Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Tyr took Melissa out into the sunshine. The summer was fading and quickly, but as soon as he walked outside, the bees swarmed curious and humming and rejoicing for him.
They were excited to meet little Melissa who shone in the sunlight and blinked at her extended family.
She was unafraid, and the bees, of course, climbed all over him, standing on his fingers to peek at her. They fanned her with their little wings.
“This is Melissa. I’m so glad to finally be able to introduce you. By the time you see her next spring, she’ll be walking. It’ll be amazing.”
Each of the queens came by, the big bodies moving slowly under the weight of their extended abdomens. They understood all too well about being pregnant and about rejoicing when their beloved children were born.
Each one greeted Melissa, offering her the sweetest touch of queen’s jelly, honoring her and welcoming her to their hive.
She just giggled and squealed and opened and closed her hands, but she never squeezed the bees, her little fingers so careful.
“Do the hives approve?” Tor came wandering out, giving him a once-over. “The queens are happy?”
He nodded, offering his brother a warm smile. “They are. And you? Are you happy? Do you miss the city?”
Tor shook his head. “No, that is not a place for me now. Now I need to be here. Right here in the hives with my twin and my beloved niece.”
“I’m glad, brother. I missed you.” And he had a feeling they would need Tor as time went on.
Right now though, it was for him and Sloan, their daughter, their family. It was time for the harvest to start to draw close. It was time hopefully for them to dance again.
Sloan wandered out, his big body looking so strong, and Melissa made grabby hands at him.
“Hello, my loves. Oh, and Tor,” Sloan teased. “What are we up to?”
“She was meeting her family, and the queens were blessing her.” He lifted his face for a kiss.
“Mmmm.” Sloan gave it to him, attentive as always. Sloan had always been so good to him, but Melissa seemed to have settled whatever restlessness his mate still had in him, and Tyr could see his mate’s happiness like a glow he wore around him.
“I was thinking we could invite everyone over for a picnic this evening—just something simple to enjoy the last gasp of summer.”
He smiled at his mate’s words. “Sounds lovely. There’s a nice bit of mead to enjoy.”
“There is. And Riley and Brayden have offered to help me cook up some meat and some of the summer vegetables on the outside roaster.”
“That sounds amazing. If Cade and Poe come, the triplets can play in the clearing.” They were little terrors, and they had so much energy.
“The orbloks will keep them amused.” Sloan laughed, and so did Tor. “Mostly.”
“I’ll go start finding things for a big salad,” Tor said. He tickled Melissa’s feet, then left them.
“Are you happy, love?” Sloan asked.
“I have everything I could ever ask for, mate—a great love, my little bee, family, hives, home.” He was so much more than happy.
“And I have you, my mate, and our daughter. Our brothers. And more friends now than I’ve ever known.” Sloan kissed him again. “This is home.”
“Yes. Thank you.” He’d never known how much he was missing in his life, until Sloan had believed in their bond.
The bees buzzed around them as Sloan picked up Melissa, then pulled him to his feet. They resettled together, him holding their girl again, Sloan holding him. It felt perfect. Like he’d been waiting for this his whole life.
Tyr couldn’t wait to see what came next.
The End