Chapter
Nine
Ryder knew they needed to have a strategy meeting, and he was putting it off.
He only wanted to snuggle with Nolan and make love with him and bond, but it was important that they made a plan for when Herschel showed up and tried to take Nolan away. Which he would. Nolan was a goddamn treasure.
As soon as he woke up the morning after the whole drone incident, Ryder grabbed his phone to text Warrick and Connal to see how they wanted to do this and where they wanted to meet.
He thought War’s house would be best because that way he and Nolan would be on their best behavior. Also Warrick had that giant sunken living room they could all gather in.
He got a text back from Con saying anywhere was fine with him, but just as he had anticipated, War said,
Come to my place
So he texted back.
Nolan is still asleep, but when he’s up, we’ll come over
Now that he was wide awake, he could hear somebody moving around downstairs. He assumed it was Race, but it was probably a good idea for him to go see just to be sure.
He tried to slip out of bed without Nolan hearing him, but it didn’t work. His little bear snuffled and reached for him, both of them back in their human forms.
“I need to go down and check on your brother and mine.” He kissed Nolan’s head, loving the springy, almost black hair “Then we’re going to have to go to War’s and have breakfast, okay?”
“‘M gonna shower.”
“Okay, baby.”
Rye padded out the stairs, finding Race standing in the kitchen, building himself a breakfast sandwich.
“Hey, man, you want one? I was starving. I didn’t think you’d mind, and if you did, I’ll replace the bagels.”
“I don’t mind, and I would love one. Can you make one for Nolan?” They could have second breakfast at War’s.
Race grinned at him. “Who’s Nolan?” he teased. “Of course I can. Is he up?”
“He’s in the shower.” Ryder yawned big and wide. “So how’s it going? Are you feeling better?”
“Very.” Race snorted. “I’m finally starting to feel like a human being again, or, well, you know, a bear being.”
“Good, I know everybody was worried.”
“I’m going to assume you’re kind of pissed at me about the whole Nolan thing.”
Ryder rolled his eyes and started the kettle. “For what, protecting your brother? That’s sort of how he got here, isn’t it?”
“Well, yeah, but I know I was a little wild about shit. I tried to convince him to just leave with me.”
“I know.” Ryder sighed. “I love that you’re worried for him, and I know you probably feel bad that he was stuck in the situation he was in, but he’s my mate.” He clapped Race on the back.
Race shrugged, handing him the original sandwich and starting on another. “I don’t believe in mates.”
“What? You were serious about that?” His voice rose, which made him wince at himself, but he couldn’t help it. They were shifters. What shifter didn’t believe in mates?
“Bears don’t mate for life.”
“Race. Dude.” He blinked at Nolan’s brother, his friend, with shock. “That’s nuts. We mate for life because we’re half magical. We don’t need to be bald eagles to do that.”
