Yvonne watched her brothers with sympathy. André was trying to concentrate on the map Theo was showing him. But his eyes kept straying to the door. Luc had given up all pretense and was pacing in fount of the desk. Only to stop and stare at the door then go back to pacing. Both desperate for their mates return and worried about the upcoming conversation. Her phone buzzed and she glanced at it. A text from Phoenix's number.
'Eevi didn't feel pretty when she first met Luc. She now aims to stun. Watch his face. :D'
Yvonne began to smile and causally walked over to where she could watch both her brother's faces. It meant she'd miss the grand entrance Eevi planned, but she loved that Phoenix knew her well enough to know she'd rather see his response to it. Her smile grew when Celeste, phone in hand, joined her.
Luc stopped his pacing to lean against André's desk. "Do you think they're ever coming down?" he asked with a sigh.
André looked towards the door. "We don't know how long it takes to remove that noxious overlay. I'm sure they'll be down soon."
"Right. I just..."
The door flew open with enough force that it hit the wall, causing everyone to jump and look. Yvonne fought the instinctual pull and continued to watched Luc.
His mouth actually dropped opened. The next second his wolf flashed in his eyes and he stocked forward. A looked of admiration, pride, and lust combining to bring out a controlled wildness in him she'd never seen before. Yvonne blinked and looked over her shoulder at Eevi. She snapped her own mouth closed after a heartbeat. Stun indeed. Her smile grew, Luc could quit worrying that she might regret taking his hand. That was not the outfit you wear for regret, Yvonne thought in amusement.
Eevi met him in the middle of the office and raised one brow.
He stopped and his eyes traveled down the length of her, taking every curve with slow enjoyment, then back up to meet her golden gaze with such an intense and intimate look that Yvonne felt her ears began to burn. She was about to glance away when he held out his hand, palm up. Eevi smiled and placed hers in it with no hesitation. His shoulders relaxed and he pulled her flush against his body. Tucking his nose into her neck. "Mine," his growl so low Yvonne wasn't sure she heard it.
Yvonne narrowed her eyes in pleasure. The doubts he'd been battling since he found out that she had her own had been vanquished. She made a mental note to congratulate Eevi later for her handling of their third meeting.
André slowly coming to his feet claimed her attention. His eyes weren't on the cuddling couple. They were on the door. His face curiously blank. Phoenix stood there. Her eyes weary and the slight smile on her lips seemed forced. Yvonne blinked at the tension between them.
"André."
With a groan, he was across the room. He stopped in front of her "I don't care, Phoenix."
Her eyes widened. "About what?"
"About what I don't know. About what you're worried about telling me. Whatever it is that's made your smile go away. I want to know everything about you. But not if you don't want me to. And I don't care if every rumor about you is true. I don't care if you've killed hundreds, thousands, millions. Broke every law there is. I thank the Goddess for you. I am blessed to have finally found you. So please, don't look at me like I'm your enemy."
A sob broke free of her control and her hands came up to cover her mouth while tear-drenched eyes stared at him. He opened his arms. She stepped into them, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her face into his chest. He held her tight.
Yvonne's and Celeste's eyes bounced between the couples.
"Aww. I want a mate." Celeste sighed.
Both André and Luc straightened to glared at her. "You are far too young for a mate!" André told her with a growl.
Phoenix laughed a little shakily. "That doesn't matter does it, Celeste? It's still something you want. But don't find him too soon. I just got here and I'm so excited about having sisters. Let me be a little selfish and keep you for a while? I mean Eevi stole Luc before I even had him for a day." She giggled at Eevi's glare. "But she's my sister now, too. So I'll forgive her this time."
"I should hope so." Eevi said leaning her cheek against Luc's shoulder. "Because I'm not giving him back."
"I never thought of that!" Celeste shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere. He'll have to wait."
Phoenix turned to say something to Yvonne. Her eyes narrowed and her smile died. Pulling out of André's arms she walked closer to her and took a deep breath. Yvonne took a step back. Phoenix sigh.
She spun on her heals and made a beeline for Lorenzo. Picking him up she cuddled him close. Ignoring the questioning looks everyone were sending her. She walked back towards Yvonne. Following her step by step until Yvonne bumped into the wall. Phoenix shook her head.
"Catch." She said and made as if to toss the baby at Yvonne.
Yvonne instincts kicked in and she rushed forward. Lorenzo was placed softly in her arms. Yvonne felt like she'd just jumped from a high place. The floor resonated under her feet and she felt the jolt through her whole body.
Phoenix shook her head. "Celeste? Have you not hugged your sister?"
Celeste blushed. "I went to, but she flinched."
"She doesn't believe you're real. She's afraid to touch you." She raised her brows at Yvonne. "I'm assuming your brothers hugged you before you could stop them?"
Eevi joined Phoenix and taking a deep breath, glared. "Were my notes not clear?" she growled.
Phoenix shook her head. "Eevi no, look at her, she was under too long. She just couldn't."
Eevi slowly nodded, "I'll update the timeline. Thank the Goddess they didn't let her dodge them. Celeste hug her. She can't do it. She needs you to."
"Really?"
"She needs you to." Eevi stated stressing the words she and you.
Celeste rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Yvonne. Yvonne closed her eyes as another jolt went through her.
"Now her Brothers."
André and Luc joined the hug. Yvonne began to cry and hugged them back. They all slowly pulled away. As they did so Eevi placed her hand on Yvonne's cheek. A warming sensation went through her, chasing away a cold she hadn't noticed.
"Theo?" Phoenix prompted.
"Is that his name?" Eevi asked as he walked by her. "I guess it fits."
Theo ignored her and ruffled Yvonne's hair. There wasn't a jolt this time. But the ground under her became more solid.
Phoenix looked at the last male and her eyes widened. "Tom?"
Tom nodded and joining the rest placed a hand on Yvonne's shoulder. The feeling was even less, almost just a touch. Everyone looked at Phoenix. She grinned.
"Please take Lorenzo from her, Celeste. And would everyone else please back up?"
Yvonne found herself alone in a circle of loved ones, facing a suddenly serious Phoenix.
"I'm sorry I was so involved in my own drama that I failed to notice your needs."
"You didn't fail me. And you have a brand new mate. I understand. If I had a mate, I'd be ignoring all of you."
"Noted. Hey, by the way."
Yvonne gave a laugh and pulled her into a tight hug. "Hey, yourself!" The ground steadied and finally felt real. Pushing Phoenix back, she smiled down into the dark brown eyes. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Eevi shook her head. "Now your homework is to touch everyone you come in contact with. Until I tell you you can stop. Understand?" She raised one brow at Yvonne.
Phoenix giggled at Yvonne's irritated glare. "That eyebrow is never not annoying. But you'll get used to it."
Yvonne sighed and pulled her little sister back into another tight hug. "I'm sorry."
"No, I should've hugged you. I'm sorry."