“Sleeping arrangements for the next two weeks.”
Branson frowned. “Sleeping arrangements?”
“Yes. Who’s getting the sleeper sofa, and who’s getting the bedroom?”
“Oh. Huh.” He briefly chewed on his bottom lip, an adorable thing Branson did when thinking hard about a confusing problem. “Can we decide after we see how comfortable the sleeper sofa is?”
Tarius pinched his hip. “Dork.”
Branson yelped and darted away. “Don’t dork me!”
Laughing at the silliness that helped break a serious moment, Tarius chased after his husband, intent on tickling him as much as possible once he was caught.
FOURTEEN
Branson was goingto vibrate out of his own skin if the damned train didn’t pull in soon. The arrival time wasn’t for another four minutes, based on the massive clock in the middle of the bustling train platform, hanging just over the main building that all travelers or visitors entered and exited from. No reported delays on the express trip, which meant?—
There. In the distance, a familiar white flash was followed by a streak of blue that marked all express trains. Instead of continuing past the station on its journey elsewhere, the train slowed and took the right track, leading it toward the station and its final destination here in Sansbury.
Beside him, Tarius squeezed his wrist. Dad pressed a hand into the small of Branson’s back, a grounding touch from his omegin. Papa had a court hearing this morning that couldn’t be rescheduled. Caden was at work, while Zaq was helping Emory with the triplets. But Rei and his mate Kinley were there, offering moral support.
Constable Javier Corinth and two patrolmen were also on the platform, keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings. While scant people knew of Jeuel’s destination, Chief Constable Lars-Higgs had insisted they be extra-cautious while out in public.At least until the dust settled in Sonora. And Kell Cross was a notorious public figure; he rarely went places like this without some sort of protection.
Other families milled about, waiting for their own traveling loved ones. Farther down the platform, service workers were waiting to unload the freight and postal cars. The train creaked by, its brakes hissing as it slowed more, before coming to a complete stop. A bell rang somewhere, and a voice announced the arrival of “Express 345 from Sonora, all passengers, please disembark.”
Even though they’d all seen each other via the tele-call, Tarius held up a simple green placard to give Mr. Paxton a visual cue. Branson watched the different doors, his head swiveling back and forth, searching. A tall, familiar figure emerged two doors up the train, wearing a long blue coat and carrying a briefcase. He looked around, spotted them, then gestured behind him.
Trei stepped out first, followed by Jeuel. Both pulled rolling suitcases, and they wore nearly identical winter coats and wide-eyed expressions. Jeuel seemed to immediately start shaking, which alarmed Branson, until Jeuel blew into his left fist.
He’s cold. The climate is a lot different here.
Thank goddess Paxton thought to bring coats. The winter chill and high humidity threatened frost overnight, but they rarely saw real snowfall in Sansbury. Fortunately, spring was only about six weeks away.
Paxton strode toward them. Branson’s heart leapt into his throat, and he stared at Jeuel, waiting for his brother to notice him. Jeuel was shorter than Emory by several inches, and the coat seemed way too big for him. But those eyes. Dark brown instead of green, but the shape was identical to Branson’s. So was his chin dimple. Branson wasn’t looking into a mirror of his younger self, but it was damned close.
Jeuel’s anxious eyes met his, and Branson smiled. His heart squeezed with relief and joy. Jeuel stopped walking for a few seconds, his trepidation cracking into smiling relief, and his entire slender body seemed to relax. Branson released Tarius’s hand and took several steps forward, opening his arms. Jeuel shoved his suitcase handle at Trei and ran the short distance between them.
Branson pulled his brother tight against his chest, trying to hold him together when Jeuel started trembling. To get a good whiff of his faint scent, similar to Branson’s own, but also very different. Different omegin, different environment, completely different life. But if anyone had put Branson into a room with Jeuel and four identical omegas, Branson would have known who Jeuel was the moment they touched.
Jeuel started laughing against his shoulder. “Goddess, we’re finally here. Hi.”
“Hello, brother.” Branson laughed, too, unsure how else to express the joy coursing through him at finally meeting this piece of his heart—a piece he’d never known was missing until two weeks ago. Only one of three pieces, though; he hadn’t forgotten about Paul and Cal, dead because of their sire’s tremendously poor choices. But Jeuel was safe. Jeuel was here.
I’ll protect him the way I couldn’t protect Caden from drugs, or Emory from being experimented on.
Others were speaking around them, probably Dad and Mr. Paxton, everyone introducing themselves. Branson wanted to say something, but Jeuel seemed reluctant to release him, so he stood in the cold and hugged his brother. At some point, they were ushered forward. Branson kept his arm around Jeuel’s shoulders as their group moved into the warmth of the main station.
“Gosh, it’s cold here,” Jeuel said when he finally pulled out of Branson’s embrace. “Mr. Paxton warned me, but I didn’t expect this.”
“It’s only a few months out of the year,” Branson replied. He tucked the collar of Jeuel’s coat a bit tighter against his throat. “You need a scarf and ear muffs.”
“Ear muffs?”
“We hail from a very warm climate,” Mr. Paxton said. “Fortunately, our station had a clothing retailer inside, and while the coats we found don’t quite fit, they’ll do the job for now.”
“Thank you for thinking of it,” Branson replied. “It didn’t occur to me to bring extra coats.”
“It’s all right. I’m a lawyer, I’m used to thinking of contingencies. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Mr. Cross.”
