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Tyr’s eyes went wide. “What? You?”

“I know, but I want to talk to Cade, so can we just hold off on discussing it?”

Tyr stared at him. “You’re the one who brought it up.”

“Well, I didn’t mean to. It just popped out.”

They all sort of stared at each other a second.

“Bright blessing, my friends. Here we are.” Cade’s voice boomed as he and Poe and their children strode into sight. They looked cheerful and bore food and drink and towels, which was perfect.

“Bright blessings, Cade. Poe, hello Tanya.” Brayden gave the smiling girl a hug. She was getting so grown. Then there were the triplets. They were like busy little bees all on their own, so that should have been Tyr’s children, really. Melissa was still too young to buzz that way.

Harden shook his head himself, because they were like young ysidri, scampering all over.

“Hey, Harden. Thank you for the invitation. Everyone is excited to be in the water and play.” Poe grinned at his children, shaking his head. “They’re hooligans.”

“I am not a hooligan.” Tanya smiled at her father. “I am a young lady.”

“You really are.” Poe reached out to take Tanya’s hand. “I’m so proud of you.”

Tanya flushed, looking so pleased.

“Are you going to come say hello to your uncle Harden?” he asked her.

She ran over to give him a giant hug, smacking a kiss on his cheek. “You’re gonna have a baby!”

“I am.” He patted her on the back. “Are you happy about that for me?”

“I am so happy about that for you.” She chattered on at him, threading her hand through his arm and sitting next to him on the blanket.

He loved when she leaned against him and just talked like they were the best of friends because they were. He loved Tanya. He was so proud of how she had adjusted to coming through the veil and living in a whole new world.

She was the most adaptable, wonderful little girl, and he was pleased to be her uncle through his friendship with Caderyn.

She jabbered happily, telling him about books and puzzles, about her brothers and her flying lessons.

“Are you doing well with the flying? I have had new baby bwostfol and have not been able to get out as much.” And he wanted to see her fly suddenly.

“I am. It’s hard, though.” She blew a strand of hair off her forehead. “I’m not the best at it. Some of the boys are already starting to put on their dragon. It takes me a little bit.”

Poe glanced over at her. “That’s because you spent some time in the human realm, and that’s how you learn to do it. You are my brave hero, and I love to watch you fly.”

She just beamed at him, her face lighting up. “Thank you, Poe. You’re my hero too.” She giggled. “Though Cade is a great defender.”

Cade puffed up and growled like the big alpha dragon he was, the sound echoing around him as he teased Tanya. “I am the best defender. Rawrrr.”

Harden laughed along with everyone else, because Cade was indeed a big gruff alpha defender but he was also, what did Brayden call it? A marshmallow.

Harden thought marshmallows were very strange. He’d had some. They’d come across from the other side of the veil with the guardians at the big house up at the top of the mountain, but the texture was very odd.

The children who started their life in the human realm, however, seemed to have a fascination with Brayden and the other fire-breathing dragons setting them on fire.

“So, now, everyone’s here. I need to know your news.” Tyr stared at him.

Poe tilted his head. “Do you have news? I mean, besides the fact that you’re pregnant?”

“I do.” He sighed softly. “I had a vision today.”