Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

command and oldest friend in this manner?"
    Mikhail's lips twitched. Inside, where only Raven could hear, he was roaring with laughter, but he managed to keep his mask intact. "You are family—my son-in-law, and I think of you as son upon occasion," Mikhail said rubbing his temples as if they ached, looking as pitiful and tired as he could.
    "Oh, you do, do you?" Gregori folded his arms across his chest and cast a suspicious look around the room. Colorful flies and beetles clung to the walls and windowpanes. Some crawled from beneath the door to join the others. He glared at the insects and swung his gaze back to his father-in-law. "There seems to be an inordinate amount of bugs invading my home. I think we need a particularly venomous pesticide. Your sudden paternal feelings don't have anything to do with the insects, do they?"
    Mikhail groaned softly.
    "Gregori!" Savannah scowled at him. "My father is in terrible pain. He's treating you like family and you re not at all being nice. Get him a pillow for his back."
    "Thank you, sweetheart, but I cannot really stay. I need to finish up the details for tonight. I'm certain whatever you made will be fine, and if it isn't, there will be plenty of other dishes." Mikhail swung his legs back down to the floor and waited a moment for the pain to subside. Gregori was right. He had healed the wound as best he could and removed the poison, but it was tender and raw. He needed to go to ground to complete the process and until morning, he would have to live with the ache.
    "Here, Dad ," Gregori said with heavy sarcasm, "let me help you up. Is there anything else you need?"
    Mikhail allowed him to help him to the door. "Now that you mention it, son, yes." He wrapped his arm around Savannah and kissed her cheek. "Congratulations, honey, I will look forward to having granddaughters." He smiled at Gregori. "I'd like you to play the role of Santa Claus for the children tonight. It's a big responsibility and obviously you're the best choice for the job." He pulled a red cap topped with a white knitted snowball out of the air and plopped it on top of Gregori's head. "I've brought along the costume, although there's some controversy over whether Santa wears red tights or not." He waved the tights under Gregori's nose.
    Gregori snatched the tights from Mikhail's hand and the hat from his head. "Mikhail…"
    His teeth came together in a loud snap of warning. "You wouldn't dare do that to me." He looked around the room at the insects decorating his walls. "I see now why my brothers have decided to visit." He waved his hands creating a wild wind that blew like a cyclone through the house.

    The insects wavered, shifting into men, all laughing uproariously. Lucian clapped him on the back and Gabriel ruffled his hair. "Congratulations, little brother, you drew the short stick."
    "You all knew about this?" Gregori demanded. He made a grab for Mikhail, but the prince was already out the door with a cheery little wave.
    Darius touched fists with Julian, the pair of them grinning at each other. The others whooped with laughter.
    "Out," Gregori ordered. "Every last one of you."
    "I wouldn't mind seeing the cap on your head again." Darius wiggled his fingers as if Gregori should spin around and model for them.
    "Put on the tights," Jacques encouraged.
    "Get. Out." Gregori enunciated each word.
    "Sure, sonny boy," Julian snorted. "We'll leave you to practice for your command performance tonight."
    Another whoop of laughter filled the house, threatening to take off the roof. Gregori held open the door and simply pointed. The men filed out, large grins on their faces.
    Gregori kicked the door closed and turned to his lifemate. "I'm killing your father. I've decided the Carpathian people can do without him just fine."
    Savannah pressed her hand tightly over her mouth. "It's really an honor." The words came out muffled as she choked on her laughter.
    He held up his hand. "Don't. Do not say another word."
    She slipped her arm around his waist and leaned into him. "Is it really so terrible?"
    "You saw them. Every single male in the territory was here. Your father set me up."
    Savannah was silent for a moment. "Then I guess we have to figure out a way to turn the tables on them all, don't we?"
    He wrapped a fistful of hair around his hand and stared down into her upturned face, always so beloved to him. "Just what are you thinking?"
    A slow smile lit her eyes. "They want Santa Claus? I'm a magician aren't