Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

looked down at her. She surprised him sometimes. It isn't your family. I need to go soon. My gut tells me there's a problem with Nikitin, and I'm rarely wrong. I need to be there. In any case he texted me a summons, and you don't say no to Nikitin.
    She stiffened and threw him a quick shake of the head. No, you can't go. I've heard about the Russians when they get upset.
    His expression didn't change, but she had the impression of a brief smile in her mind. It warmed her as nothing else could.
    I am Russian, lubov moya.
    Joley stepped very close to him, as if shielding him from her waiting family. They were all on their feet watching soberly as she stepped in front of him. His heart reacted with a curious melting. She looked regal to him, regal and beautiful, and in that moment whatever tiny bit of him he'd held in reserve was gone in an instant. He was completely, utterly hers.
    'I am going to marry Ilya Prakenskii. I'm in love with him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. None of you have to agree with my decision, I'm not asking you to, but I expect you to treat him with respect, the same way you treat every other man in this family.'
    She wasn't asking. She was stating, and staring her sisters down while she did it.
    Hannah reacted first. To Ilya's dismay, she put her arms around him and hugged him. 'Welcome to the family. Please forgive our former rudeness, we were just very shocked. Joley normally communicates with us, and she failed to tell us she was even contemplating marriage.'
    Sarah nodded. 'She's been rather opposed to it.' She still eyed him warily, as if he might have cast a spell on her sister.
    Jonas stuck out his hand. 'Why so quick? You'd think you were in a hurry. Mom and Dad are going to want to be there.'
    'I want to be there, too,' Hannah said decisively.
    'We all do,' Libby added. 'Joley, you can't run off and get married without your family.'
    Hannah waved her hand, and a tray floated in with tea in mugs and a platter of fresh-baked cookies.
    'It's just better,' Joley said. 'Once we're married, he'll have to quit his job.' She took a cookie and a mug of tea and went over to Abbey, who was huddled on Aleksandr's lap in the corner. 'Here, have some tea, it's good for you, and let's declare a truce.'
    Abbey broke into a smile and took the mug. 'Accept my apology.'
    'Done.' Joley flashed Ilya a smile. 'He can't work as Nikitin's bodyguard if he's married to me. He'll be splashed all over every tabloid around the world and there goes his career.'
    'Is that why you think we're getting married immediately?' Ilya asked. He took a mug as the tray floated passed him.

    Hannah looked up, her gaze sharp and focused. 'Your magic is different from ours, close, but different. The mark on Joley's palm, can that be removed?'
    'No man would remove his mark from his woman,' Ilya said and took a sip of tea. T can't stay long, so make your questions count if you need to know something.'
    The slight smile faded from Joley's face. 'They don't need to question you.'
    'Actually,' Hannah interrupted, 'I have a question. Are you the seventh son of a seventh son?'
    Joley whirled around, sending hot tea streaming out in a half circle. Ilya lifted his hand, and the liquid remained in the air, then refilled the mug.
    Joley glared at her sister. 'Why in the world would you think that?'
    'His magic works differently, yes, but not that much different, and he has all the gifts, not just one or two, and his gifts are highly developed. It makes sense.'
    Joley raised her chin and glared at Ilya. 'We'll it might make sense, but he's not. You're not, so don't even pretend.
    It's not funny. Do not give them ammunition.' She sank gracefully onto the floor and sipped at her tea. 'You aren't funny, Hannah, to even think of that.' She sent Ilya another warning look. You aren 't, so forget teasing me.
    'I don't understand,' Matt, Kate's fiance, said. 'What difference does it make?'
    'None!' Joley said. 'None whatsoever.'
    Kate cleared her throat and took the plunge. 'If Ilya is the seventh son of a seventh son and his line works anything like ours, then he's destined to produce sevens sons with all the gifts.'
    Joley shuddered. 'Well, he's not.'
    Ilya grinned at her. 'The cookies are very good, Hannah. You'll have to give me the recipe.'
    Jonas nudged Joley with his foot. 'You look a little pale there, Joley. Maybe you're protesting a bit too much.' He lifted an eyebrow at Ilya. 'Are you the seventh son of a seventh son? You