Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 93448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Soon, all the women in his family were gathered around the lion, stroking his fur and telling him that he was the sweetest and prettiest boy in all the world.
“Chopped freaking liver,” Lucien muttered. “I can snap my fingers and create fire, people.”
Calder tipped his head up to look at the Fire Weaver. “I can control water. Make it dance and spin. But if you’re not a cute, furry animal, you’re nothing.”
Gio tightened his arms around the waists of both men, pulling them in closer to him. “No, you’re both amazing. I will never be able to repay you for what you’ve done. You protected my family.”
Lucien shook his head. “No, Gio. It’s our fault that your family was in danger in the first place. We should have known better than to come here when we knew pestilents were in Charleston. We’re sorry we put them in danger.”
“Nonsense!” Gio’s father shouted. He stomped closer to them, pointing a finger at the corpses a short distance away. “They’re the ones who attacked. They got what they deserved, and we are always happy to protect what’s ours. You two belong to Gio, so we protected you.”
Gio wasn’t going to get into a discussion of whether Lucien and Calder belonged to him. The important thing was that everyone was safe.
“We appreciate the help,” Calder said with a weak smile while his hand tightened on Gio’s hip.
“Unfortunately, we need to start cleaning up this mess,” Lucien sighed. “The bonfire will help to make quick work of it at least.”
“Come on, Baer. Enough with the petting. You need to help, too,” Calder shouted at the lazy lion.
Baer yawned broadly, flashing enormous teeth in the Water Weaver’s direction before sticking his tongue out at him.
“You know, I think I heard Mrs. Russo say that she still had an entire cake in there that we haven’t even touched yet,” Wiley said playfully.
“We can also fire up the cappuccino maker to go with the cake,” Gio added.
The lion was on his feet in the blink of an eye and shifting into a human being two seconds later. Baer bent and offered his hand to Gio’s mother, who stared at him with a look of shock. “Is it true? Is there more cake?”
And his mother—God love her—didn’t hesitate or bat another eye at him. She smiled up at the man and gently patted his cheek. “I’ll make sure I save you a nice big slice. I’ll also make up a few plates for you to take with you to the hotel in case you get hungry later tonight.”
Calder stepped into his field of vision, the pouty lip out in full force. “Is it true? Can I have coffee?”
“Yes, sweetheart. I can make you coffee.”
Calder released Lucien to wrap both arms around him and whimper. “Please. I need a bucket of coffee as black as the devil’s soul.”
Gio looked over at Lucien, who was smiling down at Calder. “You want some coffee too?”
“Please, though I don’t need a bucket.” Lucien’s gaze swept across the yard and then moved back to Gio’s family. “What are we going to do about your family?”
“What do you mean?”
Lucien stared at Gio. Calder even pulled away from Gio and appeared uncomfortable.
“They aren’t supposed to know about Weavers and magic,” Calder explained in a low voice.
“It’s hard enough telling our mates the news. This is a hell of a lot more people than just our mates.”
Wiley suddenly snickered, shaking his head. “Clay is going to be so pissed. Oh, my God! Grey is totally going to lose his shit!”
Lucien rolled his eyes. “Yeah, and who’s going to be the one to tell Grey and Clay the good news?”
A chorus of “Not it!” went up loudly, rising above the crackling bonfire and the low chatter of conversation from Gio’s family.
Lucien glared at his friends for a moment, his full lips pressed into a stern line. “You all suck,” he declared, pointing at Baer, Wiley, and Calder one by one.
Reaching up, Gio captured that finger and pressed a kiss to the tip. “Don’t worry, baby. Calder and I will be right there with you, happy to explain why my family has earned the right to know all about Weavers and pestilents.”
Lucien snorted, but his expression softened, sending Gio’s heart racing to the stars. “Yeah, I can’t wait to see how well that goes over with Clay and Grey.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gio had a hard time leaving the warm bed where Lucien and Calder were tangled together, but he’d promised Wiley to meet him early to snag a table for breakfast. Both men were still sleeping peacefully, Lucien’s cheek resting on Calder’s head. They’d had sex well into the night and Gio’s body hurt in places—but it was a good hurt. A pleasant reminder of their celebration of surviving the pestilent attack.