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“Dinner is ready if you both are.”
“We are. It smells like heaven.” Harden grinned at Tyr. “How much honey have you used in the roast?”
“Stop it. I made honey cakes with it.”
“Ah. Those are even better than a roast right now.” Harden titled his head. “Though the roast sounds good, oddly. The dried meat this morning was very bad.”
Tyr’s expression crumpled into sympathy. “Mornings are hardest. I know you’re used to a full breakfast, but go light and make midday the heaviest meal.”
“We don’t know that there is a child on the way, yet.” Harden winked at Tyr. “Maybe, but we don’t know.”
“I think we know.” Tyr linked arms with Harden and led him to sit where a low table had been set. “Let’s let the alphas carry the food. I’ll get Melissa.”
“How is my girl?”
A wild squeal sounded from the other room, the answer clear.
“She hears her Brayden.”
Sloan chuckled at Tyr. “He loves to tease you. You know she adores you, and that tickles Tyr to death.”
“I know. She’s amazing.” He loved her to the point of stupidity. “I get why you wanted to stay here so much now, bro. The mate bond is staggering.”
“It is. And it only gets better. Like you know you have someone with you for life.”
“I know I have an entire family — you, Tyr, Melissa, Harden, Riley — it’s stunning. More than I ever hoped for.”
They just got the roast on the table when Melissa caught sight of him and began to squeal.
“Hello, my littlest love.” He held out his arms to catch her when she lunged for him. Her soft, warm weight always made his heart hitch in his chest, and she smacked a kiss on his chin. That was new. “Oh, thank you.” He kissed her on the forehead, making buzzing noises.
Bray Bray Bray Luff Luff LUFF! That was new too, her mental voice razor sharp.
This was absolutely stunning.
I love you too, my sweet one. Oh, it is so good to see you. I’ve missed you.
Mizzzzzz.
He adored how she buzzed like a bee. She always had. Right out of the womb…
Yes. I missed you. I was with my mate.
HAR!
He laughed out loud. “Yes, lovely. My mate is Harden. Do you love him too?”
In answer she made a sound remarkably like a wee ysidri.
Harden laughed aloud as well, the sound so happy. “Listen to you. Our little mimic. Can you bark like a ciucui?”
“Harden, my daughter does not need to bark like a dog,’ Sloan said, settling at the table.
“No, but I would like her to…”
They all hooted at that, and Melissa echoed it, sounding for all the world like an owl.
Harden beamed at her. “Someone has been spending time with Fredda and her owl friend.”
