Cassandra stared at him.
“You cancook?”
“Yes.”Ravik’sexpression grew solemn.“BetterthanSev.”
Despite himself,Sevmade a sound of protest.
“That is demonstrably false,” he pointed out.
Ravik’s eyes flicked to him.Theywere almost completely clear now—the bright, animal gold piercing the cloudy white of the viral film like the sun burning away fog.
“You burned thethessa mash,”he rumbled.
“I scorched itonce,”Sevsaid stiffly.“Andonlybecause you distracted me whenIwas trying to cook.”
“You burn itevery time,”Raviksaid.
Cassandra looked between them, her expression hovering somewhere between disbelief and laughter.
“I’m sorry—are wereallyhaving an argument about who makes better alien refried beans while one of you is naked, one of you has really long fangs, andI’mstanding here in a wet nightgown with zombie virus in my bloodstream?”she asked.
Sev closed his mouth quickly, feeling a rush of shame.Therewas no way his fangs should be so sharp right now.Cassandrawasn’t his mate—orRavik’smate for that matter.Sowhy did being around the little human make his fangs ache and throb and get so sharp they almost cut his tongue?
It didn’t matter—none of it mattered, he told himself.Themain thing was, she was right—this was a ridiculous situation and they needed to move on.Nowthat his hypothesis had been at least partially proven, there was no need forCassieto be standing there hugging the extremely nakedRavik.
“Ravik,” he said to his best friend, “Youneed to put on clothing.”
The bigBeastKindredfrowned.
“But mate needs food.”
“Mate also needs you to wear pants,”Cassandrasaid instantly.
Ravik looked down at her.Forsome reason, her words seemed to carry more weight thanSev’shad.Aftera moment, he nodded.
“IfMatewishes it,Ravikwill wear pants.”
“I wish it very much,” she said.“Infact,Icannotexpresshow muchIwish it.”
“ThenIwill wear pants.”Raviklooked atSeverin.“Sev, bring pants.”
Severin stared at him.
“Excuse me?”
“Bring pants,”Ravikrepeated, as though this was a perfectly reasonable request.“MatewantsRavikto wear them butRavikdoes not want to stop holdingMate.SoSevcan bring pants.”
Cassandra pressed her lips together, but a laugh escaped anyway.Itwas small and startled and quickly smothered, butSevheard it and so didRavik.
TheBeastKindredlooked down at her again, his expression softening in a waySeverinhad not seen in months.
“Mate laughs,” he said.“Mateis laughing.”
“Don’t get used to it,”Cassandrawarned, but her voice had gone softer too.
Severin watched them and felt something twist sharply in his chest.
It wasn’t jealousy, he told himself.Orat least, itshouldn’thave been.Ravikwas his best friend.Hisbrother in every way that mattered.
