He laughed, waving his arms about as if swatting at flies. “Something is attacking me!” Then he reeled them in, hugging them. He loved their little knees and their little soft noses and their wings. They were so adorable, and he hoped they stayed that way always. He loved them in their human forms too, but their little flying selves were so damn cute.
They each settled into one of his arms, and he felt like he had a little bit of protection and baby armor if one would call it such.
Corbin looked at him. “Are you ready?”
He looked from each brother to his mate, then he nodded. “Yes, let’s go.”
He hadn’t been to the Land of Summer for over a year, and he knew there would be suspicion about him, because now many fae would believe his blood was tainted, whether from the vampire or the unicorn, it didn’t matter. But he didn’t care. As long as he stepped through that door and the wards didn’t kick him back into the house, he was going to be just fine.
Cosmo took a deep breath and reached over to grab the doorknob, opening the door. He stepped through first, but Cosmo and Cullen waited until Evander went through. Nothing sizzled or popped or blew up. No bag of blood exploded from his eyes. In fact, he felt the barest tingle as he went through.
So that was a triumph.
Corbin looked at him, eyes wide but his mouth turning up in a grin.Well, that went as well as I could have hoped.
Well, now, you said you had faith in me.Evander winked, squeezing the babies who both snorted at him.
Yeah, well, you know, if you didn’t doubt, then I wasn’t gonna doubt. Much.Corbin winked again, and they headed out.
They were met not by Corbin’s mother or by his people, but by Corbin, Cullen, and Cosmo’s father. The big dragon stomped up. “I’m coming to say hello first because everyone else is being a dick. I’m Bron of the Third.”
“Oh, goody.” Corbin actually scowled.
“Yeah, well, what are you gonna do?” He held out his hand, shook Evander’s, and then scooped up little Elliot. “Welcome to everyone, let’s go have lunch. I’m starving.”
“Lu—u-u-u-u-unch,” Elliot intoned, and Cosmo chuckled.
“Someone’s hungry,” Bron said.
“That one’s always hungry. Always. Eternally.” Cosmo shook his head, bouncing his little girl. “This one on the other hand is much pickier.”
“I’m Evander of the wild Hunt, sir. A pleasure to meet you.”
The big dragon grinned. “I told my wife there was no way the wards would let you come across if you were part vampire or whatever. You didn’t explode, so now she’s going to have to put up with you. Come on, let’s go.”
Evander had to laugh because he could see where Corbin and his brothers got a lot of their personality from. Don’t get him wrong, there was quite a bit of their mother in there too, he would imagine, but this big dragon was just gruff and yet somehow incredibly joyful.
They wandered along until they came to what looked like a picnic that had been laid out for them, shaded by a couple of large trees and a small tent. The baby squealed because the food smelled delectable, even if it was mostly vegetables according to his olfactory senses. Still, it smelled as if there was some meat too, and he could imagine that was to appease the dragon. But he would take it.
He knew a lot of humans couldn’t understand how a fae man who presented as a deer-like creature with horns could be acarnivore, but it didn’t have to make sense to him. It was what it was.
They settled, and he heard Corbin grunt as he stared off into the distance. Evander followed his gaze and saw a small party of incredibly graceful, very formally dressed fae coming in their direction.
“My son, she’s trying, and I’m going to make it okay. Just trust me, all right? Trust in me.”
Corbin nodded to his father, smiled. “You’re my second most fierce defender.”
“Hey!” Cullen and Cosmo spoke together.
“What? You guys are my brothers. We’re like the three musketeers. That’s a whole different ball of wax.” Corbin grinned at his brothers, and Ev snorted. He hadn’t been close with his brother in that way for years.
“Man, Mom’s dressed to the nines, isn’t she?” Cosmo rolled his eyes, making Corbin groan.
“She’s in full I’m a super-queen mode.”
“Here, I can help.” Before anyone could stop him, Cullen waggled his fingers, and suddenly they all wore what seemed to be incredibly fancy, super sparkly rainbow-colored robes with fireworks at the collars and the cuffs and all around the bottoms.
Including the dad and all the kids.
