Wren POV
For a week, I have been coming back and forth to Destin's cabin. I arrive before the sun rises and leave long after it sets. I cook, clean, and play with the twins while Destin seemingly rots away with a bottle of wine in his hands.
The first few days, I argued with him. Told him he was setting a bad example for the children. I screamed, lectured, and cried. By the middle of the week, I was done trying to fix him. I carried the weight of loss in my chest. He may still be my mate, but he is not the man I once knew. At night, I pray to the universe, or anyone who might be listening, to give him back to me.
Today, I am late because I picked up a present for the twins that I know Destin will hate. When I walked into the cabin, i am surprised to see that he is sober, but he looks like shit. Days of being consumed by a drunken state has taken its toll. The twins are running around him, squealing, and he looks like he wants to die.
"Hello, my baby birds," I call to the children.
Their heads turn in my direction, and they flap their tiny wings, chirping like birds. It is silly, but it brings them joy. Coren pushes his sister out of the way and stands in front of me. He flaps his small wings, hovering a few inches off the ground. I clap my hands and kiss him on the cheek. "Have you been practicing after I leave at night?"
"They are up for hours after you leave," Destin groans.
I ignore him. Keeping my eyes on the twins. "Do my baby birds want breakfast?"
Veyra frowns. "Destin fed us. It was yucky."
I set my bag on the ground and kneel in front of her. "I bought you a present. Both of you."
The twins make eye contact and begin to jump up and down excitedly. They try to dive for my bag, but I push it out of the way quickly. "What is it?" They ask at the same time.
"Sit on the couch and I will bring them in."
Destin is watching me carefully, but I continue to ignore him. I don't care if he has decided to play nice today. He has been an asshole all week.
I retrieve the box from outside the front door and quietly shush the contents before I walk back in. I stand in front of the children, trying to hold the box still, but I am failing.
"What is in the box, Kitten?" Destin asks.
"They aren't for you," I snap at him.
One of the Mistlings peeks its head out of the box. Veyra screams with excitement, and the kitten-like creature struggles to get out of the box. I brought the children two. I couldn't help myself. A litter showed up under my house, and the lycan children took all but these. I have never seen anything like them before. Cat-like features, but the ears are too big, and little wings sprout from their backs.
"Absolutely the fuck not," Destin growls. "I will not have Mistlings in the house."
"Too late," I chirp.
I pull the yellow Mistling out of the box and hand it to Veyra. It immediately nuzzles into her neck and falls asleep. Then I pull out the little black one. He is smaller than the others, but he doesn't let that stop him from being ferocious. I hand him to Coren, who doesn't seem to know what to do with it.
Destin throws his arms into the air. "Now I am going to have Mistlings running around? You know they are demons of chaos, right?"
I roll my eyes. "You're dramatic."
"I'm not," he groans. "Mistlings bond with a singular person. They will not listen to anyone else."
I smile down at the children. Both of the Mistlings are curled up on their laps, sleeping peacefully. "It looks like they have chosen their people."
He reaches down to pet the one in Coren's lap, but the Mistling hisses at him. I cover my mouth to hide my giggles, and Destin glares at me. "You couldn't have asked first?"
"Nope."
"Thank you, Birdie," Veyra whispers.
Huge tears are rolling down her cheeks, and she hugs the creature close to her chest. It is exactly the reaction I was hoping for. These children don't have much to live for. They deserve something fun.
"Take the little monsters upstairs," Destin grumbles. "I want to speak to Birdie."
The twins shuffle the Mistlings in their arms and run upstairs, whispering excitedly to one another. I head back to the front door to retrieve everything the children will need for their new pets, and Destin follows me.
"I am not taking them back," I warn him.
He helps me move everything inside. Silently, we work side by side, setting up food bowls and litter boxes.
"I will have to build them a play area on the ceiling," Destin whispers. "They will want to fly."
"Just like Coren," I remind him.
"The children don't want to be separated," he whispers. "I will not do it."
"Fine," I reply. "But we still need to get the book back from Sadie before she does something stupid."
He sits down at the kitchen table. "I know. I have been thinking about that. I need you to stay here with the children."
"Charlie has it under control," I remind him. "No one knows the triplets better than him."
He groans as he hides his head in his hands. "It was my fault. I should be the one to clean up this mess."
"You can't leave them, Destin. They have already lost too much. You are the last piece of family they have left."
"I would leave them with you." He looks up from his hands. "They love you more than me."
I laugh. "Only because I bring them chaotic pets."
"If I stay, will you stay with me?"
His green eyes are vulnerable, and my resolve begins to falter. "Do you have anything to say to me?"
"I love you," he smirks playfully.
Pursing my lips, I cross my arms over my chest. "Try again."
"I wanted to put the twins first?" He continues.
"Better, but not quite."
"I am sorry I kept things from you and locked you in the cabin. I lifted the spells. You are free to come and go as you please. Stay with me. I can't spend another night without you."