by Montana Ash
Jazz shifted a little on the seat, feeling heat infuse her cheeks. “Well, I maybe, might have, most definitely ... got him a kitten.” Silence met her announcement and she cringed internally, hoping she hadn’t fucked up.
“A kitten? You got my brother, the beast paladin, a kitten?” Ivy asked, before laughing out loud.
Jasminka pursed her lips. “Yes, I got him a kitten. I thought it would do him good to focus on nurturing someone else for a change rather than nurturing his self-pity. Do you think it was a bad idea? Is it some kind of faux pas to give an animal to a paladin associated with animals?” Perhaps it was, Jazz thought. Maybe it was an insult or something.
“It’s not an insult,” Lark assured her, seeming to read her mind. “It’s just not something our society tends to do; have pets. Though, I’m sure there are plenty of beast wardens and beast paladins out there who would gain much satisfaction and comfort from a furry friend.”
Jasminka was confused, “But you have Zombie.”
Lark grinned, “True. But he’s an anomaly. Thanks to Max we have a lot of those around here.”
“No doubt,” Jasminka smiled back in shared amusement and felt another click as she shared a moment of levity with the other two occupants of the room. She was really beginning to feel like more than just the household doctor. But she dared not think of them as friends. She would be moving on soon enough, knowing that an average human had no place in their magical world. But first she had a job to do; Operation Fix Beyden.
“Do you think anyone else in the house would have a problem with a kitten? Perhaps I should have asked Ryker ...” she trailed off, the thought only just hitting her. Ryker was the clear authority figure in the home. Other than Max, of course.
Lark waved a hand, “Pfft. Trust me, no one will take issue with a kitten being in the house. Least of all Ryker – despite what he’ll say. I think it’s a great idea.” Lark paused, apparently thinking things over in his head, “Yes. A very good idea. Beyden loves animals. And as you say, this will give him responsibility and a sense of purpose. Ivy?”
Ivy nodded, “I agree. Thank you, Jasminka. It’s a good idea. When will the little thing arrive?”
“Well ...” Jazz capitulated, “it’s actually two little things. Sisters. They are at the cat rescue about an hour inland. They were having trouble adopting them out because they are both deaf. But I didn’t think that would be an issue for Beyden. And well, I couldn’t break them up.” She spoke quickly, then held her breath, waiting for their reaction.
“So, to clarify; you adopted two deaf kittens?” Ivy questioned.
Jazz nodded silently.
Ivy’s lips twitched, “You’re just a big ‘ole softy, aren’t you, doctor?”
Jasminka raised her eyebrows, keeping her face expressionless. “No more than you are, I would hazard.” Truth be told, there was no way she could have split up the adorable little white sisters. The moment she saw them online, she knew she had to have them. Not me, she quickly corrected. Beyden. They were therapy for Beyden.
Ivy didn’t call her out on her fib, instead leaning forward and saying; “How about I ask Nikolai to pick them up? That way we won’t have to spare one of us to accompany you.”
Jasminka frowned, “I don’t need a chaperone. I’m more than capable of driving myself to collect them.”
But Ivy was already shaking her head. “That’s not how it works. You’re one of us now. You don’t go anywhere alone. And we’re all flat out trying to manage the fallout from the battle. Nik will pick them up.”
Jasminka ducked her head so they wouldn’t see the emotions Ivy’s words wrought. She was one of them now? Jazz had never been ‘one of’ anything in her whole life. Clearing her throat, she said; “Fine. I’ll give you the details for him.”
Ivy nodded, clearly satisfied. “Okay, make Beyden mad, give Beyden adorable, needy baby animal. What’s next?”
“Step three is another thing I need your particular assistance with,” Jazz admitted. A gesture from the ranger told her to continue, so she did; “I want you to call your mother and tell her to come here.”
Ivy sat up straight, “What?”
“Your mother,” Jazz repeated. “I understand you and Beyden are actually lucky enough to have a loving mother ...”
“I – yes, we do. Mum is great,” The ranger uncharacteristically stumbled over her words.
