Kessler rolled his eyes but did not let go of his little brother’s arm. “You heard Valathame. Yes, but be patient. You may be comfortable with Devon being mad at you, but I certainly am not.”

Tim chuckled from where he sat at the table with a cup of steaming coffee. “I wouldn’t be either.”

Kessler looked to Tim and grimaced, then nodded his head toward the stairs. “Can you grab him? And Emersyn.”

He cursed and jumped to his feet, disappearing down the stairs without another question.

“Ah. C’mon. SEE?” Easton groaned really loudly from the base of the stairs. His shirt was on inside-out and backwards and his hair was all disheveled. The sling holding his broken arm up was all tangled. His cheeks were flushed. “See, Lily. We’re not even the last ones down here. We had another minute.”

Lily descended the last few steps with equally flushed cheeks but at least her clothes were on correctly, although that arm was still swollen. She rolled her purple eyes. “And I said I wanted to go down and get a sling from Katherine before the meeting. Be a good boy and sit down.” She kissed his cheek and then slipped down the stairs.

Easton pouted dramatically, then turned to the living room. “Morning, ladies and gents. Where’s boss lady?”

Tenn turned to the side so everyone else could see Tegan collapsed against his chest. “Leave her be right now, Easton, or so help me God,” he said into our minds.

Easton threw his hands up and signed, ‘Down, boy, don’t bite.’

Royce slid up from out of nowhere and snapped his fingers excitedly, then tapped on Easton’s shoulder. With wild eyes he pointed to Easton’s hands and then lifted his own. Then he nodded.

Easton shook his head. “For the last time, Royce, I’m a one-woman-man now. You had your chance at my hands years ago.”

Royce’s eyes flashed as he pretended to clutch pearls he wasn’t wearing. ‘Don’t tease me,’ he mouthed.

Easton scowled. “Oh shit. They didn’t get your voice working yet?”

Thiago sighed from the bottom of the stairs. “No, and they’re not sure they can. But they’re working on it. Same for Willow’s hearing, in case she didn’t share that yet.”

Willow grimaced.

Easton glanced back and forth between Royce and Willow, then held his hands up and signed at the same time as speaking, “Want me to teach you sign language?”

“Yeah, Royce could use a lesson in hand work.” Thiago winked playfully as he smacked Royce’s ass while walking by.

Royce gasped. Even without the sound I could hear that gasp. He scurried after Thiago and pinched his side as they dropped onto one of the couches.