Chapter 24 #2
“A Banshee!” Simone said, widening her eyes and giving a little shiver. “One of the nicest I know.”
“You know, I’m wondering if I should have offered drink drinks.”
“With alcohol?” Simone asked.
Angelle nodded.
Simone laughed. “It’ll be fine.”
“It’s just lemonade and tea,” Angelle said.
“You might want to consider some wine or something the next time you have a get together,” Simone said.
“Noted,” Angelle answered.
As they entered the house, the kitchen and family room were filled with conversation and laughter, and the deep booming voice of a male Angelle hadn’t yet met. Lily lifted a hand and beckoned Angelle toward her.
Angelle blinked at Simone, then separated from her when Simone detoured to the table to pour herself something to drink.
“Angelle, come meet Lucitari and Murder,” Lily said.
Angelle smiled as she approached, allowing Lily to rest her hand on her arm as she made the introductions.
“Angelle, this is Lucitari, Luci for short. She’s Lore’s and Terrus’ sister, and this is Murder, her mate. They brought an assortment of cakes.”
“I love cakes,” Angelle confessed.
“I know. And I’m thrilled to finally meet you, Angelle,” Lucitari said, reaching out to take Angelle’s hand in both of hers.
“That’s so kind of you. I’m happy to meet you, too.”
“Murder was with my father and Destroy in the military. They were both generals,” Lily said.
“I am honored to have you in my home, sir,” Angelle said.
Murder smiled, his yellow eyes practically popping against the dark, black of his skin. “I haven’t been called Sir in a very long time. I’m just Murder now. But I thank you for the sentiment.”
“Yes, sir, I mean, Murder. Sir.”
Murder laughed, the depth of his laughter matching the tone of his voice.
Angelle shrugged. “I tried.”
“That’s all I can ask.”
“You are a darling girl. Boon is very, very lucky.”
“I like to think I’m the lucky one.”
“I do believe you’ll have a lot in common with Bliss.
She’s our daughter and should be back from school, for a little while at least, when her semester ends.
If it’s alright with you, I’ll bring her by to meet you.
She and Boon, and Ezekiel, and Marauder, and that whole generation have grown up together.
She’ll be very excited that Boon has found his mate. He’s always wanted one.”
“I look forward to meeting her, but I do think there is something you should know before you decide to try to make her meet me.”
“Oh?” Lucitari said.
“She may not want to be my friend, considering what happened with a friend she’s grown up with.”
Lucitari smiled knowingly as Murder chuckled. “You must mean the thing with Saige…”
“You’ve heard,” Angelle said.
“And delightedly so. That girl has needed some comeuppance for a very long time.”
“Indeed,” Murder said. “And, by the way, it was very nice of you not to kill her. It’s my understanding you could very well have done so.”
“I didn’t want her to die. I just wanted her away from my mate and my home,” Angelle said honestly. “And being human, I knew I offered little to no threat, so I employed other means.”
“Objective achieved,” Murder said.
“I’m sure Bliss will want to meet you. Saige has really only been someone’s friend when it suited her best. It’s a shame really because she wasn’t always like that.
As a little girl she was bright and funny, and witty.
I’m not quite sure at what point she turned a corner into the person she is now, but hopefully she’s learned a thing or two since you’ve stood up to her,” Lucitari said.
“I’m actually really sorry it came to what it has,” Angelle said.
“Don’t be. You didn’t take it there. Saige did. You simply protected what’s yours. And good for you.”
Angelle nodded.
“Ah, Terrus! Come and meet Angelle,” Lucitari said when she saw her brother enter the house.
Angelle turned toward the door, stepping a few feet away from Lucitari and Murder to allow Terrus and his mate to join them. When she did Simone came up behind her and whispered in her ear. “Don’t be startled, Maura looks a little different if Terrus let’s go of her hand.”
Terrus and his mate approached them, but Terrus didn’t let go of his mate’s hand as he extended his other to hold Angelle’s and bow over it briefly to kiss her hand. “Angelle, my dear. We are charmed.”
“Thank you, Mr. Terrus.”
“Oh, no. No. Just Terrus.”
Angelle nodded and smiled.
“And this is my mate, Maura. She is the light of my world.”
“Maura. I am so happy to meet you. Thank you for coming to my get together.”
“I was very happy to receive the invitation when Carnage stopped by,” Maura said. “I didn’t have time to make you a personalized gift, so I brought you one of my personal pieces,” she said, offering Angelle a small, four by four inch canvas. On it was painted a beautiful, bright red peony.
