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I wasn’t entirely sure what to say to that. It was our fault that the nest was under lockdown, but at least she didn’t seem too upset by that.

“Tell me everything before the others get here. I want to be first to have the gossip.” The large dining table set out in Calliope’s suite was laden with carafes of coffee and hot water, pitchers of juice, and full place settings for everyone in a ring surrounding the trays of pastry. “Murdoch, honey.”

The man appeared at Calliope’s side in an instant, scooping her up and carting her to the head of the table where he poured her a glass of orange juice.

“Logan, come sit by me.”

“Only until the others arrive,” Yelena added. “Otherwise I want the three of them flanked between Haru and me.”

“Yes, yes.” Calliope patted the chair next to her.

“Go ahead, precious.”

I sat down and answered her questions, filling in details in the story so that she had a clear picture of what brought us here. I would probably have to explain it all over again to the others, but Calliope was certainly happy to hear right now.

The first knock had me stiffening in my seat.

Yelena set a hand on my shoulder. “I don’t want you greeting them with your back turned.”

Calliope pouted as I stepped away from her and moved to stand next to Caden, Yelena moved to my other side, and Haru sat next to Seth. I recognized the others as they walked in: Kendrick, Shakti, and Velda.

Kendrick wore what seemed like a dismantled tuxedo with dress pants and white shirt, but the buttons were undone, the jacket draped over his arm, and the sleeves rolled up as if he had gotten tired of it on the way over.

His blond curls were a mess around his face, reflecting the same unbothered attitude as his outfit.

Shakti wore a hot pink sari that flowed around her like water when she moved, and trailed down her back.

Her makeup was immaculate, and her hair was like black satin in neat waves over her shoulders.

She had similar queen vibes to Yelena, except it was pretty obvious from her expression that she didn’t like me.

Velda’s ice-blonde hair and green eyes were set off by the simple, snug black dress that she wore.

I wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about us, but her expression was much more open and friendly than the other two, and Yelena had said she was a friend, so I crossed my metaphorical fingers that she would remain so.

The three of them stopped in front of our line, and I felt their gazes like a tangible touch.

“I still think it’s unfair you got to have all three,” said Shakti.

Yelena shrugged. “Maybe you should’ve been less greedy and you’d have had more room to challenge me for their claim.”

Shakti’s manicured eyebrows pinched together. “I don’t think we can call me greedy when Kendrick is standing right here.”

“Hey!” he snapped.

“Don’t you ‘hey’ me. I’m stating facts.”

Velda swept forward, and when Yelena made no move to stop her, she wrapped me a hug. “I’m so glad to meet you. Or at least meet you for more than a few seconds.” She greeted Caden and Seth just as exuberantly, and Caden stiffened next to me.

“I should have warned you that Velda is a hugger,” Yelena said as she accepted her own embrace.

Seth was the first of the brothers to recover, laughing softly. “That’s okay. I’m not going to be upset about being in the arms of a pretty lady.”

Velda laughed and smacked his shoulder playfully. I probably should’ve been at least a little jealous, and I waited for it, but I didn’t mind Velda touching him, apparently.

“Let’s eat!” Calliope yelled from the dining room table. “Don’t keep a pregnant lady waiting.”

The group of us joined her, Yelena next to Calliope, then me, Caden, Seth, and Haru to separate our group from the rest of the Protectors.

Velda sat on his other side, with Kendrick directly across from me, and Shakti between him and Murdoch on Calliope’s other side.

Haru looked almost comical in his wolf form seated at the fancy table.

When the rest of the food arrived, Murdoch answered the door, and a pair of staff rolled in the carts, setting up the dishes across the table.

Caden made me my coffee and poured juice for Seth and himself, serving everyone carefully as he filled up plates for all three of us.

After a beat of silence, he had Seth pass him over Haru’s plate, where he added several sausages, bacon, and some grilled sweet potato.

Yelena watched the entire process with amusement in her eyes. “None for me, panther?”

“I don’t know what you like,” Caden pointed out.

“Some of everything. Fruit on the side.”

Shakti watched his every move, her gaze glued to him. “So well trained already.”

“It’s called politeness,” I said sharply. “Maybe you should practice it more often so you can recognize it.”

Shakti looked shocked. “I beg your pardon?”

I glanced quickly at Yelena to make sure I wasn’t overstepping, but found no anger in her face. “You heard me.”

Kendrick snorted into his drink. “Witchling has a bite.”

“The witchling should learn respect,” Shakti snapped.

“Do something to earn it and I’ll consider it.”

“Yelena, are you going to let your pets talk to me that way?”

“You know, I think I will.”

Shakti did not look pleased by that answer.

Calliope and Velda were both trying and failing to contain their giggles.

“Chill out.” Calliope tossed a chocolate croissant at Shakti. “Eat some sweets. You know I don’t tolerate low blood sugar bitches.”

Seth choked on his juice. Caden patted his back and Haru licked his cheek.

Shakti looked pissed as hell, but she took a bite of her croissant. It probably wasn’t smart of me to have made her an enemy this early, but she was outnumbered, and the other Protectors seemed to find my outburst more entertaining than anything else.

“While we’re all here,” Caden said, prompting all of us to turn to him, “I have a proposition.”