“Excellent. Mothers are a great comfort during times of sickness or injury. Or so I have been led to believe.” Jazz would have no clue if she were being honest. Her mother was about as warm as an iceberg. But though she had heard that an alarming number of paladin and warden parents were similarly inclined, she knew that Beyden’s mother was not one of them. Looking toward the bed, she saw that Ivy was chewing her lip.
“I admit, mum has been dying to visit ever since she heard that Beyden was injured. But we both told her to stay put. I’m not convinced it’s safe here yet.”
Jasminka paused, “Oh, I didn’t think of that. Sorry.”
Lark snorted and elbowed his lover, “Tell the truth, my fearless ranger.”
“What?” Ivy demanded, rounding on Lark. “I am telling the truth. Everything is so unstable here at the moment; we essentially have no local council or IDC, infighting is happening, we have hundreds of chadens making themselves known, and we are still getting almost daily missives from upset and angry wardens and paladins.”
“That is all very true, my love. And we both know the situation will still be the same weeks, even months from now. You also know that everyone in this house would protect your mother with their lives if it ever came to that. She would likely be safer here than anywhere else in the world,” Lark pointed out, before poking her in the ribs and grinning like a school boy. “Confess; you’re scared to introduce your boyfriend to your mother.”
The fierce scowl Ivy sent Lark was enough to strip the paint from the walls but just caused Lark to laugh. “I am not scared for you to meet my mother. And don’t call yourself my boyfriend. You know I hate that.”
Lark laughed once more, “Fine. Your partner. Partner sounds much more mature.”
“I hate you,” Ivy glowered at him.
“I hate you too, babe,” Lark promised, before kissing Ivy with the perfect mix of lust and love.
Jazz forced herself not to sigh at the tender display. At forty-six she was no spring chicken, and yet, she had never had the privilege of finding a love like the ones in this house. Given her track record, she felt it was unlikely that she would ever do so. Some people just weren’t built for love and romance. Jasminka was fine with that. Totally fine, she assured herself. Clearing her throat, she asked, “So, is that a no to the mother?”
Ivy pulled away from Lark, grumbling. “No, it’s not a no. It is a good idea. That woman is hell on wheels. No doubt she’ll whip her baby boy into shape in no time whilst single-handedly feeding the entire household and clucking over them like a mother hen.”
“Your mum cooks?” Lark’s green eyes lit up.
Ivy smirked, “Baby, no one cooks like my mama.”
“You’ll contact her?” Jazz clarified.
“Yes,” Ivy agreed. “She’ll be ecstatic.”
“Okay, great. Thank you for all your help,” Jazz said as she pushed to her feet. She made it two steps before Lark halted her.
“Wait, I thought you said it was a four-step program. Provoke rage, kittens, mama-Bey,” he ticked off three fingers. “That’s only three. What’s the fourth?”
Jasminka hesitated, then smirked. If they were willing to claim her as one of their own, she may as well be herself and be honest around them. “Oh, don’t worry about step four. I got it covered. It involves sex. Lots of sex. I suggested it as an option before but Beyden declined. I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist this time though.”
Silence met her words for all of three seconds before Ivy surprised the hell out of her by yanking her into a hard hug. “Welcome to the family. You’ll fit right in,�
�� was whispered close to her ear. Jasminka couldn’t have stopped her massive grin even if she tried.
THIRTEEN
The following morning, Jasminka found herself uncharacteristically anxious as she made her way into the kitchen for breakfast. She had quickly discovered that the large combined kitchen and dining room was the heart of the household, and more times than not, was where the majority of its occupants could be found. Now that she had Ivy and Lark on board, her four-step plan could begin. She only hoped it worked. As much as she already liked the Beyden she knew, she couldn’t help but want to free the gentle, kind man everyone spoke so well of. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the already full kitchen.
Beyden was there, looking tired and cranky and under duress. Jazz had no doubt that one of his friends had dragged him downstairs in an effort to force social interaction. It didn’t appear to be working because he was sitting as far away from everyone as possible.
“Bey, do you want to hold Maxwell?” Cali asked, smiling.
Beyden’s uniquely beautiful eyes softened when they looked at the babe in Cali’s arms but he shook his head. “I’d hate to drop him.”
