“Then what are you annoyed with?” I asked.
“I’m not annoyed,” Bernard said. “I’m being careful. Careful of what’s going to happen tomorrow morning and careful about bringing three new to Nashen people into the house. That’s his home. You’re family and you’re welcome, but now it comes with a whole new way of being.”
“Is he like mean to you or something?” I arched a brow.
“To me? No. I’m his mate. To the baby? Absolutely not. Brazzen runs the house. To people who cross secret lynx rules without knowing it? Not exactly. He’s still postpartum and reacts like a lynx. I don’t think we’ll have any problems, but if we do, I’ve talked to my parents and you all can stay with them,” Bernard said. “Look, Nash and Brazzen are my whole world. It’s hard to explain but if they’re not happy, I’m not happy. Literally, almost lost my mind when he had colic for a few nights because he was so uncomfortable. I think if your mom hadn’t been there, I might’ve actually lost it. So, I just want to get through this ceremony and have all the dead men gone. Pras might’ve been an unsung hero, but it’s time for him to rest and leave the living to their lives. Now, get out of the truck so that I can take it back to Eran.”
“I get it,” I said and got out.
He said something about how I couldn’t possibly get it under his breath, but I let it slide. I hadn’t been there as everything unfolded with all the murders and almost murders. Not to mention the hauntings.
“He’s on edge,”my dragon chimed into my thoughts with the understatement of the decade.
I stood on the porch for a long moment while Sermon and Gaia climbed out of the back of the truck. Sermon handed me my duffle, and we all stared at the front door.
“Don’t think its automatic,” Gaia said, trying to break the tension.
Sermon laughed, but I frowned. Once upon a time, I wouldn’t have even knocked on Bernard’s door if he expected me. I didn’t knock this time either.
“I gotta pee,” Gaia said and stepped in front of us to knock on the door.
Bree, who I only recognized from photos and video calls, answered the door, a squirming lynx kitten crawling all over her arms and chest, half-resting against her big pregnant belly. I did my best to keep my thoughts off the family link, but she was the most pregnant egg carrier I’d ever seen.
“Tell me about it,” she grinned as Gaia slipped past her and headed to find the bathroom. Bree leaned over and kissed me on the cheek and motioned for me and Sermon to come inside. “Your mum and Bernie don’t like leaving the door unlocked for long. Locks don’t stop ghosts, but if it makes them feel better,” she shrugged.
The living room looked, well, lived in. Boxes, pillows, strings, and other kitten toys covered all the empty spaces. I recognized a few of them as custom toys that were made by Eran.
“Don’t play on the poles,” Mum called from another room. “They’re for coming down. Also, don’t get stuck in the holes either.”
It took me a second to locate what she was talking about. Fireman style poles were in nearly every room. I’d seen such designs before at Bernard’s parents’ home but never expected him to go through with having them too.
Brazzen toppled out of Bree’s arms and she laughed. He padded over and looked up at Sermon and then at me. He hissed, the hair on his back rising high, and did that sideways jump things I associated more with domestic cats than lynx shifter kittens.
“Brazzie!” Nashen called out and a second later walked into the room. He had long crimson hair and eyes to match. He wore one of Bernard’s shirts that fell almost to his knees. He barely glanced at me as he scooped up his baby and tucked the kitten down his shirt. A second later, the shirt wiggled around as Brazzen shifted from a kitten to a baby.
“I thought so,” Nashen cooed. “You’re always a grump when you’re hungry. There is food in the kitchen. Take your shoes off. Then clean up whatever the lady dragged in.”
We stared at him for a moment before starting to take our shoes off.
“What? Bernie said to treat you like family,” he said, flashing us a half-grin and heading back through the house.
I was starting to wonder where mum was when she came into the living room with several blankets tucked under her arms. If I didn’t know better, I’d have sworn she was going to tell us to go sleep on the porch with the blankets.
“You’re building a nesthere?”I asked, hugging her.
“I don’t think we’re going to make it back to our side of things before Bree lays her egg. Plus, it’s starting to feel like home.”
“How can you be on the Moonscale Council and live here?” I asked.
“By my birthright,” she shrugged. “What do you have against the GGB?”
“Mum, this is a farm and you’re--- You. There isn’t even an ocean here,” I said.
“Don’t need an ocean,” Bree said. “Need to stay hydrated. There is a difference. Plus, it’s only about an hour of flight time to the ocean and your mum flies me out plenty.”
“The baby won’t be a baby forever,” Mum added. “Then we’ll travel again. Traveling didn’t kill you.”
She was telling the truth but I still couldn’t imagine my mother being happy with living on a farm. I was about to ask her again if she was actually happy when the door swung open and Bernard came inside.
