All the ways their life is imperfectly-perfect flies through Grayson’s mind. Someday, they may decide to take that perfectlife somewhere else, but right now, today, he’s not going to let Professor Kirwan scare them off.
It’s not exactlyeasyto get the words out, but he gets them out just the same. “I’m going to the tribunal.”
Rowan shifts to fill the doorway to the foyer, placing two huge hands protectively over the girls.
“We’re not leaving?” Luca frowns, scorched coffee flowing out in a wave that has Skye wiggling to be down from Jay’s shoulders so he can climb Luca like a tree. “What about that Kirwan person? She doesn’t sound like she’s going to give up easily.”
“No doubt about that,” Gideon agrees. He looks less than pleased about standing their ground and letting The Guild decide their fate. His fingers twitch toward the phone as if he’s gotten the urge to call in reinforcements.
Grayson fully intends to let him—once he’s had his say.
This morning, hehad beenanxious before he’d let the literal action of running ease him. He’d been through countless scenarios, and while escaping into the Canadian wilderness hadn’t been the first thing to come to mind, facing the tribunal and ending up in Switzerlandhad.By the time he’d turned on their quiet street, he’d resigned himself to those three or four years in Switzerland. With or without his entire pack, he’d made a sort of fatalistic peace with the sacrifice until they could figure out he wasn’tThe One.
“They’re looking for someone strong in Time Affinity, and whoever that is, it isn’t me,” he says firmly.
“Weknow you ‘aren’t the droid they’re looking for,’ but how are we going to get them to get on board? I know for damn sure that if they put you in irons and drag you from the castle keep, Jay is going to go all Darth Vader on their asses.”
What he means is that Rowan’s wolf isn’t going to take it lying down.
“Aww, youlurveme,” Grayson says, batting his eyes coquettishly.
“Ew,” Rowan responds, but he’s wearing the smallest smirk when he hides his lips in the top of Rosie’s head.
“If you say so,” Grayson says with a chuckle. He finds that he is genuinely amused, not just putting on a brave face or hiding his angst under humor.
“You’re serious about this, then?” Finn asks. He’s stopped in the doorway to the library, this time without another armful of books. “None of us wants you to go through this just because you think it’s the only way to keep us safe.”
“Finnie, you once asked me if the chance at a beautiful life was worth the risk? And we have that here—a beautiful life.” Finn had said the words out loud, and the Goddess had set them directly into his soul, on that parapet high above the Gulf. They had said he needed to give himself permission to be all he could be.
It’s been a challenge as he’d tried to keep himself under wraps, or doled his magic out in manageable bits to please his teachers or to keep his family safe, but it was still true.
Grayson watches Nix haul himself out of the pool, his tiny white briefs bright against his summer-tanned legs. He catches a glimpse of the freckles on his thighs and four bruises in differing sizes on his lower belly. They’re ones Nix wants to keep beyond the few seconds bruises would normally stick around because of his omega healing. He calls them his treasures—gifts from their mates while he’s being loved beyond anything he could ever dream.
“If you’re sure?” Leo asks. He slides open the door to the lanai, wrapping Nix in a big, fluffy towel before reaching underneath to pull off the cold, wet underwear.
Nix shivers and meets Grayson’s gaze with eyes the color of a gathering storm. And then, slowly, deliberately, he opens their bonds wide.
He’d been holding them all back—Jay’s anxiety, Gideon’s anger, Rowan’s uncertainty, Luca’s fear, Leo’s determination, and Finn’s worry. He’d not wanted to overwhelm Grayson by letting their emotions flow at full intensity through their soul. He’d wanted Grayson to know his own mind first.
He can’t tell Nix’s emotions from the roiling miasma. It’s because right now, they’re feeling the same thing—steady, calm, and determined to meet this head-on. Whatever comes their way, they will handle it together.
He finds himself repeating Leo’s words. “Are you sure?”
“One hundred percent.” Nix eases into his arms, and that feeling of love swells around and through him. Jay and Finn crowd in behind. Luca and Skye stick to the outside of the hug, but Leo pulls Gideon in until they’re in their usual knot of family and comfort. “Is that okay with all of you?”
Rowan presses a kiss to his head before unbuckling the groggy Rosie and handing her to Finn. “Let’s kick it in the a-s-s. Speaking of…you’re up, Doc. Stinkeroo at Rosie-o’clock.”
Finn looks like he’d rather stay smooshed into Grayson’s side, and he opens his mouth to argue just as Rosie’s face goes red as her bottom announces Finn’s immediate departure.
“Rose Frances, what are they feeding you?” He holds her out in front of himself, throwing a dirty look at Rowan. He stops as he’s almost out the door. “Whatever you want, Gray, okay?”
Skye pats Grayson’s shoulder, making rare eye contact for a moment, before he wiggles down from Luca’s arms. Without saying a word, he drags his backpack down the hall toward his little room.
While it hadn’t been on Grayson’s mind—all the thingshemight be forced to leave behind—he’s happy that for a few morehours, his son will get to keep his safe and happy room with his real tree and favorite characters on the wall.
“It’s going to be okay. I can feel it.” Nix squeezes him again around the waist before slipping his hands into the back of Grayson’s running shorts to do the same to his butt. “I need a shower. Wanna join?”
“Hell, yeah. I’ll be up in a minute.” Grayson tilts his head toward Gideon, who hasn’t said a word but is tidying the passports and envelopes of cash into the zippered portfolio with two of the burner phones.
