Declan grinned. "As if you now don't have six brothers and three sisters to take care of."
Law shrugged "Family's important. My future nieces and nephews come first though."
"Of course," Declan said.
"Speaking of family, where's Avery?" Law asked.
Kari sighed. "He didn't react well to the news of my 'second accident'." She held up her fingers in air quotes. "Tarragon had to sedate him. He and his mate will both be relaxing in Avery's room here on Level One."
Law's jaw tightened. "I'll check in on him and see what this new mate of his is like. I'm not sure I like the idea of my baby brother mated to a muscle-head."
"Hey!" Declan protested.
Law waved his hand. "Present company excluded of course." His eyes took on a devilish twinkle. "Maybe I should look in on Rex as well. I miss the time we spent together, one could almost describe those long weeks as magical," he sighed.
Declan's mouth opened, and he stared at Law.
Kari yawned, and Law steered her into Declan's arms, ignoring his shell-shocked expression. "She always tires after a healing, so go get her to bed before dinner."
"I can take care of my mate," Declan protested, still looking bewildered.
Law kissed her on the cheek then headed back to the dining room.
Yawning, Kari lifted them up to the Unit Level, and they made their way back to the house. Before she knew it, she was in their bedroom, and Declan had her undressed and in the bed.
"I think I like your brother. I wish you'd told me he was Law Ashleigh," Declan said.
"Why?"
"Because he's one of the most powerful witches in our world."
Kari snorted and buried her face in the pillow. "Surely not."
Declan poked her
in the back. "Why do you think he was invited to dinner?"
She rolled over and looked at him. "He never said anything about being important."
"He wouldn't," Declan grunted. "I think that's why like him. I wonder if he was really involved with my brother?"
Kari hid a smile and ignored the question. She knew Law was having fun at her mate's expense, but she had to admit she was enjoying Declan's confused expressions too much to tell him otherwise. She crossed her fingers behind her head. "I wish I had known he was bringing me a security detail. We could have saved your father the trouble."
Declan pulled her into his arms. "You don't know my father; he won't be satisfied until you're surrounded by our pride members."
Declan buried his face in the back of her neck and placed a protective hand over her stomach. He began to purr. Ultimately, it was his purring that put her to sleep.
*****
When Kari woke up, Declan had already left. On the nightstand, a single flower waited for her with a note.
Heading out to meet with the guys before dinner. Bethy dropped off a present. Miss you already. Love, Declan.
The flower was beautiful; it looked like mother-of-pearl and shimmered in the light. She had a sneaking suspicion that he had plucked it from the Royal Gardens. Smiling, she immediately jumped out of bed to look for a vase. She pulled one from the cabinet in the kitchen then ran back upstairs before adding some water from the bathroom and putting it on the nightstand.
After she got out of the shower and did her hair and makeup, she looked around and there, lying across the chair, was a gorgeous black silk dress. It was the gift from Bethy. She wouldn't have to worry about what to wear while she was here. At least, not until the rest of her things arrived. She sighed, thinking about leaving her condo, and then put that thought out of her head. Tonight, she would concentrate on the DeLaFontaine dinner. She slipped her feet into her own black heels, touched up her lip gloss and winked at herself in the mirror. As she exited the home Gidan stepped in behind her. She nodded at him and made her way to the transport tunnel. As she walked past the unit estate, she heard a few whistles. She turned and waved.
"Go get 'em," they yelled.