Page 2 of Mated in the Stars

“I’ll take him outside to play while you guys talk to Selt,” Teddy offered, and I was about to open my mouth and thank him when Elio flashed me a look. This was going to be a long damn day.

“Yes, mate?” I asked before he had a chance to speak.

“We talked about this,” he said.

“About what?” I arched a brow.

“We can’t keep letting him skip his nap. That’s why we’re having so much trouble getting him to do bath and bed in the evening,” Elio said.

I almost swore under my breath.

“And I said he’s only going to be this young once. He should get to hang out with his family,” I leaned back on the sofa. I didn’t look forward to his hatred of his bath tonight, but all my others outgrew and washed their own asses without a brawl eventually. I figured he would too.

“We have to set a schedule for him.”

“He’ll sleep when he’s tired,” I countered.

“If this was anyone besides Teddy, would you let them do this?”Elio asked, switching to our mating link.

“Duke. Sequin. Daliah. Yeah. All of them,”I nodded.

“We should come back later,” Selt said, side eyeing Teddy for his reaction.

“No, you can stay. Teddy take the baby outside to play,” I said and Teddy left the room without saying a word.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t come back later?” Selt double-checked.

“Sit,” I shrugged. “This argument isn’t going to be solved in the next five minutes.”

Selt sat down in the armchair, and I tried to wrap my arm around Elio’s shoulders, but he pulled away muttering about boundaries. Minter’s laughter carried in through the open window and the happy sound was enough for me to know I made the right choice.

“Liatris says that we can get a date on the calendar once you all are ready. He wanted to clear it with you before he talks to the others,” Selt explained.

“How is he and the little one?” Elio asked.

“He’s doing well. Ready to get back into the swing of things or at least find the swing of things here. His arm is ready too. He’s been casting doors from the bedroom to the kitchen all the time for the last few days. He says he’s practicing but I think he just likes living on a world where no one shames him for it.”

“How’s Xav?” I asked.

“Frustrated that he still can’t cast doors. He’s getting there though. The other day he made a knob, and it fell on my toe,” Selt laughed as if it was the funniest thing he ever said. “I guess it’s one of those things you had to be there for. Though, the knob is one of the more important parts of a door.”

“No one giving him problems?” I asked.

“It’s not like that here,” Elio cut in. “Not like it might be in some places you’ve lived.”

“Good because I’d have to kick their asses,” I crossed my ankle over my knee.

“Teddy doesn’t dislike you,” Selt said out of left field, proving he had all the tact of a drunk skunk.

“I know,” Elio said. “I won’t get into the details of our life but that little argument – nothing to do with Teddy.”

“Everything to do with me,” I sighed. “I’ll let you two work out the details,” I pushed myself upright. “I’m not having this conversation right now. I said what I said, and I’ll say it again,” I narrowed my gaze on him. “Don’t ask me silly social media questions if you don’t want the answers.”

Chapter Two

Elio

My dragon tapped his massive forehead against my ribs. There was no way we were going to have that argument again. I didn’t want another yelling match that was mostly me yelling and Freddie falling silent before slinking off somewhere else and trying to take our hatchling with him.

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