“You won’t drop him,” Dex spoke up. “Besides, I drop him all the time. You’ll be surprised just how non-breakable newborns are.”
Cali glared at her fiancé, his attempt at humour not going over well with the new mother. Dex cringed, “Kidding, my love. I was only kidding.”
Ivy chose that moment to speak; “Dex is right. I used to drop Beyden on his head all the time when he was a baby. And he turned out okay. Well, other than his foul mood now in adulthood and complete lack of coping mechanisms.”
“Excuse me?” Beyden sounded affronted and maybe even a little hurt.
The rest of the room seemed confused by Ivy’s harassment, frowning in Ivy’s direction and clearly not knowing the underlying motivation for it. Max gave Jazz a small wink and a grin though. Jazz shouldn’t be surprised that Max had figured it out. Or perhaps she was simply reading their emotions or minds.
Ivy snorted rudely, “You heard me. What’s the matter baby bro – knighthood not all it’s cracked up to be?”
“Are you trying to piss me off?” Beyden demanded, face twisted in annoyance.
“Now why would I want to do that?” Ivy asked innocently.
“I have no idea. But you’re succeeding,” Beyden growled.
The glint in Ivy's eye as she looked at her brother was pure evil – and pure genius – Jazz thought, as Ivy opened her mouth and blurted; "Beyden used to think he was ambidextrous because he could wank with either hand."
Wow, as far as jibes between siblings went, that was a doozy, Jazz thought. Evidently, embarrassment was a big trigger of Beyden’s anger because he was on his feet in an instant, butter knife flying through the air to land with unerring accuracy in the gap between two of Ivy’s fingers. He strode forward determinedly only to stop halfway across the room. Looking down he gasped and began to teeter.
“Don’t do that,” Ivy snapped. “Don’t look down, don’t think about it. Just keep coming for your knife. Otherwise I’ll keep telling everyone about your nocturnal emissions when you were a teenager.”
For an instant it looked like Beyden wasn’t going to obey his sister, but he took one step, then another, and before long he was standing in front of Ivy with no cane. “I just walked across the room,” he sounded disbelieving.
“Yeah, you did,” Lark grinned from where he was sitting next to Ivy.
Beyden grinned for a moment before his features turned dark. “You!” he pointed a finger at Ivy, “I can’t believe you!”
Ivy sniggered, “What? Oh, don’t feel bad. You soon figured out you were wrong once mum gave you that dictionary and you were able to look up the definition of ambidextrous.”
Beyden made an odd noise, eyes wide in disbelief as he reached for Ivy.
“Children!” Darius’s voice boomed in the room, “Maybe you could save the maiming for after breakfast? Some of us are trying to eat. Though I don’t know how that’s possible anymore with the information Ivy just planted in my brain,” he added with a low mutter.
“You were trying to piss me off,” Beyden accused.
Ivy shared a look with Jazz, “Guilty.”
Bey winced, “Thanks, sis. Wanted to kick me when I was down, huh?”
Before Ivy could reply, Jazz walked the short distance to him, “Ivy wanted to show you that you aren’t really down. You don’t need the cane, Beyden. Your leg is scarred but it’s strong. It hurts but it’s not weak. You can walk without assistance just fine. How’s it feeling now?”
His face morphed into a grimace. “It hurts like hell. I didn’t even notice before.”
“Endorphins are a wonderful thing,” she quipped, before slamming her mouth closed and biting her lip. She vividly remembered the outcome from the last time she discussed endorphins with him. The look on his face said he remembered too.
“Whoa! What’s with the face?” Max pursed her lips, eyes twinkling with a devilish light, “Did you just orgasm?”
Beyden’s eyes popped out as he struggled to form an appropriate response. Jazz felt a little sorry for him, because really, what kind of response would be appropriate? The others seemed to think his discomfort was amusing as hell, given all the snickers. That was, until Jasminka spoke; “No. His orgasm face is more frowny. Kind of like this ...” she demonstrated.
Silence. Nothing but silence.
“Joking. I’m joking. Sheesh,” Jazz rolled her eyes, brushing past Beyden on her way to the table. She felt him shudder and prayed it wasn’t from embarrassment.
“Don’t sit down just yet,” Max told Beyden as he began to limp his way back to his seat. “The door is for you.”
