Page 6 of Enchanted

“Whatever has your knickers in a twist, don’t take it out on us,” Ez warned. His arm had wrapped protectively around his mate, like he could shield him from my bad mood. “This is our home, Rami.”

My temper flared at that, rising to the easy bait Ezekiel offered. “And it’s ours too.” My arms swept out to encompass Theo, Nate, and Benji. “Do you think we like having our mateless status rubbed in our faces at every opportunity?”

“I don’t really give a shit,” Theo said, sipping on his coffee. Nate, at his side, said nothing. But the furrow between his brows deepened as he scowled down at his plate.

“Me neither,” Benji said, not looking up from his crossword. “Nothing’s changed for me. My mate will find me when it’s time.”

My lips tightened. I used to feel like that. I did.

But then this itch had started.

Now, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Him.

Whoever he was.

“It’s kind of hot,” Theo added, waggling his brows at Sam. “Like free porn.”

Benji snorted. “You do realise there’s a plethora of free porn available online?”

“Obviously. But the role-play Sam and Ez are dishing out night after night?” Theo gave a delicate shiver. “Delicious.”

My bad mood was entirely forgotten as Ez turned his deadly glare on Theo. “You want to say that again?”

“It’s fine,” Sam said quickly.

“It’s not fine,” Ez said through gritted teeth. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“If you start down that avenue, we’ll be here all day,” Nate drawled.

Micah’s chair scraped noisily over the kitchen floor. “Ezekiel, back down. Theodore, apologise. Now.”

“For what?” Theo’s eyes widened comically. “I’m giving them a compliment.”

Ez got to his feet slowly. Very, very slowly.

Feeling much more chipper, I tore a croissant in two and slathered it in jam. “How, exactly, is any of this complimentary?”

“I don’t just jack off over anything, you know. I have quite refined tastes.” Theo sniffed.

Nate barked a laugh. “I think you mean perverted.”

Ez’s chest puffed up. “You better not be telling me you’re getting off to the sounds of my mate.”

Sam sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. I reached over and patted his shoulder, subtly extending my shield over him, just in case.

“If I’m perverted, I hope my mate is too,” Theo said dreamily, resting his chin on his hand. “Role-play is so much fun. Bet it’s even better with a bond.”

Sam tugged on Ez’s hand until he dropped back into his seat. “Does that mean you’re finally going to track him down?”

Like everyone else, my eyes snapped to Nate. To how he stiffened, his shoulders bowing inwards.

“No,” Theo said, his voice strained as he too glanced at his twin. “Not planning on it just yet.”

‘Yet,’ because there was only so much Theo could do to resist the pull to his fated mate. I’d been as shocked as the others when he’d confessed that he knew they were close by. But not as shocked as I’d been when he’d said he wasn’t going to seek them out. Because, while he could sense his mate, Nate couldn’t. The two of them had gone through life doing everything together. They’d thought that would extend to sharing a mate. Hell, we’d all thought that.

But fate had different plans.

“Don’t let me stop you,” Nate said belatedly, clearing his throat. “I’m not asking you to wait.”