“Your wife taught them that before I left,” Brenton shot back, his smile widening when Teddy glared.
Beside me, Etienne let out a low chuckle. It came out unguarded, a genuine laugh I normally only heard when it was the two of us.
Not to be outdone, Caspian scrambled to his feet and squished Brenton’s cheeks between his tiny hands. “Dog.”
Brenton made a ridiculous face around Caspian’s grip, eyes wide with exaggerated awe. “Two geniuses. We’re unstoppable.”
A surprised laugh slipped out of me, and beside me, Etienne stiffened for half a beat before his rigid muscles loosened. Etienne bumped his shoulder against mine. A small, unspokenI’m okay.And despite the crowd, he did seem okay.
Queen Teddy wandered over with a drink in her hand, kicking off her shoes before she sank onto the grass. I tensed automatically, bracing for judgment or strained politeness.
But none came.
“Caspian.” Her deep sigh didn’t match the contentment in her expression. She pried Caspian’s exploring hands off Brenton’s face. “You know, you could tell him to stop.”
“Why would I do that?” he argued, putting Caspian back on his lap when Queen Teddy tried to pick him up. Caspian let out a victorious squeal and clapped his hands.
Zayne crawled to his uncle, running his piece of bread through dirt and grass. When he offered it to his mom, she tossed it to Luana, who ate it all too happily while giving her son another piece from her plate.
“So he learns discipline.” She lifted her brows in mock exasperation. “Tell this giant man-child I’m right.” She turned to face me with an easy smile on her face.
When I stayed quiet, my fingers digging at the hem of my shirt, Etienne stepped in. “Finny is only good at taking sides if it’s the wrong side to choose.”
I gaped back at him, taking in the light in his eyes. “The side I choose is always the right side.”
Queen Teddy lifted her glass. “Because women are always right.”
Brenton arched a brow, his grin growing as he angled his face toward Etienne. “And here I thought, we could be the ones who brought bad decisions to the group.”
I snorted. “I’m sure you already bring all the bad decisions.”
Zayne let out a loud, “Dog!” when Luana licked his face. Brenton reached over with a napkin to wipe the slobber away.
“Between my brother and best friend Ryenne, I don’t know who’s worse,” the queen said.
“Brenton,” Etienne and I both said it at the same time.
Brenton barked out a laugh. It came out easy and carefree, like this, us, was how it was always supposed to be.
One by one, Alastor, Everly, and King Elias drifted to us. No one called them over, and no one else followed. It didn’t feel planned or forced. It just happened. Like our conversation drew them in while the others scattered across the lawn, their voices and laughter like a hum in the background.
Alastor sat on the ground with that quiet grace of his. Up close, he looked a lot better than he had in Vistos. Less pale, stronger. When I mentioned it, his mouth tilted up.
“Being in my homeland is good for me,” he said. Then he tossed me a grin before turning to Teddy. “It’s my understanding Finley still calls EliasKing.”
King Elias let out a scoff, his own smile in place. “Because that’s what I am.”
“Not in Respandora, you’re not,” Brenton said, sending the king a quick wink.
Also sitting, King Elias tugged Queen Teddy closer while he scooped Zayne into his arms. “I don’t understand why the three of you are always trying to strip me of my title.”
Queen Teddy rolled her eyes and sent me a mischievous look. “If you and Etienne are going to be family, you can’t inflate his ego. Call him Elias.”
I blinked at her.Family.Freely offered without asking anything in return.
Brenton smirked. “I like you better when you’re just Teddy’s husband.”
Elias brushed Teddy’s hair back, his knuckles sweeping across her cheek. “I like that role best too.”
