Lexi stared at the phone in her hand forlornly for a moment and pushed away the bubble of emotion that expanded in her chest rapidly. She told herself that she was being stupid…it had only been a few weeks since she had seen Ann last so there was no reason that she should be feeling this emotional.
The idea that Ann had not only organized a room for them at the palace, but also wanted a new wing built for her and her mates so they could live together absolutely blew her mind. She knew that Lexi's strongest wish had been to have a warm, welcoming home that was full of life…something that she had never had as a child having been handed over to the children's home after her mothers apparent murder.
She had resented her father for such a long time as a child and couldn't understand why he wouldn't want to take her home with him…or why he wouldn't just stay in the home that she and her mother shared. She had always believed that his sporadic appearances were because he worked away from home and while this was technically true, her child-like brain had been convinced that he had chosen work over his daughter.
It was only as she grew older that she began to understand exactly what her father's work had entailed and slowly but surely she had forgiven him…but it had left a lasting impression on her regardless of his reasons for doing so.
Her father, Lord Brarthroroz's, realm was safer than most without a shadow of a doubt. He held the Daemons under a tight rein and they respected him for it. As his daughter, the respect was automatically extended to her as well but what she came to understand as her visits increased over the years was that Daemons didn't play as nicely as other shifters and she understood exactly why her father had refused to take her back with him as a child.
Her many forays into his realm over the years had resulted in various injuries that varied greatly in their severity and she smiled slightly at the memory. They were never sustained because of any malicious intent on behalf of the Daemons in his realm, it was just that...they were built differently and she was made of soft flesh that marked easily.
"What are you so misty eyed about?" Greyson asked, sitting down next to her suddenly and snapping her out of her nostalgia.
"What are you, creeping Jesus?" Lexi shot reflexively as she scowled at him.
"I'm going to take that as another euphemism that I don't understand." Greyson answered with an ironic smile, "You looked so lost in thought and I wanted to make sure that you were ok."
Lexi sighed as she raised her eyes to the ceiling and forced herself to blink away her tears.
"Of course I'm okay. It's just Queenie being Queenie and continually blowing my expectations out of the water with her thoughtfulness. You're all so good to me and I don't know what I've done to deserve it." Lexi grimaced.
Allen and Greyson exchanged a look before chuckling indulgently.
"It's precisely because you are you that we treat you this way. You deserve the best Lexi, and everyone that truly knows you understands that."
"Psssh. Enough sappy and emotional talk now please," She sniffed as she stood and stretched, "Did you figure out what you needed to for the recommendations for Brad?"
"We did. We should probably see if he's available for a meeting this afternoon actually. Once he knows what he needs to do, he can make the arrangements."
"Already on it. I texted him and he said he's free in about half an hour." Allen answered without looking up from his paperwork and waving his phone in their direction.
"Excellent. That's sorted then." Greyson nodded in satisfaction.
"I think I'll take a quick shower then," Lexi smirked at Greyson as she stretched languidly.
"I can think of another way to fill the time…" Greyson smirked as he reached for her face.
"Get fucked robo-dick," She snorted as she slapped his hand away, but his smirk only grew wider.
"That was the plan…"
"Robo-dick?" Allen blinked in bemusement, "What the hell is going on today? Are we all assigned new nicknames or what?"
Lexi threw a middle finger up at Allen as a dark look replaced his bemused expression.
"On second thoughts, I agree with Greyson. There's a far better way to pass the time." He growled huskily as he stood from his desk and prowled towards her, his intent obvious with each deliberate step towards her.
"What the fuck is wrong with you both?!" Lexi shrieked as she ran towards the bathroom and slammed the door behind her, the lock audibly sliding into place quickly.
Allen and Greyson exchanged a look and stood outside the door, trying their best to suppress their laughter.
"What's the matter? Can you not handle both of us?" Allen teased.
"Listen here buster, If you two break my personal kitty then not only am I going to be severely pissed, but you both are gonna be in a sexual drought for as long as it takes to heal as well as however long I decide to punish you both afterwards!" She yelled from the other side of the doorway as the sound of running water reached their ears.
"Spoilsport! You weren't complaining last time!" Greyson goaded her with a grin through the door.
"Yeah well…I don't think half an hour is enough time for us to…you know what? I'm done talking about this. Why don't you both help each other out if you're that bothered." She snapped.
Both Allen and Greyson stiffened at the same time and exchanged awkward glances as they simultaneously stepped away from each other and threw wary glances towards each other.
"Don't even think about it," Greyson warned.
"I'm not!" Allen protested as they both hastily retreated to opposite ends of the bedroom and waited patiently for Lexi to emerge again.
Anything to break this awkward silence.