“Dr. Jenkins doesn’t like visitors and always refuses overnight guests,” she admitted, her stare going to the floor. “I don’t want to rock the boat.”
“Well, I’m not Dr. Jenkins. One moment,” I said pointedly, pulling out my phone.
Nix picked up on the first ring. “You called, my sweet, beautiful angel?”
I rolled my eyes, my stomach clenching. “I’m ignoring that. I need you to override Jenkins on something for me.”
Leah’s eyes widened.
“Whatever you need.Actually, one moment.” There was scuffling and movement down the line, and in a few seconds, Nix walked through the door, his blond curls bouncing as he bounded in like a walking ray of sunshine.
“You called?” he asked with a cheesy grin, and I had to laugh.
I should have been peeved, but something about that smile hit me in the gut. Andfuck,I wanted to smile with him. It was infectious. Everything about him was like that, this bright, shiny energy that oozed “let me serve you.”
“How closewereyou?” I asked.
“I’ll always be close by, princess.” He beamed, not shy in the slightest.
I narrowed my eyes, fighting the grin creeping up my lips. “That’s called stalking.”
Nix shrugged, sliding over to stand next to me. “I call it being a good mate.”
A small squeak escaped Leah, and I shot my eyes to her, my heartbeat accelerating.
“Mate?” she asked, lookingbetween us.
Nix nodded at Leah, still grinning. “It’s a long story. We’re still figuring it out, so I would appreciate it if you don’t go telling the whole horde just yet, because we know how theyloveto gossip.”I kept my tone light, but my chest constricted. While it was inevitable it would get out, I wanted to avoid it for a while, hopefully long enough for me to figure out what the hell was going on myself.
“O-of course.”
“Alpha Phoenix!” Rory smiled weakly, trying his best to get excited.
“Looking good, Rory!” Nix walked up to the bed and ruffled his hair in a surprisingly gentle move. “You look like you’re a little better.”
Rory bobbed his head. “Still really sleepy, though.”
“Ilovesleep.” Nix nodded seriously. “It’s very important. If I could nap all day, I totallywould.”
I snorted. Of course, he would. Nix seemed more and more like a floppy-eared, oversized puppy each time I saw him.
“So, what can I help with, Rowan?” he asked, turning to me.
“Can you move in a bed? I want Leah to be able to sleep here and look after Rory. Jenkins has a thing about overnights, but that’s bullshit—especially when we’re talking about a child.”
Rory giggled, his eyes wide as he rolled his lips between his teeth. “She said a cuss word. I like her.”
Nix frowned, looking around the room at Leah and Rory.
“I don’t want to be a bother, Al?—”
Nix waved off Leah’s words. “You are a member of our horde; your needs are never a bother. I didn’t realize the old”—he broke off, glancing at Rory, clearly choosing his next word carefully—“manwasn’t allowing overnights. I’ll get a bed in here ASAP.”
He pulled out his phone and texted someone. Gratitude filled me, and as much as I didn’t want to admit it, Nix did have a way about him.
“But I—” Leah started, her face a mask of worry.
“You just look after Rory,” Nix told her with a good-natured smile. “Leave this to me.”
