"Shit," Declan exclaimed.
"I agree."
"Okay, I'll go talk to them, but you have got to give them time. They just found out today that they have to move to the city, and Avery is special. You need to take time to get to know who he is."
Warrick got a goofy look on his face. "Yes, he is special. He is so beautiful." Declan chuckled. Warrick looked at him. "Could you tell him I would like to see him tomorrow? I could bring him lunch," he offered.
Declan eyed him. "Don't push my mate."
"And how would you feel if I tried to keep you from Kari?"
"Good point. All right, I'll talk to Kari and tell her that you're willing to wait to claim Avery, and you're willing to take it slow. You will take it slow, right?" Declan mustered up the best 'fatherly' look he could.
"I swear to you, Declan, on my honor, I would never do anything to harm Avery," Warrick vowed.
Declan nodded. "You are a man of honor, and I'll hold you to it your promise."
"You are very protective of him," Warrick observed.
Declan rolled his eyes. "He's my little brother now."
"Thank you for your help. I appreciate it. I know you have a lot on your plate," Warrick said, looking worried.
Declan waved a hand at him. "You are one of my closest friends, and it looks like we're about to become family; it's the very least I can do."
At the mention of family, Warrick groaned. "My family is going to shit purple dinosaurs."
Declan racked his brain but couldn't find a reason why they would be upset. "Why would they care?"
Warrick's shoulders slumped "My uncle just lost his mate to a wolf shifter, he is in jail, and I am about to come out as not only gay but mated to a shifter as well."
"Dammit!" Declan exclaimed. "We really didn't need this right now."
"What is the alternative?" Warrick asked. "Should we have left my poor sweet aunt with a man that treats her like a slave? Should I give up Avery and live the rest of my existence alone?"
"Of course not; if we had, you wouldn't have a new baby cousin on the way," Declan said smiling.
Warrick's entire face brightened. "Can you believe it? I cannot wait to help. It has been so long since any babies were born here we are all going to have to take classes on how to care for infants. And to have Avery at my side for these moments, it is almost too much happiness for one person. Now I understand the dreams I have been having."
Declan swallowed hard remembering the flames from his own dreams, suddenly he was fearful for Avery. "How bad were they?"
Warrick blinked. "Bad? No, they were wonderful. An amazingly beautiful woman hands me a gift. It is a box wrapped in gold paper. She tells me the gift is rare and precious and that I must care for it always. Then I wake up. I know now that Avery is that gift, one I may not deserve."
Declan exhaled in relief. "You more than deserve it my friend. Now, if you could do me a favor?"
"Anything," Warrick replied.
"I haven't gotten one of those floating stones that the twins made for Meryn. Can you float me down to Level One?"
Warrick nodded. "Of course. Do not forget to tell my mate about lunch."
"I won't," Declan promised.
Now he just needed to figure out what he was going to tell his mate.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Declan walked down the hall of the living quarters. He hesitated at Avery's door and then knocked. He heard a light voice say, 'Come in'. He stepped into the room. Avery was sitting cross-legged on the bed looking even younger than Declan knew him to be. Declan walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you doing?" he asked.