After I made my new appointment for the week after my sons' birthday, the tightness dissipated and my confidence spiked. I could do this; I could get through one pregnancy without jeopardizing my child. I relaxed and lost track of time. Morning rolled into afternoon, and Samantha came by to pick Lesya up for a sleepover with Zariel. She'd only be downstairs in Fallon and Samantha's suite, but it would give her uncles, her father, and me the night to ourselves.
Re picked me up around 5 o'clock but we weren't going far either. He escorted me out of the palace and helped me into one of the Jeeps we used for crossing the territory when we either had guests or weren't in animal form. He started driving toward the mountain range at the other side of Pride Territory.
“Are we going to the cabin?” I asked in surprise.
Re nodded.
“I'm surprised that all of you would want to use Trevor's cabin for our date.”
I had built Trevor a cabin within a valley at the edge of my territory to give him a place to call his own. It was identical to Fenrir's cabin, where the Wolf had taken me to reassert his dominance. I wouldn't have thought my other men would want the reminder on such a romantic occasion.
“This is only the start, Lala,” Re said with a grin. Then he went serious. “I wanted to be the one to drive you out there so I could talk to you privately.”
“What's wrong?”
“I'm so sorry about the Mirror.” He glanced at me, his metallic, gold eyes flashing. “Will you forgive me?”
“Re, stop apologizing; I mean it,” I said sternly.
“You deserve to hear it again in private.”
“I didn't need to hear it at all.” I took his hand and kissed it. “Even Gods make mistakes. That's all the Mirror was; a mistake. You didn't purposefully set out to get me trapped inside it.”
“Of course not,” he huffed.
“Then what are you apologizing for?”
“For the mistake, Lala,” Re said. “Whether it was what I intended or not, it happened, and it happened because of me. That means that I must apologize. It's my fault whether or not I meant it.”
“I get that, Re,” I said gently. “But one apology is enough in such a circumstance. I will undoubtedly screw up far more often than you, and I expect you to forgive me after one apology, If you make me blather on like you are doing to me, I will kick your golden ass.”
Re laughed boisterously. “Very well, Lala, I will accept your forgiveness and remember to give mine as graciously in the future.”
“Thank you.”
We reached the end of the road and had to hike the rest of the way in. I hadn't been expecting such a journey and had worn a pretty dress and heels, but Re had a change of shoes in the Jeep for me. It was worth the climb. The Sun began to dip into the horizon just as we crested the ridge that overlooked the lush valley. The landscape had slowly shifted as we climbed, culminating in a completely different terrain; grasslands to forest.
We stood there a moment, enjoying the sheen of shifting colors across the surface of the lake on the valley's floor. Pumpkin turned into cinnamon, then peony, and finally lavender; candy colors turning the glassy surface into a lollipop. But the truly sweet treats waited for me on the cabin's veranda.
My husbands and Toby waited for us on the wide porch, all of them dressed to the nines. The only one missing was Arach, but I'd be seeing him soon to celebrate our sons' birthdays, and then I'd spend some time alone with him. This night was for the other six. Trevor, Kirill, Odin, Azrael, and Toby smiled tenderly at me as Re led me up the steps to the cabin.
“Nice threads.” I nodded at their suits, and the men grinned devilishly.
Oh, yes; they were up to something.
Trevor opened the door as evening fell, but the stars were inside the cabin instead of outside where they belonged. My eyes went wide as I followed Trevor in. The living room—a two-story high space usually done in rustic, masculine chic—was decorated with fresh flowers, candles and twinkling lights strung above. The heavy furniture was gone, replaced with a round table covered in white linen and fine china. There was no centerpiece or even drinking glasses on the table but I paid that only a passing glance.
Loves songs crooned into the room through hidden speakers and an open space next to the table begged to be danced in. The scent of something delicious teased my nose but instead of taking me to the dining table, Re twirled me into Trevor's arms. My wolf smiled down at me as he started swaying me to the music. I glanced at the other men, but Trevor turned my face back towards him.
“They'll each have a dance,” Trevor said. “Focus on me while I hold you.”
“Always,” I whispered.
We barely moved, just swayed gently together beneath the sparkling lights and lost ourselves for awhile in each other's eyes. Moonlight frosted the lake in silver and reflected in through the enormous picture window to compete with the golden glow of candles that burned on perches all around the room. The contrasting metallic light painted Trevor's face in alien mystery. I slid my arms around his shoulders, and he leaned down to give me my first kiss of the evening. As we pulled away from each
