Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
Evander wasn’t a hundred percent sure what had changed in Corbin’s head or heart regarding his mother, but for the first time since he had known his mate—and for the first time in Corbin’s history, according to his brothers—there was no stress about his mother coming to visit.
The table looked lovely, of course, festooned with spring flowers and delicious pastries along with rashers of bacon and sausages kept well over to the side.
Teacups and cloth napkins and delicate plates that Cullen had provided from his house completed the look, which was feminine and fussy and floral.
The plan was they were going to meet privately, just them, and then everyone would join the feast.
“It looks good, I think.” Corbin glanced over the table with a smile, and Evander nodded because it looked perfect and lovely.
Not as lovely as his lethean, however.
Corbin was adorable. He wore a white tunic lined with orange and a pair of voluminous orange trousers. On anyone else, the effect might be comical, but on Corbin, it was quite lovely, contrasting with his green skin, and he knew that if Corbin was comfortable, he was happy.
An uncomfortable Corbin was problematic at best. At worst, it was a disaster, as things would grow out of places they had no business growing, and the plants could be… carnivorous.
He chuckled at the idea, drawing a slight frown from Corbin. “What?”
“I was thinking of the plant you last summoned, lethean. It was quite a thing.”
Corbin grinned. “True enough. Cullen is so much safer, huh? He just does illusions.”
“But he’s not you, my love.”
“No, I am unique. I won’t say in all of the world because Mother and I do share a gift.”
Evander looked at his belly teasing. “Apparently you share more than one talent.”
“Don’t make me hurt you.”
One of the African violets above the kitchen window actually seemed to lean in and snap at him.
“Noted. No hurting.” He looked at the violet and bared his teeth at it. “None. I don’t wanna have to make candy of you.”
“Don’t threaten the flowers, dear. It makes them grumpy.” Lady Calla floated in with a smile, stroking said African violet gently along the edge of its petals, and the thing literally vibrated and welcomed her.
“Come on in. How are you? Would you like a cup of tea?” Corbin’s smile was genuine, and Calla blinked at him, tilted her head, and then smiled.
“I would love one. Thank you.”
Evander chuckled. “You stay sat; I’ll get it.”
It was amusing as hell to see the Lady of the Court of Roses actually a little disarmed by her son’s genuine happiness to see her. He liked it.
“Look at all of this. It’s lovely.” She tilted her head and blinked at Corbin. “What have I done to deserve this?”
“Well, Mom, I don’t think you have to have done anything to deserve it.
” Corbin reached out and took her hand. “I was thinking about you the other day, trying to figure out how you handled us all at the same time. It occurred to me how scared you must have been and how brave you are. I don’t think I’ve given you enough credit for that or said thank you. ”
Calla’s eyes went huge in her face, and she blushed so prettily. “It was my honor. I love your father, and to be able to carry his children… it was my honor. It still is.”
Evander stayed out of the way, pouring the tea and bringing it over, quiet as a mouse.
“To be honest, I’m a little scared.”
“Frightened? Why?” She leaned in toward her son. “What’s wrong? I don’t sense anything amiss.”
“My friend Yarrow, the beaver.”
She chuckled and nodded.
“He says there’s triplets, and he thinks that they’re going to end up being guardians here. What if I doom them to this life forever, and they don’t want it? What if this is a terrible mistake? What if I’m a terrible father? What if I can’t handle three?”
“Oh, Corbin.” Calla stood before Evander could move to comfort his lethean, coming around to hug him tightly.
“If I could manage three wicked little dragonettes on my own without the help of even my closest friends—for at the time, they had not yet forgiven me—you can do it. You have not only Evander, but your brothers and their mates, me, your father, and Evander’s father, and brothers who are all excited to meet their grandchildren. ”
Evander nodded, as she met his eyes, because Father was over the moon at the very idea of loving these babies.
“Do you feel trapped in this home?” she asked.
Corbin shook his head. “Not at all. In fact, I’m as free as anyone ever could be. I can go anywhere. I can be in summer anytime I wish to be. It’s magical, literally.”
Calla just looked at him, and he blushed dark.
“Okay, I see your point, but I had a choice. I didn’t have to come be the guardian here.”
