Free Gateway to HeVan by Lucy Kelly Page A

and Ricky pushed the duke aside in order to get the petting she was sure to give them.  The duke practically climbed up on the couch to get out of their way.  The dogs both adored BianCa.  Lucy even climbed up on her lap―or at least she put her front paws on her lap as she reached up to give her face a lick of welcome.  BianCa laughed.
    “How can you stand there and do nothing?  This beast is attacking my wife,” screamed the duke.
    “Ricky, Lucy, heel,” said Addie quietly, as she started to give off a golden glow.  Both dogs immediately went to her chair and sat on either side.  Arjun and Kylan exchanged a look; they knew Addie wasn’t going to be able to put up with much more.  They recognized the look in her eye.
    “I’m sorry your visit hasn’t been as pleasant as you expected.  Perhaps we’ll meet again before our journey continues,” said Addie, bringing the audience to an end. 
    Yep , she was angry, alright , thought Arjun.
    Natalie was surprised the duke didn’t protest his dismissal. 
    He got up and, giving Addie a short bow, he strutted toward the exit.  He flicked a hand at BianCa as he passed her, saying, “Come along, wife.”
    Natalie followed them to the door.  When they stepped out into the hall, she asked them to wait.  Exchanging a look with the warrior at the door so he understood he was to watch them and keep them there, she went back inside.
    “Are they gone?” asked Addie in a soft voice when Natalie came back into the room.  Arjun and Kylan were on the couch laughing their asses off.  Addie shushed them.
    “They’re in the hallway.  I noticed the duke put his work tablet down on the table earlier but I didn’t see him take it back in his anger to leave.  I didn’t want him to have an excuse to come back,” said Natalie.
    Just then, Rune stepped in from the kitchen carrying a tray of refreshments.  Seeing only his family, he was a little surprised but he recovered quickly.  He put the tray on what Addie called the coffee table and he and his two brothers began to eat, sneaking treats to the dogs as they did.
    “Poor BianCa, I knew her marriage had been arranged.  She mentioned it to Grace.  What an awful man.  No wonder she spends so much time visiting her brother,” Addie remarked.
    Natalie didn’t see the duke’s tablet on the table so she moved the table out of the way.  The communicator on the far wall chimed and Kylan got up to answer it.
    “Yeah, I know what you mean.  Too bad she can’t divorce him.  I’d be tempted to slip some Ex-Lax in his morning coffee or something.  He’s such a tight ass.  Oh, here it is.  I wonder how it got back here,” she mumbled, after finding the tablet on the floor behind the couch.
    “Probably got knocked over when the dogs came in,” Addie said fondly. 
    Lucy had gotten up on the couch and stretched out, her long legs hanging over the cushions.  Ricky was still sitting near Rune, hoping for more treats.
    “Well, I’d better get back to them before he blows a gasket,” said Natalie. 
    She waved to Kylan instead of calling out because he was still talking softly into the communicator, and left the room.
    “Did I ever tell you how much it turns me on to see you deal with people like him?” Arjun asked.
    “That’s why I let them visit,” said Addie.  “Where is Kylan going?” she asked as he quickly left down the hall instead of coming back to the living room.
    “I don’t know.  Perhaps he’s needed on the Bridge.  We can ask him later.  For now, there are to be no more visitors.  Rune and I have been very patient.  I think you need to indulge us a little,” he said, as he lifted her skirts and went down on his knees in front of her chair.  Addie giggled.
    Natalie didn’t hear any more as she quickly strode down the hall to the door, Kylan right behind her.  Passing a hand over the sensor, she wasn’t surprised to see the duke pacing the hallway.  Kylan gave him a perfunctory nod