Everyone looked toward the door and sure enough, it swung open in the next moment. Nikolai sauntered in, his loose-hipped walk oozing sexiness and confidence. Nikolai was gorgeous on a normal day, but when he was carrying two small, white bundles of fur? He was swoon-worthy.
“Nikolai. Don’t bother to knock. Walk right on in,” Ryker said sarcastically from where he was leaning against the kitchen counter.
“Thanks, Ry. You always make me feel so welcome,” Nik didn’t even bother to look in Ryker’s direction as he answered. He smiled at Beyden instead, “Special delivery.”
Diana hopped up, “Oh, kitties!” She scooped them up. “Nik, you got kittens? They’re adorable. Hello little ones.”
Nikolai smiled, “Hold them up higher when you speak to them so they can see your lips move. Or hold them against your chest so they can feel the vibrations of your voice.”
“Oh, they’re deaf?” Diana asked, practically melting into a puddle of sentimental goo.
Nik nodded, “Yes. I just picked them up from the shelter. They’re sisters. Sweet little things.”
Jasminka watched as Beyden approached the baby animals, as if unable to help himself. She had hoped his special bond with animals would endear him to them quickly. Though, she needn’t have worried. Who wouldn’t fall in love with snow white, blue-eyed, hearing impaired orphans? The two kittens mewled and Beyden’s amber eyes looked to glow for a moment before he reached out to pet them softly.
“Dex –” Cali began.
“Nope,” Dex cut her off.
Cali pouted, “But –”
“No, Cali. One baby at a time. You got yours right there,” he pointed to his son who was nestled contentedly in his mother’s arms.
“But Maxwell doesn’t have fur. No fair.” Cali turned to Nikolai, holding out her miracle, “I’ll share mine if you share yours.”
Nikolai laughed, “They’re not mine. But I’ll gladly take yours.” He gently took the almost five-week-old into his arms. “Hi, little man. Did you miss your favourite uncle?”
“What do you mean they’re not yours?” Diana asked handing them off to Beyden who hovered nearby the entire time.
Nik looked up from staring at the baby, “They’re for Bey.”
“Me?” Beyden looked startled and Jazz saw the way his hands flexed, holding the kittens closer.
“Yep. Congrats. You’re a daddy!” Nik cheered.
“What are their names?” Beyden asked, cradling the two kittens carefully.
Nikolai cleared his throat, “Angel and Princess.”
“I’m sorry, what? Were they named by a five-year-old or something?” Ivy laughed.
Jasminka could see the flush on Nik’s cheeks from across the room. “They came with the names, okay? If you want to change names that they are already used to, then go right ahead.” He glared at his friend.
Jazz knew for a fact the two kittens had been unnamed as of yesterday when she had spoken to the manager of the shelter in order to reserve them. But she wasn’t so unkind as to say so. If the big, bad enforcer of the warden society, who made a living literally cutting heads off, wanted to name the two kittens Angel and Princess, who was she to deny him?
Ivy smirked, “They’re deaf. How used to them could they be?”
But Beyden was still standing in the exact spot where Nikolai had handed the bundles over, gazing at them like a man in love. “I think Nikolai is right. It would be poor form to change their names. Besides, this smaller one is so sweet, Angel suits her perfectly. And the bigger one is clearly the boss as well as protective. She’s definitely a Princess.
Nikolai’s shoulders relaxed and his gorgeous grin returned to full wattage. Jazz shook her head against its charm; magical people sure were pretty. And the commander of the rangers was definitely pretty. Long hair, a single, roguish earring, a long, leanly muscled body, and a jawline that rivalled David. If she weren’t already invested in the man standing next to him, snuggling a pair of white kittens, Jazz would have offered to give Nik a physical.
“Nikolai, thank you for giving them to me,” Beyden transferred both kittens to one hand in order to extend the other for Nik to shake. It was a ridiculously easy feat. His hands were just so large. Jasminka couldn’t wait to be on the receiving end of all that strength.
Nik took the offered hand but admitted, passing the human baby back to his father. “You’re welcome. But I’m just the courier. Ivy called and asked me to pick them up.”