Kellan – my sons and paladins. Kai is a potentate and we don’t really have a second in command. We don’t really have a first in command either,” Knox added, rolling his eyes before whispering to Dawn in a conspiratorial way, “I’m not allowed to play favourites.”
“Please, everyone knows I’m the favourite. The baby is always the favourite,” Kellan pointed out.
“You wish. The oldest is the best and favourite,” Kane quipped.
Kai rolled his eyes, “As if. We all know I’m the favourite. I’m the only potentate, clearly I’m the superior model.”
“You’re the middle model. You’re simply a carbon copy of both of us. We bookended you and you got all the potentate abilities by osmosis,” Kane said, nudging his brother with his shoulder.
All three men grinned at each other and Dawn could see the very deep, very unique connection they all shared. She wasn’t surprised. Triplets were incredibly rare in their society, especially identical triplets. Had they been born wardens, they would likely have held a higher position than her, even though they were affiliated with air. “Well, today we are constructing the front door,” Dawn finally offered, gesturing to the now complete building behind her.
It was a truly lovely piece of architecture, and now that the windows were going in, it was time to fit the exterior doors. There were still many chadens working on the project, but as one of the people put in charge of the running of the orphanage, Dawn had wanted to help with the entryway. It was symbolic. The problem was, she had no idea how to do that. There was a pile of materials and tools waiting to be put to use, as Celeste had promised. Speaking of Celeste, Dawn’s best friend was supposed to be there helping with the symbolic door raising.
Knox walked over to the gaping hole in the entranceway before looking at the piles of lumber. “Is this for the door?” he asked.
Dawn nodded, “Yes. Do you know how to build a door?”
Knox grinned, “As a matter of fact I do. Dave’s motel as well as the bar required extensive renovations. It was a steep learning curve, but it gave all of us chadens something tangible to do.”
Dawn jolted a little over the reminder of his chaden status. It was so easy to forget he was anything but whole and well. Looking between him and his sons, she felt a whole bunch of pity as well as admiration well up for them all. “Will you help me?” she asked, figuring Celeste would either show up or she wouldn’t. She knew her friend was also very busy, and Dawn didn’t begrudge her time with her son or lover either.
“I would love to,” Knox replied. He gestured at his sons, who happily moved forward to lay the wood and tools out neatly.
What followed was a quick yet detailed rundown of how a door was made, hinged, and hung. Dawn found the whole thing very enjoyable. Or perhaps it was the company that was so pleasant. The view sure was, she thought. She was so busy checking out Knox’s very fine arse, that she missed the nail she was attempting to hammer and hit her thumb instead. “Ow!” she cried, jumping up and shaking her hand. “Ow, ow, ow, ow!”
“What happened? Let me see,” Knox demanded, looking concerned. He grabbed her hand in a firm yet gentle grip and winced when he saw how red the top of her thumb looked. “Ouch.”
Dawn glared at him, “That’s what I said.”
Knox chuckled, the laugh lines surrounding his mouth and eyes crinkling in an appealing manner. “I heard you. I think all of Eden heard you.”
Dawn snatched her hand back. So much for him being appealing, she thought. He was a complete jerk.
Knox held up his hands, “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh. I know how much that hurts. Here, let me help before all the blood rushes to your nail and it turns black.”
Dawn was about to tell him not to bother. Life was hers to command and it had healing properties to a certain extent. Besides, a few hits of vitality from her paladins and her poor thumb would be good as new. But she became entranced as his dark grey eyes became even darker until they were almost black. The wind picked up around them and a small whirlwind of cool air brushed over her thumbnail. It tickled as much as it soothed, and Dawn smiled at the small but mighty tornado.