Chapter 11 #2
Lore laughed delightedly as he took the baby into his arms and turned to Evangeline who was already deep in conversation with Angelle about the cinnamon rolls she’d just taken out of the oven.
“Evangeline! Look! He likes me! I knew that he would,” Lore said proudly as he tickled Elijah’s chin and laughed riotously when the baby growled at him and tried to bite him.
He realized that Evangeline was already talking with Angelle and immediately stopped laughing.
“Forgive me, please, both of you. I was so distracted that I forgot to introduce you. Angelle, this is my mate, the only soul who could ever save me — and did — Evangeline. She is as good as you.”
Evangeline smiled lovingly at Lore and went directly to his side. “I would save you again every day,” she said, kissing his cheek.
“And you, my love,” Lore said. “What are you speaking of so excitedly?”
“The sweets Angelle has made. They came from a can! I could make those!”
“Why if I can just mist some into being?”
“Because I’d like to make them myself,” she said with a slightly deflated tone.
“And then you shall! I will bring you many cans!”
Evangeline smiled at the baby Lore held. “Hello, little one,” she said, her delicate fingers tracing his smile. Not once did Elijah try to bite her. Instead, he leaned into her touch.
“Did you see that? He likes her,” Brandt said.
Tempest nodded. “She’s an Angel. Everyone loves her.”
Brandt’s mouth opened like he was going to ask a question, but instead just decided to go along with it like everyone else did.
Lore returned his attention to Elijah who’d grabbed hold of Lore’s long, wavy, dark hair and was yanking it around. The harder Elijah pulled, the more Lore bubbled over into laughter. “You bring me so much joy, little boy,” he said.
“Uncle Lore, have you met Brandt yet?” Tempest asked.
Lore pulled his attention from Elijah and focused on the male Tempest had draped herself against. Lore took the time to examine him from where he stood several feet away, finally ceasing his evaluation when he reached the male’s eyes. “So, you are Tempest’s mate.”
“I am. And Elijah’s father. And you’re the infamous Uncle Lore.”
“Ah, you’ve heard of me!” Lore said delightedly.
“I have. Tempest speaks of you often.”
“Then you know of my exploits,” Lore said.
“I do.”
“Then you will continue to treat my niece with the utmost respect and tenderness.”
“I will. Because she’s my mate, and I love her, so I’ll happily kill anyone who disrespects her.”
Lore watched him for a few seconds, then grinned ear-to-ear as he approached Brandt. “I like you, my boy! Death to all who dare to insult our females!”
“And our people in general,” Brandt said.
“Absolutely!” Lore agreed. He reached out and smoothed a hand over Tempest’s cheek. “Good choice, Tempest. A most excellent choice.”
Elijah growled at Lore again, bringing Lore’s attention back to himself.
“I know where the growl came from now! Your father! Let us go lie upon the floor and growl together!” Lore exclaimed.
“What was that now?” Lily asked as she, Daniel, Avaleigh, Carrik, and Boon walked into the kitchen.
“Ah, my little Lily! I knew you were here somewhere,” Lore said, pausing beside her on his way to the family room that shared an open space with the kitchen. He kissed her cheek. “I have a great-grand-nephew,” he said emotionally.
“I know. Isn’t he beautiful? He makes me a grandmother! Can you believe Carrik and I are grandparents?”
Lore’s face fell and he seemed stupefied for a few moments. “No. No, that is not allowed. You’re too young. You’re my little Lily.”
“I’m afraid you can’t change that, and won’t even if you could. I like being a grandmother.”
Lore looked at Eli who was still doing his best to pull out a handful of Lore’s hair — the part he wasn’t chewing on, anyway. “I can see why you do. I’m rather besotted myself.”
Lily extended her finger toward Eli’s chin and he promptly snapped at her finger.
Lore laughed again. “We are going to play! We will pretend to be bears!”
“Where?!” Lily, Tempest, Brandt, and Carrik all demanded.
Lore looked back at them like he was scolding them.
“On the floor, right here in this very room,” Lore said.
“Goodness! Can you believe the lack of trust?” Lore asked Eli, as he settled on the floor right in the middle of the throw rug and produced a soft stuffed dragon out of thin air for Eli to grasp at.
“Here little Bear, help me attack the Dragon.”
“Great. Glad you picked a Dragon for him to make a toy out of,” Carrik said.
Lore looked up at Carrik and smirked at him. “I thought you might like that.”
“Mmhmm. Have you met Angelle’s parents? This is Avaleigh and Daniel,” Carrik said.
“Hello,” Lore said, as he took Daniel’s measure. “And you’re a Dragon.”
“I am. Is that a problem?” Daniel asked.
“Not at all. It’s just that every little boy, and girl, will at some point dream of Dragons — though for very different reasons,” Lore grumbled.
“Do they dream of Lore, or an Elemental? No, they do not. They dream of larger than life reptiles. I do not see the attraction — for the girls anyway. The boys dream of vanquishing the Dragon.”
