Immediately Theo reached for one.
“They’re still warm,” Theo said with a moan.
“Dario is all up in his nesting,” Wylder said.
Theo took a bite and chewed and chewed. When he got the chewy goodness swallowed, he had to take a drink of water. Hellcats, that was so good. “What’s that mean? Nesting?”
Wylder shrugged. “It’s something that Alek said to Mitch. I guess it has something to do with his dragon side.”
Nesting. There had to be something in the journals about that. He grabbed for his notepad to write a reminder to look it up. Seeing everything listed, Theo sighed. There was so much to learn about. Theo was concentrating on the fae mostly but he also needed to know more about his mates.
“What’s that sigh for?” Wylder asked, leaning forward.
“There’s just so much,” Theo replied.
Wylder took Theo’s notebook. “All of this is smart but you’re going to overwhelm yourself. There is still time. You don’t have to learn everything in one day.”
Theo shook his head. His mates didn’t understand. They didn’t see the hate in Bramley’s eyes. Theo’s brother was going to come after them. It would be sooner rather than later. Theo could feel it in his bones.
During dinner the previous night, Theo had managed to tell his mates everything that he’d left out before. And they’d all agreed that Theo and Wylder needed to be careful.
Alek had portaled to visit his fathers, taking their amulets and phones to have them magically protected and make it where they could call each other in any realm. Those were good firststeps but no amulet or phone was going to save them when Bramley attacked again. Which he would do. Soon.
Theo and Wylder ate three brownies each when Dario strolled in with a tray.
Theo nearly groaned. Okay, he had been hungry. But they’d had roast with potato and carrots for dinner. Dario had woken them for French toast, sausage, bacon, and eggs. For lunch they had spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread. And Theo had been unable to resist the call of the brownies. But he was full! And now Dario was bringing more food?
“I made you some hot tea,” Dario stated as he set the tray down next to Wylder on the side table.
Theo groaned as he rubbed his belly. “I can’t eat or drink anymore.”
Wylder laughed. “You managed to fill the empty tank. Theo is actually full for once.”
He blushed. It was true that Theo had never been full before. Even when Dario had filled his account with money so Theo didn’t have to skip meals, Theo had been very careful of what he ate in front of humans. As a shifter he ate a lot but the humans at school wouldn’t understand.
Now Theo could say for the last time there was no possible way that he was able to eat another thing. The tea did smell nice. Theo had never been a tea person but Dario loved the stuff.
“Just drink a little,” Dario suggested. “It’s good for you. We’re just waiting on Alek to get back then we will go look at the house.”
The house. Theo wasn’t sure how he felt about the house that Dario wanted to show them. He wanted to live with his mates. There was no question about that. Yet Theo was also comfortable in Dario’s apartment. It was big enough for all of them to have their own rooms while still sharing the bed in the master bedroom. And Aurelia was already settled into Theo’s room.
The little brownie liked the apartment too! Theo had asked her!
“It’s closer to campus,” Wylder reminded him.
Dario passed Theo a delicate cup filled to the rim. “Just come look at it. If you really don’t want to move, then we can stay here.
Steam rose from his cup as Theo blew on it. “Okay.” It couldn’t hurt to look at the house.
Aurelia raced into the room, heading directly for Theo. Theo managed to set the cup down on the coffee table in front of him and catch the little creature. She wore a cute little yellow sundress that Tate had sent over for her. In fact, Tate had sent a whole chest of things for Theo’s little brownie. Tate had even texted Theo which book and section Theo would be able to find information about brownies. It was very helpful and Theo wanted to take good care of his brownie.
Bo was supposed to be returning with Alek.
Earlier Theo had dove into the journals, learning that it was natural for the chosen to collect beings that would be a part of their household. Much like Tate had taken in dryads and gargoyles. Which meant that even without trying, Theo was fulfilling his destiny. And growing his family more than just him and his mates.
Dario settled onto the couch beside Wylder and ran a hand over Aurelia’s hair.
She grinned up at him with her sharp little teeth.
