Robin, page 12
“Do you think Nysys will tell my grandfather to fuck off?” he asked as they walked into Robin’s bedroom.
“Do I want to know what you were thinking about to ask me that?” Robin asked.
“I don’t know. I guess I want someone to tell him that he can’t have whatever he wants, whenever he wants. He’s so used to getting all of that that it only feels right for the council to tell him to fuck off on my behalf. My grandfather tried to take my father away from my mother, even though they were mates. He tried to take me away from you, and I want him to suffer for that. I’m just not sure how to make that happen.”
Robin sighed and wrapped an arm around Miko’s shoulders. “I understand, and I won’t tell you to take the high road or not stoop down to their level. You have every right to be angry and to want them to suffer for what they did to you. But they don’t really matter, do they? Once this is over, you won’t ever have to see them again, and I doubt you’ll even think about them. They’ll think about you, though. They won’t be able to stop thinking about what they lost and what they could have had, and I think that living your life and being happy while they’re unhappy is the best way to win this.”
Miko grinned and kissed his mate. “So you’re not as meek as you try to convince everyone,” he said.
Robin grinned back. “I am, usually, but if anyone tries to hurt my mate, they’ll have to deal with me.”
Just like if anyone tried hurting Robin, they’d have to deal with Miko.
Together, they were stronger, and Robin was right. If Miko wanted revenge, the best way to get it would be to be happy and ignore whatever future his grandparents had planned for him.
And he had every intention of doing exactly that.
Chapter Seven
Robin bounced his knee and looked around. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but the place where the council met was similar to any official building humans built. There was a lot of gray and hard furniture and many people running around, too busy to enjoy the sunshine that streamed through the windows.
He and Miko were sitting outside the room where they’d meet the council. They’d arrived early and had sat down, but Robin was tempted to get back to his feet. Bouncing his knee wasn’t helping with the nervous energy coursing through him, but maybe pacing would.
But Robin wasn’t here for himself. He was here for Miko, and he needed to stay by Miko’s side. Pacing would only make Miko more nervous, which wasn’t something Robin wanted.
“I just got another text from Simon,” Miko said.
He’d been focused on his cell phone for the past ten minutes, his fingers quickly flying over the screen. Robin had peeked at the screen, not at all surprised to find out that his mate’s friends were reaching out to him.
Everyone had wanted to come, including Miko’s parents. Robin and Miko agreed that it would probably be a disaster if they did, so Miko had declined. He promised he’d call them as soon as it was over, just like he’d promised to call at least another fifteen people.
But Robin was glad to see that so many people cared about Miko. He might have lost his grandparents, but in the end, they didn’t matter. Miko had only ever known them as assholes, and he didn’t need them. He had all the love he could want in his life already.
The sound of a door slamming down the hallway made both of them turn. Miko scowled when he saw his grandfather striding toward them, walking next to a man Robin didn’t recognize. Miko’s grandfather was smiling and looked like he was strolling down the beach rather than about to try to take his grandson’s freedom away from him.
“I hate him,” Miko muttered.
“I know. This is the last time you have to see him, though. Don’t worry about anything he’ll tell you.”
Miko’s parents had stayed home, just like Simon and most of their other friends, but that didn’t mean they were alone. Farley was there, and as soon as Miko’s grandfather reached them, Farley shot to his feet and put himself between the man and Miko.
“I won’t let you talk to him,” he said with a growl that would have impressed even a shifter.
Miko’s grandfather looked him up and down. “And who are you to stop me from talking to my grandson?”
“Miko’s best friend. His real family.”
Miko’s grandfather scoffed. “Miko doesn’t need a family. He has me.”
“You don’t care about him. You only want what’s best for you, and I won’t allow you to hurt him.”
Farley took a step forward, and the man who’d been walking with Miko’s grandfather moved toward him. “Are you threatening my client?” he asked.
So he was the lawyer Miko’s grandfather had retained. Miko and Robin had wondered if they needed to find one, but Gal had reassured them it wouldn’t be necessary. He already had someone in place for them, and they were waiting for him to go inside.
Well, and for the council to call them in.
“I see you don’t have a lawyer,” Miko’s grandfather said with a sneer. “How do you expect to win this? Or have you already given up? That would be the best thing for you, you know. I’d be lenient if you gave up and came with me.”
Robin was getting angry, too, and he got to his feet to stand next to Farley. “Miko isn’t going with you. He’ll never see you again after today is over, so you might as well give up.”
“There has to have been a mistake. You can’t be my grandson’s mate. He deserves so much better.”
There was venom in the man’s voice, but it was easy to ignore. Robin actually agreed with him. Miko deserved so much better than him, but he was what Miko had gotten, and they were both making the best out of it. Robin loved Miko like he’d never loved anyone, not even Billy, and he could feel Miko felt the same.
With a grin, he unbuttoned the top part of his shirt, just enough to expose the mark on his chest. There, in a few shades darker than his skin, was the mark that meant he belonged to Miko, and Miko belonged to him.
“I thought I had a meeting with the council, but if we’re stripping down, I’d be more than happy to get out of my suit,” a new voice said.
Everyone turned to face the newcomer. He was wearing a suit, just like he’d said, and he was grinning. Robin had no idea who he was until the man stepped forward and offered him his hand. “I’m Andrew, Miko’s lawyer.”
Robin shook his hand, curious enough to ask Andrew dozens of questions. He’d never heard about Andrew, which meant someone else had stepped in to make sure Miko had a good lawyer. Robin wanted to know who that someone was, but he didn’t get the opportunity to ask because the door behind them opened. A woman peeked out, saw them gathered there, and waved them forward.
“The council is ready for you,” she said.
Everyone turned to face her. Robin was glad it was finally time to finish this, but he could feel how nervous Miko was.
