Mitch grabbed a sock from the box beside his knee. “Do not offer Wylder dwarf mead. The realm might never recover.”
Sami rubbed his hands together. “It would be something to see.”
Now Mitch was even more worried about when his mates came down to his home. Sami was the worst influence and he needed to keep an eye on his best friend and his human mate. Mitch wouldn’t put it past them from taking over if given the opportunity.
* * * * *
Alek
“I appreciate you coming, Pa.” Alek opened the door to the apartment to allow Seb and Mah entry.
“Of course we came,” Mah said, kissing his cheek.
“How are you feeling, son?” Seb asked.
“Theo had a panic attack at school today. His eyes were glowing. Luckily Wylder was there to calm him down,” Alek shared.
“Most unseelie begin their magical training before they start school, or stay in the fae realm until they master it. We’ll get Theo there. It will just take time,” Seb assured him.
Time was the one thing that they didn’t have. “He’s waiting downstairs in the gym.”
“I’ll go down now,” Seb told him. “Have some tea with your Mah.”
Alek shook his head. He didn’t need tea. And he’d been planning on helping Theo.
“Come.” Mah grabbed his arm. “Show me to the kitchen.”
“I was going to—” Alek started.
“Show me to the kitchen,” Mah ordered gently.
Seb was already walking away.
“Theo doesn’t need you hovering over him when he’s already nervous. Trust your Pa to handle this,” Mah said.
“This way.” He led Mah toward the back of the apartment. Dario, Wylder, and Mitch were at the new house with their newest members of the family, leaving Alek and Theo in the apartment.
Alek had called his family in to help for a reason. There was no one that he trusted more.
“Dario has a proper tea set up. You’ll love it,” Alek said as they reached the kitchen.
“This is a nice apartment,” Mah said, moving around the kitchen as if he’d been there numerous times.
Sliding onto one of the stools, Alek let his Mah take over. If Seb didn’t want Alek downstairs, then he wasn’t going to be able to do anything about it. “It’s nice but the house is bigger. Gives us more space.”
“And is protected,” Mah pointed out, filling the kettle.
“Yes. Plus Evian and Ethan are a few houses away.”
“I’m pleased to add Ethan to the family. Although he seems a little jumpy around Vadir,” Mah said with mirth.
Alek snorted. “Not like he is intimidating or anything.”
“Your father is a pussy cat,” Mah teased.
“Jeez.” Alek laughed loudly as days’ worth of stress and tension seemed to lift off his shoulders. Growing up as one of the chosen offspring had been filled with responsibilities. Even before Alek realized that there was a one in five chance that he’d be his generation’s chosen, their house had often been filled with visits from diplomats from other realms.
Formal dinners and travel had come with being raised by his fathers. He had been taught how to dress, talk, and even which fork to use. But it was the time that it was just family that the house had been filled with laughter.
