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bitty bundle of energy flew past them.
    Laughing quietly, I waved to my foster parents when they glanced in my direction, then I dipped fluidly, catching Hanna as she barreled into me. I tickled her instantly, listening to her squeal in delight before I grabbed her hands, swinging her around to my back. Her tiny legs instantly hooked around my waist, her arms around my neck loosely, in a piggy back hold as I straightened, holding her legs tightly so she didn’t fall. Glancing back at her, my smile was soft, my words quiet. “I missed you, kid.”
    She kissed my cheek, big and sloppy, making a loud popping sound with it. “Missed you more.” Her brown eyebrows puckered. “When you coming home?”
    “Soon.” I squeezed her legs, and then started maneuvering through the silently watching Valan. “Only another month and I’ll be home.”
    She sighed, resting her head against my shoulder. “Not now?”
    “It won’t be that long,” I reassured her. Then I smiled at my foster parents when I stopped in front of them, letting my confusion show in my eyes…and my worry. “Is something wrong?”
    Mrs. Manter shook her head, placing one of her hands on my cheek. Her smile was gentle and kind. “No, we just thought it would be nice to steal you away for the day.” She tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear, her gaze flicking between mine. “It’s been a month of no Lana. We’re in withdrawal.”
    Hanna’s little arms held even more tightly around my neck.
    Mr. Manter raised his brows when I didn’t initially say anything, my mind working frantically, knowing I really did need to be here. He glanced at Callie, whom he thought was running the ‘summer camp’ I was at. He asked her politely, “Do you mind if we take her for the day?”
    Callie’s smile was still forced. She never liked the fact I hadn’t just left them to begin with and moved directly into the mansion. However, after glancing at me once, she nodded her head casually, not about to make a fuss in front of humans. “That’ll be fine, but she’ll need to be back by five. We’re heading out for a field trip in the city then.”
    Mr. Manter instantly nodded, placing his hand on my bicep, pulling me in closer to them, already herding me toward the door. “Thank you. We’ll have her back in time.”

Slipping inside the conference room, much closer to six than five o’clock, I kept my expression perfectly blank when the meeting stopped in mid-talk. Royal eyes turned in my direction, along with the bodyguards lining the walls. I knew my reception wasn’t going to be pleasant.
    Callie casually lifted her gaze from her paper in the quiet, meeting my stare. She was silent for an extended moment, glancing once to the clock, then back. Currently, she didn’t wear the expression of a friend, or even mentor. She was currently Queen Clover, a true mien I hardly ever received from her. Voice soft, she growled, “Get out.”
    Mentally calculating, a touch unsure, I asked, “Of the mansion? Or just the room?”
    Her shoulders stiffened, her tone quiet. “The room , Lana.”
    I nodded once. “I’ll send Janet in to guard you.”
    Grinding her teeth the barest bit, she inhaled and exhaled slowly, then demanded, “I want to see you in my office after we’re through here.”
    Silently debating, I indicated coolly, “I’m not too late.”
    She snorted softly. “From dealing with humans.” She jerked her chin toward the door. “Get the hell out and meet me in my office in two hours.”
    Swallowing heavily, I held her gaze for another moment. I wasn’t going to argue any further with the Kings and Queens watching on, so I nodded and slipped back outside the door, shutting it quietly behind me.

    Rubbing my ear from the ringing ass chewing I had just received, my ears seriously throbbed from the lightning that jarred her office with every exhale of her rant. I stormed up the stairs to my suite, furious, having only barely kept my cool and not shouted