Page 43 of Cullen

“I’m Sebastian. I’m the oldest second gen.”

“Pleased to meet you.” He shook hands with Sebastian when the kid came over. “So. Peel or not?”

“Definitely peel.”

“Thanks.”

“I can do that, no problem.”

“So…you’re not a dragon. How did you get across the veil?” Sebastian didn’t pull any punches, and he opened his mouth to answer when a blaze of fire came rushing in, all wild red hair and huge eyes.

“Seb! What’s wrong with Cosmo?”

Sebastian turned to…her? “He’s fine. Uncle Cosmo is fine. He’s awake.”

“Promise?” Sparks were flying, but Seth didn’t seem to be worried, so he started peeling.

“I swear.”

Seth nodded. “Abe says he’s awake. He slipped when his water broke, and he hit his head. Knocked himself right out. Scary, but he’s all right. He’s having a baby.”

She blew out a long fiery breath and relaxed for about ten seconds, then she turned on him. “Who are you?”

“I’m Orion. I’m Cullen’s mate.”

“The unicorn. How did you get across the veil? I’m fairly sure you’re supposed to be impossible.”

“Arielle, be polite, please,” Seth murmured.

He arched an eyebrow. “No one had informed me of that, so I didn’t know. Elliot was scared and needed to be close to his father, so I brought him.”

She tilted her head, lips twisting. “Well, thank you. I don’t want him scared, but this is deeply concerning. You shouldn’t just be able to cross. Where did you come from?”

“The Glade.”

Arielle glanced to Sebastian, who shrugged. Then she looked at Seth, who also shrugged.

“You could just ask me,” he said wryly.

“I could.” She blew out sparks.

He blew out a rainbow that sparkled like one of those fireworks that exploded into more little explosions. He was sure they had a name.

She blinked for a moment, then laughed, sounding much more like the youngster she had to be. He lived for that. For healing a worry, for making it better when someone was worried or sad.

“Is this the same grove Penny got lost in?”

“Huh?” He shook his head. “Who is Penny?”

Seth smiled, this radiant little grin. “She’s mine. She’s going to be some sort of sage or something according to the lady of the grove.”

He finished peeling and started chopping, tossing things into the old, battered stockpot Seth had pulled out for him to use. He loved it. “Tell me about the grove.”

Both kids looked suspicious again. “What if you’re not nice?”

He set the knife down to turn to face them fully. “Cullen and his brothers and Hawk are guardians, yes?”

Seth just folded his arms over his chest, smiling slightly at the kids.

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