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Chapter Twenty-Three

C ullen hummed, nibbling a honey cake and watching Tisi and Serena toddle around on their little foal legs. He and Orion had the best of both worlds. They had human babies to swaddle and cuddle, and little dragicorn and pegasus babies who could walk and fly.

And in the Glade, the winged creatures all set out to help keep watch over the kids and let Cullen and Orion have a vacation together.

Orion was stretched out on a blanket, book in one hand, a cake in the other, feet crossed at the ankle. He was a study in silver and white, and so beautiful it hurt. And he looked happy. So happy.

“I am, love,” Orion said, clearly hearing his thoughts.

“You don’t regret coming to our front door, then?” He grinned at his mate, knowing that his lover didn’t.

“If he says yes, pop him in the nose,” Father said, coming over with two bottles and a huge blanket. “Who’s hungry?”

Tisi and Serena came barreling over, their adoration for their grandparents shining through. Da spoiled them mercilessly, and Father’s pride in them was so clear.

He laid out the blanket next to theirs and put the bottles aside to gather the children to him, one in each arm. “Ah, hello my winged ones. How is your day so far?”

A chorus of snorts and happy sounds came from them both, their wings fluttering, and he had to laugh at them. Silly, wondrous babies.

Da wandered up with a large picnic hamper. “I have goodies!” he sang out.

The babies abandoned Father in favor of food, and Orion set his book aside, rolling up to sitting so he could lean over to kiss Cullen’s neck. “And are you happy?”

“I am. Really really.” He hesitated, and Orion frowned slightly.

“What is it?”

“I just worry about Corbin.” His brother was the one worrisome thing in his otherwise pretty idyllic life right now. “I wish Evander would actually wake up.”

The fae man still slumbered on, for all that Corbin said he was talking to Cor in his head. It just—He wanted his brother to be happy and out in his gardens again, prepping them for the spring.

“He will.” Orion stroked his back. “I feel it. So does Arian. Da has some ideas for a tincture, too. I know Corbin is getting him to drink his nourishment.”

“I do have some ideas,” Da said. “I will send you home with some things. And if not, we will bring him and your brother here to heal him.”

Father Rigel raised a dark brow. “We will?”

“Yes.” They had a tiny stare down, and Cullen had to hide a smile, because that was adorbs.

It is, huh? They’re so happy with the grandkids. It’s wonderful to see. Orion kissed his mouth this time, and he leaned hard on his mate.

He could hear Cosmo and Corbin in his head even here, his new family and his old blending so well. He did smile as Tisi nibbled at Da’s hair.

He would have faith.

And he would look forward to whatever came next.

End