“Eurus,” his eldest brother clipped out.
“Boreas,” he responded through a stiff upper lip.
They regarded one another with, well, notoutrighthostility, but at the very least, a healthy dose of mistrust.
Wren glanced between them in exasperation. Their toddler picked at her nose. “Are we going to be invited inside, or…?”
Eurus retreated to allow his relatives entry. And that was another word he found particularly vexing:relatives. He knew nothing of Wren, or her children. Granted, he didn’t know much of Boreas either. It had been an age since they had spent any significant time together. They were boys no longer.
Boreas’ son glanced around the foyer before shifting his attention to Eurus. His nose wrinkled. “Why does your face look funny?” he asked.
“Grayson!” Wren crouched at his side, expression stern. “That was rude. Do you think my face looks funny just because it is different from yours?” She gestured to a sizeable scar on her right cheek. “Apologize to your Uncle Eurus.”
Uncle?By the gods, he needed a drink, or several.
The boy, Grayson, ducked his head. His small mouth pursed into a pout. “Sorry, Uncle Eurus.” Which sounded more likeSowwy Uncle Yuwus.
Wren peered up at him. He stared at her blankly. “What?”
“Do you accept his apology?”
“Er…” Out of the corner of his eye, Eurus caught Boreas lifting a hand to his mouth, as though masking a smile. “Yes?”
Gripping his sister’s chubby hand, the coal-haired boy guided her responsibly around the room. Boreas smiled at his children before catching Wren’s eye. She drifted toward him, mouth lifted for a kiss, which he bestowed. Eurus glanced away uncomfortably, seeking his own wife. Where had Min gone off to?
“Wow,” Wren murmured. “This place is amazing. Boreas, come look at this.” And she drew her husband into the sitting room. “See these windows? I’d like to do something similar. If we set the curtain rods higher, it would give the appearance of a taller space…”
Zephyrus had disappeared, as had Brielle. Sarai occupied herself picking out a tune on the piano.
Unsurprisingly, Notus was the only one of his siblings able to act rationally. He came toward Eurus, offering him a glass of amber liquid.
“You look like you need it,” his brother murmured.
“Bless you,” Eurus said, and swallowed down the liquor.
Min materialized at his side a moment later.
“Where did you go?” he muttered. “Why did you leave me with these people?”
“I was double checking the table settings,” she said. “Andthese peopleare your family.”
He ignored the second comment. “But you already checked earlier.”
“Yes, that is the definition ofdoublechecking, dear.” She tapped his cheek in affection and, he suspected, more than a little exasperation. “Dinner is ready.”
Thank the gods. The sooner they ate, the sooner everyone would leave.
Slowly, everyone filed into the dining room. Gold cloth draped the table. Ivory plates and forest green napkins presented an impression that was tastefully whimsical, wildflower-studded vases arranged alongside brass candlesticks.
Leaning down, Eurus placed his mouth at his wife’s ear. “It looks beautiful, bird.”
“Thank you,” she replied, a blush painting her cheeks.
Once everyone was seated, dinner was served. Soon, conversation filled the room.
Every so often, Eurus refilled drinks: water for Wren, wine for everyone else. Or rather, water for Wren and Brielle, seeing as the redhead appeared to be ignoring the wine completely. Additionally, he and Notus discussed Ammara’s state of affairs, now that the rains had returned. With agriculture thriving, the realm was well on its way to recovery.
Meanwhile, Min was deep in discussion with Wren, Sarai, and Brielle, the latter of whom picked at her meal queasily. Boreas helped cut his children’s food, but otherwise appeared to skirt the majority of the discussion. Lucky bastard.
