She snuggled into his chest, tucking her head under his chin until she could rest next to where his heartbeat. As usual, its steady beat calmed her, and before she knew it, she followed him into slumber.
*****
At breakfast, she couldn’t help but notice that the men’s cheeks tinged pink when they met her eyes. All at once, she realized they had heard her being claimed. Heat flooded her own cheeks.
A hand tapped hers under the table. She looked over, and Carson leaned in. “I’ll handle the soundproofing today while the two of you are out,” he promised in the barest of whispers. “The men won’t breathe a word, so don’t feel ashamed for what comes naturally between mated couples.”
She gave a slight nod, then took the cup of coffee Ramsey passed her. Unlike the other men, he simply grinned at her. Shaking her head ruefully, she let the men ignore the awkward elephant in the room like the gentlemen they were.
Balder walked in from the kitchen, holding a frying pan. “Zoe, scrambled eggs?”
“Yes, please.”
He easily slid a portion onto her plate. “Meryn sent a runner down earlier this morning. Despite her mate’s worry, she has invited you to go shopping with her.”
Gage put his cup of coffee down. “Why is Aiden concerned?”
“Because her squire Ryuu left for Japan at dawn through a portal with Portia,” Balder explained.
Ari yawned. “Gage and Pierce have guard duty. It made sense as Zoe would also be going. Kincaid will continue his lessons with the twins and Kendrick.”
Zoe bit her lower lip. “I was supposed to attend lessons too.”
Kincaid smiled. “You won’t be missing anything today. It will mostly be earth magic criteria.”
Gage stood and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back down.”
She nodded, and he walked away.
“Did Meryn’s message say what she wanted to shop for?”
“Something about religious supplies,” Balder explained, looking perplexed.
“Ah. Brownies.”
Broden leaned forward to look at her. “How is that religious supplies?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know how Meryn meant it, but I feel like I experience something spiritual when I eat brownies. It may be something like that.”
Broden didn’t look convinced. “Our commander did say that chocolate helped cure women.”
Zoe could only smile and sip her coffee. If the men truly believed that, she wouldn’t tell them any different, especially as she had gotten brownies recently for reasons very similar to what they were describing.
She looked down at Gage’s empty seat and wondered what her mate was up to.
*****
Gage stared down at his phone. Sighing, he tapped a name he knew better than his own. Moments later, he heard a soft feminine voice.
“Gage?”
“Good morning, mother.”
“It is wonderful to hear from you, my son. Is it true you have found your mate?”
“It is, and the reason I am calling,” he replied, slipping quickly into his more formal mode of speaking.
“What is she like? I want to hear all about my new daughter.”