“Maura!” Angelle exclaimed. “Red peonies are my very favorite! This is beautiful! Did you paint this?”
“I did. It’s a favorite pastime of mine,” Maura said.
“It looks like a photograph it’s so realistic! You are gifted!”
Maura smiled, but somehow managed to make it look humble. “I’m so glad you like it. I wasn’t sure which to gift you. I have dozens and dozens of them. I paint all the time.”
“I will treasure it,” Angelle said, hugging the small painting to her breast. “In fact, it reminds me of a book that Boon gave me. I believe that you wrote and illustrated the book, Terrus.”
Terrus seemed a little confused at first, but then he nodded as he remembered. “Do you mean the book I gave him when he was a boy? The one that identifies all the flora and fauna in Whispers?”
“I do! I love that book. I took it out with me yesterday as I went exploring. I treasure it.”
“You do my old heart good, Angelle. Thank you for appreciating my work.”
“I treasure it. I won’t even let Boon touch it anymore. It’s very fragile, and he’s… not.”
Terrus laughed heartily.
At just that point, Avaleigh walked back in and Angelle seized the moment to hand off her guests. “Have you all met my mother, Avaleigh?”
Angelle allowed the smile she’d worn since people started arriving to slip for just a second as she tried to decide the best place for a momentary break.
And just like that, her mate knew she needed him. “Angelle?” Boon said, suddenly appearing in the doorway.
She smiled, her face showing her relief as she went to him.
Boon pulled her in for a hug. “Everything good?”
“Yes. Just, a lot,” she said quietly.
“Come with me,” he said, leading her to their bedroom. He closed the door behind them and led her to the bed.
“Our guests?” she reminded him.
“The beauty of being at our own home is that we can take a break whenever we wish. Come. Sit with me,” he said, still holding tightly to her hand as he sat down.
Angelle stood before him for only a second longer before he literally picked her up and sat her on his lap, facing him, her knees bent on either side of him.
Boon gently guided her head to his shoulder where she took the lead and tucked her face into his neck, her arms hugging him close as his arms wrapped around her.
She groaned in relief, taking in the scent of her mate, the warmth of his body, the feel of his strength as he held her. “This is the stuff,” she said.
“The stuff?” he asked.
“The good stuff. The stuff I’ll always need to make everything always alright.” She sat back and cupped his face in her hands. “You. Just you. You make everything better.”
“I love you,” Boon said, kissing her lips gently.
“I love you more,” Angelle said, kissing him more deeply.
They sat quietly that way for only a few minutes until they both felt refueled. “You ready?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Let’s get back out there, then,” he said.
“How much longer until that pig is ready?”
“You hungry?” he asked.
“I am.”
“It’s about there, now. I’m going to start slicing it and serving it up. Is everything else ready?”
“It is. At least, I think it is. I’ve been doing a lot of getting to know people, but I’m pretty sure our moms and Lily and Tempest have been taking care of the kitchen while I was meeting people.”
“I’m sure they have it under control.”
“You know who I really like? I mean, like really, really like?”
“You made a real friend?” he asked, canting his head sideways as he had a habit of doing when something piqued his interest.
“I’m not sure, but I think I did.”
“Who is she?” Boon asked.
“Simone! I really, really like her. I think she gets me!”
“Everyone should get you, you’re amazing. But yes, I like Simone.”
“She even suggested I make sure I have wine for the next get together so I won’t be so nervous.”
“We can do that, too,” he said, opening the bedroom door and leading her back out into the excitement that had become their house.
“Is all the food ready up here?” Boon asked, his voice rising above all the others.
“It is! Just waiting for the meat!” Carolena answered.
“I’m going to slice it now,” Boon answered. “Everybody grab a plate and start at one end or the other, veggies first then meat, or meat first then veggies!” Boon announced.
People started meandering toward the plates, serving themselves whatever it was they wanted from the food they’d prepared and the dishes so many others had brought to contribute, then heading downstairs to get in line for the pork.
As the people downstairs received slices of pork, they came upstairs to add servings of vegetables to their plates.
Before you knew it, in a very short period of time, everyone was seated here and there, upstairs and down, enjoying a wonderful meal supplied by Boon and Angelle, and whoever else thought to bring a dish.
After making sure that everyone had everything they needed, Angelle finally began to load her own plate, then made her way downstairs where her mate waited to put a perfect slice of pork on her plate. “This smells wonderful. I’m starving.’
“Me, too. Come sit over here with me,” Boon said.