Chapter 15

New Orleans

Klark was barely on his feet before something slammed into him. He grunted in pain then looked down and the brunette holding him tightly. He would have known that head of hair anywhere, especially since there was a circle of silver around it.

He pulled back after a few moments then looked at his sister. Like usual, Aiden was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with no shoes. He tried to get her to wear shoes but she hated them so he had given up that battle. The silver circlet gleamed in the bright light of the sun. The Queen of his people had worked long and hard to bring him home.

He looked over her head. Clint, her husband, and Mikey stood a little ways off. There was no doubt in his mind that these two men had been the backbone behind her decision to play a risky game. Luckily that game had come out in a way they all agreed on.

He tugged Emily to him and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He watched the look of knowing pass over his sister's and brother's faces. Clint moved forward and wrapped his arms around Aiden. She leaned back against him and watched the newest couple.

"Aiden, this is Emily Alexander. My mate," he said. "Emily, this is my sister Aiden and the Queen of the Silver Court. Her husband is named Clint and he is the King of the Silver Court."

Emily held her hand out. "Nice to meet you."

Aiden obliged. "The pleasure's all mine. From what I hear you were the one who was hunting my brother."

The other woman's face burned with embarrassment. "Yes, I was charged with the task. I assure you I am no longer."

"Good, because I don't think you want me on your case."

Clint pinched his wife's hand. "That's enough, my love. Don't scare her away."

"I just want to make sure she understands what she's going up against."

Emily looked up at Klark. She could see lines of annoyance etched in his face but he wasn't going to say anything. He was going to leave it up to her to defend herself. She guessed it was the way things worked around here.

She shrugged Klark's arm off her shoulders and took a step forward. Aiden watched her carefully. She stopped just shy of the woman and dropped her head slightly.

"I know listening to me rant about how you can trust me is not something you want to hear. But your brother has showed me that I have to take care in what jobs I take. I was sent to hunt him but in turn I mated with him. Not like that you dolt," she said when she hear one of the guys snort behind her.

She turned her attention back to the Queen. "I can promise you this. I will come to you before I take a job if I feel the person is one of you. I don't want a repeat of this incident."

Everyone waited in silence for the Queen to make her judgment. Aiden was very controlled as she mulled things over. Not one thought was evident on her face. Klark refused to look at her so he kept his eyes adverted. The only one with any Intel was Mikey. Not even Clint looked as if he knew.

"I think I can trust this woman," Aiden said. Emily looked up in shock. The other woman smiled down at her. "My sisters-in-laws are always my saving grace when I have six older brothers. You're a good addition to the family. Just keep that one in line. He has a tendency to exclude people from his thoughts."

Klark spluttered at the allegation against him. "I have a tendency of excluding people from my thoughts? Who was the one who wouldn't tell me what she was planning when it concerned my life?"

Aiden laughed. "He hides behind books and his work. You have to bring him to life to get him to understand."

Emily smiled at the good natured ribbing the family involved itself in. They were obviously really close to be able to joke about each other's pitfalls. She could see herself getting lost in this family and never being able to return.

Klark sobered up and cleared his throat. "What about Clausen? Have you decided anything on him?"

This was news to Emily. She figured her brother would be taken to a court in Mississippi since it was the last place he had killed. She looked at Aiden as the other woman thought over everything.

She shifted then turned to walk back into the house. "I talked to Clausen. He said he was very sorry about everything he had done."

"How could tell if he was sorry?" Emily asked as she walked with them. "He has a tendency to be a very good liar."

"My wife is a Truth Hearer. She has the ability to literally smell out a lie," Clint said as he opened a door to an opulent office.

Aiden walked immediately to the desk and slipped into her chair. She shifted from side to side. "Your brother had no idea what Eric was going to do. He was simply going on his grief. I wouldn't blame him if I were in his position. He didn't lie."

Klark nodded as he sat down in one of the free chairs. He laced his fingers together across his stomach. "So what are you going to let him do?"

"For his parole he'll be able to go on special missions for us. I have one in mind right now but for time's sake I can't implement it. I need one more piece to be in place before I make my move."

