He softe
ned and smiled at me. “Yes, it’s all beautiful. Just like you, Claire.”
Exos smirked in amusement, then left for more food. When he returned, it was also with a bunch of plates and cutlery.
“Seriously, why do we need all this food for a meeting?” I asked him.
“Because it’s not a meeting,” he replied. “It’s a surprise nesting party.”
“Which isn’t so much a surprise since everyone keeps telling her,” Cyrus added dryly, his arm around my waist again.
“Okay, but what’s a nesting party?” I asked again, hoping somebody would clarify. “And if it’s not for the Interrealm Fae Academy, then I want an update on how all that is going.”
Cyrus slipped behind me to wrap his arms around my waist, forcing me to face my mother. “Want to explain, Ophelia? This was all your idea, right?”
My mother giggled, the sound girlish for her age, as she sat down beside Mortus. Of course, she didn’t look a day over thirty, and neither did her boyfriend. Fae genetics were kind of awesome like that.
“Yes, Cyrus is right. I’m to blame,” she admitted as Mortus slid his arm around her. I wondered if they would ever decide to mate each other again. Their first mating hadn’t been by choice. But they really did seem to love each other now.
“I wanted to surprise you with a nesting party, which is like a baby shower,” she explained, making me recall Gina saying something like that to me last month. I met the Fortune Fae’s gaze, and she gave me a dazzling smile. Right. She’d predicted this.
“So your mates helped me with this ruse,” my mother continued. “You’re in the heart of your nesting phase right now, so I thought you’d enjoy a little celebration.” Her gaze swept across the room, then fell to my stomach, and her features softened into a smile. “Your little holiday heir will be here before we know it.”
Holiday heir.
I liked the sound of that.
“So there’s no meeting,” I said. “But someone is going to update me on the Interrealm Fae Academy, right?” The only update I had was that they kept scheduling meetings all over the realms, providing information from my presentation and trying to secure alliances. There would be a big vote near the end of the year.
“How about after the nesting party?” Cyrus suggested, his lips against my ear. “Let’s enjoy our faeling first, then Exos and I will shower you in political discussion.”
My lips curved. “Promise?”
“We promise,” he murmured, kissing my cheek.
I call your pussy this time, Exos said in my head, causing me to choke on my own tongue.
Exos!
What? He gave me a devious look from where he stood beside the food. Do you prefer me in your ass?
Stop. My mom is here. Right there. Staring at me.
And what a beautiful blush you’re now wearing, he teased, winking at me from across the room.
I attempted to swallow, but Cyrus’s warmth against my back made that difficult. Then Sol and Vox gave me heated stares from across the room as well, and it was like I’d become one of the unruly candles.
All of you need to stop, I said, blasting the message through the bonds.
I’ve not even started, Titus replied, his gaze reminding me of embers as he faced me.
“Nesting party time?” Cyrus offered softly. “What do you say, little queen?”
“Party time,” I agreed.
“Not all presents are good for eating,” Gina interjected, her commentary random and so completely like her.
I glanced back at Cyrus, who only shrugged in response.