Carpathian 17 - Dark Celebration

cheek.
    Mikhail's mouth twitched and he covered his lips with his hand. "It is unnecessary to stand in front of your lifemate as if I might incinerate her on the spot for decorating my clothing, Aidan."
    "Is that how I look?" Aidan's eyebrow quirked upward.
    Josh nodded, still laughing. "Like you're going to hit someone."
    Aidan held up the mixer, aiming it toward Josh. "I am thinking about it."

    "Point it more toward Josef," Mikhail suggested.
    Alexandria cleared her throat, trying to sound sincere when she really wanted to laugh.
    "I'm terribly sorry," she said aloud to Mikhail. "The mixer got away from me."
    "You look a great deal like your brother," Mikhail pointed out as he calmly brushed the potatoes from his face and chest. "Fortunately, I am Carpathian and these things are of little consequence—other than to provide amusement for our younger children." His black eyes narrowed, turned dangerously green-yellow—a wolf's eyes—glowing as his gaze settled on Josef. A low growl rumbled through the room, impossible to tell where it came from—but distinctive all the same.
    Josef swallowed his laughter and straightened up, moving away from Mikhail. The prince kept his face like stone, although amusement welled up, threatening to spill over.
    How long since he'd heard the sound of young children laughing? He needed to spend more time with Falcon and Sara's adopted children. The young always brought hope and the ability to see with fresh excitement the world around them. He needed another child in his home, clinging to his leg and looking up at him the way Joshua was looking up at Alexandria.
    Mikhail. Skyler wishes to go home. Do you come back to escort her, or should I? Raven's voice interrupted his thoughts. He had much to do, but so did Raven. "I had hoped to speak with you some more, Aidan, but Skyler is in our home and needs escorting back to her home. I will return as soon as I am assured she is safe."
    "I was about to go over to see Desari," Alexandria said quickly. "I can get Skyler safely home. I'd like to walk in the fresh air anyway. I'm a poor cook…"
    Joshua snickered. "She's always been bad. Burns everything."
    Alexandria tugged on one of his curls in retaliation, laughing softly. "Sadly, it's true. I'm a terrible cook, but perhaps you and Aidan can rescue the potatoes."
    Mikhail's hand stopped in the act of brushing the last of the white globs away. "Me?
    Cook?"
    "I can do it," Josef said. "I've wanted to try out the mixer. Watch this, Josh." He waved his hand and the bowl of mashed potatoes rose in the air. The bowl jerked awkwardly as it made its way past Aidan toward Josef and Mikhail, almost head level with the prince.
    Aidan caught it before it could get more than halfway across the room. "Alexandria worked hard on this—ah—stuff."
    "Stuff?" Alexandria echoed. "And it was Josh and Aidan who were supposed to rescue the potatoes."
    Mikhail stepped back and turned to glare at Josef. "I hope you were not thinking to drop that on my head."
    Joshua erupted into another fit of giggles. "If Alex made it, stuff is a good word to use, Aidan."
    "Hey now!" Alexandria produced a mock glare. "Pipe down or you'll be doing the cooking."
    I can escort young Skyler back , Aidan offered.
    I need some peace , Alexandria told him. I love Josh, but the video games, mashed potatoes and Josef are a little much right now . Her mind brushed up against his with love and warmth. I'm perfectly fine . It wasn't altogether true. It was impossible to hide anything from her lifemate, and Aidan was well aware she had faced coming to the Carpathian Mountains with trepidation.
    My only love. I will come with you.
    You will stay and entertain the prince. I really need some alone time . She loved Aidan with all of her heart, every cell in her body—her very soul, but it was sometimes difficult for her to accept that he could know her every thought. It was bad enough that she felt inadequate at times, and very leery of the other Carpathians—it shamed her. She hated that Aidan knew her smallness.
    Not smallness. You have every right to fear for Joshua's safety. Few have been captured by a vampire and survive . Aidan leaned down to press a kiss against the back of her neck.
    You are my world .
    As you are mine.
    Alexandria flashed a small smile toward the prince. "It's an honor to meet you—even covered with mashed potatoes. Please stay and talk with Aidan. He's been looking forward to some time with you. I'll see that