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Ethan couldn’t even fathom such a thought. Marcus would never do that. His lover had been very clear that Ethan wasn’t a pet. He was just playing a role. He loved Ethan. But did they mean the same thing when they said those words?
It was only when Victoria’s free hand patted his that Ethan realized he’d gotten lost in thought. He looked up to see her sympathetic gaze.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure Marcus will take very good care of you. He seems very serious and I’m sure that means he’ll be very serious about your care. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Oh, I’m not. I guess I hadn’t given much thought to the future. I was just enjoying my time with Marcus so much.”
“That’s good! Vampires are fun and sexy and their stamina…” She groaned loudly before digging out a scoop of ice cream.
“The best!” Ethan chimed in with a giggle.
“And generous! That is an amazing collar Marcus has given you.”
Ethan straightened a little and lifted his chin so that the light could more easily bounce off the sapphires. “This is my first and Marcus has promised me one for every color of the rainbow.”
“Ooooh…I’m gonna have to tell my master so he can up his collar game. He’s a member of the Ministry. No offense, but he can’t let his pet be shown up by anyone.”
“Oh no, I totally understand. Marcus has said that the Ministry is very important, not that I understand all of it.”
Victoria made a little dismissive noise. “Neither do I. All political nonsense, but it means that other vampires are supposed to respect Winslow and the Ministry members.”
“But doesn’t it worry you?”
“What?”
Ethan looked over one shoulder and then the other, as if making sure they were completely alone, before he leaned closer to his companion. “The murders,” he said in a harsh whisper.
“Is that what your master was talking about before we were sent away?”
Ethan nodded. “Two members of the Ministry were already killed.”
Victoria paled, lowering her spoon to the counter with a soft tink. “Did they kill each other?”
“No, they were killed days apart, from my understanding.”
“Oh, God. Do you think my master is safe?”
Ethan chewed on his bottom lip and gave Victoria a sympathetic look.
“What? What do you know?”
Ethan leaned a little closer to Victoria and she did the same. “I overheard something Winter and Rafe were saying. I don’t think they knew I was there. I’d left to run an errand for Marcus but came back because I forgot my keys.”
“What did you hear?”
“Winter said that he’d heard that someone named Sebastian was planning to kill Winslow and take his seat on the Ministry since Winslow’s only supporter had been killed off. Said he was an easy target now.”
Victoria pulled away from Ethan, and he watched the emotions flit across her face. The fear he’d expected, but he was surprised by the look of calculation. Winslow wasn’t going to last long. Ethan just wasn’t sure if Winslow was going to pick a fight with someone Marcus said he couldn’t beat, or if his own pet was going to do him in and then offer herself up to this Sebastian.
Either way, Ethan was ready to leave this house and return to Marcus’s home and his embrace.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Two nights after the visit to the Ministry member’s house, Ethan found himself standing in the foyer of Marcus’s new home, directing the movers as they hauled in boxes and furniture. The pianos had arrived a day earlier, and a piano tuner was scheduled to come the next day to retune all three. They’d made the trip in a private jet with Marcus’s brothers, which was hands down the most extravagant experience of his life. Ethan had spent the majority of the time talking to Bel as Marcus and Winter whispered about something at the rear of the jet. Rafe was stretched out along a bench, sleeping for most of the flight.
Ethan liked Bel. The vampire was sweet and dedicated to his research. He was also a lot more perceptive about people than his brothers gave him credit for, but Ethan figured it was easier for them to dismiss Bel as an absentminded professor than to accept that their nerdy brother had their number.
“Ethan,” Marcus called from the second-floor staircase railing.
Ethan looked up to see his lover leaning over the railing to look down at him. He was wearing his usual dark suit, but his hair was standing wildly about his head. Ethan was quickly learning this was a sign that Marcus was feeling stressed and anxious. His first guess was the sheer number of people running around his house.
“Yes?”
“Has the Wi-Fi been set up yet? Janice needs me to look over some contracts.”
“Yes. I wrote down the password and put it in your wallet.”
Ethan nearly laughed at the look of surprise on Marcus’s face, but he muttered a quick thanks before disappearing again. Ethan’s guess was that he’d marched to the temporary office he’d set up next to the master bedroom.
