“King of the fae. Big deal. Adores his two mates,” Aaron supplied.
“O…okay.” A freaking king? That seemed crazy. Was Carter crazy?
“It’s a lot to take in,” Aaron told him. “This is why I was worried in the office earlier. I remember hearing about how Hudson was told. It’s easy to get overwhelmed.”
Had his brother heard all this? Knew the stories? Hudson had only been with Bastian a couple of days
“There’s no wrong or right way about learning about this new…world,” Aaron offered.
“Thanks.” Carter wasn’t so sure. He felt like he’d been missing something big his entire life. And Axel. What is he?”
Aaron smirked. “Would you believe me if I said he was a dragon?”
Carter laughed. That would fit in right with a fae king. Except someone had mentioned a dragon earlier. Wait!
“He’s a dragon. He literally shifts into a giant mystical flying creature. Anton as well, although they’re different colors.”
“Why not? Of course he’s a dragon.” Carter finished his beer and set it beside Aaron’s. At this point Carter was just going to roll with what Aaron told him. His easy acceptance hiding the drive to panic.
Aaron just looked at him.
Carter waited.
And waited.
“What?” Carter finally asked.
“You seem oddly unaffected,” Aaron pointed out.
“Just trying to keep my shit together,” Carter admitted.
Aaron hummed. Carter was doing a damn good job at keeping his shit together. Better than most men in his position. “Mind blown?”
“A little bit. Yeah.”
“Dragon, vampire, hellhound alpha, shifters, gargoyle, mage, fae, demons, and human. If your mind can come up with a paranormal species, then it’s a pretty good bet that someone in the family can claim that title. Or at least we are good friends with them,” Aaron said.
Carter’s mind whirled. He’d been thinking shifters. Like wolves and of course Bas was a pretty damn cute cat, and, okay, Carter had wondered about vampires. But all the rest? Fucking wow.
“These guys will do everything they can to keep their family safe as well everyone in the community. This is their home. They will protect it. And they will love and protect Hudson as well.”
Carter sat there, thinking about everything that Aaron told him. And it was a lot. Almost too much. Yet Carter could tell that Aaron believed the words that he said. Back in Boston, Carter had been a good detective. He’d spent years training and studying. It was rare that Carter didn’t know the minute that a suspect lied to him. Aaron wasn’t lying.
“The family wants you to come out when you’re ready. They love hosting family dinners,” Aaron said.
“That doesn’t sound like the mafia or a cult or something,” Carter joked. The rumors around town? Yeah, Carter had a feeling he knew where they came from. Just overhearing some of this would be odd.
Aaron shrugged. “Welcome to the chaos.”
“Great, thanks. And I will come meet the family.” Now he was saying it! Carter just didn’t know when, but he would. For Hudson’s benefit, if nothing else.
Leaning forward in his chair, Aaron nodded. “I know you need more time to think. That you are going to have so many more questions. I knew from the start that you wouldn’t accept this news as easily as Hudson had.”
“Hudson.” Carter sighed. He was doing this for his brother. And maybe a little bit because he needed to know the truth for himself as well.
“Just give us time to help you navigate your way through all this. You can’t tell anyone. But there are plenty of people to talk to. You know most of these guys. They have businesses here. Are part of this community. You’ve been here long enough to know that. To see the difference they make.”
“Yeah.” Carter ran his hands roughly over his face. He did know some of them. When the county sheriff had spouted off his bigoted bullshit, Carter had thought it was because of gay couples. The sheriff had called them unnatural. Now Carter was rethinking every conversation he’d had with the members of the community. The bakery, bookstore, restaurant, mechanic shop, tattoo parlor, and construction company. The businesses that kept the town alive. The family was vital to the success of the town. But at what cost? Were the humans safe?
