Authors: Joyee Flynn
“Hello?” Someone called out from the front door, and I was pretty sure it was Cord. My mates and I stared at each other with wide eyes. Yeah, there was so no way we were going to get cleaned up in time. I saw Imogen do his eye-fluttering thing, but he was interrupted.
“Why the fuck do I smell cum and caramel coming from the kitchen?” Avery snarled. “Seriously? You guys had two rooms you could play in!”
“Sorry,” I said, trying not to laugh, but it didn’t work. Imogen, Aaron, and I busted out laughing, gasping for air as we piled onto each other.
“I can clean us up in a moment,” Imogen panted as we tried to compose ourselves. It took him a few tries but then his eyes were twitching and suddenly I was cleaned, dressed, and even had my teeth brushed!
“That was cool, handy, and a little freaky,” Aaron whispered in awe. I didn’t miss the way Imogen’s cheeks heated up at the praise. He quickly stood and turned to face my pissed-off brothers as they entered the kitchen. But then we saw the babies and swarmed Cord and Ty who were holding them.
“How is the smell gone?” Avery asked, his eyes going wide. I gave Imogen a wink.
“My mate is magic,” I answered with a smirk then I leered over at Aaron. “They both are in their own ways. One moves faster than a speeding bullet when the time is right and the other is better and hotter than a genie.”
“Please tell me that trick works for dirty diapers,” Avery whimpered and hugged my fairy. “Oh my god, I’d love you forever.”
“The man can stand blood, guts, barf, and just about anything else,” Cord said as he shook his head and handed me Hayley. “But you give him a poopy diaper, and suddenly he goes green.”
“Yeah, it’s never just one though,” Avery replied, rolling his eyes as he gestured to all three daughters. “And maybe it’s a lion thing, but damn.”
“I’m sure it’s not.” I chuckled and then blew a noisy kiss on Hayley’s cheek.
“May I ask how three gay men, one of which is a tiger, came to have three gorgeous baby lion girls?” Imogen fidgeted nervously with his hands as if unsure he was allowed to ask personal questions.
“It’s a long story best told over waffles since we also have good news,” Avery answered as he batted his eyelashes at Cord. His mate chuckled and started pulling things out of the fridge. “My mates are magic, too. Cord is the greatest cook and Ty is impossible to be around and not be happy.”
“Both wonderful traits in a mate.” Imogen giggled and sat down next to my brother at the large kitchen table with Alana. Everyone else sat, but I saw the way Ty and Avery glanced at Cord moving about making brunch as if he was on the menu.
“Does Imogen know about the Hunters and zombie things?” Avery asked me, and I nodded, realizing we were going into serious topics now. And I really didn’t want to. A few hours off from the real world to have fun and enjoy my mates simply wasn’t enough time. Avery seemed unable to speak, his eyes watering, and I was just about to explain for him when Ty did.
“Avery was kidnapped from his family and kept by Hunters for thirty years,” he explained and wrapped one of his huge arms around my brother. I think Aaron could see Avery needed comfort and handed Haven back to him for snuggle time. My brother gladly accepted his daughter and did just that.
“He escaped that hell and eventually Conley and his men went to disable the Hunters’ circus after we met them and told them about it when Kody met his mates. It’s kinda a long, crazy ass story. But the short version is Avery was in captivity with the girls’ parents and they were killed before the rescue happened. Conley knew Avery had been friends with them and after checking with the Council and leaders of the lions, he asked if we wanted to adopt them.”
“Such a selfless act of kindness,” Imogen whispered as he stared at Alana. “I’ve lived for three thousand years, and still, I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as a happy, smiling babe.”
I stared at my mate as the coffee mug I’d been lifting to my lip slipped out of my hand and crashed to the table. Thank god I had a better grip on Hayley. I wasn’t the only one because there was a loud thunk when Cord dropped the mixing bowl.
“I supposed we haven’t discussed my age yet then?” Imogen chuckled nervously as he glanced around the room.
“Well, you look spectacular for your age,” Avery said after clearing his throat. “And I’ll still love you forever if you help with the diapers.”
“I can do better than help,” he replied with a wink. Imogen held his hands out in front of him, his eyelids fluttering for a moment, and then three thumb-size stones appeared in his palm. He handed them to Avery and explained.
“One for each father. Simply hold onto it at the same time as your daughter and give it a simple command such as, ‘clean diaper,’ or ‘bath,’ or ‘change of clothes.’ But just keep them simple and one at a time. And I didn’t know how to add in powdering and all of that. I’ve never been a father or around ones so young much.”
“Can I keep your mate?” Avery whimpered as he kissed Imogen on the cheek. “I’m sorry you had to run here for sanctuary, but damn I’m glad you chose us.”
“This is so friggin cool!” Ty exclaimed. “So you’re really three thousand years old?”
“In human years I’m three thousand two hundred and thirty-seven. Time goes by much faster in our world. But I have not lived there all of my life and visit this plane quite often.”
“The things you must have seen,” Cord said as he snapped out of his daze and picked up the mixing bowl. He went back to breakfast as I grabbed my coffee again. Luckily I’d only dropped it a few inches and didn’t spill it.
“What would you like to know?” Imogen asked with a wicked grin on his face.
Chapter 5
We spent the next hour listening to Imogen tell us many truths about history that none of us knew while we ate and laughed. For instance, that the ancient Greeks actually left a donkey and not a horse.
