Page 165 of Heart of the High King
“It’s Team Rafe,” Jeremiah insisted. “Who wants to help?”
“Madeline and I will,” Larissa enthused.
“Killian and I can add floral stuff. Maybe some D’Vaire lilies,” Dravyn volunteered.
“Okay, wonderful. You guys want to meet tomorrow to get started after Rafe talks to the griffins?”
Plans were set, and Rafe was thrilled with the idea of another project in the house. It made him feel as if he were accomplishing something in what he hoped was his short reign alone. “I hope you’ll include some of your artwork,” Rafe told Jeremiah.
“I might have some ideas, but I did have a question.”
“Fire away.”
“Is there a timetable I should be on? Do you want me to move fast, so it’s ready for when Aleksander wakes up?”
To Rafe, it was as if all the life was sucked out of the room, and he swore every conversation stopped. “We don’t know when Sander’s going to join us again, so I wouldn’t worry about trying to set a deadline. If we’re going to invest money in a project, then let’s do it the right way. Take as long as you need, and I know you guys will make it gorgeous.”
“Jeremiah, we’d love to talk to you about Rafe’s guidebook. As a new resident, you can offer us insight about your experience in adjusting to our household,” Renny enthused.
“So far, it’s been absolutely amazeballs and exciting.”
Satisfied that Jeremiah was doing well, Rafe decided he’d been away from his mate long enough. Leaving the living room with his wolves at his side, he went to their room, inside the space with the large four-poster bed, and his eyes immediately landed on Aleksander.
“I guess it was too much to hope for that you’d wake up today while I was out there. Wait until you hear what project your family suggested. I hope you don’t mind that I told them it was okay. They come up with such great ideas, I can’t help but get excited about how they want to improve things in the house and within D’Vaire. You’ve got a great bunch, Sander, you really do,” Rafe told him, shucking his shoes and crawling up next to him. Resting his head on Aleksander’s chest, he prepared to devote the next several hours talking to his other half.
∞∞∞
Saturday rolled around, and Rafe was sitting on the bench at the end of the bed where Aleksander continued to rest, putting on his boots when two big wolves pushed their way through the big doggy door Harley had installed.
Rafe grinned when they raced to him. “You guys are mated. Congratulations. That’s awesome.”
“It was the best hump.”
“For Fate’s sake, Mortis, I don’t need to know that. But I do think we need to do something special for you two. Hmm, you can’t wear rings. You don’t have any fingers.”
“Nox says he wants a shiny.”
“I have no idea what that means.”
“Me neither but Nox wants a shiny.”
Rafe kissed them both and gave them pets and cuddles. “Well, you’re wolves. What if we did collars? We could use Sander’s dragonskin, is that shiny enough?”
“Has shine but dark like our fur.”
“Okay, I want you both to be happy, but the only other person in here to offer ideas is still sleeping or whatever, so let’s go talk to his family and see if they can help.”
“Yay! Hungry!”
Rafe got up and opened the door, allowing the wolves to trot into the hallway. “Stay focused here. This is your matebond. Breakfast can wait.”
“Belly empty, Rafe. Matebond forever.”
“Not much of a romantic, are you?”
“Nox mad at me. Says you right. Matebond more special than food.”
“He’s wise,” Rafe responded. They arrived in the kitchen and came to a stop. “Um…Noir, do you think you could get everyone’s attention?”
