Brumous wolfed down the steak in two bites, then looked up at Zane with hopeful eyes, as if asking for more.
“Sorry, buddy. That’s all you get for now.”
“You’re such a sucker for those eyes,” Cas sighed, but there was a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
“Who wouldn’t be?” I murmured. “The only thing they beg for is love.”
“And gingersnaps,” Zane said with his trademark smirk. “All right, Brum-Brum. Wanna play a game with me? I’ll let you tickle my brain if you let me tickle yours.”
Brumous sniffed his palm, then licked it, a clear plea for more steak.
With a sigh, I stood, fetched the last of the meat, and served it to our little lord, who bumped the back of my hand with his nose before daintily sinking his canines in.
“Now ask him again.”
“Askproperly,” Cas chimed in. “Otherwise, his consent is worthless. That is, if he’s even capable of giving it.”
“Noted.” Zane’s throat bobbed. “Come here, Cereberus. We need to talk.”
At first, Brumous ignored him, too busy surgically dissecting the steak with fangs that could unzip a grizzly. Then he licked the juices from the plate and surrounding silk Persian rug that probably cost more than our SUV. Only once he was sure not a drop remained did he pad over and sit nose to nose with Zane.
Pup has priorities,I thought with a smirk.
“I am going to look into your mind. I need to see if you know how Arabesque hurt Seri.” The pup’s ears pulled back as Zane spoke to him in a serious tone. “I’m also going to look for what Arabesque is up to with the rogues.” Ear twitch. “Arabesque.” Ear twitch. “Arab—”
“Stop saying her name before you give him an anxiety attack!” Cas snapped.
Brumous tilted his head, his eyes fixed on Zane’s. It was like he didn’t quite understand, but he trusted him.
Despite everything, hetrustedZane.
I wondered if Zane and Cas realized how huge that was. It was as huge as Seri trusting Cas enough to lean on him, me enough to trust with her papa’s fishing reel, and Zane enough to let him half-drown her while channeling his inner Brad Mondo.
“If this is okay with you, Brumous, blink twice for yes,” I murmured.
He blinked. Once. Twice.
“Yep.” Zane blew out a breath. “That’s either consent or early-stage glaucoma.”
He flopped onto the rug, cross-legged, patting his thighs, and Brumous immediately shoved his muzzle under his arm and flooded his lap with fuzz. For a heartbeat, Zane’s mask slipped, and his fingers trembled against gray fur. Bullshit bravado melting faster than a snow cone in hell.
Then he grinned up at me.
“All right, baby brother. If I start howling, assume it’s the wolf talking.”
I crouched beside them, my eyes on Brumous’ messy fur. Definitely giving him a much-needed bath soon.
His first ever bath,I thought.We’ll take pictures.
“Ready?” I murmured.
“You know my slogan. Born ready, die anxious.”
“Your verbs aren’t even parallel,” Cas grumped.
“Maybe not, but my ass cheeks are.”
With that, Zane settled a hand under Brumous’ left ear, and the room stilled. Even Cas leaned forward as Z’s pupils dilated into black holes swallowing starlight.
