“Okay. I’ll have cinnamon rolls ready when you come back,” Angelle said, smiling endlessly at her mother.
Avaleigh rushed off to catch up with Boon’s tour, tearfully smiling up at Daniel as she took his hand and fell into step with him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing. Everything is right. I just never thought I’d see her so happy, so… belonging.”
“So these are the happy tears that Remi used to complain about,” Daniel said as he softly pecked her lips.
“Oh, yeah. She’s found where she belongs, and she doesn’t even know it yet,” Avaleigh said.
Boon had moved on to the next room, pretending he didn’t hear, but his heart was pounding as he heard Avaleigh’s words. If her own mother saw it, then there was no way Angelle could doubt they belonged together. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly so he didn’t actually laugh with joy when he next spoke. Finally, he turned to the family members following him and admiring his house. “This is what Angelle calls the man cave. I told her we can change it if she wants to, but I think she likes it like this.”
Brandt looked around the room. “I like it. I want a man cave, Tempest. Why don’t I have a man cave?”
“You did. Your whole house was a man cave. Now it’s a family cave.”
Brandt laughed and pulled her in for a hug, careful not to nudge Eli where she still carried him on her hip. “And I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Oh! Um, hello,” Angelle said from the kitchen. Her voice was unsteady and while not afraid, it didn’t quite sound right.
“Lore is here,” Lily said.
“I’ll go,” Tempest said. “It’s Eli he wants to see anyway. And I’ve already seen the house. I made it!” she said with a wink asshe turned and headed back toward the front of the house with Brandt following.
“You can stay and see the rest,” she said over her shoulder.
“No. I think I’ll stay with you. I haven’t met Lore yet and you and Eli are my priorities,” Brandt answered.
“He loves us. He just wants to be first.”
“First for what?” Brandt asked as he followed her up the hall to the kitchen.
“Hello. I am Lore. Who might you be?” he asked, knowing fully well exactly who she was.
“I’m Angelle. I’m Boon’s mate.”
“Well, Angelle - Boon’s mate, may I tell you that he is a lucky male? You are one of an exceedingly rare breed.”
Her eyes widened as her brows lifted in surprise. “I’m human,” she said.
Lore laughed delightedly. “Yes, you are. But you are also a truly good soul. There are no pretenses with you. Just simple honesty.” He stepped closer to her and held out his hand for her to place hers in his.
Angelle didn’t know why she did it, but she did it. She extended her own hand toward him.
Lore grasped her fingers in his and lifted her hand to his lips, bowing over her hand to kiss her knuckles. When he straighted up he seemed a little surprised himself. “And an empath. It is no wonder that you aren’t comfortable in groups of multiple people.”
“Am I?” she asked.
“You are indeed, dear.”
“Tempest said she thought I might be, but I never really considered it.”
“Consider it. If Tempest said it, it is so. She’s never wrong.”
“I will,” Angelle said.
“Uncle Lore!” Tempest said excitedly as she stepped into the room.
