Page 111 of Bonds of Fate

“If you change your mind..?”

Grayson and Nix don’t show up immediately, but maybe they’re having a much-needed discussion. Jay had said it had gone as well enough, so Finn hopes that extends to Grayson and Nix’s conversation, too. They’ll save them some dinner anyway, and Finn will take it up later.

It might appear strange to others, but Finn takes comfort in that everyone is dealing with the added stress in their usual, predictable ways. It’s a slice of home, just as much as the scent of a summer thunderstorm as it sweeps over an herbaceous black currant and basil garden in the middle of a forest while sitting warm and dry and sipping on a cinnamon and spice rum drink with a slice of mocha cake on the side.

But now the cake has sweet vanilla frosting.

It’s ridiculous and never anything he’d ever say out loud, but it’s the way his mind works, and the visualization brings comfort. Sue him.

Rowan dishes up Finn’s favorite Thaicurryand adds rice to bowls. It’s fragrant, and there are even low-spice options for Jay, Leo, and Luca.

Finn wonders if Nix is teamspicyor not.

After his illuminating talk with Baz, he’s eager to get in touch with Antonio Costas and get everyone up to speed, but he’ll not do that without Nix and Grayson present—they are a family and a team, after all.

Even though it’s Nix captaining this ship, they will all sail or sink together.

So until they arrive or Finn can get them all together, they make small talk and try to avoid the vanilla-scented elephant in the room.

An hour later, Grayson enters the dining area without their omega.

“Grayson, where’s my kitten?” Gideon is half out of his seat, a look of seriousness on his face.

“He’s here. I just thought he deserved a grand entrance. Nix?” Everyone turns toward the left-wing entrance.

Finn’s breath catches as Nix shyly crosses to his spot at the table. Grayson must have bought brown hair dye at Ulta Beauty. His old blond is gone and has been replaced by the softest sable brown; it highlights his golden freckles and makes his eyes glow. Grayson has trimmed it, too, and now it sits just below his ears, letting his bond bites show beautifully.

He’s not the only one who is captivated, as Luca squeals and jumps up to hug him and ruffle the soft strands. Through the racket, Jay stands, bumping the table so hard the glassware clanks. Their alpha’s face is pale, and there are tears on his cheeks like he was seeing a ghost from the past, and Finn supposes he is.

Finn realizes this must be how Nix looked a decade ago.

“Oh, baby boy. Look at you.” Nix is around the table in Jay’s arms in an instant, and Jay takes their omega’s mouth in a soft, thorough kiss through his tears. It’s intensely intimate, but Finn can’t look away. It has the same feeling that you might get while witnessing someone returning home after a long time at war, and he supposes the analogy isn’t that far off.

Eventually, there are catcalls, and when they break apart, Jay sits in his chair with Nix solidly in his lap. He’s spent more timein Jay’s chair than his own, and Finn is getting used to seeing him there.

Their mate is so ethereal this way—so happy and sweet that Finn cannot stop staring, and he catches the movement of Rowan’s hand going for his dick out of the corner of his eye.

Leo slaps him on the wrist and whispers, “Not at the table.”

“But he’s so pretty. Why is he so pretty?” He pulls his hand away with one last mournful whine.

“I thought no one was touching your dick for at least a day,” Grayson snorts from across the table.

“Well, I didn’t mean me. Obviously. Or you, Nix. You can touch my dick any time—please, please touch it.”

It makes Nix laugh, but Finn knows Rowan is not kidding one iota.

Grayson is serving Nix some rice and soup that they had managed to keep warm, and there are quiet conversations and sometimes quiet contemplation. Jay has turned Nix sideways on his lap so he can see his expression, and he’s got a lovesick look on his face that–in another time and space–might have been embarrassing. Now, though, it’s beautifully poignant, and Finn is so grateful for their second chance.

He’s staring, and it finally catches Nix’s attention, who raises a perfect eyebrow in question, that smirk from earlier back in place.

Finn feels his ears get red, but he’ll not let it keep him quiet. “Hey, you look beautiful, Nix. I like it.”

Nix gives him a shy smile, tilting his chin down shyly and then looking up at him under his lashes. Finn feels it in his dick, and he nearly chokes on his own spit.

“Are you alright?” He giggles. “Thanks, Finn. It feels really good.” His voice is deep, and he has the attention of everyone at the table in that instant.

No time like the present then, since he’d never be able to rally the room with the same ease.

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