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“Ha!” Estelle says, turning to her very pregnant sister. “I told you he would try to ward us off.”

“We both knew he would get like this over his Fawn,” Persa agrees.

“We’re taking her for tea,” Estelle says in a no-nonsense way.

Persa turns her bright smile on me. “We have everything ready in my suite.”

“You may take tea here,” Seven says folding his arms.

“Oh no, that won’t do at all,” Estelle says. “How shall we ever get to know Fawn with you looming over her shoulder all the time?”

“I would like to get to know Fawn, too,” Seven says bluntly and with a little bite.

“But you have been traveling with her for a week,” Persa says sweetly.

“Plenty of time,” Estelle agrees. “We shall not steal your sweet mate for long and return her safe and sound.”

“We promise,” Persa adds strength to their comprehensive pitch.

My tummy takes a slow tumble at them calling me Seven’s mate, but I’m also fighting a smile, seeing a tic thumping in Seven’s jaw. His sisters are charming, if a little forceful. Seven, despite being a kingly, Master Stag clearly has no idea how to deal with his two indomitable sisters.”

“Please say you will come to tea with us?” Persa says to me, her eyes imploring.

I glance from Wolf to Seven. “I would like to have tea.”

“There, it is settled.” Estelle claps her hands and turns to the young guard who accompanied them and still stands attentively beside the door. “Gideon, notify the servants we are returning.”

“Yes, my lady,” he says with a formal bow. He slips out of the room.

Seven narrows his eyes. “Gideon is a highly trained soldier and has duties beyond… organizing afternoon tea. A point I have mentioned more than once.”

Estelle waves a dismissive hand. “Oh, puff. He does not mind.”

“Have you actually asked him?” Seven grits out.

“Well, no,” Estelle says, sounding deeply affronted by this. “I didn’t like that other guard you allocated to us. He was very incompetent.”

“Incompetent? What you mean is they wouldn’t do whatever you asked.”

“Exactly,” Estelle says.

Persa giggles and steps forward to claim my hand again. “After Seven first met you all those years ago, he spoke of nothing else.” Her earnest eyes hold mine. “He never stopped looking for you, and now he has found you after all this time. Well, it’s surely a tale worthy of bards and poets.”

Seven groans.

Wolf snickers.

“Persa likes to read.” Estelle offers. “Do you read much, Fawn?”

“Occasionally.” I gulp and blush, thinking about the naughty book I borrowed from my best friend, Luna…

“We shall take good care of your mate,” Estelle says to Wolf before she offers a more formal bow to Seven and the first indication of deference of any kind.

I get the impression she is seeking to appease him and get her way. The two sisters are fun. I already know I shall love them both.

“See that she is back in time for dinner,” Seven says, relenting under the weight of sibling pressure.

Linking their arms through mine, they guide from the room. I glance back over my shoulder as I reach the door to see the two men standing side by side. Seven has folded his arms and is scowling. Wolf is scratching absently at his jaw.