Chapter Four #2
He pointed to his chest. “Me too?”
They both nodded.
“Okay, but make room, I am easily as big as the three of you put together.”
Nicol covered her mouth as she giggled.
He eased himself on the bed and pulled all three close.
“Dad, you’re warm,” Keran said, yawning.
“Feels good,” Nicol said, wrapping her arms around Kiera.
Hunter looked down at the drowsy children and his sleeping mate. He had everything he had ever wanted in his arms. He closed his eyes and was lulled to sleep by the sounds of three sets of soft snores.
*****
“I don’t want to wake them,” Hunter heard his Ma say.
“I already took a picture, Myra. I sent it to Graham and Ewan already. But we do need to leave soon for dinner,” his dad replied.
Hunter opened his eyes. Both parents were standing over them.
“Morning.”
His dad laughed. “Evening.”
“Evening?” Kiera said, struggling to sit up.
She looked down and saw that all four of them had managed to take a nap on his old bed. She smiled, then began to wake the kids. “Keran, Nicol, time to get up for dinner.”
Keran sat up and began rubbing his eyes. “Dinner? Not breakfast?”
“Remember we were going to the Nu estate to meet Hunter’s unit brothers?” she reminded him.
Keran brightened. “Oh yeah!” He leaned down and gently rubbed Nicol’s back. “Nic-nic, time to wake up.”
“No!” she growled.
Hunter was shocked. His sweet baby girl sounded ferocious.
“Nic-nic, we have to meet Dad’s unit brothers, remember?” Keran crooned softly, clearly used to having to deal with a sleepy Nicol.
“Dad?” She opened her eyes and saw everyone looking down at her. “We have a dad now!” She smiled at sat up, her towel toppling off her head, looking much more awake. “Kiera’s home and we have a dad now.”
Hunter stared, then looked down at Keran, who just shrugged. “She doesn’t like waking up.”
“Neither does Meryn,” Hunter admitted.
Nicol scrunched her nose. “I don’t like leaving bed.”
Hunter clucked his tongue. “And you’re too young for coffee.”
“Come on kiddos, let’s get ready,” Kiera said.
Hunter rolled to his side and got up. He helped first Keran, then Nicol, hop down, before offering his hand to his mate. “After you.” The kids ran for the bathroom.
“Where is my bag?”
“Still downstairs, I’ll go grab it.”
“I’ll get it son, you get ready yourself,” his dad said, pointing to his dresser.
Hunter smiled. “Thanks, Dad.”
“I’ll make sure the kids are doing okay,” his ma said, then she eyed him. “I can’t believe you let them sleep with wet hair.”
Hunter winced. “I didn’t think about it.”
She sighed, then left to make sure both kids were getting ready.
Hunter showed Kiera his old bathroom. When his dad came back, he handed the bag to him and shut the door behind him. Hunter carried it to the bed. “Your bag is here.”
“Thanks,” she said, then proceeded to unzip it and pull things out. Mostly a small bag and a hairbrush.
In the bathroom he watched her brush her teeth and apply a bit of make up before smoothing out her hair. “Don’t you have to get ready?” she asked.
Hunter grabbed a washcloth, wet it, and ran it over his hair. He then plucked her brush from her hand, ran it through his hair, then handed it back to her. “Done.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
There was a knock at the door. Hunter stuck his tongue out at his mate, making her laugh, then he walked over to open the door. It was his ma. “Ma?”
She pushed him into the room and shut the door behind her.
“Hunter, the kids don’t have a decent set of clothes between them. I helped them into their ‘good’ clothes, but they need new things.”
Kiera stepped from the bathroom. “I sent money to my uncle to help offset those types of expenses.”
His ma looked over her shoulder, then back at them. “They have clothes, but you can see they’re older. Keran’s sleeves are an inch past his wrist. Nicol’s dress needs tights, but they’re way too small.”
Kiera turned to him. “What can we do last minute?”
Hunter wracked his brain. One small face came to mind. He took out his phone and dialed.
“Yo, Hunter, wassup?”
“Hey Meryn. We ran into a bit of a snag.”
“Lay it on me.”
“The kids were getting ready, but my ma told me their clothes are too small. After what happened with Zev, I’m almost scared to take them into the city. Any ideas?”
