I couldn’t help but laugh at their antics.
“Did I hear someone say powerful elf?” a new voice said, standing in the open doorway.
Dice looked up at the ceiling, closed her eyes, and sighed. “I told you,” she said in exasperation. “Look what you did now!”
If Dice was all cool chick in a black leather jacket, ripped jeans, and short pink hair, Rhys was like the male version of her. He was similarly dressed, except in nicer black jeans and a shirt that said The Laughing Elf in black swirls over the pale blue breast pocket.
He sauntered over to Dice and pulled her in for a kiss before turning to me and Alanna and holding out his hand. “Rhys.”
I shook it. “I’m Piper.”
“And the angel in your arms?”
I hesitated, looking at Riggs. He nodded that Rhys was safe. “Her name is Alanna.”
“It’s nice to meet you both.” He glanced at Matteo and winced. “You look terrible.”
Taco and Drew chuckled at Matteo’s put-upon expression, then headed to the kitchen—probably to grab a snack for him. He hadn’t eaten in a bit. Come to think of it, neither had I. It had been at least four or five hours, and Matteo hadn’t eaten much when I’d offered him something earlier.
“I look fine,” Matteo said acerbically. “I was heroic.”
I snorted. “You were asleep.”
He gave me the evil eye. “I was heroic on the bridge.”
I grinned. “Okay, I’ll give you that one.” Then I sobered. “Thanks, Matteo. I know I’ve already thanked you, but I would have been dead without your help.”
He started looking a bit bashful, then nodded toward Riggs, deflecting my words. “Thank Alpha. He’s the one who sent me.”
“I already hugged him, though.”
“I missed it!”
I grinned and gave him a light hug. I didn’t want to hurt him any more than he already was. “Thank you.”
Instead of the back pat that all males everywhere did when they got hugged and didn’t know what to do with the affection, Matteoactuallyhugged me back—until he released me suddenly, and threw a quick look at Riggs, then looked down at his lap.
My gaze bounced between the two of them with a frown on my face. “What? Did I miss something?”
Matteo cleared his throat. “Nothing. Alpha was just telling me how much he appreciates me.”
“Hmph,” Riggs said.
I was bewildered, but let it go.
“Love, Matteo needs an elf potion,” Dice said.
Rhys nodded. “Sure, I need some hair or skin samples.”
I made a face. Gross.
Rhys laughed at my expression. “It doesn’t have his essence in it. It’s just specifically formulated for his use.”
“I know.” I still found it gross. Though I’d be grateful for it for Matteo’s sake—and even for my own if I ever needed one. Elves were rare, and those who could brew DNA potions were even rarer.
Dice checked me and Alanna over at my mate’s insistence. She gave us a mostly clean bill of health, except to let me know that Alanna would be teething soon.
I groaned, and she chuckled as she packed up her things, promising to bring the potion for Matteo back as soon as it was finished. “I’ll bring something to rub on Alanna’s gums as well.Meanwhile, you might want to freeze some teething rings for her.” They left a moment later.
