Meryn's eyes were wide as he hopped back up onto the bed. She buried her small face in his fur, her tiny hands clutching at his mane.
"Just so fluffy!" Kari heard her mumble.
"I'm fluffy too, Meryn," Aiden said, pouting. He stood beside the bed scowling down at his little mate.
Meryn shook her head, pulled back and turned to her mate. "It's not the same, you're not cuddly." Meryn tucked herself practically under Declan. She was barely visible as she wiggled around getting comfortable. She turned her face back to the room. "Felix, you need to get in on this; he's so warm."
"Felix?" Kari asked. Seconds later, a small sprite appeared. His green eyes were red from crying.
"A sprite? Here?" Kari asked, completely astonished. From everything that she had heard, sprites never left Éire Danu.
Meryn patted the bed. "Felix, you better stay visible, you don't want to get squished." Kari watched as Felix walked across Declan's long body and chose a spot in his mane. He patted down some fur and then very carefully folded back part of the mane like a blanket and got comfortable.
"Not cuddly? I'm a bear!" Aiden protested beside them.
Gavriel chuckled. "Get over it, Aiden; Meryn appears to be a cat person." Bethy leaned against her mate. "She likes Colton, too, when he shifts," she added with a sly smile.
"Not cudd
ly?" Aiden looked around the room. "What about teddy bears? They are made to look like bears!" Nigel and Neil giggled. Meryn's head popped up, and her eyes landed on Avery. "Come on, you know you're tired."
Avery's eyes cut to Kari, and she nodded at his hesitation. He stood up and walked over to the bed. Like Felix, the air around him shimmered before he shrank down to the form of a tiny fox. However, unlike other shifters, his clothes shrank with him. The tiny fox was wearing a sweater, trousers, and shoes. Avery hopped up onto the bed and then curled up around Felix. Bethy's eyes were practically bugging out of her head. "How'd he do that?"
Kari pointed to the tiny charm attached to Avery's pants. "It was a gift from my adopted brother. He spoils Avery terribly."
Bethy's eyes were full of wonder. "I could have used that so many times when shifting."
"I'll see if he can make another charm," Kari offered.
With no one speaking, the sound of purring and tiny snores filled the room. Ryuu smiled. "She's out."
Aiden slumped forward. "Thank the gods! She was able to sleep with Eva, too." He looked up. "Speak of the devil."
A tall blonde woman leaned against the doorway. "Looks like I'm not needed here after all Ryuu," the woman said walking over to the bed.
Aiden smiled. "Eva, thank you for coming. It seems like the only time she can sleep well is when she is with you. I didn't know Declan was helping," he growled at the lion.
Adriel pointed to the newcomer. "Kari, this is Eva Mae Miller, my mate. Eva this is Kari Delaney; she is Declan's mate." Eva nodded at her, smiling.
Dr. St. John walked over to the bed and looked down. "This is interesting. It has been proven that the decibel level in the domestic cat's purr has healing attributes for humans. I wonder if any studies have been done with larger cats?"
Bethy shook her head at his curiosity. "We better leave before we wake her."
Ryuu smiled. "All four of them are sleeping so hard I doubt an explosion in the next room would wake them."
Magnus laid a hand on her shoulder. "You should rest as well."
She shook her head, declining. "My mind is still racing. I will let them sleep for a couple of hours and then I will help Declan get ready for dinner."
Magnus groaned. "I had forgotten that Rex is here." He looked around the room. "Where is he anyway?"
Sebastian cleared his throat. "I settled him in the Council quarters here on Level One." He turned to Kari. "It is at the opposite end of the tunnel from here," he explained, mostly for her sake.
Bethy yawned. "I could use a nap," she eyed the pile longingly.
Gavriel pulled her to her feet and gently nudged her toward the door. "I am all you need." He steered her out of the room. He paused at the doorway, looking over his shoulder. "We will see you at dinner."
Aiden turned to Adriel. "Let's get the guys ready for the kiddos. Maybe they could do training drills like we do back home with Penny," he suggested.