“And now, he's engaged,” Tristan said morosely.
As if he sensed that he was needed, my gray tabby cat, Nick, came sauntering into the room and rubbed up against Tristan's leg. Tristan smiled brightly and reached down to pet the cat.
“Hey, buddy! It's been awhile since I've seen you,” Tristan said to Nick.
Tristan and Jackson used to check on Nick every few days because I never knew when I'd be away from home for awhile. A cat doesn't forget that kind of relationship. Nick started purring but before he could settle in against Tristan, a werewolf ruined the mood.
“Tristan!” Trevor exclaimed as he came into the suite. “Damn, dude, it's been forever.” Trevor hugged him. “How are you? Where's Jax?”
Tristan teared up, and I shook my head at Trevor vigorously. Nick gave Trevor an affronted look as well and strode off with his tail lifted indignantly.
“Oh, sugar cookies,” Trevor whispered. “I'm so sorry.”
“Did you just say; oh, sugar cookies?” Tristan sniffed and blinked at Trevor.
“We're trying to keep the language clean because of little ears.” Trevor nodded his head toward Kirill and Lesya who were just coming down the set of tower stairs on the left side of the room.
“Who's that?” Lesya asked as she pointed at Tristan imperiously.
“Zat is your Uncle Tristan,” Kirill said with a smile. “Hello, Tristan. It's good to see you.”
“You too, Kirill.” Tristan went to hug Kirill and then held his hand out to my daughter. “And judging by your pretty face, you must be Lesya.”
“I am!” Lesya cried and launched herself at Tristan.
Tristan managed to catch her and hugged her back, his face shifting instantly away from sadness. “It's very nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Lesya said. “I learned to hunt today.”
“Did you?” Tristan took Lesya to our dining table and sat down with her on his lap. “How old are you? I thought you were born last year but that can't be. You're a little lady.”
“I'll be two in June,” she said proudly.
Tristan looked up at me in surprise.
“It's the lion in her,” I explained. “It accelerates growth. It should stop soon.”
“Wow,” Tryst whispered. “The Twins must be big too then.”
“They're about to turn four, but they look closer to nine,” I confirmed. “That seemed to be the stopping point for them. With lions, we think it will be around five or seven; that's what Zariel stopped at.”
“Five to seven?”
“Well, it's hard to tell.” I shrugged. “No precedents. Zariel could be tall or small for her age. We just don't know.”
“Wow; the growing patterns of supernatural children,” Tristan murmured.
“I'm sorry I haven't come down to Earth to spend time with you, Tryst,” I said softly.
“It's okay, V; I understand. You got a lot going on.” Tryst looked pointedly at Lesya.
“It was nice to meet you,” Lesya said as she slid off Tristan's lap. Her long, ebony curls bounced around her butt and her deep-sea eyes, so like her father's, blinked up at Tryst. “But now, I've got to go play with my friend Zariel.”
“Okay.” Tryst nodded. “Have fun.”
“Thank you, I will. She has a tea set.” Lesya gave me a pointed look.
“Lesya, so help me Gods, I will blister your butt if you mention that tea set again,” I growled at her.
