking towards the door, wondering if I could sneak away for a moment to speak with Jeanie about what she thinks next steps will be –

But to my surprise, my father ducks into the tent, a steady frown on his lips, headed right for me.

“Ut-oh,” I whisper, recognizing that expression on his face. I raise my eyebrows at Shayne, who instantly understands and moves to my side. I shift Janine into her arms and stand.

“Come with me,” dad says, stopping five feet away and nodding seriously to me.

“Why?” I ask, crossing my arms.

My father goes very still and quiet, holding my gaze. Never a good sign. Cold anxiety turns within me.

“Because I told you too, nurse,” he says, even and slow. “You’re one ofmyemployees, after all.”

“We’re not gettingpaid, dad.”

“Nadia!”

I take a deep breath, lifting my chin. “All right. Please give me a moment to organize things here.” Dad nods and I turn back to the girls. “Hey! Everyone shift so I know you’re listening!”

The girls obey instantly, all shifting back into their human bodies, some of them rolling over and laughing as they abruptlyhalt their play. But they all look eagerly at me, worship in their eyes.

I smile, thinking that some safety and hot food really did go far with these little girls. “You listen to Shayne and Grace, all right? They’re the Goddesses when I am gone.”

“Okay!” Diana says, grinning and nodding to me. I smile back at her, knowing that ifsheagrees to it, then the rest do as well. I wave to the girls, and they wave back, some shifting back into puppy forms to play more, some moving closer to Gracie and Shay to ask them questions about their new lives.

“Hey, Cole!” I call.

But I didn’t need to. His eyes are already on me, curious as I move to my dad’s side.

Chapter 59 - Unfair

Nadia

“Dad wants a meeting,” I say, gesturing to my father with my thumb.

“That’s unnecessary,” dad says, pitching his voice higher so Cole can hear. “My meeting is withyou, Nadia.”

I slowly turn to him with a frown, narrowing my eyes. What on earth is going on here?

Cole murmurs to Tommy and another of his guards for a moment, clearly ordering them to take the same command with the boy pups that Shayne and Grace just took with the girls. He moves quickly towards us.

“What’s going on?” Cole asks, slipping his hands into his pockets.

“It’s not your concern, Captain Kincaid,” dad snaps, glaring at Cole.

Cole just looks evenly at dad, his expression turning cold, clearly implying that if dad’s meeting has to do withmethen it damn well does concern him too.

Dad glares between us. “You’re going to force this, Nadia? Bringing yourboyfriendin on a private conversation?”

“To begin,” I say, cold, crossing my arms over my chest. “He’snotmy boyfriend. And please do not attempt to make me send Cole away by trying to embarrass me. If you have something to say that concerns my behavior from last night, then he can hear it too – Cole was a full participant in everything that happened.”

Cole nods, agreeing. We’re a team in this.

Dad clenches his jaw, clearly not liking that. But I have no intention of sending Cole away, and dad couldn’t force Cole away if he tried. One glance at dad’s expression indicates that he’s aware of this as well.