Silas growled. “A lot harder to track down and contact than yours.”

Kenneth wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I remember meetings with your father when I was younger. There were certain . . . protocols and assignments to aid in times of trouble.”

Koth sat up straight, his eyes sharp. “Perhaps we can have a word. I don’t have much in the way of guidance as I am the last of my line—aside from Finn and Maddox.”

Tim waved his hand. “Kenneth, go to Issale with Koth. Help them. Whatever you know. We don’t need to know every working detail of their mission in this realm but we are as equally focused to see it through.”

Koth nodded. “Thank you.”

“Ideally, and this is not yet a Coven-mandated law we’re setting, but we need all of our civilians somewhat locked down. Shifters are not yet targeted by Sweyn and the Unseelie, but we can’t know that won’t change, or that the demon and Duenill situation won’t escalate as a result. Do what you can to get your civilians to Issale.” Tim’s expression soured. “While we are as much your ally as you ours, we may not have the manpower to rush to your aide.”

“Not with the Unseelie. Not with Tegan down. I don’t want you worrying about my people right now. I will secure them as best possible. They’re animals at their core, so this won’t be too hard.”

I raised my hand to get their attention. “But like Koth asked . . . what are we to do right now?”

“I am so glad you asked,” a familiar voice asked from behind us.

I turned and spotted my aunt and uncle standing in the foyer with shit-eating grins on their faces.

Aunt Kimmy’s hazel eyes darted left and right, then she blushed. “The door was open, so we let ourselves in.”

“Heya, Franks!” Uncle Kyle’s silver eyes bounced around the room. He held a white box with a big pink bow on top. “I think I’ve got a project for ya.”

I scrambled to my feet. “Aunt Kimmy . . . Uncle Kyle . . . hi. Sorry, wasn’t expecting you today⁠—”

“Well, we weren’t expecting this either.” Uncle Kyle held the present up. “This just showed up on the table in front of us, so we figured we’d bring it on over.”

“Why? What is it?” I frowned. “What do you mean it just showed up?”

“It’s a present.” He strolled over to me and held the box out. “Has your name on it.”

I glanced down. Sure enough, my name, Francelina, was written in a pretty elegant script. “Who’s it from? What is it? Where’d it come from?”

“No idea, no idea, and no idea.” Uncle Kyle chuckled. “You’re gonna have to open it to find out—preferably now because my curiosity can only be restrained so much.”