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After everyone had drinks and appetizers, Tessa pointed at Tony with her glass.

“Please explain the situation. You only gave us the highlights.” While he started at the beginning and told Elle’s story, she stared at Tessa.

Elle couldn’t help it. The female was small in stature but was large in personality.

She didn’t look like a mom. Elle hadn’t been around that many mothers, but those she had were more.

.. motherly? Softer. Except for her stepmother, Asherah, because that female had been pure evil like her mate.

Tessa felt like she would be someone’s best friend who dared them to make bad decisions.

She tossed back the liquor in her glass and held it out toward Dominic while giving Tony her mostly undivided attention.

Dominic topped her off, and Tessa sipped the liquid, her eyes on her son.

Until they weren’t. When Tony got to the part where Elle and Grevolus were on the beach and he branded her, Tessa’s eyes snapped to Elle, her eyebrows rising.

“You can make fireballs?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Oh, no. Don’t you ma’am me. I’m not old enough for that shit.”

The front door opened, then slammed, and Carleigh rushed to where they were seated.

“What did I miss?” She plopped down beside Elle on the sofa, grinning.

“Hi. It’s nice to see you in person, and Harlow was right.

You don’t look real. Ooh, I love Gregor’s canapes.

” She reached out and snagged one of the savory treats, popping it in her mouth. “Cawwy on,” she said with a mouthful.

“Can you at least act like you have some manners?” Tony chided.

Carleigh held up her middle finger, then jumped to her feet, and strode to the kitchen. She grabbed a soda from the fridge and returned to the sofa. She was obviously comfortable in Tony’s house, helping herself to what she wanted. Elle loved that. “What?” Carleigh asked when no one spoke.

“Waiting for you to sit your ass down so I can cawwy on.”

Elle snorted, and everyone chuckled along with her. Goddess, she had missed having a family who joked with one another. “Sorry.” Elle took a sip of soda, trying to cover her embarrassment with the glass.

“I was telling Elle’s story, which you already know. I was at the point in the tale where Grevolus marked Elle with the sigil.”

“Evil fucker. When we get the sigil off, I want a shot at him.” Carleigh loaded a plate with appetizers, then leaned back and shoved a bite in her mouth.

“You’ll have to stand in line,” Tessa seethed.

Tony finished recounting everything that had happened, again. “After we eat dinner, I’m going to drive Elle to Register. I want to offer Grevolus a shit-ton of money to remove the sigil.”

“Elle, what do you want?” Gregor asked.

Elle took Tony’s hand and threaded their fingers.

“I’m afraid he’ll take the money, then turn on Tony.

I’ve lived with the male for almost fifteen years, and I still don’t know what he’s capable of.

Before he marked my arm, I would have said he had no skills with magic, since I never saw him use it. I don’t know what he’s been hiding.”

“If he had other skills, wouldn’t he use them to get money instead of making you steal it?” Carleigh asked.

“That’s the issue with dark fae; they will use anyone else to do their bidding if they can.

They’re a lazy bunch. I think it would be best if I went back and pretended nothing’s wrong while waiting for my Queen to come up with a plan.

Grevolus said the cops showed up, and he wouldn’t say why, but he’s insisting we move.

I’ll have to pack everything, which is surprising that he wants to take anything other than our clothes. ”

“What do you mean?” Tessa asked. “Why wouldn’t he take the furniture?”

“Because he’ll probably kill someone else and live in their home the same way he did Mr. Johnson. We’ve amassed enough money to buy a small place, but he’s not going to let go of the cash when he can take what he wants.”

“You’re saying he killed a man, and you’ve been squatting in his house?” Dominic asked.

Elle’s eyes filled with tears. Instead of answering, she nodded. Tony released her hand so he could put his arm around her shoulder.

“The bastard needs to be taken out.” Dominic downed the rum in his glass. Instead of pouring more, he drank from the bottle.

Tony pointed his beer bottle at Luna’s dad. “If it wouldn’t kill Elle in the process, I would have already done it. I don’t want Elle anywhere near him, but as he’s already shown, he can get to her wherever she is.”

“All the more reason for me to go back and do as he asks until Queen Zarina returns,” Elle said softly. “Between her and the princess, one of them has to find a way to remove the sigil.”

“And if they can’t?” Tessa asked. Tony growled low in his chest, and his mom held up her hands. “Don’t shoot the messenger, Kid. Someone has to ask the hard questions.”

“Then I’ll offer him every penny I have to my name. His greed has to win out at some point.”

“We can only hope,” Gregor said. “Your mom and I will pitch in to sweeten the pot.”

Carleigh raised her hand. “Me too. Hell, we could do a Clan-wide funding project, and you’d easily have a billion dollars in a few days.”

Elle sucked in a breath. “Did you say a billion?”