Mikey lifted his head. "Check mate."

"Precisely. It will take a little bit but I'll get it done." She looked at the newest couple in their midst. "I have a question to ask the two of you."

Her older brother made a face. "What is it?"

"Will the two of you be the hunters for Sector 3? I know it's asking much from a hunter who went after her own mate but I have to play off people's talents. Your talent, Emily, comes in hunting. I want you and Klark to take over that aspect for your Sector."

Emily looked at Klark. He was thinking it over for a long while. It gave her time to look at the other two people gathered in the room. Cole and Wyatt had disappeared as soon as they came in the building, leaving the other two to follow.

Clint was standing behind his wife with a hand on her shoulder. He was dressed in khakis and a light blue button down shirt. He had a larger silver circlet around his head. It would have been the only symbol that told her he was royalty.

Her gaze drifted to Mikey. Laced through his hair was a golden circlet. He must have been the Golden King. He smiled when his eyes met hers. He could read her thoughts obviously and he liked what he saw. She could see a light golden ring around his dark gold eyes.

When she looked at Aiden, she saw the same gold eyes but there was a silver ring around her eyes. They were twins but they were two totally different people. It was amazing how people could be born at the same time but be completely different.

"I think it would be a good idea to have a couple of hunters in each Sector," Mikey said. "It would give the others time to regroup should something happen."

"Austin and Tyler will never relinquish that kind of power but I'll pitch it to them," Aiden replied.

Klark adjusted his sitting position. "I think we could do that. I get bored sitting in the office all day. If I could have a time when I can stretch my legs and let the flame loose, it would be easier on me so I'm less crabby."

Everyone laughed. Aiden jotted something down. "All right then. You're now the hunters for Sector 3 of the Silver Court. Now the two of you need to leave so you can get to know each other a little better."

With the order from his Queen, Klark stood up and took her hand. He led her from the office, into a hallway then up a flight of stairs. He turned one more corner then opened the first door on his right.

"This is the family wing of the house. On the first floor is my parents' room. On this floor are mine and Jesse's when we come to stay. On the other side of the house are Austin's, Keldin's, Tyler's and our other brothers' rooms. We all share this house when we're in town. Aiden and Clint's family rooms are on the top floor of this wing. The offices, Court and Council Rooms, dining room and kitchen are in the main sections of the house, as well as the ballroom," he explained as she looked around the room.

"How many rooms are there?" she asked.

"Over a hundred I think. This place is big enough to fit the entire family plus a few guests. Aiden was very specific when she wanted this place built." He bit his lip for a few moments. He gently grabbed her arm and wheeled her around to look at him. She looked up at him expectantly. "Bonding is the first step to making a bond as deep as it is. You saw Clint and Aiden. You can see how deep their bond goes."

She nodded. She had seen how deep the bond and trust went with the King and Queen of the Silver Court. That was how she wanted her bond with Klark to be. She didn't want to have to guess about everything he did.

"What do you want to know?" she asked.

"I want to know if you would consider marrying me. It doesn't have to be now. We can wait a little bit until you're used to this whole thing."

She looked at him closely. He was putting himself out there and it endeared her to him even more. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tightly.

"I will but you're right. I want to get used to your family first. I want them to like me as me instead of as your mate or whatever you want to call me."

Klark smiled and held her just as fiercely as she held him. After a few moments, she pushed him away. He looked down at her warily.

"I have one request though," she said. He canted his head for her to continue. "We do not sleep together. My mom always told me that a man likes a little mystery. So I ask that I have my own room until we get married."

His smile widened to where he thought his face was going to explode. He nodded emphatically. "You got it."

After a few moments of standing with each other in complete silence, Emily murmured, "Klark?"

"Hmm?" he hummed against her head.

"Have I ever told you that I love you?"

His laughter reverberated against her ear where she had it pressed against his chest. "No, but I kind of got that."

"Good. I hope you keep it for the rest of your life."

"Oh, trust me. I will."

Catch the next Installment of the Silver Court Series!