I heard Nathan growl at my words. Dad narrowed his eyes at him and the growl abruptly broke off. Damn, I needed to learn that trick.
“Hi, I’ve heard so much about you from my parents. I feel like we’ve already met.” Chloe reached out to hug him, but he quickly stepped back and held out his hand.
Chloe halted her movement and shook his hand. The transition was so smooth it felt like that was her intent all along. “Nice to meet you,” he grunted.
It seemed he was a man of few words like Grumpy and Jet.
Oren stepped up beside me and held out his hand. “I’m Oren Storm. Faction to your daughter. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Damien’s eyes widened in alarm just before my dad hit Oren in the nose, knocking him on his ass. Apparently, the hashtags were trending in all dimensions. Nathan and Zane laughed so hard they nearly fell. Being away and dealing with who knows what ,didn’t mature Nathan at all. My sweet Zeke, on the other hand, helped Oren to his feet.
Nathan turned to my dad, “That was awesome! Way to go, big g-”
Before he could finish that sentence, Dad hit him in the nose, knocking him on his ass. Damn, he wasn’t giving my guys any slack.
Dad turned to me in exasperation, “You’ve bonded with a Storm? His family has betrayed our people and caused many deaths. He can’t be trusted.” His expression was thunderous.
“I can feel his intentions through our bond,” I reassured him. “I don’t know everything that happened, but I know he can be trusted.”
I wasn’t lying. There was no doubt that Storm was an asshole, and we had lots to discuss. But his love and dedication to me was warm in my chest.
“It’s a true bond?” Dad tilted his head in question.
“True bond?” I wasn’t sure what he was talking about.
“In our world, the bond has been perverted to form Factions that shouldn’t exist. It’s worked to keep our sanity intact, but much of the gifts given to us have been taken in the process.” He looked at Oren. “The ability to feel each other’s intentions and emotions are just a few.”
Nathan was still sitting on the ground with his hand over his nose, looking at my dad in astonishment. “What the fuck? I thought we were friends!”
Dad frowned down at Nathan briefly before returning his stare of death to Oren. “That was for touching my daughter without my permission.”
“Everyone believed you were dead. How in the hell could I get your permission?” Nathan asked in confusion.
“That’s not my problem.” Dad finally shifted his murderous gaze from Oren and looked at the other guys in expectation.
Jet had been quiet up to this point, but when he met my dad’s eyes, he stepped up to introduce himself. “Jet Lockley, nice to meet you. I’m just a friend of Reverie’s.”
Dad said nothing for a few minutes, never taking his eyes off Jet. “I don’t appreciate being lied to,” he shifted his gaze to the twins.
Zeke and Zane stepped up, “I’m Zeke, and this is my brother Zane.”
I heard Nathan mutter, “No shit.”
Dad frowned at Nathan, and once again, he quieted. When Dad turned his back, Nathan stuck his tongue out at him. I covered my mouth to stifle a giggle that was trying to escape. I may have been slightly hysterical at this point.
Nathan winked at me. I stared at him in adoration. I’d missed him so much, and the leather pants he was wearing made his ass look amazing.
Zane narrowed his eyes at Nathan briefly, then turned to my dad. “Hello, sir, it’s nice to meet you.” Both twins held out their hands.
Dad gave each a firm shake. “Are you both just her friends, too?” He mocked Jet’s earlier statement.
“Hell no! I plan on being her Faction before the week is out!” Zane grinned in my direction.
Now, it was my turn to wink, which made Zane’s grin grow even bigger.
Zeke slapped him on the back of the head. “Excuse my brother, sir. We’re both honored to have been accepted by your daughter as Faction, and we hope to bond soon.”
I couldn’t leave him out, so I blew him a kiss. He pretended to catch it and put it in his pocket, and I almost swooned.
