“It’s so good to see you, Seri!”
“You, too!”
When Sebastian opened his arms next, I stepped into them without hesitation.
“Saved the best for last, I see,” he joked, lifting me off my feet in a bear hug.
An arm like an iron bar suddenly wrapped around my waist, dragging me backward until I collided with Casimir’s chest. Koa moved to flank us, his expression thunderous, and Sebastian threw his hands up, laughing.
“No touching,” Casimir muttered, but not with any real concern, just the reflexive protectiveness that flared whenever anyone came too close to me.
“Seb!” Zane draped himself across Sebastian’s shoulders. “My favorite eldest half-brother! Glad to see you know how to take a night off!”
While my husbands and Sebastian bantered, Brummy trotted over to Papa and Kaori, tail wagging. He sat politely in front of them and extended his paw, just as he had for the werewolf monarchs.
“Look at this distinguished gentleman.” Kaori shook his paw with a grin.
Papa inclined his head to the wolf, a gesture of respect that seemed to please Brummy immensely. His tail wagged harder, threatening to sweep several champagne flutes off a nearby table.
“That’s Zaddy’s good boy,” Zane crooned, and Brummy’s tongue lolled out in a happy canine grin, basking in the praise.
“Zaddy?” Sebastian eyebrows flew up.
“Don’t. Ask.” Casimir finally released his iron grip on my waist, although he stayed close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body.
“Some of us have loving, nurturing relationships with our fur baby,” Zane informed Sebastian loftily, “and some of us are boring killjoys who wanted to vote him off the island.”
“He tried to take my throat during his first bath,” Casimir grumbled.
“And now he wears a top hat and shakes hands with royalty,” Zane countered with a sharp smirk. “Who’s therealwinner here?”
Two more familiar faces came out of the crowd. Betas Luke and Gisela MacGregor approached with four children in tow, two babies and two toddlers walking hand-in-hand. A flash of recognition sparked in the boys’ eyes, which surprised me. Prince Augustus and Callum MacGregor were only three; I didn’t think they’d remember.
“Dire!” Prince Augustus shouted, pointing at Brummy with undisguised glee. “The dire came back!”
“And the pretty lady!” Callum’s face lit up with the uncomplicated joy of a child.
They charged forward, making a beeline for Brumous, who perked up at the attention. To his credit, he sat very still as the two flung their arms around his neck, although his tail thumped against the marble floor hard enough to echo.
“Gently, boys,” Beta Luke cautioned, but didn’t seem worried.
“He has a hat!” the little prince exclaimed, reaching up to touch it.
“It’s for the party.” I crouched down to their level. “He’s dressed up, just like you.”
“He’s the prince of dires,” Callum declared very seriously, and I smiled, watching Brummy enjoy their petting.
“Ha!” Zane barked. “Brumster says, ‘Smalls nice. Pet good.’”
As the adults around us chuckled, Callum suddenly looked up at me, his little brow furrowed in confusion.
“Where’s your baby?”
Ice flooded my veins as I stood up, and thankfully, Brummy intervened by giving Callum puppy kisses, making him giggle.
Koa’s hand found my elbow, his dark eyes wide with worry, and I shook my head with a wobbly smile.
“This is Prince Valerian,” Luke was saying with the quiet pride of a well-loved uncle. “Almost six months old now.”
