"Yeah, there is no smell of magic here, not even yours.Why doesn't it smell of your magic, Ezra?"
"I haven't--"
"I know."He dragged it out."It's what I'm saying.Here I am, starving, and you don't serve me anything."He leaned back in the chair with a grin.
"Don't you have something more important to do?"
"More important than letting my alpha's mate take care of me?I think not."
Ezra huffed but now when they were talking about it, his magic buzzed underneath his skin."If you can get me an egg, I might have enough ingredients for one batch of lacy oatmeal cookies."The tingles within flared, and he rolled his shoulders.
Ulric watched him with a grin."It's almost as if you glow."
"I don't glow."
"No, you don't, and yet there is a glow.So strange.And your eyes get all...Do they grow bigger or only darker?"
Ezra shrugged.He had no idea anything happened with his eyes.He'd inherited Shixyll's almost black eyes, so they were always dark.
"Egg."
"Of course."
As Ulric left for the big kitchen, he started melting butter on the stove.Harold came to help, but the moment Ulric was back, he dove for the bed again.
* * * *
Rourke grunted as he carried all kinds of shit through the corridor.A litter box and a bag of litter and cat food.He'd bought some kind of cat toy too.He must've lost his mind.There was no other explanation.
The scent of cookies greeted him, and as his room came into view, he heard voices.Inside were Due, Connor, and Ulric.Since when had his room turned into a place for people to hang out?
"Honey, I'm home."He glared at the vultures around the table decimating Ezra's cookies.
Ezra stared at him with wide eyes, so Rourke dropped the stuff he was carrying and walked over.Once within arm's reach, he pulled Ezra close and kissed him on the mouth.Ezra didn't struggle, but his gaze jumped to the others.
Rourke kissed him again."Hi."He spoke low against his lips.The others would hear him if they listened, but he didn't care.
"Hi."
"I got cat food and stuff."He looked around."Where is Harold?"
"Hiding under the bed.He doesn't like Ulric."
Rourke shrugged."No one does."
"Hey!"A cookie came flying through the air.It crumbled in Rourke's hand as he caught it, and he did his best to catch all the pieces.Ulric laughed, the bastard.
Rourke shoved it into his mouth and grinned.Fuck, it had been a long time since they'd laughed and had cookies.Years.He nuzzled Ezra and went to unpack.
Sometime later, Ulric and Connor stood."Time to head into town."Ulric stretched, then snatched another cookie.
"You're working tonight?"Rourke hadn't checked in with work today.
"Yeah, The Bloody Bow, so we'll be back pretty early."
Rourke nodded.The Bloody Bow was a low-key bar, not a nightclub, and people were often pleased when they were assigned there.The music wasn't too loud, the customers rarely under thirty, and it closed at midnight.What was not to like?
Due followed Connor and Ulric out of the room, and Rourke locked the door behind them."There.Alone at last."He dove for Ezra, who squeaked.
