The fastest way to wake up a house full of beast-cubs wasn't an alarm clock or a wake-up call. It was the smell of sizzling butter and warm berries.
By the time the sun had fully risen over the ocean, casting a brilliant golden light through the massive glass windows of the kitchen, I had already flipped four dozen blueberry pancakes. Caspian was beside me, expertly frying up thick cuts of spiced bacon and sausage.
"They are coming," Caspian murmured, his teal eyes dancing with amusement. He didn't even need to use his magic to sense them; the sound of five pairs of stampeding feet echoing down the grand staircase was warning enough.
"I call the seat by the window!" Orion yelled, sliding into the kitchen in his socks and nearly crashing into the marble island.
"Tactical error, Orion," Arjun advised, marching in right behind him, his tiger-ears standing tall. "The seat closest to the stove has the fastest resupply route for the bacon."
