Page 40 of Only You, No One Else

Mikey's nod was absent, his attention torn by something Mark couldn’t quite decipher. He followed his younger brother’s gaze to Caster’s cousin Xavier. They’d met briefly, and while he wasn’t as unsettling as Caster’s brother Cyrus, there was an air of superiority about him.

“Do you know him?” He tried to get his brother’s attention again, and Mikey shook his head, but he lowered his gaze. Mark looked at the vampire his younger brother didn’t seem to want to talk about, but couldn’t stop looking at. He bore some resemblance to the only member of this family that Mark wanted to tear apart, but that was expected. They were brothers after all. Damien’s striking resemblance to Caster had been the only reason Mark could keep thoughts of Bastian from interfering with his peace of mind when they were together. He didn’t get bad vibes from Xavier; he seemed amiable enough, but did he want his brother tangling with him?

“Did you speak with Dean today?” He repeated his question, keeping his voice low. The parlor they’d all retreated to after dinner was large enough, like all other rooms in the house, but wolf business needed to remain wolf business.

Mikey tore his gaze away from the vampire who was now also looking at him with similar intensity. “He will be here tomorrow.”

“I know. I just mean… how is he?” Mark feared that his paralysis from the threat of what Zeke would do had made him a blunt tool, one his brother would not find use for.

Mikey’s full attention was on him. “He’s Dean.” He smiled. “I would worry more about those traitors than him.”

Mark smiled back. That was true. The Werewolf Council had chosen the wrong Prime Alpha to rebel against. Dean didn’t stomach betrayal. He was fair, firm, and ruthless when he needed to be. Mark feared that ruthlessness would come out again, which meant the Dean with the effortless charm and easy smiles was gone.

The intense but welcome and unsurprising feeling of Caster’s gaze tore him away from impending werewolf problems he could do nothing about. He leaned against the door, talking to his brother Cyrus and Damien, a glass of whisky in his hand, a small smile teasing his lips when their eyes met. Their tone was low, but Mark could eavesdrop if he wanted to. Instead, he chose to enjoy Caster’s attention.

The smile on Caster’s face turned to a frown, and Mark caught the last teasing words from Cyrus. He glanced at the vampire, who unsettled him with a carefree demeanor, and found a smirk on his lips. “I’d ask for the cliché story of how you two met, but I already know.” He moved away from Damien and Caster, ignoring his older brother’s warning, and sat next to Mark. “What I’d like to know is how you got my brother to be so… domestic?”

Mark bristled, the room’s attention on him.

Cyrus’s smile widened. “The stories I could tell you…”

“Cyrus!” This time, Caster’s warning was more of a growl. Still, Cyrus chose to ignore it, the mischief in his demeanor increasing.

Mark leaned back into the couch. He was used to dealing with this from his older brother, and perhaps he might take him up on that offer. He wanted to know everything about Caster, even his past. “Maybe I’ll let you tell me someday.”

Cyrus’s eyes, blue like the Queen’s, widened a fraction, and then he burst into laughter. Like Dean, his joy was infectious, and Mark knew he’d just made a friend. When he sobered, he leveled Mark with a look that revealed the warrior his easy smiles hid just below the surface. “I like you.” He glanced at Caster. “You’re important to him, so you’re important to me.” His smile was gone; in its place, a hardened expression, the vampire his handsome face hid so well, causing the red ring around his pupils to expand a tiny fraction. “Let’s kill that witch, yeah?”

Mark couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah.”

“You’ll have to find her first,” Ben said, drawing his brother’s attention.

Cyrus leaned back in his seat, his teasing expression returning so fast, Mark thought he’d have whiplash. “Oh, don’t tell me you’re scared, baby vamp…”

Ben’s anger was almost tangible, his voice rising. “Don’t call me that.”

Cyrus laughed. Mark glanced at Caster to see a smile on his face. This exchange was common, familiar to them.

Ben didn’t seem amused. “I will kick your ass, Cy.”

That made everyone in the room burst out in laughter, and even Mikey joined in. Mark couldn’t contain his smile.

“You’re an asshole.” Ben started to turn away from a room that seemed determined to make fun of him, but Riley reached for him, pulling him into his lap. Riley whispered something in his ear, and he settled, still staring daggers at his brother.

“Forgive me?” Cy asked his younger brother, his smile still teasing. “The last thing I want is for Riley to disintegrate me.”

Riley sighed. “Will you ever let that go? It was one time.”

Mark glanced at Caster, but all he got was a noncommittal shrug.

“You could have killed us all,” Xavier said, laughter coloring his words despite the content.

Cyrus turned to Mark. “It was a lesson in never threaten Ben.”

“What happened?” Mark couldn’t contain the curiosity any longer. Cyrus’s energy was too infectious.

“I shouldn’t have been there…” Ben said, settling further into Riley’s lap like he belonged, which it seemed he did.

Cy waved him off, intent on remaining the focus of the room. “We are at this wild party…”