“Grandpa Archer.” Elliot intoned in his stony little voice, and his father visibly melted, his eyes going gold and his whole body softening as he hugged that little boy. “Did you hear that, my sons? He called me grandfather.”
Kristofer rolled his eyes. “You’re not exactly related to him, Father.”
His father looked down at Elliot, who was plucking at his Father’s shiny robes, tracing the gold patterns of thread. “I am too,” he said. “I embrace all of these children; they are my son’s nieces and nephews, and thus they are my adopted grandchildren.”
Evander bit back his smile, because that was the most adorable thing he’d ever heard, and his brothers were looking as if they were terribly unimpressed. His father, though, had been after all of them to find mates and produce children for him, so this had to be a coup, a feather in his cap.
Soon enough they were joined by Tisi, who flew out to meet his cousin and Serena, who zipped over and swirled around their heads like a demented dragonfly. Last to come out was Isabelle, her father carrying her, her little arms waving enthusiastically. Father handed off Elliot to him and then embraced the flyers who zoomed in and crashed into his chest as if they couldn’t bowl him over.
“Sorry about all this,” Cosmo said when he reached them with his bell. “The kids really wanted to come out and see Lord Archer. I hope it’s all right.”
“All is well,” his father said. “I have a great deal of time today to spend with these babies. Isn’t that right, my sons?”
Kristofer nodded and sighed, then grabbed a pizza roll and popped it in his mouth. His surprised expression when he ate it had Evander laughing like a loon.
“This is amazing,” Kristofer said. “What is this, exactly?”
“It is called a pizza roll, brother. It comes from the realm of the humans. They come in a box, and you open it and put them in the oven to heat them up.”
“I like them.” Kristofer took another.
“I like these better.” Gregor grabbed a pig in the blanket and ate it in two neat, clean bites.
“Hey, I’m just glad you like the snacks. Ah-ah, Elliot. You cannot have a handful of those. One at a time.”
Elliot grumbled, but took one cookie, stuffing it in his mouth and munching. The sound was like two tectonic plates rubbing together.
Little Tisi shifted and took some sort of vegetable roll from the snack tray. The kids were all clearly needing a snack. Sharing food was one of the best ways to bond, though, and his brothers needed to see these children as something worthy of their protection.
Love, is your father still there?Corbin’s voice came into his head.
He is. He’s communing with the children.
There was a soft chuckle.Did they have someone come out with them, Cullen or Cosmo?
Cosmo is right here. Everyone’s fine. How are you feeling?
Better. Much better. I think I might live. Is it too late to come out and say hi?
He chuckled softly.It’s never too late to say hello to my family. They’re eager to know you better.
I feel the same way. I’ll be there in a bit. I’m going to get dressed.
He sent a wave of lust just because he could. The idea of his mate naked was lovely.
Naughty, naughty.
“Corbin’s on his way. He’ll be here in a few. He’s feeling better.”
“Oh, good.” Cosmo gave Elliot the littlest part of a cookie. “Morning sickness is the worst.”
“Is there nothing that helps?” Father asked, and Cosmo rolled his eyes.
“There’s a tea. Mother has the recipe. She’s mad at Corbin. Corbin’s mad at her. I told Cullen one of us should get pregnant just so we can get him some tea to help the puking.”
Evander growled a little bit underneath his breath. “If there is a solution, then his lady mother ought to provide.” He wasn’t going to put up with this nonsense of his lethean being miserable because he and Calla were warring.
Cosmo grinned at him and handed Isabelle off to him when she struggled to get to him. “You know what? You’re right. I’ll just ask her because she’s not mad at me. I don’t think she’s actually really mad at Corbin anymore. I think that things just got out of hand, but I’ll ask.”
