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“But will you two when she carves your fucking balls out with a spoon?” Mal asks.
“What do you care?” Cevon asks with a smirk. “At least if she carves our dicks off, it’ll get you further up the line.”
Mal snorts. “Your funeral. Literally. Atticus is going to wipe you into the fucking ground.”
“I’m sure he’ll try,” Cevon says, winking at me. “But I’m not going to make it easy for him.”
My brother is light on his feet, rocking back and forth as he sheds his jacket. His eyes are amber, his lion right at the edge of his brain, ready for the battle.
Maybe I should’ve pulled my head out of my ass and proposed we did this earlier.
It might have sorted us out faster, and it might have saved Nora the upset she’s got going on right now.
“Are we shifting or would you rather we settle this like men?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at my brother.
“Three rounds,” Cevon says, and Devoss smirks. “Human, lion, then whatever you want.”
I nod.
“Let’s move it a bit further from the house,” Orson says, glancing to the front door as if he’s worried Nora’s going to come out. “I don’t want Nora seeing this accidentally and getting the wrong impression on what’s going on.”
“I don’t want to go too far away,” Cevon says, also glancing at the front door. He frowns, and it’s just another reminder of how much he loves my mate.
I don’t think he’s aware of his own feelings, or at least, I don’t think Nora’s aware of them. He’s a complicated man, and I’m going to be laying some thick conditions on my winning.
It’ll make him fight harder, but, ultimately, I hope it will make him open up. We’ve got a lot of shit that we need to work through, and if he needs to take a beating to share it, then maybe he’ll be more open.
I don’t know, it might be a silly thought. Cevon’s changed a lot, and the tricks I used to use on him probably don’t work anymore.
“She’ll be fine,” Orson reassures him. Cevon doesn’t seem to believe him. I wish I could reassure him, but he doesn’t want anything from me. “Griffin and Micah are with her.”
“The two softies?” Mal mutters, also glancing at the door now. “What if—”
“They’ll be fine,” Voss says, cutting him off with a shake of his head. “Let’s go and get this over with. I’m not sure Micah is going to be enough to help Nora through her heat.”
“But you will?” Mal asks with a smirk as we trudge away.
“Are you sure this is smart?” Orson asks, nudging me gently as we trail behind the others.
“Nora’s laid down the law,” I say, avoiding a branch that Cevon swings my way. Fucking childish. “But even without her demands, this is something Cevon and I need to do. We need to get on the same page.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“I hope so.”
Orson smiles, coming to a stop. “Me, too. He’s damaged, Atticus. He needs us, even if he’s determined to push you—and by extension, us—away.”
I nod.
“First blood wins this round,” Orson says.
“First blood?” I ask as Cevon grins. He reaches up and tugs off his shirt, and not to be undone, I copy him. He’s wearing a pair of beat up trainers, and I’ve got on a pair of loafers.
It’s obvious who is winning in that regard.
But I still think I’ve got this in the bag.
Cevon bares his teeth, and we start circling each other as we wait for Orson to give us the go ahead.