“We still got over an hour and a half til dinner. Bring them here, I’ll have Darian come get you. You can shop in éire Danu.”
Hunter exhaled in relief. “Meryn, you’re awesome.”
“You get special treatment because you give me bacon,” she said, flippantly.
“And not because the kids need clothes?” he teased.
“Whatever. See you soon.”
“You heard her, we have a plan.”
Kiera went to her purse and began digging through it. “Do normal credit cards work there?”
Hunter took the purse from her hands. “I’ve got it.”
“Hunter.”
“Just keep track and pay me later,” he said.
She looked relieved. “Thank you.” She gave him a hug, then opened the door. “The kids will be so excited.” She hurried to tell them the news.
“Pay you back huh?” his ma asked, raising a brow.
“I never said I wanted money back as repayment.”
His Ma laughed. “Sneaky, just like your father. We have accounts set up in every pillar city. You better charge half of everything you buy to us, including new clothes of Kiera.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good boy.”
He kissed her cheek. “We’ll see you at the Nu estate.”
“Give Amy a hug for me.”
“I will.”
*****
Hunter had two vibrating children at his side.
“Are we really going to go see the land of the fae?” Keran asked.
“Are they nice?”
“Can we get snacks there?”
“Can Auntie Meryn come?”
“I wanna stay with her.”
Meryn, surprisingly, had been a huge hit with the kids. Her blunt and honest answers had scored big with them. She waved at them. “Auntie is so fucking big right now, the thought of walking around to buy clothes of all things is like nightmare fuel.”
The kids laughed.
Kiera and Anne looked shocked at her language.
“When you get there tell Amelia that you need my Auntie’s bracelet, then you can buy whatever you want,” she said.
The kids nodded.
Kiera shook her head vigorously. “We can’t accept that.”
Meryn ignored her. “You can buy stuff for your sister.”
Keran pumped his arm in the air. “Yes! Thank you, Auntie!”
Meryn sat back looking proud. “Ryuu, we need to add Keran and Nicol to the nugget list.”
“Yes, denka,” the squire said, giving a half bow.
Nicol turned to Keran. “Are we nuggets?”
Keran thought it over. “I think we are people nuggets. Like adults would be chicken tenders and kids are nuggets.”
Meryn pointed to him. “That kid is smart.”
Suddenly a golden light filled the family room. Seconds later Darian came through smiling. “What’s this about a special mission paid for in bacon?”
Meryn waved Darian over. He walked over and gave her a hug where she sat in a recliner. “Hunter has been really great about taking care of me. He just met his mate, she has two li’l kiddo siblings that need clothes and stuff.”
Darian ruffled her curls, then walked over to offer Hunter his forearm. “Thank you, for taking care of my sister.”
“She is a joy to know.”
Darian frowned. “Meryn, right?”
“I’m telling Amelia you’re picking on me!”
Darian paled. “Gods! Anything but that, I beg you Meryn.”
She slowly put her phone down. “I’m low on meat kebobs.”
“Consider it done.”
Keran looked way up at Darian. “You’re Auntie’s brother?”
Darian blinked. “Auntie huh?”
Meryn pointed. “Those kids kick ass. I added them to my spreadsheet.”
Darian shook his head. “I guess it’s official then. If she’s your Auntie, I guess I’ll be Uncle then.”
Both Keran and Nicol flinched at the word and stepped back.
Hunter pulled them to his side. “We don’t like that word right now.”
He watched as Darian’s expression hardened. “Hunter, do you need help with something?”
Hunter pointed to where his unit brothers were also scowling. “We’ll take care of it, but I appreciate the offer.”
Darian’s eyes cut to Meryn. “One should never be afraid of family.”
Meryn gave a sad smile. “Beth calls Magnus Unky.”
Keran looked up at Darian.
Darian held out his hand. “Unky doesn’t sound bad right?”
Keran looked up at Hunter.
Hunter simply waited. “I will never make you go to someone you don’t want to go to, even if they are my closest friends. You will always have the right to say, ‘no’.”
Keran looked over to Meryn, then took a leap of faith. He slowly walked over to Darian and took his hand. “Unkys won’t be bad.”