Page 21 of Wild Reckoning

Ethan nearly dropped his bowl doing a tiny little dance. Killian grabbed it and set it aside, along with the cup, before taking the cub to the downstairs bathroom. They stepped into the room, and Killian waved to the toilet. “There you go.”

Ethan struggled to unzip his onesie pajamas. “Poddy!”

“Okay, calm down.” Killian quickly unzipped the pajamas then pulled the kid’s arms out of the sleeves. Ethan shoved his underwear down but couldn’t seem to get onto the toilet.

Killian helped then groaned when the top part of the pajamas slid right into the toilet water.

He leaned sideways out of the bathroom. “Stewart! Really need your help down here!”

Ethan, completely oblivious, looked up at Killian. “I do it!” he announced proudly.

“Yeah, you sure did, kid,” Killian muttered, eyeing the soaking pajamas and the incredibly pleased cub. He looked up to the ceiling, like he could see Stewart through the floors. “Seriously, Stewart, I’m begging you!”

Ethan beamed up at Killian, obviously feeling accomplished. “I poddy good?”

Killian sighed. “You potty’d great. But next time, let’s aim for... less splash zone, yeah?”

Ethan just giggled, and Killian could only shake his head, muttering under his breath. He could fight rogue shifters, vampires, and demons without blinking, but apparently, handling a toddler on a toilet was his true nemesis.

“Stewart!” he shouted one more time, exasperation in every syllable.

“What’s wrong?” Stewart said breathlessly as he hurried into the bathroom, glancing around like there was danger. There was, but not the kind his mate was probably thinking.

Killian gestured toward the toilet. “Oh.” Stewart frowned. “How did that happen?”

“They slipped into the toilet. Lift him so I can get them off.” When Stewart did, Killian pulled the pajamas the rest of the way off then flung them into the sink, the material hitting the side with a wet thwack.

“Gross.” Stewart wrinkled his nose.

“What did you want me to do with them, throw ’em on the floor?” Killian stared wide-eyed at Stewart. “As you can tell, I’m floundering in here.”

Ethan slipped from the toilet and wiggled around to pull up his underwear, ready to take off.

“Hands!” Stewart grabbed him and held him up to the sink, but frowned. It seemed neither of them knew what to do with the soaked pajamas.

“I’ll take him to the kitchen to wash his hands while you grab him some clothes.” Killian plucked the cub from Stewart.

His mate studied the sink then hurried out of the room, like he was playing “not it” and sticking Killian with the pajama task. Killian shuddered thinking about touching them again. Screw that. They could deal with them later.

“Congrats, buddy. You lucked out and got two uncles afraid of soiled clothing.” Killian walked to the kitchen, the kid tucked next to him like a football. He didn’t want Ethan’s feet to get cold.

Sliding a chair to the sink, he set the cub down and turned on the water. Instead of helping Ethan wash his hands, they ended up in a water fight. Ethan squealed, trying his best to block the water from hitting his face.

“You’re getting water everywhere!” Stewart shouted when he entered the kitchen, staring between them like they’d lost their minds.

Killian and Ethan grew quiet, and then Killian pointed at the cub. “He started it.”

Stewart twisted his lips to the side. “Blaming a three-year-old, really?”

Ethan splashed water on Killian with a giggle, ready to continue their game. So was he.

“See!” With his hand resting on the sprayer, Killian “accidently” shot some water at the cub, causing the toddler to screw up his face. Ethan took a step back, and Killian quickly caught him before he fell off the chair.

“Ethan!” Stewart’s mouth fell open, his brows hiked and his arms outstretched like he could catch his nephew from ten feet away.

“I’m not gonna let him fall.” Then Killian whispered to Ethan, who was still tucked in his arm, “Should we spray Uncle Stewart?”

Ethan grinned. “Yes,” he whispered back. “Spay him.”

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