Page 21

Chapter Twenty-One

“I think I’m going to have to put a fence over the top of your crib.” Cullen stared at Tisi, who stared back with his gorgeous ebony eyes from on top of the bookcase.

“He doesn’t seem real worried,” Cosmo pointed out, little Emily in his arms.

“Hims can fly, no fair.” Elliot stared at Tisi, arms crossed, little flames threatening in those gray eyes. Man, if that baby could blow fire, he would. He was getting stony as they spoke.

“Oh, little gargoyle, don’t be mad,” he reached out and tried to stroke Elliot’s hair, but the little one moved away.

“Don’t be mean.” Cosmo clucked his teeth. “You’ll fly soon enough, but first, we have to figure out how to get your cousin down off the bookshelf.”

He nodded, staring up at Tisi and holding his arms out, hoping Tisi would fly down. He was too pregnant to climb up there.

“So what are you going to do if you have another one that has wings?”

He gave Cosmo a look. “Orion is a unicorn, not a pegasus.”

Cosmo shrugged. “So? We don’t know what happens when you mix fae and dragon with unicorn. She could come out with wings. Then you’d have two.”

“Well…” Dammit. “Then I’ll put netting on both cribs. I don’t know.” Cullen shook his head. “I mean, you had a gargoyle.”

Cosmo nodded. “Have you met Stella? Brandon and Abe had an owl. There’s no telling how this works.”

“Right. Every baby is different. I just happened to have an airborne baby.” Cullen glanced at Elliot, who was still pouting mightily. “You want to call him down, little gargoyle?”

“No,” Elliot snarled. “No. I no like him.”

Okay, that actually hurt his heart a little bit. “You don’t like Tisi?”

“No. I no like babies.”

“Well, you don’t have to like him if you don’t want to.” Little shit . “It’s a shame though, because you’re the oldest cousin, and that’s important.”

Elliot narrowed his eyes, and Cullen could see Cosmo fighting his smile. Someone is really jealous.

Do you think? I thought maybe he was just being an asshole.

That earned him a glare. Stop it.

So what do we do? Cullen hated that Elliot was so unhappy. He also didn’t love that his baby boy was on top of the bookshelf, now sound asleep.

Honestly, I don’t know. We’ve asked Elliot to do a lot here. We’ve gone from Elliot is an only child to Elliot as big brother and cousin. Add to it his favorite uncle is having a baby, and Corbin is all tied up with, you know…him.

What? They weren’t even saying his name now? You mean Evander?

Yes, that’s who I mean. Cosmo shot him a glare.

Seems like you’re a little jealous too.

Cosmo arched one eyebrow. I don’t get jealous.

Are you sure? Because you sure sound jealous to me, Cullen singsonged.

You know I can call Orion and tell him you let the baby nap on the shelf.

You could, but that would be a bullshit move, and we all know that you’re lonely because Hawk is over in the dragonlands, okay? So just suck it up and come help me get this baby off the damn bookshelf.

They really, really needed Corbin to fight with. It was way less fun to fight with each other and much more fun to fight with Corbin.

“Yeah, I know. Do you think he’s okay?”

Cullen shrugged and shook his head. “I don’t know. I haven’t been able to see him because, you know, nobody wants any of us to get close, just in case, but it’s just not like Corbin to not go outside.” Even in the wintertime, he was outside doing things, clipping things or rooting things or— He’s just in there with that Evander guy, and he never comes out, and the Evander guy’s not even awake. It’s kind of creepy.

Yeah. I mean, how do you have a conversation for weeks with somebody who doesn’t conversate back? Cosmo chewed on his bottom lip, eyes worried.

Okay, you’re both dicks. I can hear you. I’m not…what the fuck? Also, why did you let the baby get on top of a bookcase?

Oh, Corbin! Yay! Hey, you’re busy being with Olivander.

His name is Evander. Stop it.

You mean Everett? Cosmo grinned at him.

I’m going to kick your asses.

That would mean you’d have to come out of your rooms, Cullen pointed out.

I’m fine. He’s in there, he’s talking to me.

Huh. Cullen wasn’t sure he bought it.

I’m serious, he’s talking to me. Just like you two are talking about me constantly when I can hear you. And I miss you both too. We should have dinner.

Together? Cosmo asked.

No, asshole, we should totally have dinner completely separately. I want to see the kids. All of them. I want to see you both. Both of you. Would you just stop? You honestly think that… I mean seriously… I can’t even.

You’re stuttering.

He misses us. Cosmo was all sparkly eyed.

Get the baby off the bookshelf. Corbin snarled. If you doubt that, I’m going to tell Orion that you let him do this on purpose. And all he’ll do is fret.

Be nice or I’ll go let Orion bite your whatever he is, your vampire Pomeranian .

No one even remembers that movie, Corbin snapped.

Sure we do. Blade 3.

I hate you both. I’ll get Yarrow to come watch Evander, and we’ll have dinner. If we make him butter carrots, he’ll do it.

He glanced at Cosmo, who shrugged before handing over Emily and climbing. Just as he got to Tisi, the little one flew back to his crib. Little turd.

Okay cool. Tomorrow we’ll do dinner , Cullen said.

Rock on, Corbin told them. I miss you.

We miss you too. And I’m so huge now.

I can’t wait to see.

It really seemed like it had been months and months rather than weeks since they’d all spent time together. Things had been nuts.

We’ll see you tomorrow, bro, he told Corbin.

Love you.

You too.

Cosmo climbed down, then sat and took Elliot into his lap. “Wanna sit with me for a bit, kid?”

“Uh-huh.” Elliot looked less…stony.

That was good.

He winked at Cosmo, who grinned back. They would plan a menu.

And then, since Orion and Hawk had left them all day, they would make them cook tomorrow.