laughing, gasping for air as we piled onto each other.
“I can clean us up in a moment,” Imogen panted as we tried to compose ourselves. It took him a few tries but then his eyes were twitching and suddenly I was cleaned, dressed, and even had my teeth brushed!
“That was cool, handy, and a little freaky,” Aaron whispered in awe. I didn’t miss the way Imogen’s cheeks heated up at the praise. He quickly stood and turned to face my pissed-off brothers as they entered the kitchen. But then we saw the babies and swarmed Cord and Ty who were holding them.
“How is the smell gone?” Avery asked, his eyes going wide. I gave Imogen a wink.
“My mate is magic,” I answered with a smirk then I leered over at Aaron. “They both are in their own ways. One moves faster than a speeding bullet when the time is right and the other is better and hotter than a genie.”
“Please tell me that trick works for dirty diapers,” Avery whimpered and hugged my fairy. “Oh my god, I’d love you forever.”
“The man can stand blood, guts, barf, and just about anything else,” Cord said as he shook his head and handed me Hayley. “But you give him a poopy diaper, and suddenly he goes green.”
“Yeah, it’s never just one though,” Avery replied, rolling his eyes as he gestured to all three daughters. “And maybe it’s a lion thing, but damn.”
“I’m sure it’s not.” I chuckled and then blew a noisy kiss on Hayley’s cheek.
“May I ask how three gay men, one of which is a tiger, came to have three gorgeous baby lion girls?” Imogen fidgeted nervously with his hands as if unsure he was allowed to ask personal questions.
“It’s a long story best told over waffles since we also have good news,” Avery answered as he batted his eyelashes at Cord. His mate chuckled and started pulling things out of the fridge. “My mates are magic, too. Cord is the greatest cook and Ty is impossible to be around and not be happy.”
“Both wonderful traits in a mate.” Imogen giggled and sat down next to my brother at the large kitchen table with Alana. Everyone else sat, but I saw the way Ty and Avery glanced at Cord moving about making brunch as if he was on the menu.
“Does Imogen know about the Hunters and zombie things?” Avery asked me, and I nodded, realizing we were going into serious topics now. And I really didn’t want to. A few hours off from the real world to have fun and enjoy my mates simply wasn’t enough time. Avery seemed unable to speak, his eyes watering, and I was just about to explain for him when Ty did.
“Avery was kidnapped from his family and kept by Hunters for thirty years,” he explained and wrapped one of his huge arms around my brother. I think Aaron could see Avery needed comfort and handed Haven back to him for snuggle time. My brother gladly accepted his daughter and did just that.
“He escaped that hell and eventually Conley and his men went to disable the Hunters’ circus after we met them and told them about it when Kody met his mates. It’s kinda a long, crazy ass story. But the short version is Avery was in captivity with the girls’ parents and they were killed before the rescue happened. Conley knew Avery had been friends with them and after checking with the Council and leaders of the lions, he asked if we wanted to adopt them.”
“Such a selfless act of kindness,” Imogen whispered as he stared at Alana. “I’ve lived for three thousand years, and still, I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as a happy, smiling babe.”
I stared at my mate as the coffee mug I’d been lifting to my lip slipped out of my hand and crashed to the table. Thank god I had a better grip on Hayley. I wasn’t the only one because there was a loud thunk when Cord dropped the mixing bowl.
“I supposed we haven’t discussed my age yet then?” Imogen chuckled nervously as he glanced around the room.
“Well, you look spectacular for your age,” Avery said after clearing his
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