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“Are you sure I can’t bring something?” Leo asked.

“I don’t know what,” Evan answered. “We’ve gone through several lists, and basically everything is already planned. There are two turkeys, two hams, and at least a dozen different sides. Lewis said he would bring six pies, a bunch of cookies, and his lemon bars.”

That caught my attention. “Lemon bars?” I asked. I’d heard about the lemon bars at the bakery, but I’d not taken the time to venture over there yet. I also knew they were only available one day a week, and you never knew when, so I’d just not bothered. I had my lemon pudding, and it was good enough for me. And the cafeteria here served lemon meringue pie often enough.

“Yeah. He promised to bring some. I’m trying to get my brother, Beau, and Roman to come, but the last few times I’ve seen him, he’s been sick.” Evan’s eyes widened. “I have to go!” he shouted before he took off out of the office. I looked over at Leo and Frederick. Frederick laughed, and Leo looked just as confused as I know I did.

“I don’t understand,” I said.

“About what?”

“Why Evan had to leave? What’s going on?”

Frederick smiled. “I do believe that Evan just realized that his little brother is pregnant again.” Oh. “There would be very little other reason for Beau to be sick other than pregnancy. It happens, but it’s extremely rare.”

“That makes sense,” I said. And it did. Marley was sick when she was pregnant. Both times. But she’d not been sick since. Or before that I knew of.

“What are we supposed to do until we get another assignment?” Leo asked the question I’d been wanting to ask.

“I know. I understand it’s been slow going. I honestly do, and so does the rest of the council. It’s as if word that the council exists now has gotten out, and at first, so many complaints were flooding us with assignments, and now it’s almost as if they are avoiding us at all costs. They’re afraid to reach out or something.”

That was frustrating. “I’m not complaining too much,” I said, “but it does get boring. The assignment in Italy was at least something. It wasn’t exactly active, but it was not here. Maybe I should look into the European branch. I hear they’re busier.”

“They’re not up and running yet,” Frederick said. “Besides, you speak zero foreign languages.”

I rolled my eyes. “If you say so.” I happened to speak several languages; Italian just wasn’t one of them. I was going to work on that though. Not that I expected to get more assignments to Italy. I was actually quite surprised that our team had been chosen for the one we were sent on. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Frederick. I did. He could be annoying though.

“Vaughn speaks several languages,” Leo said.

I stood, smiled, and waved as I walked out the door of our shared office.

“What do you mean?” I heard Frederick ask as I headed toward the cafeteria. I waved over my shoulder and continued on. I was going to grab something for lunch simply for something to do. It was a bit early, but they shifted from breakfast to lunch and dinner around ten. I didn’t know what was on the menu for today, but it was bound to be better than any continued conversation with Frederick about what languages I did or didn’t speak.

I could smell the various scents outside the doorway to the cafeteria, and when I reached the line, I discovered it was definitely some sort of stew, but there were many other scents coming from the choices. I had thought I’d been early, but when I arrived, I was surprised by the number of enforcers already there, standing in line. I wasn’t worried, though, because there was always more than enough food to go around for everyone. I got in line, dwarfing the man in front of me, but it wasn’t difficult when you were one of the tallest species in the paranormal world, and he turned and smiled.

“Hey, Garic. I thought those curls looked familiar,” I said.

He rolled his eyes. “When are you coming back to the gym? I have some new moves to show you, and maybe this time, I won’t be the one always bouncing off of the mats.”

I chuckled. “I have lots of time, it seems,” I told him. I picked up a tray and placed a plate and bowl on it, then added silverware. “I would think you were busy with so many of us not going out on assignments.”

“Eh, somewhat. I think most of the council knows all of the training at this point. We’re coming up with new things, and a yearly certification class is going to be required.” He grinned at me. “We can’t all have magical powers to get us out of a bad situation in a hurry.”

Wasn’t that the truth. I often wondered why some of us were even here. The council seemed to favor the warlocks, hellhounds, and fae for assignments, and although it was frustrating, I did understand to some extent. They had abilities that the rest of us didn’t.

“Don’t let thinking like that keep you from something you want to do,” Garic said. “You’re here for a reason. If it’s not to help others that need it, what is it? You went through a long selection process; don’t throw it away because you’re not feeling as important as others. We’re all vital to the council.”

“I won’t,” I told him. “I’m just bored, I guess. I was bored back home, and I didn’t really expect to have so much downtime.”

“It happens. Things will pick back up,” Garic said with certainty. “They always do.”

We finally made it to the main course, and I grinned. There was a savory stew. I was looking forward to that over the biscuits I already had in my bowl.

I spooned three ladles full and then followed Garic over to the coffee station. I poured myself a cup of coffee but also grabbed a bottle of water, as well as a fizzy drink. “It was good talking to you, Garic,” I said and offered a smile. I was under no impression that he would want to sit with me or that he would offer. Most likely, his beloved was already here or would be soon enough. Garic was one of the lucky ones because his beloved worked at the council with him. They weren’t in the same area, but he could wander over and see Luc when they both had free time.

I carefully held my overly full tray and went in search of an empty table, or one I knew would be welcoming. I walked past Raiden and Ramsey, offering a smile to Raiden, when he surprised me. “You sitting with anyone?” he asked, holding out a hand to stop me.

“Not yet. I was looking for an empty table.” Most already had one or two people at them, and I was going to struggle to find somewhere open, it seemed. Maybe coming early wasn’t the best idea.