“Also, I wanted to give my apologies,” Taz says unexpectedly. “Though I searched for you, I failed you. But upon my honor, no one will ever hurt you or your sisters again, or I shall make them rue the day that their souls were woven into existence.”
Vudu nods beside me, like that’s a perfectly excellent vow.
Emotion crawls up my throat at his words. This is Pride in front of me, and he just admitted that he failed at something, something I can tell means a great deal to him.
We stare at each other for a moment, his eyes flicking back and forth between mine, studying me, imploring my forgiveness, apologizing to me. I nod silently, swallowing past the tightness in my throat and offering him a grateful smile.
I always wanted visitors when I was little. I didn’t understand when it was visitors day why no one came to see me. I eventually understood that there was no one who cared enough to visit. I got over it, as you do, but as I smile up at Tazreel, this moment holds more significance than he’ll ever know.
“Thank you…” I start blinking away the tears welling in my eyes. I pause, not sure exactly what I should be calling him. Not dad, certainly. Father is a little weird, and using his full name seems oddly formal. “What do you like to be called?” I inquire. “I know Delta and Medley use your name, is that what you prefer?”
He pauses for a moment, like he’s never really thought about it. I see him flip through options in his mind and then puff up a little. “I don’t mind Taz actually; don’t tell your sister, or she’ll just find something else she thinks will annoy me, but it has a nice familial ring to it,” he declares, that cocksure countenance back in full force. “Of course, Sire is always satisfactory as well,” he adds, and I bite back a chuckle.
“Taz, it is then. Thank you, Taz, for the invitation and the thoughtful gifts.”
He tips his head in my direction. “I will see you at the party in one week.”
“We’ll be there,” I promise.
He turns to look at my mates for the first time. “You three, take care of my progeny, or I’ll fucking string you up by your extremities,” he says sternly and yet somehow politely. With that, he turns and strides away without even waiting for a reply, the door closing loudly behind him, my mates left gaping after him.
As soon as the sound of his retreating footsteps disappears, I can’t hold back anymore. The laughter that’s been stuck in my chest comes bursting out until I’m laughing so hard I collapse on the couch, holding my aching stomach. “Oh my gosh, that was the best visit I’ve ever had,” I giggle.
“He just threatened to string us up by our extremities, and you’re laughing,” Toreon points out, looking even greener than usual.
“He likes that threat a lot, apparently,” I reply.
“For the record, I don’t think he was talking about our wings or arms,” Ire says wryly, and that just sends me into another giggle fit, because all three of my mates look horrified.
When my laughter finally subsides, I hear the crinkling of the bag and look over to see that Vudu now has the frozen tater tots, and he’s tossing handfuls into his mouth like they’re potato chips.
“Vudu, those aren’t cooked!”
He shrugs his massive shoulders, making his armored plating shift beneath his vest. “They’re good.”
I snicker and wipe the moisture that built under my eyes as I try to get my laughter under control. All of my mates are looking at me with various smiles on their faces. “What?” I ask. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s just nice to see you smiling,” Toreon replies, and my heart instantly curls up into a cuddly ball.
I hum at the gooeyness inside my chest, and then a yawn sneaks out. As soon as I release it, Toreon catches the contagious gesture, and then Vudu and Ire. “Clearly, it’s time to rest,” I say before I get to my feet. I give the sugary pastry a longing look. “I’ll come back for you,” I tell it, and Ire snickers.
I glance around at my guys. “Can we go lie down together? Or is that weird?”
“Considering the fact that I don’t think any of us want to be parted from you just yet, I’d say it’s not weird at all,” Toreon tells