Taron flapped a hand toward the red head, his expression determined. “He’s been an outcast for too long. Alistair, his anchor, and I have made ourselves into a little committee to create more opportunities for Elijah to feel part of the office. I came up with this retreat idea originally for him as more of a casual thing, but Ozen agreed with it for more official reasons, and thus the corporate retreat was born.”
“Aw, that’s sweet,” Peri replied, bouncing on his toes a little. “I want to help!”
Taron nodded seriously. “Good. I’ll need your help. And Kian’s. That troublemaker will definitely know how to make a boring corporate retreat fun.”
Peri perked up, looking around. “Kian’s coming?”
“Kian is already here,” a familiar voice said behind them.
When Peri spun around, he beamed, waving at him enthusiastically. “Hi, Kian!”
Kian smiled softly. “Hi, Peri. Why do I get the feeling you’re going to keep bouncing until you get a hug?”
“Because you’re as smart as you are pretty?” Peri teased, hurrying over when Kian obligingly opened his arms for a hug. He didn’t stay long, he could practically feel Wash’s mood darken the longer he stood by himself, but he wouldn’t say no to hugs. They were better than sweets.
“Is that everyone then?” Taron asked, looking around.
“Where’s Tony?” Kian asked with a raised eyebrow. “Did you seriously forget your own mate?”
Taron shot him a dirty look, pointing toward the elevators. “No, of course not. He went upstairs with Zephyr to lie down after we arrived. He had another session with the druids yesterday, and he’s still recovering. He’ll be sitting out most of the activities, I don’t want him hurting himself, but he said he would be happy to watch and take videos for me.”
Peri could tell there was a part of Taron that didn’t like the idea of leaving his mate out, but if he was recovering, it was for the best. Still, Peri spoke up to make him feel better. “If there’s a kitchen, I can make him something so he can enjoy some sweets while he’s resting,” he offered.
Taron hesitated, obviously conflicted. “I want to say yes, because that cake you had sent to my office was amazing and Tony absolutely loved it, but you need to participate as well or Hugo will try to sit out of everything and won’t join in the fun.”
“I’m okay with that,” Wash growled.
Peri snickered, hugging Wash’s arm affectionately. “Don’t worry. I can find time to cook during a break.”
Taron’s smile softened. “Thank you, Peri. I hate the idea of leaving him out, but he needs his rest. Giving him a treat will make me feel better that he’s not having too bad of a time. He’s allergic to peanuts, so if you do find the time to make him something, keep that in mind. ”
That was good to know, and Peri made a mental note so he wouldn’t forget. He couldn’t do anything about it right now, but when Taron handed out an itinerary, he noted a few times he might find a moment to make something before the big team building events were scheduled. He doubted he needed to be in every meeting they had scheduled.
Their first order of business was a team luncheon, and Peri took the opportunity to drag Wash over to where his brother was in line for the buffet, stepping up beside him and smiling brightly in greeting.
“Hello again!”
This time, Elijah looked slightly less shell shocked when he returned Peri’s smile. “Hello to you. How was your trip here?”
“Fun!” Peri chirped, ignoring Wash’s scoff beside him. Grumpy demon. “Taron picked us up this morning, so I got to ride with him and get to know his mates.”
“Us?” Elijah queried, looking between Peri and Wash.
A flash of uncertainty made Peri hesitate. While Wash hadn’t been cold to him in the office, he’d never outright said they were dating either. Whenever anyone at work started asking questions, they got a dark look from Wash and a reminder that they were supposed to be working. Peri figured it was just Wash not wanting people poking their nose into his business, like the antisocial introvert he was, but he wasn’t sure what Wash would say to his own brother. Peri knew what he wanted him to say, but…
“I brought him coffee,” Wash grumbled, keeping his attention on filling up his plate with food.
Peri’s wings drooped for a moment, his happy mood dimming a little. They’d never discussed the definition of their relationship. Peri couldn’t get upset that Wash didn’t claim him. That would be unfair. It wasn’t like they were a couple.
Elijah looked concerned, tipping his head at Peri like he could feel how upset he was. As a telepath, he probably could. Peri shoved the feeling down, forcing himself to smile again. “What about you? When did you get here?”
Elijah was polite enough not to bring up his mood shift, though Peri could tell he knew something of what Peri was feeling if the look on his face was anything to go by. But he let the subject go, instead answering Peri’s question as he moved further down the buffet.
“We got here this morning. Alistair wanted to look around first before we met with everyone else. There are some really pretty trails on the property if you want to look around as well.”
Wash gotthe feeling he messed up. He’d only been half-listening to the conversation, not wanting to interject himself into Elijah’s life when he knew he wasn’t welcome, and he’d responded without thinking. But ever since that conversation, Peri’s mood had been a little off. Distant. He still smiled, still chatted with anyone seated in his general vicinity, but Wash noticed little things that gave away his true feelings. His wings, which usually fluttered when he was happy and opened and closed like a butterfly’s when he was relaxed, stopped moving and were actually drooping a little. He stopped hovering by Wash’s side, and the little touches he’d given Wash all morninghad stopped as well. It bothered him, though he couldn’t say why. He didn’t usually like people touching him. The only person he allowed to be so casual with him was Peri. He didn't like that he’d stopped.
The first few meetings were with the division leads and the CEO, so Wash had at least an hour before he was required to be anywhere. He went looking for Peri, who had wandered off when Ozen stood to explain the upcoming meeting and who needed to attend. All were welcome if they wanted to add in their opinions, but he wasn’t required to be there, and he wasn’t interested in volunteering himself for a meeting that he wasn’t needed in. He instead headed in the direction he’d seen Peri go, following his gut down a long hallway and into the staff area of the resort.