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“Do you have something against us?” Ramsey asked.

I shook my head. “Why would I?”

“You’re welcome to sit with us, is what Ramsey meant to say.” Raiden rolled his eyes. “The council is closing early today, and although the café window will be open the rest of the week and this weekend, it seems like everyone had the same idea to come and eat early before the kitchen closes.”

I carefully set my tray down next to Raiden and looked up at the line. It had grown since I’d joined it, and I could see the kitchen staff refilling pots and bowls as quickly as they were emptied.

“I’m not going to complain about the time off work, but I will say I’m surprised a bit.” I looked directly at Raiden. “Thanks for the invite to join you.”

Raiden tilted his head to the side. “Do you think that we don’t like you or something?”

I picked up my fork and started cutting up the biscuits that were under the stew. “No, why would you think that?”

“We’re the only gargoyles in the council. Yet you don’t ever seem interested in hanging out with us.”

I looked between the twins. “I haven’t really been offered an invitation either,” I told them. “I wasn’t expecting one though. The two of you are mated, and you have your family. I’m not going to ask to intrude on that.”

“Why not? We’re friendly,” Ramsey said.

I sighed. “Is this an inquisition? I just said why. I also never said you weren’t friendly. I just don’t want to be an extra at your family get-togethers.”

Ramsey looked irritated, and Raiden looked like he usually did—thoughtful. “Are you open to coming over sometime this weekend?” Raiden asked. “We’re having a small dinner. It’s just us, Roman and Beau, and of course, all of the kids.”

I shook my head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to Evan’s Friendsgiving tomorrow. Although he ran out of here in a hurry when he realized that his brother was pregnant again,” I said absently.

“Beau’s pregnant?” Raiden asked quietly.

“Yeah,” Ramsey answered. “It’s not been a secret. It was why we had Cooper for a week.”

The sudden relief that I hadn’t spilled an omega’s secret was huge. “I didn’t mean to spill anything,” I said.

“Naw. Roman and Beau didn’t keep it a secret at all. Evan still struggles sometimes with the fact that his baby brother is mated and has a kid already. They’ve not hidden it from Evan when he’s been around; he’s just been oblivious.”

That was a relief to hear. “He’s not normally like that. He’s always really focused when we’re at work,” I said about the fae. I took my first bite of stew and closed my eyes. It was just as delicious as I had thought it would be. I was certainly disappointed that the cafeteria would be closed for supper, but they deserved time off as well. It wasn’t like I couldn’t cook for myself, or if I really wanted something, I could always order some pizzas from down in Treasure Ridge and keep them in the refrigerator for the next day or two.

“I can’t believe that we’ve not invited you over for dinner,” Raiden said. He leaned back in his chair, his arms folded over his stomach.

“It really isn’t a big deal. I do appreciate the offer, but I honestly do already have plans. It wasn’t until Evan invited me that I heard we were going to have the weekend off starting tomorrow.”

“Starting at three today,” Ramsey said. “Phineas is already looking forward to having me home for the next four days in a row.”

“If you two want a night away from the babies, let me know. I’m positive that Alexander would be happy to have them over for the night.” Raiden looked directly at me. “We have a block get-together most weekends,” he told me. “Our little corner of the neighborhood takes turns having the meet-up at their house. You’re welcome to join us any weekend. It’s usually on Saturdays.”

I glanced between the two. “But I’m not mated. I don’t live in your neighborhood.”

“So? That isn’t a requirement,” Raiden said.

I stared at him for a moment before nodding. “I’ll think about it. I can’t say yes for certain yet. I’m not sure what my plans are for the weekend just yet.”

“Understood,” Raiden told me.

We fell into silence after that, the twins talking a little here and there about their kids and weekend plans. I was left wondering why now? Was it because I was a gargoyle too? Was it because they felt that meant they should include me in things? I’d not missed being around other gargoyles. Generally, we weren’t overly social outside of our immediate families. And Raiden and Ramsey had always seemed to stick together for most things. So what had changed?

Chapter 2

Lewis

Could this day get any more stressful? Seriously. I woke up late because I was having some oddball dream about Lukan, of all people. It wasn’t that the man wasn’t attractive, because he was. Incredibly so. But he wasn’t my mate. And he definitely didn’t see me as anything other than an annoyance. One he felt he needed to look after because I was an unmated omega away from home, and he was an alpha. I rolled my eyes at that.