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“You only just arrived,” Gage pointed out.
She smiled brightly at him. “Am I will not be leaving any time soon. I would rather resolve this quickly so both you and your mate can rest easy.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Tell Zoe and the boys I only leave so that I can shop and spoil them later.” She looked up into his eyes. “I am very proud of you Gage, for defending your mate. Never hesitate to show her how much she means to you.” She dipped into a small curtsey. “Gentlemen.”
They heard the staccato of the boots’ heels as she walked out, then the closing of the door.
“Damn, what a woman,” Nerius exploded.
Gage snarled in his direction. “That’s my mother.”
Aeson placed a hand on his shoulder. “I, in no way, shape, or form, desire your mother, but I will echo Nerius. Damn, what a woman.”
Gage scowled at his unit brothers.
Ari laughed so hard he had to wipe at his eyes. “She hasn’t even been influenced by my mother or aunts yet.”
Gage buried his face in his hands.
“You may be getting a new father while she stays in Éire Danu,” Priest predicted.
He bared his fangs at his best friend, causing him to join Ari in gales of laughter.
“Let’s concentrate on welcoming the boys because your mother was right. They may call you big brother, but, for all intents and purposes, you just became a father,” Aeson pointed out.
Wheezing, Gage let his brother steer him back to his new, small family.
*****
A couple of hours later, the men had returned with their respective items, and the boy’s room was set up across the hall from Gage. Even though they kept claiming to be hundreds of years old, she caught both Ame and Yuki picking up the toys bought for them, their eyes bright with happiness. Maybe they just aged slower than most paranormals?
Her new family, warriors included, were now all sitting in the dining hall. She assumed the unit leaders had filled in the warriors of her predicament as they kept stopping by to lay a hand on her shoulder in a show of support.
When she caught Ame yawning and leaning against her, she nudged Gage. Smiling, he pointed down to where Yuki had done the same with him. They stood and gently picked up each boy. The men went to stand, but when the first chair scraped and made a noise, they all froze. Sheepishly, they just waved goodnight as they walked away.
She appreciated them putting the boys' needs over propriety. They made their way upstairs and lay the boys down on their beds. When they went to stand, two sets of arms came up to hold onto them.
“Boys, did you want to stay with us tonight?” Gage asked softly.
Ame, and, surprisingly, Yuki both nodded.
Zoe lifted Ame as Gage once again carried Yuki, this time, they retired to their own chambers. They settled the boys in the center of the bed and stepped back. In their sleepy state, the boys reached for one another.
“I don’t think they had it easy,” she whispered.
“I think you may be right.”
“How can I care for them this much?” She rubbed at her chest where thoughts of the boys’ suffering were causing a dull ache.
“Because I think they were meant to be with us. It feels right to have them here.” Gage took her hand. “Aeson said we’re more like parents than big brother and big sister.”
She nodded. “I’ll be whatever they’re comfortable with.”
He led her to a large nook off to one side of the main bedroom and sat her on the loveseat before he went to a small sideboard. He lifted two wine glasses and knelt down to look over his selection. Nodding, he chose a bottle and opened it easily. He poured her a glass, then himself, and walked over to serve her.
She took the glass, and he sat down next to her, wrapping his free arm around her shoulders to pull her close. “It’s staggering how quickly one’s life can change.”
“Did we come crashing into your warrior world, shaking things up?” she asked playfully.
Smiling, he nodded. “My mother arrived just as I was about to update the leaders.”
