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“One hundred and seventy-six.”
“Why?” A lump was growing in his throat because he knew that the answer wasn’t going to be a happy one. What could make them all choose at once to become vampires? Unless they’d had no choice.
“To protect our mother and to protect the world from her. We waited until Winter turned twenty-three, and then Aiden changed us all on the same night.”
Ethan squeezed his eyes closed, but Marcus was right there, wiping away the tears that slipped out. “Don’t, Ethan,” he whispered. “My brothers and I have no regrets about our decision. It hasn’t always been an easy life, but we’ve had each other. And if I hadn’t, we would have never met.”
Blinking back tears, Ethan turned his face and kissed Marcus’s palm. “I’m glad we met.”
“Me too.”
Ethan dug into his omelet, desperately searching his brain for a lighter topic. “Can you turn into a bat?”
Marcus laughed and choked at the same time, spitting the bite he had in his mouth across the room.
Ethan snorted. “I’m gonna take that as a no.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Marcus fought the urge to reach over and take Ethan’s hand as they rode the elevator up to Rafe’s penthouse. As it was, he couldn’t completely dismiss the smile that played on his lips every time he looked over at the young man. He knew he should be heartbroken over the death of his mother, but what he told Ethan was the truth. They’d said good-bye to the woman who had raised them as children nearly two hundred years ago. They mourned her death over the years while caring for the creature that walked around in her body.
Of course, they weren’t going to just let her death pass. She was still murdered, and the culprits behind that act had to be dealt with, which was why they were gathering at Rafe’s.
But their grim reason for gathering did nothing to diminish his joy.
Ethan knew the truth of what Marcus was, and he still loved him. Ethan still wanted him. They’d spent the majority of the day either talking or wrapped in each other, and he had been the one to drag his feet when it came time to leave for Rafe’s. Never in his life had he struggled to get out of bed and put his mind to the task ahead of him. Except this time, he’d wanted to linger in bed, Ethan’s naked body draped around his as they talked or kissed.
And never in his life had he felt so free. He’d largely squashed the voice in the back of his head, but then the little voice cared less about what happened in the secret of his home. It was standing in public where others could see him, judge him. Where others could hurt Ethan for being with a man, not that Ethan gave a shit what others thought about him.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile so much,” Ethan said with a grin of his own.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had such a good reason to smile.”
Ethan chuckled. “Yeah, I knew that was totally an ‘I got laid’ smile.”
“That makes sense since I did get laid. Several times, in fact.”
“Yes, but I figured you wouldn’t want your brothers knowing that,” Ethan said, never losing his smile, but Marcus’s wilted a little.
“Why would I worry about them knowing?”
“Well, I thought they still blamed me for the attack on your home and the death of Julianna.” Ethan’s smile seemed more brittle as he looked up at Marcus, and it was becoming much clearer that Ethan was incredibly nervous about going to Rafe’s penthouse. He shifted from one foot to the next, and the hands Marcus had thought were tucked behind his back were actually holding the bar around the car in a death grip. “I also wasn’t sure how you’d feel about them knowing you’re involved with a man.”
Marcus stepped closer to Ethan so that their chests were brushing. “I’m not involved with a man,” Marcus said with a sneer. “I’m in love with a beautiful, amazing, funny, smart man.” He smiled when Ethan’s shoulders slumped a little in his relief. “And your only crime from last night is not telling me sooner about the League, but I understand why you didn’t and have forgiven you.”
“Thank you,” Ethan murmured, leaning his forehead against Marcus.
“Last night’s attack was not your fault. Julianna’s death was not your fault. She wanted to protect you. I will not take her sacrifice for granted. You are precious to me.”
Ethan lifted his head and smiled at him, tears glistening in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but the elevator chimed and the doors slid open. On the other side stood Bel, wearing a dark suit with a red bow tie. His hair was standing up a bit as if he’d been pulling at it in frustration, but it was good to see him not covered in blood for once. His brother’s eyes moved from Marcus to Ethan to Marcus again before a smug smirk flashed across his face. He turned on his heel and walked across shining black floors, leaving Marcus and Ethan to follow.
