Free [Psy-Changeling 10.7] Naya's Most Important Visitors by Nalini Singh Page A

at Lucas for help. Her panther came over to grab a laughing Roman in a growling hug before setting him down on the bed again. “No, that’s her scent for now. She’ll develop a deeper scent as she grows.”
    “Oh, good.” Julian sighed. “’Cause she  really  smells like a girl right now.”
    Sascha’s shoulders shook at the mournful statement. Tightening her stomach to hold in the laugh, she said, “She is a girl, you know. Will you still play with her?”
    “Yes. She’s our baby,” Roman said, eyebrows drawn together and arms folded.
    Julian’s nod was just as serious. “We even made her a present.”
    They scrambled off the bed together. Rising, Sascha walked into the living/kitchen area with Lucas to find Tamsyn preparing a pot of coffee and one of hot chocolate, the healer as at home here as Sascha was at Tamsyn’s house. A tin sat on the counter, likely something delicious Tamsyn had baked that morning.
    “Dad.” Julian tugged on his father’s hand where Nate leaned against the wall nearest the kitchen area, tall and with a few strands of silver in the deep, deep brown of his hair. “We want to give Naya her present.”
    Nate reached into the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt and brought out a gaily wrapped package. Taking it, Julian grabbed his brother’s hand and they ran over. “This is for Naya.”
    Lucas accepted it on the baby’s behalf. “Thank you. Shall we open it?”
    Two identical nods.
    The package was closed up with so much tape and paper that Lucas had to slice out his claws to cut it open. “Ready?” he said to everyone.
    “Yes!” Eyes bright, the boys were all but hopping up and down.
    Lucas upended the open package and into his palm dropped a surprisingly pretty necklace made of multihued beads.
    “That’s beautiful,” Sascha said, knowing she’d keep the gift safe until Naya was old enough to appreciate it.
    “They chose all the beads themselves,” Tamsyn told her in open pride.
    “Dad helped us put them together.” Julian went over to lean against his father’s leg.
    Reaching down, Nate ruffled his hair. “Tell Sascha and Lucas what the beads mean.” The senior sentinel glanced at them with eyes the same shade as his sons. “They came up with that on their own, too.”
    Sascha settled down into a large cozy armchair with Naya, the twins snuggling in on either side of her. Then Roman took the beads. “This is for Sascha darling,” he said, pointing to the black and white beads at the center.
    “For your eyes,” Julian elaborated, then pointed to a green bead next to the black. “And this is for Lucas.”
    “But the black one is kind of for him too, since he’s a panther,” Roman said, while Sascha listened, astonished. “So you have to share that one.”
    “What about the brown ones streaked with blue?” They bracketed the green, white, and black.
    “That’s us!” the twins said in unison. “Didn’t you know?”
    “Well that makes sense,” Lucas said, having come around to lean on the back of the armchair. “Since Naya’s your baby.”
    Roman gave a satisfied nod. “And this one is Mommy and this one is Daddy.” Both beads were a gorgeous cerulean blue. “Because Mom makes everyone happy and Dad likes it when Mom is happy, and it’s like when the sky is sunny and bright.”
    Sascha’s eyes burned. Sensing it, Lucas ran the knuckles of one hand over her cheek and said, “Have you got everyone from the pack on there?”
    That caused Julian to slap his forehead. “No! There are too many people!”
    “It would be this long.” Roman threw his arms wide apart. “We’ll make her one for her birthday next year with more people.” Then they named the other packmates represented on this first necklace.
    By the time they were done, Sascha was utterly  undone . Kissing them each on the cheek, she said, “You’re wonderful. Naya is so lucky she’s your baby.”
    Suddenly shy, they ducked their heads against her.
    “Here.” Tamsyn held out