Riley could pretend. They could all pretend.
It wasn’t like he was falling over himself to give Seth a ride. He wasn’t sure if Seth would have accepted one from him, anyway. Because then Seth might have to look at him, and he seemed determined not to do that right now. Even on the way back inside the house, he’d stormed past Riley in the entryway without a glance, silent and fuming as Mama Daphne had led him upstairs to one of their guest rooms.
“I bit him,” Riley told his moms. “Did you know that? The stupid voice took over and drank from his thigh while I was…blissed out.”
That alone should have been the worst part, Riley losing control like that. But he was a terrible person because what reallygot to him was the fact that he couldn’t remember. He’d finally tasted Seth, and he couldn’trememberit.
Delicious, the voice taunted.
Get fucked, Riley replied.
“He seems none the worse for wear,” Mama Daphne said. She actually sounded sort of proud, which was so incredibly off base Riley couldn’t handle it.
There was a crash from above them. Maybe Seth had finally thrown something that wasn’t a down pillow.
Riley lowered his head onto his clasped hands. “He’s so angry.”
“Well, wearekeeping him against his will,” Mama Daphne said cheerfully, placing two more teacups across from him on the table. “I supposed he’s allowed his tantrums, isn’t he?”
Well, when she put itthatway.
Riley straightened. “I should take him home.”
“I wouldn’t advise it,” Mama Sybil murmured, taking one of the seats across from him, pushing out the seat next to her for Mama Daphne. She gave Riley one of thoseMother knows bestlooks. “Let’s get it all out of the way at once.”
It was a reasonable suggestion, except for the fact that Seth was angry at him and Riley hated it with every cell of his being. Riley frowned, toying with the handle of his teacup. “Why do you think he doesn’t want to be my mate?”
He hated how childish the question sounded, hated the hurt he couldn’t keep out of his voice. But really, things had been going so well until the M-bomb. It had to be the thought of being tethered to Riley that was sending Seth into a tailspin. Not the fangs. Not the bloodthirsty presence inside him.
Just…Riley.
Mama Sybil and Mama Daphne exchanged a look. “I think love is very frightening to those who’ve made comfortable lives in its absence,” Mama Sybil finally said.
Riley’s frown deepened as he stared at his moms. “Sethisloved.”
“A different variety, I’m afraid, my darling,” Mama Daphne said.
Riley narrowed his eyes as both his moms picked up their teacups in unison. “You two don’t deserve pretty cups either,” he told them.
Mama Daphne had the gall to look offended. “Riley! Why would you say such a thing?”
Riley pointed up at the ceiling. They could all hear Seth ranting something about elk now. He seemed to be holding a new grudge against the entire species.
The ranting was kind of cute, actually.
No. Riley shouldn’t think that. He should be focused on wallowing in shame at his family holding his future mate hostage. Anything else would be glib, and Seth would have to punish him for it later.
Mama Sybil pursed her lips at the ceiling, then met Riley’s accusing look. “He wants distance to rationalize and cast doubt. It’s very human of him, and we won’t hold it against him. But”—she shrugged genteelly—“there’s also no need to help him achieve his aims.”
Neither of them were the least bit sorry, were they?
Riley cast his own look up at the ceiling. “Should I—should I maybe bring him some tea?”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Mama Daphne told him. She sounded proud again. There was another crash from up above, and she seamlessly added, “But perhaps let’s wait another quarter hour.”
“Cards?” Mama Sybil suggested as the ranting picked up again.
It wasa full hour later when Riley finally knocked on the guest bedroom door. He was answered by a muffled, “Come in.”
