“Knock yourself out.” Orion stood, heading for the door. “I’m going to keep on keeping on. And if Cullen wakes up and wants to watch the kids, I might pop over and see my dads, but until then, there won’t be any information from me.”
“Thanks for meeting with me.” He knew he wasn’t the one who called the meeting, but it didn’t matter. It was more important that they trusted him to be in on it and to be one of the alpha mates now.
“Hey, it’s important. We’re all family. We have to put on a united front.” With that, Orion left the room, Evander staring after him, a warm, heavy, happy spot in his chest. He wasn’t lying when he told Corbin how difficult it was to be part of the fae Court. Corbin hadn’t really grown up there, so he didn’t understand how rough it was to have all the backstabbing and to lose the close, loving relationship he’d had with his brothers when they were kids.
Not that he spent an awful long time feeling sorry for himself, because Evander didn’t. But when faced with a family like Corbin, Cullen, and Cosmo had, it just made him all the more aware of what he had lacked most of his life.
He wanted his children to grow up like the three of them had—knowing they were loved, knowing they had a place no matter what happened, that they wouldn’t be cast out if they came home with a little vampire blood in them.
Chapter
Eleven
Corbin got busy in his garden. There wasn’t anything else he could do. He couldn’t fix vampirism; he couldn’t make the fae different or the dragons different or anyone different, including himself. So he went out and worked.
He grew tomatoes and blackberries. Raspberries, strawberries, and beets. Potatoes, onions, leeks, and garlic.
Then there were the herbs. He grew horehound for sore throats. Basil, oregano, and cilantro for cooking. Ginger for… everything.
He dug his fingers down into the dirt and pulled it up; he spoke to the worms and the small animals. He gave offerings to the earth spirits so his garden would grow.
And Evander was always there.
He looked around at the morning he suddenly found himself in, blinking. Where was Evander this morning? He’d left his mate sleeping, his beard shadow prodigious, his face younger, somehow, as he rested.
He pushed his hair out from his forehead, leaving a streak of dirt. He sat for a minute enjoying the sun and the smell of loam and growing, and what was that sound?
There was a scratching, whining sound that tore at his heart. Corbin looked down underneath the huge leaves of his pumpkin patch. And there was a puppy.
He was relatively sure that it was pretty small, and that should indicate a mama dog.
Mate, are you around?he called.
It took a moment before Evander’s voice came back to him as though from quite a distance.I’m in the basement with Hawk. We’re sparring.
Hawk spars?He had to ask it. He had to because everyone knew Hawk was an ancient dragon. He could fight like a fiend but, really, he seemed like not much of a fighter if you just met him.
I will bite you, Corbin.Hawk butted in.
No, Hawk.Evander responded.You will not. Can I help you?
I found a puppy, I think, and I need some help.
You think you found a puppy, or do you think you need some help?
I think if you don’t get your ass up here toot suite, you’re going to be sleeping on the sofa.
Ah, I understand. I’ll be right there.
That’s what he fucking thought. Corbin was hot. He was thirsty. He was pregnant, and there was a little pup here, and he didn’t know how to help it. He didn’t want to touch it, because what if this is one of those things where if you touched it, the mom would reject it? Because that would suck.
Evander appeared like magic, flowing right up to him, graceful and nearly silent as always. “What have we here, lethean?” Ev peered at the baby. “Oh, it’s a wolf cub, sweet. Look at that sweet face.”
“He looks scared and hungry, and I’m worried that there’s a mom. I don’t want to touch him if it’s going to make the mommad, but I think he needs some water.” And he was so pretty. Corbin wanted to snuggle with him.
“It’ll be fine. I tell you what, you take him and get him some water. I’m going to find his mother. She won’t be far. I’m sure she’s hungry too.” Evander beamed at him, as if he’d done something amazing.
“Okay.” He could do that. He scooped the puppy up, and it shivered, so he stroked it gently. “It’s all right; no one’s going to hurt you. We’re going to get you some food. We’re going to find your mom. We’re going to give everybody a nice place to just hang. You can’t live under the pumpkin leaf.”
