“Jeez, Peter, there’s no need to hit him with a fucking metaphorical newspaper,” said the guy who was coming up the stairs behind Peter.He had brown hair that reached past his ears and a five-o’clock shadow.“Seriously though, who’s the human?”He looked at Theo, and Theo didn’t really like all the attention, even if Will was staring at the stairs now rather than at Theo.
“My guest,” Peter said.He’d come up and now put a hand on the small of Theo’s back to give him a slight push.“Come have some breakfast, Theodore.”
The brown-haired dude with the accidental beard perked up.“You kidding?There’s fucking food in the house, and you didn’t offer us anything after you called me in the middle of the fucking night and made me come over this fucking early in the day?”
Peter snorted as he walked down the stairs next to Theo.“You and the pup are not here for brunch, Sage, but by all means, do feel free to help yourselves.”
Theo felt the two guys’ eyes on him, boring holes in the back of his head.Peter’s arm felt like a hot brand against Theo’s skin, even through his clothes.
“What’s happening?”Theo asked quietly when they got to the kitchen and Peter handed him a mug of fresh coffee.
“Sage is a witch, and William, while also a werewolf, is his apprentice.They are here to go over the warding.”
Theo perked up at that.“You mean those are the witches who are going to deal with Bernard?”
Peter narrowed his eyes a fraction as the other two came into the kitchen as well.
“Who’s Bernard?”Sage asked.“Sounds dickish just from the name.”
“He’s Theodore’s vampire ex, and you’re quite right about the dickishness,” Peter said.
Sage’s eyes widened.“Oh.He’s the poor fuck who got the birds to crash through the window.”
Theo turned to the witch.“Can you get rid of him?Peter said the witches here could handle a vampire.”
William snorted noisily and Peter looked over his shoulder straight at him.Almost as if he’d been hit, Will shut up and actually whimpered while his eyes found something terribly interesting on the kitchen floor to focus on.
Sage cursed under his breath.“Just fan-fucking-tastic, Peter.Can you stop trying to get my apprentice to pee his pants, please?”
“I wasn’t going to pee my pants,” Will said defensively.
“I clearly told you he had discipline issues and needed to be taught manners.”Peter leaned against the counter in his sexy, effortless way; quite a feat to pull off in a black silk bathrobe.“Do not put your failure to teach him on me, Sage.”
Sage ran his hands through his hair.“I’m not even gonna respond to that.”He walked over to the fridge and peeked inside.“Wow.”He looked over his shoulder straight at Theo, who hid behind his coffee mug.The witch had very intense blue eyes, even though they were nowhere near as piercing as Peter’s.“Fridge is stuffed.You’re not just some rando guest, human.”Sage pulled out bread and all the fixings for sandwiches.“Peter, why does your human think we’re here to go after a vampire?”
Peter buffed his nails on his silky robe.“I explained to him about the history of the New Elvenswood witches.”
Sage laid out slices of bread and slathered them with mayo and mustard.“Hmm.Will, can you stop slinking and just sit at the fucking table?You’re making me nervous.”
Theo watched as the werewolf rounded the kitchen island quickly and calmly and did as he was told.Since Theo didn’t really feel like standing after his blood donation either, he joined Will.The werewolf eyed Theo as he sat down across from him.
“Don’t sit there,” Will whispered.
“Huh?”
Will frowned.“That’s where Peter sits.Move.”
Peter came over and sat down next to Theo.“My dear William, Theodore may sit wherever he wishes, so hush.”
With another whimper, the werewolf shut up and looked at his lap.
Sage groaned while he topped the bread with lettuce and tomato slices, then cucumber and marinaded mushrooms.Theo didn’t really know what else to say, so he just waited while Sage plated the sandwiches and came over to join them, putting plates in front of Theo, then Will, before taking the last remaining chair.
“So.You and a human.”Sage bit into his food.
Peter slowly turned to face the witch.
“A guest in my house,” Peter said, and that just did it.
