Chapter 116

I sat next to Thresh on a low couch that prompted me to cross my legs.

Dart, Thresh's brother, had been narrating his story of finding this area and digging a hole to live in. He's since expanded on it and made it livable for even humans.

I sat with an unimpressed expression on my face the entire time, next to Thresh who looked bored.

"And who is this?" Dart said as he raised a glass of liquor to his mouth.

"This is my Beta's mate." Thresh said for me.

"Hm! Interesting. Why is she here?" He asked a hidden threat to his words.

-Seal the hatch.- He ordered his Beta and I stiffened.

-Thresh, he's ordered the hatch sealed.-

"She's here because you seem to think you can get away with sealing us in here." Thresh replied.

Dart looked at me with a shocked and confused expression, "Like Kratos?"

Thresh shook his head, "No, not like Kratos."

I tilted my head in confusion, 'Who's Kratos?'

Dart regarded me a little too closely for my liking. His vibrant eyes were the unsettling part.

"She's mated then?" He asked.

"Yes." Thresh replied.

"Is she capable of speech?"

I laughed and both their heads turned to look at me, "See, Thresh, this is what happens when you speak for me. They start to think I can't talk, when I'm actually very good at it."

"A little too good." He muttered.

I hit his arm and laughed stiltedly, "Ha Ha Ha."

I sensed another channel nearing and turned my head to where they were coming from.

The doors opened and a woman stepped out wearing sweatpants and an ugly Christmas sweater.

"Oh, Dart, you didn't tell me that Thresh was here." She said as she walked in with slippered feet to where we were sitting.

"Hmm, no I didn't." He said his eyes focusing intently on the fire pit between us.

"I'm sorry dear, here, why don't we sit down and we can talk." He said putting a happier face on.

The woman came and snuggled next to him holding his arm in hers. Mates I concluded. They were mates. I didn't realize that I was looking sad till Thresh nudged me with his elbow, -Stop it.-

-Stop what?- I asked.

-Looking sad. Dart will try and cheer you up.-

I straightened and put a calm expression on my face. For some reason the thought of Dart trying to cheer me up made me uncomfortable.

"You know, it's strange. Your eyes don't fog over when you do that." Dart said.

I just looked at him, saying with my eyes, 'And?'

"Is that how you can tell when other people are mind linking?" He asked an overly interested look on his face.

I just smiled. I liked keeping the secrets to myself. Raph was the only one who knew how my "gift" worked in detail.

"Dart. There is something I must discuss with you." Thresh said.

"Yes, yes brother. But first I must introduce you to your nephew and nieces."

I felt my whole face light up at the mention of children.

"Very well." Thresh complied.

-Does he know that Charm's pregnant?- I asked as we both watched Dart get up to find his children.

-No, he's never met Charm and it will stay that way.- He replied bitingly.

In the next few moments we heard running footsteps and bubbly laughter.

"Uncle Thresh!" A little girl, six or seven I estimated, ran up to Thresh followed by two other children, a boy and a girl. The boy was older, five or four, and the other girl was a toddler, aged two or three.

The eldest girl threw her arms around a statue-like Thresh. I hid a smile at the scene but eventually I just let it free.

The boy climbed onto the couch and hugged Thresh's neck while the two year old girl came and hugged his leg.

Dart came back into the room and burst out laughing, his mate just sat and smiled happily.

-Brooke, could you remove them?- He asked, drowning in all the hugs he was receiving.

I rolled my eyes at how robotic he was acting, I knew he could be more human. But no, I remembered how he'd acted this morning. He was a robot.

-Please?- I said, urging him to use his manners. I saw one of his grey eyes glare at me. And I broke out in a peal of giggles, enjoying his torture.

"Okay, okay. Let's see." I glanced at the parents who were doing nothing to stop their children hugging the clearly uncomfortable and maybe hostile Thresh.

I reached for the boy he was closest to me, "Hey, what's your name?"

"Jack." He replied moving away from Thresh's neck.

"Hi, Jack. Why don't you and your little sister go see daddy? Uncle Thresh is feeling a little overwhelmed, there's too much hugs." I said in a friendly voice, giving him a little poke in the stomach and he giggled.

I always talked to kids with an understanding that they were kids but I always spoke as normally as possible, not throwing in a bunch of kiddie words.

"What's your little sister's name?" I asked him because he still hadn't moved.

"Adele." He said.

I nodded, "Why don't you take Adele to go and give your daddy a big hug. Kay?"

He nodded and his cute little face broke into a smile, "Okay, Adele! Let's go hug daddy!" He hopped off the couch and grabbed his little sister's hand and they both ran towards Dart who had done nothing but chuckle at the situation.

The eldest girl was talking to Thresh quite animatedly, about her two friends and an animal, some dolls. Thresh was just sitting there looking at the girl on her lap.

-It's good training for your own though.- I said as I watched his perplexed expression.

-Yes.- He replied then shuffled the girl off his lap and stood, "That was very nice Marta." He patted her head and I folded my lips in an attempt to hide an expression I knew he'd hate, but that was just absolutely precious.

Marta looked up at him with eyes wide and filled with admiration. Even a blind person could see that these kids adored their uncle.

"Dart, we need to talk now." He said.

Dart sighed tiredly, "Fine, we'll go to my office."

He turned and headed out the door that the children had come out of.