Mads
It was a few hours’ drive away. The coven was nothing like others, where they’d been compounds or neighborhoods…gated communities. It was almost shabby from the outside looking in.
As they pulled into the parking garage, memories of it returned. A hazy blur sitting in Baron’s car, falling onto the sidewalk. He’d been so clueless and disoriented. As his breathing increased, Marquis reached across the console and rested a warm hand over his. “Are you okay seeing this place again? I know this was the last spot you saw…”
“It’s also where he died. Thank you. I mean it.” Mads took a calming breath and waited as Marquis parked and got out to open the door for him. Baron had never opened a door for him, ever. But it was easy to grow accustomed to Marquis’s gestures. His acts of civility were the way he showed love.
“This is also where I met Rexford’s mate for the first time.” Marquis barely hid a look of distaste.
“Was it bad?” Mads raised a brow.
“It was bad,” a new voice said, one that Mads took a few seconds to recognize.Rex.
“Not. A. Word.” Mads recognized the male. He’d seen him briefly when he’d first been brought to the States and again when Baron had abandoned him.Cade…No, Nite. Midnite.
“Now I want to hear.” Mads huffed.
“I was giving Rex’s magic a feel up and things got heated, and Marquis scared the shit out of me, and I shifted and dove under a car in panic.” Midnite crossed his arms and scowled at Marquis.
“Urinated yourself, I believe.” Marquis snorted.
Midnite frowned. “That wasn’t piss. It was jizz. I liked his magic. A lot.”
Marquis’s face turned a deep scarlet. “Oh! Gods, I didn’t need to hear that.”
Mads glanced at Marquis, who gave him aback me up hereexpression. Mads could only shrug. “What? Should I be unhappy that it was a successful match? Good for him, honestly. Unless Rex wasn’t okay with it.”
“I was okay with it.” Rex grinned.
“See? Everyone’s happy. Now, where do the fairer ones congregate while the masters do their bit?” Mads smiled.
“Fairer ones? Masters?” Midnite mouthed the word, frowning.
“Old terminology.” Marquis waved his hand. “It’s not uncommon to refer to mages mated to omegas or females as alphas or masters.”
“Oh. I thought the shifters didn’t like that.” Mads frowned.
“Nobody’s said anything to me about it. And I sure as hell won’t be calling Rex a master.” Midnite huffed and strode over to take Mads by his arm. “Get your bags, and I’ll show you to your room, and you can come help us wrangle kids.”
“How many children are here besides my grandson?” Mads grinned.
“Grandsons. Vince, Caspian. Then there’s Blue and Luke—Sailor and Leon’s kids. And there’s Sheila, our bonus baby. She’s sort of in two families’ care at the moment. Warring takes the most care of her, but he’s blind, so there needs to be some extra help because Warring relies on her a little too much for comfort.” Midnite yammered on as he helped Mads with his things and smiled.
“I didn’t know you had two babies…” Mads frowned.
“Vince was adopted.” Nite hefted a bag and shuffled off, lips twisted in a bright smile.
“Vince… Leon… Warring…” Mads halted mid-step.
Nite turned and stared Mads down. “Am I missing something?”
“You all found one another…” Mads counted his breaths, taking deep draws of air and exhaling slowly.
“Found us?” Midnite tilted his head.
“I remember you when you were younger… I saw you once. And Warring is a skunk… Leon is a finch.” Mads nervously scratched at his arm, mind racing. Flashes of beaten-down omegas, familiars, all in a haze until a warm hand rested on his shoulder.
“Hey. If you don’t want to see them, that isfine. Nobody blames you. They know you’re coming. They know who you are and what happened. Together, we heal.” Midnite’s words sank in, and Mads found himself following with uneven steps, mind calming at the reassurance.
