“Chocolate ice cream?” Daniel asked.
Carnage nodded.
“He’s got a problem with chocolate and ice cream,” Boon said.
“I figure with everything Lily’s planning, a little ice cream can’t hurt,” Daniel said to Carnage. Then he focused on Boon meaningfully. “It’s tomorrow.”
“We just mated!” Boon exclaimed.
Daniel nodded. “It’s going to be stressful, but not as bad as it could be, I think. Angelle’s met a few people and we’ll all be there, too. Still, it could overwhelm her.”
“Then I’ll bring her home and we’ll lock all the doors and hide ourselves here,” Boon said.
Daniel grinned. “Good. Hopefully you won’t have to, but if you do, we’ll pack up some food and bring it over; have our own party here.”
“Sounds good to me,” Boon said.
“Feesh!!!!!!!” Carnage insisted.
“I’m coming!” Daniel said, following Carnage down the stairs. “See ya’ll later!” he called out as Boon waved and closed the door.
Carnage went around the house and started through the trees.
Daniel kept up with him with no problem at all, but seemed a little quieter than usual.
Finally Carnage glanced over at him. “Dahn ‘kay?” he asked. His voice was serious, he was obviously concerned.
Daniel nodded as he took in a deep breath and let it out again slowly. “Yeah. She’s mated. I mean, she can’t be mated if they didn’t mate. And she’s an adult. And Boon is a good male and I have no doubt he’ll take care of her. I’m just trying to reconcile the little girl I saw her as a few weeks ago with the young mated woman she’s quickly become. She’s done a lot of growing, maturity wise, in a short amount of time. Obviously she’s ready for it, beyond ready, actually. I’m proud of her, I really am. I’m just not sure that I’m ready for her to be ready. It’s me that has to adjust now.”
Carnage patted him on the back and nodded. He completely got it. He still wasn’t used to Lily and Carrik being mated, when he found out that Tempest had mated Brandt. Sometimes he wondered if they weren’t on to something when they hid their daughters away in the Middle Ages to keep them away from males who were interested in them. “Bee ‘kay,” Carnage said.
“Yeah. I still think I liked it better when I could tell her to go to her room and be done with it.”
“’Es! ‘Arnge say saaaame!”
Chapter 20
Carnage had been chattering non-stop as he led the way through the woods for almost fifteen minutes. Daniel was chuckling about Carnage trying to keep a very young Lily from peeing outside ‘like the boys’ when Carolena finally came home from settling her father’s estate. Carnage was guffawing about Carolena being angry that Lily even thought it was an option, but Daniel had met Carolena, and he had no doubt she had no problem holding her own with her mate. She was a strong lady. She’d have to be to have kept Carnage in line all these years.
“I’m pretty sure you didn’t think it was as funny then as you do now,” Daniel said with a chuckle.
Carnage’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “Leenah mad!” he said, throwing a bit of fear into his voice.
Daniel laughed again.
Carnage ducked under a low hanging branch and came to a stop right on the edge of another clearing.
Daniel came to a stop beside him, looking around at the home sitting in the middle of the clearing and the manicured flower beds accenting the land. “This is beautiful.”
“’Es,” Carnage said, starting across the yard.
“Who lives here?” Daniel asked.
“Deemah,” Carnage said. He walked across the yard like it was his own, and a couple of minutes later had set down the fishing poles on the edge of a calm, quiet bayou.
“Shouldn’t we ask if it’s okay if we fish here?”
“Noo.”
