Page 84 of Hot Vampire Next Door: Season Three

“Who, Stanley?”

“The Autumn Court,” he answers.

“The court isn’t here though and the gate is closed.”

He licks his lips, nods. “Now that you’ve used your power, they’ll find a way to get through.”

“Why?”

He looks at Bran again. “You could take her away from here. Compel her to forget.”

“Excuse me—”

“I won’t do that to her.”

“I’m right here.”

Stanley’s gaze darts back to me. He removes his hat and clutches the brim in his gnarled hands. “They’ll come for you, Jessie, and it’s hard saying what they’ll do when they find you. Are you ready to become who you are?”

“Do you mean my fae side?”

“That is half.”

“What’s the other half?”

“Are you prepared?” he asks again. “Once you decide, there’s no turning back.” His voice is deep and hoarse. I used to think he smoked a lot, but now I wonder if it’s just age. Brownies can be ancient. He could very well be older than Bran by a millennium.

“I’m not running, if that’s what you’re asking me.”

“Very well.” He turns his hat in his grip and then he sinks to one knee.

My mother’s words come back to me in a rush.

He immediately came over to us and got down on one knee in front of you…

I thought she meant he knelt to get down to my eye level.

But this is not that. For one, I’m an inch or two taller than Stanley. And two…his head is bowed.

The panic takes hold quickly, turning into a band across my chest.

“You’ll need all the help you can get,” he says. “When they come, they will not be merciful.”

“Stanley,” I whisper-shout, desperate for him to get up.

“The name is actually Grimwall,” he says. “And I am at your service, Your Royal Highness.”