She shrugged. “Did you? Do any of us? We all have our crowns to wear. Even if that crown is very small, we have our responsibilities. We have our duties, and we do them, sometimes with joy, sometimes with frustration. This is life, son. Now more importantly, I thought you said there were two?”
“That’s what I thought, as well, but now I don’t know. It’s early days, I suppose.”
“Yes.” She held her hand out toward his belly. “May I?”
“Of course. You are their favorite amma.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled and touched his belly.
Evander heard an amazing trilling sound, one that was familiar to him as life, as breath, as sun. This was the lady communing with her ancestors and with her forebearers.
“Oh.” She smiled, nodding her head. “Three perfectly joined souls. Three amazing spirits. A triad of joy.”
Tears streaked down her face, and Corbin followed quickly behind.
He wanted to move over to comfort them both, but this was so special—just this, as it was now—he didn’t dare interrupt.
So he sat with his tea and smiled with them, and somewhere, distantly, he heard laughter. Sweet, enchanting laughter. Like the wind on a field of flowers with a hint of snapping snapdragons and a tiny bit of hooves ringing on earth.
Evander’s eyes widened. Those were his babies. They were his babies, and he could hear them.
He could no more have stopped his headlong rush to his mate than he could stop breathing. His hand joined Calla’s on Corbin’s belly, and the laughter intensified.
Daidi! Daidi Daidi Daidi Daidi Daidi Daidi!
He nodded, because he couldn’t have denied it if he wanted to, and he didn’t want to. I am. I’m your daidi, and I’m right here.
Corbin laughed for him, his hand covered theirs, and Evander could see it—this trio of energies of bright colors spinning—not pink, purple, and green. These were the autumn leaves that he had seen in the deep parts of the wood that the Court of Roses never reached.
These children were his babies, hunters joined with flowers, mixed with the wild magic of dragons.
“They’re going to be amazing,” Calla said. “They’re going to be a perfect addition to the family.”
Evander nodded, tears trapped in his eyes. “They will be amazing hunters, my love.”
“And growers. And whatever they want to be.” Corbin laughed, dashing away the tears. “They’re wonderful.”
Calla kissed their cheeks, one after the other. “You honor me, allowing me to be here for this. Now let’s feed them.”
“Yes.” Corbin laughed, and they all sat back down to tea, laughing and chatting until the other brothers joined them.
Tisi whinnied in pure joy when he saw Calla, coming right to her and snuggling in before going to Evander and getting another hug.
The little pegasus smelled of smoke and powder and a summer storm, and he cuddled the sweet one for a long minute before Tisi pushed away to see Calla.
She was surrounded for a moment by grandchildren, and she seemed overjoyed.
Now that I can let myself see it, Corbin leaned against him. I can see how much she adores them—all of them.
Of course she does. They’re hers—her line, her happiness, her joy.
Elliot was talking to her a mile a minute, and Serena was flying in front of her, demanding attention. Little Isabelle had simply crawled up her back and was now laying on the top of her head, like a crown.
It seemed as if it was utterly perfect in every way.
Even if Cosmo rolled his eyes and groaned. “Isabelle, get down. That is your grandmother’s head.”
“It’s fine, she’s fine. Everyone needs to eat. Didn’t Corbin and Evander do an amazing job with brunch?” Calla’s laughter sounded like raindrops pattering on spring grass.
“They really did. I think that should be their job from now on.” Orion winked over. Is everything better? he asked Evander, and Evander nodded.
I think so. I think they have come to some sort of an agreement, and it pleases me.
Good. It doesn’t do them any good or the grandchildren either to be at odds.
That was my thinking as well. They seem much happier.
Corbin looked at his brothers. “We heard the babies like distinctly. I think Yarrow is absolutely correct when he says there’s three.”
Hawk raised his eyebrows. “That’s just what we need.”
Evander would have taken Hawk to task, but he didn’t have to. Corbin threw a muffin at him instead. “Don’t be maligning my babies.”
“I’m not. I’m simply saying, when they start coming three at a time, we’re really going to have to get more people in this house to watch over them.
” The big dragon grinned out and bent to kiss Corbin on the cheek.
“Congratulations, my brother.” Then he turned to clap Evander on the shoulder.
