Instead of this trip resulting in Koios learning why his wings refused to work or what exactly the curse had done, Koios found a new, powerful ally in the form of a twin he hadn’t known existed. He had a feeling things had worked out the way the goddess intended all along.
19
KOIOS
After the longest five hours of Koios’s life, Logan finally pulled the SUV into the warehouse’s garage. Between Koios, Ben, Logan, and Gideon, they’d been able to fill Phoebe in on what had been happening in their world over the past thirty or so years.
Which was a lot.
Basically, a whole lot of magic, gods, and even a few monsters.
Five hours of a non-stop explanation of events while Koios squirmed uncomfortably against Ben. His shoulders and back ached. No matter how he sat, he couldn’t get comfortable.
It didn’t help that they were talking about events that frustrated him on an emotional level. His childhood was a topic very rarely discussed these days, and when it came to the manticore…well, Koios maintained a level of rage against that particular monster he couldn’t dial down even when he tried.
Phoebe seemed undisturbed by it all. She asked a few pointed questions, but otherwise remained quiet and listened. She didn’t flinch when Logan announced they’d be having a huge pack and sibling dinner soeveryonecould meet her.
She’d simply glanced at Koios then nodded.
Koios? Yeah, he flinched. The thought of all of them in one room at the same time….
Ben rubbed his shoulders every time he stiffened, which helped him to relax. Even when they climbed out of the SUV and Koios wondered exactly how they were going to handle the introductions, Ben stood at his back, a solid wall of support.
He should probably think a little more about how much he’d begun to count on Ben, about how often he thought of Ben, about how often he imagined….
“Koios, why don’t you take Phoebe upstairs and get her settled while Gideon and I update the rest of the pack?” Logan offered.
Koios took the out for what it was…an opportunity for him to escape the crowd. He didn’t let Ben escape, though. No, he wanted his support with him. “Ben and I would be happy to do that.”
Gideon snorted and turned for the door.
Logan shook his head with a laugh. “That works too. See you inside.”
Koios waited for Logan to go inside before he turned to Phoebe. “We need to give him a minute to get them away from the door. They’re a lot.”
“They’re not that bad,” Ben said. “They’re pack.”
“Is that supposed to explain everything?” Phoebe said.
Koios smirked. “It does to Ben. Come on. Let me show you upstairs.”
“And hey,” Ben teased, an evil smile on his face, “she can see you do your workout for today while we’re up there. With all that sitting, we really need to do some work on your back.”
Koios’s wings shuddered. Phoebe’s eyebrows went up.
“I like that smile,” Koios said, looking from Ben to Phoebe then back again. “Why do I like it when you’re being evil?”
Phoebe laughed. “Oh brother, and here I thought I was the sheltered one. Your bear is incredibly attractive when he loses the noble act. He’s got some spice hidden beneath that stoic demeanor.”
“It’s the doctor thing,” Koios explained.
Ben scoffed and lifted Phoebe’s suitcase. “I’ll show you the doctor thing in a minute.”
“And see, that doesn’t sound like a threat at all, does it?” Koios asked.
“I’m not feeling threatened.”
Phoebe paused to take in the garage and all of its components.