Miko got to his feet and took Robin’s hand. He leaned closer, maybe so that Robin would be the only one to hear his question. “Who do you think sent Andrew?”
“I have no idea, but I suspect we’ll find out soon enough. Ready?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to do this, but let’s get it over with.”
They let Miko’s grandfather and his lawyer walk into the room first. Farley would stay outside, so he sat back in his chair after hugging Miko.
Then it was time.
Andrew moved closer to them as they walked toward the door. “You have nothing to worry about,” he said. “I’m a good friend of Nysys.”
“He’s the one who asked you to be here for me?” Miko asked.
“Yes. And I have to agree with him that this is ridiculous. The only reason your grandfather managed to get all the way to the council was that he clearly knows people and paid a lot of money for it to happen. None of that will matter to the council, though. They’re good people.”
“I really hope they are,” Robin murmured.
“I know many of them, and I can promise you that they’ll do what’s best for Miko.”
Robin wanted to believe him. He just wasn’t sure he could, at least not until Miko was free of all of this.
The room they stepped into was wide, with several tables in the middle arranged in a U shape. There were another two tables in the middle of the U, facing the people sitting around it. Miko’s grandfather was already sitting down at the one on the left, and Andrew guided Robin and Miko to the one on the right.
Robin sat down, too, then squinted at the council. He recognized Nysys, who grinned at him and winked. It helped Robin relax, especially when Nysys leaned closer to the man sitting next to him and murmured something that made him chuckle.
The council seemed relaxed, almost as if what was about to happen wasn’t life changing. Robin supposed that to them, it wasn’t.
Another man cleared his throat and got to his feet. Everyone’s attention went to him, and he nodded, clearly satisfied. “I’m usually the one who speaks for the council, but today, Nysys asked to be given the task.”
Robin wasn’t sure where to look. He wanted to look at Nysys, but he also desperately wanted to see the expression on Miko’s grandfather’s face when he was told there was nothing he could do to get his hands on his grandson.
He decided to look at Nysys. He was much prettier than Miko’s grandfather, both inside and out.
“Thank you, Dom,” Nysys said with a smile. “Now, this is going to be quick because I don’t believe in wasting time.”
“We have requests—” the lawyer Miko’s grandfather had retained started.
Nysys snapped his fingers at him. “I’m sure you do, but I won’t hear any of them. I already had to read through enough stupidity in your request for an audience with the council.”
“As you can see, my grandson needs help,” Miko’s grandfather said.
Unfortunately for him, he couldn’t have said it to a worse person. Nysys narrowed his eyes at him, then smiled sweetly, which Robin was sure spelled trouble. “Does he? Can I ask why? Is it because of his hair? Or the makeup he wears?”
Miko’s grandfather flushed angrily. “His parents didn’t raise him right,” he snapped.
“Maybe they did, maybe not. I don’t think it’s any of your business, though, just like it’s not ours.”
“He’s my grandson, and we have a family name to uphold.”
“I’m sure you’ll find another way. Now, your request stated that you wanted to become your grandson’s guardian. Is there actually a good reason for you to request that, or do you just want to make him unhappy?”
“I only want to give him the help he needs.”
Nysys turned his attention to Miko. “You’re nineteen and bonded to your mate, correct?”
Miko swallowed heavily and nodded. “That’s correct, yes.”
Nysys beamed. “Do you feel that you need any help? Do you know what your grandfather is talking about?”
“I have no idea. I think he wants to control me because I wasn’t willing to go through with the marriage he arranged for me. I can’t do that, and not just because I’m already bonded to my mate. I want to be free to live my life, and that’s never going to happen if my grandfather gets custody of me.”
Robin grabbed Miko’s hand under the table and squeezed. He wanted Miko to know he was there for him.
“He doesn’t have a reason to want custody of me,” Miko continued. “My parents are good people, and they did the best they could with me. I never got into any trouble, and I have no plan on doing so anytime soon. I’m about to move in with my mate, and my parents approve of him. I’m not sure what else I can say to convince you that my grandfather doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”
Nysys clapped his hands, making everyone jump. “All right. Miko, you’re free to go, and congratulations on your bonding.” He turned to Miko’s grandfather. “You, on the other hand—since you saw fit to waste everyone’s time, you’ll pay for Miko’s lawyer and a fine to the council. Oh, and for whatever Miko decides to do next with his life. If he wants to go to college, you’ll pay for that. If he decides to go for an apprenticeship, you’ll pay for it. This is my decision, and you’d better not try to appeal it unless you want to pay a second fine. Everyone, you’re free to go.”
Nysys winked at Miko and Robin again as the weight lifted from Robin’s shoulders.
Miko was free. Not only that, but his grandfather would be forced to pay for whatever Miko decided he wanted to do with his life, and that was more than they’d ever expected.
“Lunch, everyone?” Nysys asked around. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
Robin laughed and pulled Miko against him. He kissed Miko’s forehead, then his lips.
This was it. Now they could be happy, and no one would try to stop them. They could build a life together, hopefully giving Miko’s grandfather an ulcer in the process, because the man deserved that and more.
About the Author
Catherine is the creator of several series, most of them paranormal, including the Whitedell Pride Series and the Gillham Pack Series. While she graduated in translation, she decided to go the writer’s way because it was more fun to create her own stories and characters.
She’s been living in Italy for more than twenty years, but she’s a daughter of the North—Belgium to be precise—and she misses it so much that she’s already planning to move back.
She loves pizza—probably too much—her son, her pets, and of course, books. She sneaks some reading time into her schedule every time she has five minutes free from writing, demands from her various pets and son, and lastly, housework.
Connect with her:
lievens.catherine@gmail.com
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
About the Author
Catherine Lievens, Robin
