“It’s funnier than finding out the town thinks we’re in a cult!” Noah nearly shouted.
Wrapping his arms around Noah, Bas pulled the little one back against his chest. Noah loved hugs and cuddling and it had been Bas’s fault that the familiar was so upset.
“I’ve heard it before,” Axel said.
Several other men nodded.
“Everyone is so nice to me,” Sam said quietly. “Anytime they enter the bookstore, they haven’t acted weird or anything.”
“It’s just a few people,” Drake said. “Some of the older families that have been around the longest. Or the sheriff department. No one pays them any mind.”
“We have kept to ourselves for a very long time,” Axel added. “I started to buy up this land before the town had been established. It was easier to stay out of sight and not get close to humans since they would start asking questions about us.”
Nate sat on Craig’s knee and sighed. “We haven’t had to change our names or come with much of a backstory since we didn’t go into town a lot. I can pass as my great-great grandfathers since no one really remembers much about us.”
“It wasn’t until recent years that we started businesses,” Axel explained. “We had a family meeting and agreed to help rebuildthe town, even knowing it meant we’d have to leave, at least for a couple of decades, so not to draw suspicions.”
“Well, I’m glad that is no longer a concern!” Noah stomped his foot. “I love it here!”
Bas hated that it was his fault that all these concerns were being brought up.
“Are you going to have to leave soon?” Leo asked. “If we open an office—”
“No,” Axel said. “We have time.”
“We’re going to have to leave, Daddy?” Bryce, the cute alpha mate, was blinking back tears.
Bas wanted to smack himself. This wasn’t fair to the family.
“Baby boy.” Axel wrapped an arm around Bryce and drew him close.
In fact, all the mates seemed to be clinging to one another. Needing comfort. Had they really not discussed this before? From what Bas understood, Axel and some of the first men to join the family had been here for an extraordinarily long time. It might be better if they thought about relocating sooner rather than later. Suspicious humans could cause a lot of problems.
Bryce sniffed. “But I don’t want to leave. This is the only home I’ve ever really had.”
“It won’t be for a very long time,” Axel told him. “And we can go anywhere. Even to other realms if that’s what we want.”
“But we’ll stay together? The family, I mean?” Bryce asked in a shaking voice.
“Well…” Axel didn’t seem to know how to answer.
“Guys!” Noah said loudly.
Once Noah had everyone’s attention, he waved in Dean’s direction. “Most powerful mage sitting right there. With the bestest familiar ever. Plus, we have Lucifer. We have magic! We don’t have to leave. That’s what glamour is for.”
Dean nodded slowly. “He’s right. A simple charm to wear around your neck when you go into town and it will change your appearance enough that you can be whoever you want.”
The shock on the faces around him made Bas chuckle.
There was an explosion of shouts, loud talking, as everyone seemed to have something to say all at once.
Bas kissed the back of Noah’s head. What a smart little familiar. It wasn’t something that he’d considered either so could felt the family’s relief.
Tipping his head back, Noah grinned at him. “Crisis averted.”
“Good job,” Bas praised.
“That doesn’t mean you’re out of trouble. Hudson means business,” Noah told him.
