“Rowan and I have an understanding, I think.” He rubs his hands together with a grin. “And yes, they’re lovely. You did a fine job. Yes, yes, Doodle would like me to tell you that she wants to ride the fast red beast again, and Domino says he prefers tuna—”
“Why don’t we all have a seat?” Nix interrupts, voice uncharacteristically high-pitched, and Luca scurries away after him.
The fast beast? What have those two been up to?
There’s a story there, no doubt about it. But when Leo checks in, no one seems interested in finding out what it is. He should probably be more worried that Gideon will find outLeohas been feeding the cats regular supermarket tuna rather than their expensive gourmet cat food.
Everyone jockeys for a spot on the couch, and there are so many pleasantries that Leo can hardly keep track, the din of voices becoming louder and louder. Even Gideon gives Rowan a quiet talking-to, not ready to let him off the hook just because Ignatius was able to talkmano-a-animano.
Jay, as usual, is watching from outside the chaos, a small smile on his face, satisfied pride oozing from every pore. He’s never happier than when his den is full of family and friends. He’s so pleased that his fresh pine scent makes Skye sneeze beside him.
It reminds Leo of the moment when Skye had been happy to see Ignatius talking to the animals and Rowan. Often more stoic than Leo thinks any three-year-old child should be, his giggle had been relaxed and trusting. He hadn’t even been upset at Elysia’s gasp of shock.
Ignatius’s partner is sitting on the sofa beside him, but her swirling white-black eyes are on Leo and Skye. He’d not minded when it had been turned on him at The Guild in Clearwater, but she’s looking at Leo’s pup with such focus that his wolf is well on its way to taking offense. He’s surprised to hear his own rare growl, and that alone is enough to snap Jay out of his fond gazing with a frown.
“Leo?”
“I’m good, just a lot going on.” Leo forces a smile, but turns so Elysia can’t see Skye behind him.
Eyebrows to his hairline, Jay looks as surprised as Leo feels. “What is with everyone?” he says quietly. “I mean, I expected it from Rowan, and maybe even from Gideon.” He nods toward where Gideon is casually pacing behind the couch. “But…what’s got you jumping like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs?”
Skye drops his hand, squishes between them, and lifts his arms for Jay to pick him up, much to Jay’s surprise.
“Me? Okay.”
Skye huffs, like this isn’t the first time he’s let anyone hold him like this except Nix and Luca, who seem to getcarte blanchewith random affection and eye contact.
Jay points to where Elysia is sitting.
“You want to say ‘hi’ to Ms. Noctis? Yeah, okay…”
That same feeling pokes Leo’s wolf again, but he holds him down, with a rarely-required mentalstand down, dumbass.
If this is what Rowan has to do constantly, Leo will have to be more sympathetic to his mate. He trails along behind, shooing the two cats off the ottoman where they’re sitting like two sphinxes waiting for their turn with the Pharaoh Ignatius.
“Ms. Noctis, this is our son, Skye.” Jay sits on the ottoman so he’s facing Elysia and can turn Skye to sit on his lap.
The boy turns away, sticking his nose into the front of Jay’s t-shirt and breathing deeply, suddenly shy now that he has her undivided attention.
“Call me Elysia, please. Hello. May I call you Skye?”
“I am very happy to meet you, Skye,” she says when he nods. Her eyes swirl, the vortex of light and dark so hypnotizing that Leo has to look away. “Can you see me?”
“See you?” Jay asks what Leo is thinking, and he notices that most of the conversation around them has faded away.
She ignores his question, though, focused solely on Skye. “Your Grayson tells me that you might be like me. A little bit.”
Skye’s eyes flit to where Grayson is now holding Rosie on his lap, her small fist grasping Ignatius’s finger.
He tilts his head, looking at the top of Elysia’s braided hair, threaded through with gray, her bronze skin, and her fashionable jacket and jeans.
But his eyes find hers, and he nearly takes his own eye out with a tiny finger.
She chuckles. “My eyes. No, they’re not like yours. I meant in here.” She taps her forehead and then the center of her chest.
Skye shrugs, but he doesn’t shake his head.
“I can see people’s soul impressions. That’s what I call it. The light and dark that make people who they are. Does that make sense?”
