Page 28 of Outnumbered
“What about shifting?” Silverowl asked.
I flinched. “I haven’t shifted since our training.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
“She’s still embarrassed,” Caleb answered, standing in the dining room doorway munching on a bread roll.
“Everyone, sit down and eat,” Leona ordered.
We sat around the table and Declan and Kylan started setting out glasses. For Leona and I, they set flute glasses and everyone else had pint glasses. Declan opened a champagne bottle and poured it into Leona’s glass, then mine and Kylan followed behind, pouring a splash of orange juice in them next. Finally, they poured beer from a pitcher into the pint glasses for the guys.
Before I could even reach for my plate, Triston and Riddick started putting food on it for me. I was about to get upset when I noticed Leona sitting back in her chair drinking from her glass with a smile as her mates did the same. She winked at me.
Oh, so this was a common thing? Reaching forward, I grabbed the flute glass and took a drink of the mimosa. “Delicious,” I praised.
“It just takes some training to get your mates to understand the correct champagne to juice ratio,” Kylan said with a smile.
Leona smiled. “Oh, and the training was just horrendous. Glass after glass of mimosas, adjusting the amounts until it is perfect. Just dreadful training.”
“It sounds like it was quite the ordeal for you,” I said to Leona.
She fake pouted and nodded. “It was.”
Now that Leona and my plates were loaded, the men started making their own. We waited until everyone had food before we began eating. It seemed common for situations like this, with lots of shapeshifters, to not speak until after everyone had finished eating.
I didn’t mind, the food was amazing, and I ate every last piece on my plate.
“Want more?” Riddick asked.
Shaking my head, I put a hand on my full stomach. “No, I can’t possibly fit more right now.”
“Then we’ll wait a bit before we eat dessert,” Thor said. “Let’s go to the living room. It’s more comfortable there.”
Taking our drinks, we all went to the living room. Leona sat on a long couch, Silverowl on her right and Thor on her left. Kylan and Declan sat on either side of them.
The couch we took was smaller, so only Caleb, Riddick, and I could fit. Branson took the reclining chair and Triston sat on the floor, leaned back against my legs.
“I have an announcement now that we’re all gathered,” I said.
“Oh, exciting!” Leona gasped. “What could it be? Are you adding another to your harem? Running off to join the circus?”
“Auntie, shush,” Caleb said with a chuckle.
She pouted, but then smiled at me. “Go on, I’m just teasing.”
“I’ve decided to accept Silverowl’s new name. If, you’re still willing to rename me?”
Silverowl smiled so warmly that it caught me off guard, as the prince wasn’t usually so expressive. “I’m so happy to hear that. Of course.”
“What do we have to do to finalize it?” I asked.
“I just have to enter your name into our database. Your current one isn’t actually in there, since your parents were trying to hide you are a hybrid. So, I’ll enter your new name when I return to my parents’ house next week. I’ll create a new birth certificate for you as well.”
“You’ll need to get a new ID card,” Caleb said.
Silverowl nodded. “Yes, I’ll have the paperwork ready for you after I enter it into our database. Welcome to the elves, Rubyhare Ember Jasperwood.”
Tears built in my eyes and I quickly fanned my face. “I don’t know why I’m crying.” Fanning didn’t help a few fell.