His Name Was Augustin Books 4-6 by C.L. Carhart

Author:C.L. Carhart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fairies, female heroine, collection, age gap, box set, dark fantasy romance, demons, elemental magic, fantasy, fated mates, forbidden love, historical fantasy, older man younger woman, paranormal romance, time travel romance, urban fantasy romance, witches
ISBN: 9781954807143
Publisher: C.L. Carhart
Published: 2022-08-10T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-four:

New Confidantes

Exactly one week after we received the email from the NVH, the five Teuton priests on München’s council graced the Thaden house at my Keyholder’s invitation. Hans had decided that we must tell the council about the Torstein, both to silence gossip about our family’s misfortunes and to grant me further protection against Wuotan and his human minions.

I did not particularly agree with my husband’s decision, and part of me wondered whether Max had given him the idea. Üwe was aware already, and Rudi would not cause any trouble. Erika and her family had gone off the grid in Finland, establishing their hideout during the summer’s eternal day. Rudi was the only person who knew their address, and he had helped Sophia raise a strong shield around their property. He would doubtless be relieved to learn the reasons his “family” had gone into hiding.

But the other priests were a question mark in my mind. Jürgen Peninger bothered me the most, since he tended to drop chauvinistic remarks at the festivals. His children were all out of his house now, and his wife Eva appeared content with their marriage. As one with extensive experience on Teutonic heart-bonds, I knew that outward poise often concealed turmoil behind closed doors.

Would Jürgen, Warren, or Oskar demand that I relinquish the Torstein to the council? Would they assert that they could protect it better than I could? Hans reassured me when I unloaded my concerns that Sunday morning, pledging that he would speak for both of us. “You need not fear their judgments,” he said, “for none of them can take action against you without my consent.”

The council members arrived in the afternoon and met Hans and me in the sunroom as requested. I sat on the cushioned settee beside my husband as the men trickled into the room. With grave expressions, each of them greeted us and peered closely at Hans’ countenance, likely trying to discern the state of his health. He had recently finished another regimen of chemo pills, and his face resembled that of a wizened wraith, hollow cheeks and eyes that had long lost their spark.

Hans received our callers with what etiquette he could muster, nodding at each in turn though he did not stand. He wore the imposing priestly robe I knew so well, the black hood covering his bald head and protecting his eyes from the glare of the sun, which exacerbated his headaches. The withered fingers of his right hand were laced with those of my left.

I sat as close to my Keyholder as I could get, clad in the dress of a Teuton matron, eyeing the five council members with a look that I hoped appeared calm and unashamed. Hans and I had agreed to present a united front before my guardians in an attempt to mitigate their initial reactions. I felt a tiny flame of courage when my gaze locked briefly with Üwe’s. At least he knew about my adventures already, and I trusted that he would defend me, even if the others did not.

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