“Be careful. These three produce devious babies.”
Elliot turned to frown at his father. “Me devious?”
Calla just got his attention back with a hand on his little head. “My darling boy, you’re the perfect first grandchild. You are my best first grandson, my solid as a rock little one, and you are making your own way. Your father is only teasing.”
“Yes, son, I’m only teasing,” Hawk said. “Please don’t kick me. I see you thinking about it.”
And he bit back a smile. Because Elliot kicked and it felt like one had been hit with a little boulder.
“What do you think, Mother? Does it surprise you Corbin is trying to outdo us all?” Cullen teased, grabbing a scone off one of the plates.
She took Isabelle off her head and kissed the little girl. “Corbin has always been an overachiever, my dear. It surprises me not a bit.”
Cosmo and Cullen hooted, and Corbin rolled his eyes. But it was all in good fun, it seemed like. There was not a hint of meanness in any of it.
Evander decided to chime in. “My father has always said I outdid myself. To work to be better than him and my brothers as well.”
Orion shook his head. “Nope. I win as far as the mates are concerned. I’m a freaking unicorn.”
They all had to laugh at that. And then they were nibbling on treats and talking back and forth about what they were going to do for certain holidays, and it devolved into a family discussion the likes of which he had only ever seen since he moved into this house.
“Your father will want you to come for the Midsummer Festival, of course,” Calla said. “It is the most important time to us.”
For all that it was called the Land of Summer, and it pretty much was perpetually that, the fae did have a wheel of the year. The land did have to rest itself at certain points in order to provide what it did for the fae people.
So depending on where you were in the Land of Summer, things could be drastically different. In some of the dark woodlands that he and his father and brothers and the other lords of the hunt roamed, it could be as if it were winter.
“Of course.” Corbin waved a hand. “We would love to do that, naturally.” Then he looked a little stricken and glanced up. “Unless your family has something important to them at midsummer as well?”
“No, lethean. My people are much more concerned with the harvest and with getting others through the harder times when the animals go to ground and the land is renewing itself.”
“My fathers would like us to come for a feast at Yule,” Orion said. “But that won’t override anything we do here at the house.”
“I wish you could come to the harvest feast in Lunastra,” Hawk put in both to him and Calla. “I think you would love it so much.”
Calla’s expression went a little sad. “My Bron has always said the same thing. But he and my children have told me the most miraculous tales of singing and dancing and a bountiful harvest time when the huge birds migrate.”
Hawk nodded, smiling. “It is a lovely time.”
“And this year we’ll have Thanksgiving here at the house, and anyone who can come in will be welcome. That way, Yarrow can participate.”
Lare popped up with a fresh pot of tea, and Calla let out a little sound of surprise. “Oh, hello.”
“Pardon, lady. I did not mean to scare. More scones?”
“Thank you, Lare. They’re so good.” Cullen grabbed another one.
“They are yummy,” Cosmo said, looking at Cullen through narrowed eyes. Evander wondered if he was speculating. “I wonder why Cullen seems to be so hungry…”
Corbin’s little chuckle reached him and he met those wonderful green eyes. Cullen was pregnant while Cosmo was pregnant with his second. It was a little weird.
I can see that you three are used to having a little competition about who has more drama. Evander teased because he simply had to. He loved how the words brought a gasp to Corbin’s lips and a shocked expression to his face.
“What did he just say to you?” Cullen stared at Evander as if trying to get him to fess up.
“He said we were drama llamas.” Corbin poked his arm.
Calla and the other two mates both began to laugh. It felt good to make them so happy. Finally, Corbin gave him a sheepish grin.
“Maybe we do indulge in the drama,” Cullen admitted.
“Just a teeny tiny bit.” That was Cosmo, who bit into a muffin without saying anything else.
The grandchildren distracted Calla, all of them demanding her attention.
It devolved into laughter and teasing and much loving on the kids, but through it all, Evander could still hear his own children giggling with each other.
And he knew Corbin heard it too because his hand lay on his belly, and he was giving Evander such a soft, wonderful smile.
He couldn’t believe this was his life and he was so lucky. But he was certainly grateful for it, and he would never, ever look a gift horse in the mouth.