AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It is not all play,” Arthur insisted. “It has ever been the hallmark of our world, challenges and bloodshed.”
Ben sighed. “None of our generation conform to the old ways. The few elders who do see their power wane with every passing day.” Arthur had no answer for that. “Has it occurred to you that Georgie may know what he’s doing?” Ben asked. “He is not the fribble the world may like to think him.”
“Not always,” Arthur allowed.
“What was his approach that night he bid you wed Beezy? Languid wrist twirling or that awful stillness?”
“Awful stillness, mainly.” Arthur slapped the water around him. “But he was wearing one of those coats of his. It was embroidered with capering bunnies.”
“Jemima’s work.”
“She was at Lowell’s wedding. Bosom friend of the new Duchess of Lowell.”
“Ah.” Ben nodded as if it was all the answer he needed.
“Ah?”
“Lowell’s human duchess who is also acquainted with your new human duchess, who I daresay is not unknown to one of our childhood friends who isversipellis. There may be a greater plan that Georgie weaves.”
“A spider in his web.”
“As is any Alpha, no matter his species.”
“We are reducing their number in these parts. Spiders, that is.”
“But what selfless work they do, showing us where we have not taken care.” He turned and swam for the wider, deeper stretch of the water, and Arthur followed.
Even in their human form, there were no better fishermen than those of ursine lineage. With their bare hands, the brothers scooped up trout as easily as picking daisies. A respectable pile of fish flopped upon the bank until they flopped no more.
“Do you remember when we were young, living in Court, and that sleuth from Denmark came calling?” Ben tossed one lastpiscis purison the bank and floated, face to the sun, which had pushed aside the clouds once again. Arthur had to admit it was peaceful and idyllic there and lovely to spend time with his brother, to tussle and fish.
“With the view to overthrowing the king? Or forcing Georgie to marry one of them?”
“He was ten years of age and terrifying with it. And he was stronger with us at his back.”
“Father had none at his back because of the bond breaking his heart.”
“No, Arthur.” Ben gave a mighty splash, and Arthur inhaled more than his fair share of brook. “Because he adhered to the old way of ruling, not of mating. How dare you blame Mother!”
“I do not blame Mum. Why in the world should I blame her? I blame the hunters who had strayed where they ought not and took her from us. I blame the worthless cadre Father had assembled, his useless Beta and his feckless Gamma.”
“The Beta’s mate is the only reason we are alive. She brought us to George and thus to Court and safety.” Neither wanted to think what would have become of them had the usurper gotten them in his clutches.
And yet. “That Beta,” Arthur said, “who was out and about, engaged upon challenging for his own sleuth.”
“He was no Alpha. He was incapable of holding thesentio, never mind there were fewer and fewer of us to fight.” Ben sank to his shoulders. “Only look at me. I have no role beyond father to provide safety for my children. It is not my place to give them the comfort and protection of a sleuth.”
“Guilt, now.” Arthur considered splashing to turn the topic.
“Well you should feel it.” Ben was calm and yet fierce. “As should all who have treated you as a cub still wet behind the ears. You had no guidance in childhood and were given too free a rein as you approached your maturity. Yes, very well you should be guilty, and further, well you should be grateful for the woman up at that house who is devoting herself to making you a home, you ungrateful, stubborn ass.” Ben swam onward again with rather more kicking than necessary.
Arthur admitted to stubbornness, one of his mother’s trenchant qualities. He would allow for ingratitude, if he remembered his paternal grandfather correctly. Water was never wet enough for that old goat. He took for granted the assets of character he’d inherited from Papa as well as his erstwhile Alpha’s laissez-faire approach to dress. If there was one thing his father never took for granted, it was his bond with Mum. Yet how could it be worth the pain that followed when she was slain? How could it be worth it, opening the door to his brother and his family? As if he could stand to let them wander the earth looking for home when it was—
“Here. You will stay here. At Arcadia.” Arthur floated over to join Ben at the curve in the stream.
The sunlight reflected from the water onto Ben’s face, his eyes glowing yellow as his brother’s bear pinned him in his gaze. “The common mistake that is made regarding Alphas is that they are all-powerful,” he said, and Arthur waited for his brother’s non sequitur to reveal its meaning. “They are, in their way, yet they require a balance of power given into the correct hands, to form the order required for a healthy hierarchy. Every soul is needed, from Alpha through to Omega.”
“Were I to pledge a Beta, Ben—”
