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“And we have a guest!” Heather glanced back at Russell when he hesitated just inside the door. “Come on.”
He gritted his teeth. More smiles and happy faces when all he wanted to do was rescue Jia. More pats on the back with a sympathetic look. If a greeting card company made cards that said, Sorry you had to murder your brother, he would have dozens of them by now.
Deep inside, he knew he shouldn’t be annoyed that these people cared. He just hated the sympathy right now. He hated feeling helpless when Jia was in danger. And most of all, he hated the waiting.
His stomach churned as he followed Shanna and Heather down the steps into the courtyard. White lights had been strung up along the battlements and around the central stone fountain to give the place a festive look. A few floodlights made the place safe enough for the children to run around in. Two long buffet tables were already half covered with trays of food. Shanna and Heather added their trays as a horde of noisy children gathered around.
To the side, there were a dozen round patio tables with chairs, making the courtyard look like an outdoor restaurant. A crowded restaurant. A lot of the Vamps and shifters Russell had met during his first year of working for Angus were here. And they were all smiling and waving at him to come over.
Dammit. He hated that these guys were going to risk themselves. All their wives and children were here. They had too much to lose.
Angus and Emma were at a table, each holding one of the were-dragon babies they had adopted. The twins were only about two months old, but since dragon shifters aged twice as fast, they looked a bit older. Jack and his wife, Lara, were at the same table with their baby. A girl, Russell guessed, by the pink dress.
Roman Draganesti rushed over to the buffet tables to help his wife hand out food to all the kids. He gave her a loving smile. “The family just keeps growing.”
Shanna smiled back. “I know. Isn’t it wonderful?” She waved at Russell, motioning for him to put the ice chest down by the tables of food.
He set it down, and immediately the children swooped in like a horde of locusts and grabbed all the juice boxes. So many kids. He stepped back. Would he be able to have children with Jia someday? He supposed their children would be the first half-vampire, half were-tiger kids in the group. They’d probably be prone to biting. And if they were half as noisy as these kids, they could probably wake the Undead.
Suddenly one of the older kids hugged him.
“Xiao Fang.” Russell noted the dragon shifter was looking much better. The boy grinned at him, then dashed off with another boy. That had to be his friend, Norjee.
Russell smiled, watching the two boys scamper about. That was one thing he could be proud of doing—rescuing Xiao Fang.
Another one of the older children ran toward the stone fountain in the middle of the courtyard. “Let’s finish our game!” He covered his eyes and started counting.
The other children squealed and darted around the courtyard, looking for places to hide.
Howard pulled two bottles out of the ice chest and handed Russell a Bleer. “Have a seat. Enjoy the party.”
Russell shook his head. “I don’t want you guys going to hell with me.”
Howard took a sip from his bottle. “Well, that’s our decision, don’t you think?”
“You have wives and children. How can you risk dying in hell?”
Howard shrugged. “Any of us could die at any time. Not that I’m being flippant about it, but we know that whatever happens to us, the children will always be loved and taken care of. We’re family.” Howard gave him a pointed look. “You’re part of the family, too.”
Russell snorted. “I’m not good at family. I just killed my brother.” He wrenched open the Bleer and took a long drink.
Howard gave him one of those sympathetic looks that he hated, so Russell changed the subject. “Where did all these kids come from? I don’t even know who they are.”
“Well, that’s because you’ve been living like a hermit for the past two years.” Howard motioned to the blond boy at the fountain, who had counted up to forty-seven. “That’s Roman’s son, Constantine. He’s seven.”
Russell recalled meeting Tino over two years ago. “He’s grown a lot.”
“You know Xiao Fang and Norjee.” Howard pointed at the two boys who were crouching by the fountain on the opposite side from where Tino was counting.
Russell smiled. It was a good strategy, and one he’d employed often as a kid. Not hiding at all but positioning yourself so close to home that you could reach it before getting caught.
A girl ran up to Howard. “Help me, Uncle Howard. Mom and Dad went back to the kitchen to get some Blardonnay.”
Howard grinned as he opened the ice chest. “You can hide behind here.”
She kneeled down.
“This is Sofia, Roman and Shanna’s daughter,” Howard explained. “How old are you now? Five?”
She nodded. “Don’t let Tino see me.”
Howard chuckled, then pointed at a flagpole. “See the two little ones who think they’re actually hiding?”
Russell couldn’t help but smile at the two toddlers who were sitting behind the pole. The little girl had black curls, and the boy a shock of red hair.
“Those two are inseparable,” Howard said. “Ian’s little girl and Robby’s little boy. They’ll both turn two in the fall. Oh, they have company.” Howard laughed as two more young children crowded behind the pole. “Those are the Panterra twins, Eric and Adriana. They’ve just turned two. They all know each other from being at Dragon Nest Academy.”
“And those?” Russell pointed to the chapel, where an older girl was hiding with two younger ones.
“The Echarpe kids. Bethany’s about ten now, and the twins are four. And over there, Phineas and Brynley are chasing after their twins. Ben and Gwen have graduated from walking to running at full speed.”
“You keep up with all of this?” Russell gave the were-bear a wry look. “You must like kids.”
Howard nodded and aimed a happy look at his wife. Elsa was sitting at one of the tables, deep in conversation with Neona. “Elsa’s helping Neona design a big nursery here in the castle. Zoltan wants me continue to work here as head of security, so it looks like we’ll have our twins here.”
“That’s good.” Russell spotted Connor at the entrance to the castle, helping a little redheaded toddler scramble up the stairs. “I guess that’s Connor’s son.”
“Yeah.” Howard chuckled when the boy grabbed at his father’s kilt. “I heard the Scottish guys complaining that they have to wear underwear under their kilts now. The little ones keep tossing their kilts up. That one is Gabriel. He’s a year and a half.”
At the mention of the name Gabriel, Russell tensed. He was sick of waiting for news from the angels. He wanted Jia back now. “I brought some antique pistols with me. I . . . I’d like to sell them if any of the guys would be interested.”
Howard tilted his head, considering. “Zoltan has a collection in the armory. I think Jean-Luc has a collection, too, though he’s more into swords.”
Just then, Tino shouted, “One hundred. Ready or not, here I come!” He looked about and grinned at the four toddlers lined up behind the flagpole.
Meanwhile, Norjee and Xiao Fang touched home and laughed when Tino scowled at them. Sofia crept away from the ice chest and inched along the tables.
When Tino’s back was turned, she made a mad dash for the fountain. He spotted her and gave chase, finally tapping her on the shoulder.
“You’re it!” Tino announced, then winced when his sister stomped on his foot.
Howard chuckled. “Where are the pistols?”
“In the armory.”
Howard nodded. “I’ll get the keys and the guys and meet you there.”
Russell teleported inside the armory, turned on the light, and finished his bottle of Bleer while he waited for the others to arrive. Soon he heard the door unlock and footsteps coming down the stairs.
Zoltan patted him on the back. “It’s good to see you.”
“Bonsoir, mon ami.” Jean-Luc shook his hand. “I hear you have some antique pistols?”
“Yes.” Russell removed the pistols and set them on the table. “Colt Single Action Army Pinch Frame revolvers. My great-grandfather received them in 1873. They have consecutive serial numbers, double digit.”
