Allegiance of Honor (Psy-Changeling #15) - Nalini Singh Page 0,181

because we consider you family.” His eyes scanned the audience before he glanced at Lucas.

“Each and every one,” Lucas said, because these words needed to be spoken by both of them. “We expect you to treat each other as family, too.” He wondered what Kaleb Krychek would think about that, but the cardinal Tk was now deeply connected to DarkRiver whether he liked it or not.

“As for the guests of honor . . .” Hawke and Lucas stepped aside to reveal Mercy and Riley behind them, their arms full of tiny wrapped bundles.

Who started squalling in red-faced fury right on cue.

Laughter rippled through the clearing and suddenly everyone was moving, talking. A special area had been set aside and prepared for the babies and toddlers to play and tumble in without worry, while Ben, Sakura, Keenan, Noor, Roman, and Julian led the charge in the under-ten department, racing off to play some game that involved climbing trees. A little girl of maybe seven or eight who was with the Rats watched big-eyed after them, but stuck to her family.

Then Julian turned back and came over to her.

She remained hesitant until her father and Teijan both said something that made her smile and bare teeth that turned sharp and pointed as Lucas watched. Julian showed her his claws in response and suddenly, both children laughed before running off to join the others.

The slightly older children, including Marlee, were soon gathering to chatter among themselves.

When it came to the leopards and wolves, those at the end of their teen years and in their early twenties had pretty much made their peace at a New Year’s event organized by three of their own, and they drifted into small groups to talk and to flirt.

The adults weren’t all used to working together, but they were being shown the way by the ones who were and conversations soon began to flow naturally.

It was the preteens and younger teenagers who remained in their own pack clusters. Not unexpected since kids that age tended to be awkward anyway. It would take them time to adapt, but Lucas could see them watching the older teens interacting, knew they’d grow up seeing such interactions as normal.

Right then, he glimpsed Jon slouch in his teenage-boy way to the food table groaning with dishes brought in by cats and wolves, their other guests asked to simply bring themselves. So of course they’d all brought gifts, not just for the pupcubs, but others that could be shared out among the children here tonight.

As Lucas watched, Jon reached for a sandwich half . . . right as two female wolf teens sidled over and beamed at him. Both were wearing dresses so short and skimpy that he was certain they’d sneaked those dresses out of the den by putting on something much more parentally acceptable over it.

Jon looked taken aback.

Abandoning his sandwich, he began to back away. The girls followed.

Shoulders shaking at the evidence that maybe it wouldn’t take long for the younger teens to adapt after all, Lucas nudged Hawke’s shoulder.

The wolf alpha was holding a pupcub but followed Lucas’s gaze. “Oh, for Christ’s sake,” he muttered. “Yo, Heather and Dani!”

Spinning around to look at their alpha, the two girls gulped and scuttled over. Jon took off into the trees the instant they were no longer holding him captive. Meanwhile, Lucas tried to keep a straight face while Hawke disciplined the two girls. “I seem to remember you wearing clothes when you left the den.”

“We are wearing clothes,” one of the girls protested.

“Oh?”

The single word was enough to make them turn bright red and duck their heads as they twisted their hands together. Neither pack was prudish in the least, but adults and children both were expected to dress suitably for formal events. It was about discipline and respect—and in this case about being age-appropriate.

No one would’ve batted an eye had an eighteen-year-old worn one of these dresses to go clubbing. But barely thirteen-year-olds, if Lucas was guessing their ages right, at a family celebration? It was a wonder they’d stayed under the radar this long.

“And what did I tell you about stalking DarkRiver boys?” Hawke asked the two chastened wolves.

“That cats are shy and we should be nice.”

Lucas almost choked, had to cover it with a fit of coughing. Shy? For cats? Hawke shot him a glare, as if to say, What the hell did you come up with? Lucas didn’t admit he’d told DarkRiver kids that the wolves were far