It was a symbol representing the Greek god Dionysus who was the god of civilization, as some books say, others say he wasn’t, so the Trojans took it as a peace offering… But really the Greeks were calling them jackasses for falling for their trick.
The girls acted like perfect angels, but then Avery said it was getting close to their naptime, and they wanted to show us something first.
I really got curious when Cord said we should drive the truck with all of our stuff and follow them. Aaron rode with them and didn’t even make issue when Imogen eyed him nervously about being in the truck with him. Hey, it was progress from last night and demanding Aaron not come. We would figure this out.
“Such a pretty farmhouse,” Imogen said as we pulled into a driveway. I thought the same thing. It was about the size of Avery and his mates’ house but not as kept up. It needed some work and loving care, but it was older and had lots of charm. We parked behind the others and got out.
I immediately fell in love with the wide wraparound porch. It needed some new boards, sanding, and staining, but it was nicely built. The swing was on the floor and would probably need to be replaced along with some of the windows I could see. The roof looked to be fairly new so there didn’t seem to be any major repairs needed. Simply little things and general upkeep.
“Welcome home,” Ty announced with a wide smile as Cord and Avery got the girls from their car seats.
“Huh?” I asked as Aaron did.
“We expanded the ranch several months ago, buying this one from a retiring couple who wanted to move to warmer climates,” Cord elaborated as he put Hayley into a baby carrier that strapped onto the front of him like a vest. She was all smiles and giggles as she faced away from her dad and toward everyone else. “We haven’t decided what to do with their house yet. Conley told us the pack was taking in refugees, and we were going to offer it as temporary housing.”
“We didn’t want to give it to some stranger permanently when it’s our land.” Ty shrugged and took Haven in his arms. “But you’re not strangers, and you need a place. It needs some work that we don’t have time to do. Don’t get me wrong, it’s livable, but the couple was older and didn’t do the upkeep the last several years. It needs a new water heater and repairs. We came this morning to check that the utilities were on and working. So you can move in now.”
“You’re serious?” I whispered as I stared at them with tears in my eyes. “You’re okay with this?”
“Of course,” Avery answered and leaned over to kiss my cheek. “We offered it to mom and dads, but they decided to stay at Conley’s and help others transition there. I also think mom was worried that they wouldn’t be able to stop themselves getting involved in telling Cord and Ty how to run the ranch after years of having their own farm.”
“Yeah, that sounds like them.” I chuckled. “How would we do this? Pay rent? We can fix it up? Buy just this plot of land?”
“We haven’t gotten that far in our thought process yet,” Cord answered and winced. “I know we could use help around the ranch and fixing the place up would work for rent. If you feel strongly about it, we could sell it to you, but I don’t think we really want to divide up the land especially since we use the barns and equipment. We keep the horses over here because it has the room, but it sucks for the morning feedings, and we can’t hear them if something goes wrong.”
“Might I be able to have a garden?” Imogen asked as he glanced at the side of the house. “I’d love an enclosed one over there. Is there a local farmers market where I could sell wares?”
“You like to garden?” Avery smiled at the idea. “I knew you and Aaron fit with this family.”
“Fairies are very much people of the earth. I have a green thumb and grow what humans call organically without using hormones and whatnot. Life responds to us and our magic.”
“Grow away.” Ty chuckled as I wrapped and arm around my blushing mate. “I know we’re partial to watermelon and cucumbers if you want. Oh! And fresh tomatoes. Nothing’s better on a sandwich than fresh tomatoes. And Cord makes the best homemade pasta sauce—”
“Does he always think with his stomach?” I asked, trying not to laugh.
“My mate’s a growing boy,” Avery purred and rubbed against Ty. Yeah, because Ty wasn’t already massive. But, then again, I’m sure feeding his two large, muscular, hardworking mates would be expensive.
“I’m mechanically inclined,” Aaron said quietly. I realized then he was standing apart from the rest of us, looking left out again. Damn it! Of course Ty realized it, too, and went over to him. My brother’s mate put both hands on Aaron’s shoulders.
“Then I love you most,” Ty replied exuberantly and placed a loud kiss on his lips, careful of the baby he had in his own vest carrier. “I fucking hate fixing the goddamn tractor and equipment. Cord’s too cheap to replace anything.”
“Oh please,” Cord groaned.
“The damn thing is almost thirteen years old and dies every other time we use it!” Ty whined and rolled his eyes.
“Bicker later when I can spank you, my mates,” Avery purred. That’s what I wanted with my mates. Well, not to spank them, though I thought that had possibilities, but that ease of being around each other. The teasing and fun they had given any situation. They fit with no awkwardness or being scared of each other’s reactions.
“I’m only good for manual labor.” I chuckled and felt a little lacking. “I had a three-man moving company I had to sell when we were all ordered to move to the packs or covens.”
“You’re one of the best horse riders I’ve ever seen,” Avery chastised gently. “We have cattle that need to be herded in and horses Jasper can always use help with training. Don’t sell yourself short, brother.”
“Speaking of Jasper,” the man in question said as he strolled out of the barn. It wasn’t until then I even noticed there was another truck parked over there. I smiled and went to him. I not only liked Jasper because his voice was amazing with his deep Texas drawl, but he treated my eldest brother like a prince.
“Good to see you, man.” I hugged him tightly and slapped him on the back.
“Nice to have you here though I heard the circumstances weren’t all that great. Trey is thrilled to have another member of his family close.”