“Doesn’t go so well for most of those who try,” Carrik snarked.
“No, not always. But sometimes the Dragons are turned into a tree,” Lore said excitedly with a wild grin and a nod as he bobbled the toy Dragon toward Eli.
“Okay, that’s enough. Lore stop prodding Carrik.
Carrik stop being so sensitive — lots of little children love Dragons.
Daniel, allow me to apologize now. We are, regardless of the bond that we all hold dear, as dysfunctional as every other family you might encounter.
Unfortunately, we can only ever go so long before past differences are tossed around.
Please don’t take it personally,” Lily said.
There was a knock at the door, and Boon shrugged as he walked over to it. He grinned at his sister as he reached for the door knob.
“Oh, no,” Lily said.
Boon laughed. “Oh, yes.” He opened the door and Destroy grabbed him and hugged him as though he was his long lost father. “Boon! I’ve come to offer my congratulations, meet your mate and compliment your home. It is beautiful. Here, I brought you a cake,” Destroy said, shoving a cake plate at him.
“Thank you,” Boon said.
“You’re welcome. Where’s your woman? Oh, I see her! What a sweet little female!” he said, making a beeline for Angelle. As he moved toward Angelle, his gaze landed on everyone else in the room and he lifted a hand. “Hello! I’m here!”
“Of course, you are,” Lily said with a shake of her head.
Destroy grinned at her, but stopped mid step when his gaze fell on Brandt. “It’s you! You came back! How brave of you!” Destroy exclaimed.
“Uncle Destroy!” Lily and Tempest both said warningly.
He raised both hands as he backed away from them, moving ever closer to Angelle.
“I’m just saying! He’s very brave coming back.
But I’m not doing anything at all! Hello other people!
” he said, waving at Avaleigh and Daniel.
He reached the kitchen island and went around it, bowing his head briefly to Evangeline. “Hello, Angel.”
“Hello, Destroy,” Evangeline responded.
“Hello, Angelle. Hey… Angelle, Angel, Evangeline… Angel is in both names. And you’re both nice. Are you an Angel, too?”
Angelle looked at Evangeline, then at the dark-grey skinned Gargoyle. “No. I’m just human.”
“Oh. Thought I was seeing something nobody else did. Doesn’t matter!
I’m so very happy to meet you. Boon has waited a long time for his mate.
And as much as I hate to admit it, my daughter has missed out.
But I think that’s a good thing, because anyone can see that you two are true mates, not chosen.
May I be the first to congratulate you?”
“Well, you won’t be the first, but I’m very happy to accept your congratulations,” Angelle said.
“You are most welcome here in Whispers.” Destroy turned and left the kitchen. He went straight to Brandt and shook his hand. “Welcome back. Who are these people?” he asked.
Brandt shook his head with a grin. “This is Avaleigh GreyStorm, and her mate Daniel GreyStorm. They are Angelle’s parents. Uncle Daniel, Aunt Avaleigh, this is Destroy.”
“Of the now you’re warm, oh no, now you’re hot, oh, look, now you’re cold story?” Daniel asked.
Destroy laughed. “The very same. GreyStorm. That’s a great name. I need to look into a new name. Destroy GreyStorm,” Destroy said.
“GreyStorm is taken,” Daniel said.
“Hmm? Oh, yes, of course. What a pleasure to meet you both. On behalf of the community, and Enthrall, who is our official leader, welcome to Whispers. If you need anything or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.”
“Thank you,” Avaleigh said.
“RedStorm. ThunderStorm! Oh, I like that one. Destroy ThunderStorm!” Destroy said.
“You don’t have a name!” Lore snapped from his place on the floor with Elijah.
“Yes, I do. It’s Destroy.”
“A last name,” Lore said.
“Of course not. That’s why I’m considering one,” he said, as he strode across the floor and plopped down beside Lore and Elijah. “Hello, little magic Bear boy!” Destroy said, reaching out to tickle Elijah’s chin.
Elijah snapped at Destroy’s finger.
Destroy yanked back his finger and cried out dramatically and cradled his finger as though he was in pain.
Elijah dissolved into laughter. That deep baby belly laugh that never fails to cause anyone within earshot to laugh as well.
Destroy smiled and intentionally reached out to tickle Elijah’s chin again.
Predictably, Elijah snapped at him again, dissolving into laughter when Destroy pretended to be hurt even more dramatically than the first time.
“Can you go away? I am bonding with my great grand nephew, Elijah.”
“By my calculations, he’s your great, great, great and many more greats grand nephew. You’re very old, Lore.” Destroy said. “Let me know if you need help getting up off the floor.”
“Go away,” Lore said, his voice measured and controlled. “I was here first.”
“No. You go away. Oh, look! Two Dragons to anger over there! Go play with them,” Destroy said, as he tuned Lore out and started playing with Elijah again.
“I met him first,” Lore said.
“No, you didn’t. His mother met him first,” Destroy said.
Lily shook her head as she and Tempest sharing a knowing look. “You’re going to have to have another one, or assign visiting times.”