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“More like a little spy,” Rafe said.
Ethan released Bel and glared at Rafe for a second before smiling at Bel again. “They just said, ‘Don’t be stupid.’ ”
“That leaves quite a bit of room for us to work,” Philippe said.
“Oh, yes. We can be completely idiotic, ridiculous, reckless, impulsive—”
“Enough, Rafe,” Bel said as he closed the door behind Ethan.
He followed his family into the living room where Wyatt and River were already standing, looking tense and uncomfortable. When they rose that evening, they’d both dressed in the nicest clothes in their wardrobes, but Bel had marched them back into their closet and asked them to change into jeans and T-shirts. It was who they were. He didn’t want his wolves pretending to be anything in their own home. He wanted his family to get to know the real Wyatt and River.
Rafe walked straight up to Wyatt, eyes narrowed. “Are you the black wolf or the gray one?”
“Black,” Wyatt replied.
Rafe extended his hand. “Thank you for not biting my balls that day.”
“Rafe!” Bel shouted, but it was barely heard over Ethan’s and River’s laughter.
Even Wyatt looked as if he were trying not to laugh as he shook Rafe’s hand. “You’d have to do something pretty horrible to warrant an attack like that. Something like…hurting Bel.”
Rafe’s smile turned wicked, and Bel could only rub the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “Your pets have some bite, my sweet Bel,” Rafe teased.
“As you know firsthand,” River snapped.
“They’re not pets, Rafe.” There was no keeping the sharpness out of his voice. The term “pet” wasn’t complimentary within the vampire world. Pets were humans vampires kept for amusement, sex, and blood donors. The poor things were usually treated horribly and generally died while in the care of their vampire. Pets had no rights and no means of escape, since the world couldn’t be allowed to know vampires existed.
Rafe strolled over to a chair and dropped gracefully into it. “Yes, I understand they’re quite a bit bigger than that bloody bird. You’ve always gotten so attached to the animals that stuck around.”
“They are nothing like Ozzie!”
“Mon amour, you’re the only one who sees them in the same vein as Ozzie,” Philippe said as he sat on the arm of Rafe’s chair. “This is bigger than what you’re thinking.”
Rafe’s brow furrowed as he watched Bel cross over to stand with Wyatt and River. “Well, yes, I know he cares for them. He made that quite clear at Marcus’s house. What are you thinking, mon ange? Are they like my Lola or Gideon?”
Lola was Rafe’s oldest friend and closest confidant outside his own family, while Gideon was a young vampire he’d rescued years ago. Bel suspected he’d say the man was more of a younger brother or even a son.
“No, Rafe. I see them more like…how you hold Philippe in your heart. They are mine, and I’m theirs. I love them. I won’t be parted from them. Even if they are never officially made Variks, they are mine.”
Rafe’s mouth hung open, but no words came out. Both Philippe and Ethan were looking quite happy and maybe even smug. But Bel didn’t get a chance to think about it.
River crushed him in a tight hug, his face buried in his neck. Waves of love and joy slammed into Bel from both wolves, followed by the warm embrace of Wyatt’s arms around the two of them. He was loved, truly and completely. They never had to utter the words. Bel could feel it so strongly. He’d felt it for days now. Known it even when they tried to leave him.
“Wait…both of them?” Rafe asked, and Bel started shaking with laughter. “My geeky, scientist brother who thinks sex is limited to a creature’s gender is involved with two men?”
“We’re not involved. We’re in love,” River corrected.
“And when it comes to sex, Bel is very good at—”
“Stop!” Rafe interrupted Wyatt. Bel looked up to find Rafe now standing, pointing directly at Wyatt. His entire body was as rigid as a steel pole. “Not. One. Word. It is bad enough I’m getting updates on the kinky shit Marcus gets up to from that one,” Rafe continued, his finger shooting over to point at Ethan, who looked like he was going to fall off the couch with laughter. “I do not want to know what my twin is getting up to in any room of this house or out in the woods.”
“When did you become such a prude?” Ethan teased. “You’re the one with the Instagram account filled with nudes of you and Philippe.”
“Tasteful, partial nudes,” Philippe corrected.
River’s head popped up. “Can we have an Instagram account?”
“No!” Bel and Rafe said in unison.
Bel continued, “I don’t care what Rafe shares with the world, but I don’t want to share either of you with anyone. You’re both mine.”
