“I’m not the one who made him cry; you are,” Destroy snapped at Lore.
“You both did!” Tempest exclaimed.
Destroy and Lore wore identical expressions of shock as they both gazed at Tempest.
“We did no such thing!” they both shouted at the same time.
“Not intentionally, no. But you both played with him so well, that he’s tired. He’s a tiny little baby and gets tired easily. He’s so tired that he’s fussy. So, we are taking him to Mom’s house to put him to bed,” Tempest said firmly.
Destroy pouted for a split second as he reached out and touched Elijah’s hand. “He was having fun,” Destroy said sullenly.
“He most certainly was. And a lot of fun,” Lore insisted.
“I know. And that’s a good thing. But now it’s time for him to rest,” Tempest said.
Lore stood straight and tall as he looked down his nose at Tempest. “Come, Destroy. We shall take our leave. We will, however, return to play with Elijah tomorrow. Please be sure he is well rested.”
“Hmpf!” Destroy said dramatically, pulling himself to his tallest height beside Lore. “Take us away, Lore.”
“At once,” Lore said, gathering his mists and laying a hand on Destroy’s shoulder.
“Do you think perhaps I could come, too?” Evangeline asked.
Lore’s mists dissipated quickly as he hurried to his mate’s side. “I would never forget you, my love.”
“Of course, not,” Evangeline said with a twinkle in her eye as she suppressed a smile.
“Destroy!” Lore beckoned him over.
“I’m coming!” Destroy said, hurrying to Lore’s side.
“Sleep well, little one. We will play Bears and Dragons on the ‘morrow,” Lore said, bowing to those in the room as his mists carried them all away.
Tempest started laughing.
“They’ll never change,” Lily said.
“I sometimes wonder if they could possibly be any more dramatic, then they do something to prove that they can in fact be more dramatic,” Carrik said.
“I’m a little confused,” Brandt said. “I thought they hated each other.”
“Only when it’s fitting for their needs. Otherwise, they are thick as thieves,” Lily said.
“That’s true. There are not many friends who would go into Hell to bring your mate back for you,” Boon said.
“Hell?! As in, the Hell?” Brandt said.
Boon nodded.
“And Lore seemed so self-centered, I’m surprised he’s so selfless,” Daniel said.
“Oh, he’s both, believe me,” Lily said. “But it wasn’t Lore who went into Hell for Destroy. It was Destroy who went into Hell for Lore. Along with my father, and Murder. It’s a longcomplicated story, but everyone is home and safe, and despite their bickering, they are dear and trusted friends.”
Elijah started whining and rubbing at his eyes again.
“Well, that’s our final cue. We really enjoyed our day, spending it with family, but the master has indicated it’s bedtime.”
Boon grinned and hugged her tightly. “Me, too. Thank you for being here. Thank you for the house.”
