Page 63 of Burdened Bonds

“I’ve already had agents from the authorities knocking on my door asking questions about you, Winnifred. They’ve been to your mom’s house too. You know she’s out of her mind with worry. We all have been.”

“I’m sorry, Nonny,” Winnie murmurs, fiddling with the hem of her shirt and looking mighty guilty. “Sorry I haven’t been in touch. It’s been difficult.”

Her grandma reaches up and pats her cheek. “But you’re okay? Not hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

“Then don’t stand there like a wombat, give me a damn hug.”

Winnie wraps her arms around her grandma immediately and the old woman squeezes her back, whispering words in her granddaughter’s ear that I don’t hear. Winnie kisses her cheek and then they separate.

“Now,” Winnie’s grandma says, “I know who you are.” She glares at me. “But who are you?” She points to Stone.

“This is Professor Stone, Nonny, from the academy. This is Rosa,” she tells him, “my grandma.”

“He doesn’t look like a professor,” she says with suspicion and I can’t help a guffaw.

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” Phoenix mumbles.

“He’s another of Rhi’s mates.”

“Another,” the old woman says, her eyebrows rising. “And where is Rhianna exactly? You do know she’s wanted by the authorities?” she eyes me and Stone, “you all are.”

“We don’t know where she is,” Winnie explains. “She went missing the night of the attack on the academy. The enforcer–”

“Azlan,” I say.

“And Professor Stone haven’t heard from her – neither have I – and they haven’t been able to reach her through the bond. She’s too far away.”

“Are you sure …” the old woman gives her granddaughter a sympathetic look, “that Rhianna is alive?”

“Yes,” I say firmly. “We can feel her.”

“Just not strongly enough to track her down or communicate with her.”

“Which is why we’re here, Nonny. We need your help.”

“Mine?” The old woman looks taken back. “The authorities’ number one enforcer and a professor from the academy needmyhelp.”

“Yes, Nonny.”

“Well,” she says, resting her hand against her chest. “Well …” then her eyes narrow, “what with exactly?”

“Rhi may be in danger–”

“I imagine with half the country after her she probably is. What exactly do the authorities want with her?”

“The girl has unusual powers,” I tell her, deciding honesty is the best way to win the old woman onto our side and get her to help us. Hopefully, it will be the quickest way too, because every ticking second is agony. “And the Lord Protector knows that I am her fated mate. He may know she has other fated mates too.”

“Others?”

“Four, Nonny. Like in the fairytale of Queen Æðelflæd and her five knights.”

The old woman sits down hard on a chair resting in the corner of the kitchen, swiping her glasses off her nose with one hand, the other still lingering against her chest. “This girl, you don’t think …”

I frown. “Think what?”

“Four mates!” The old woman shakes her head. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Not in real life. Only in fairy tales as Winnie says. What powers does she possess?”