Page 121 of Bonds of Fate

But not tonight.

Tonight, Jay is fucking knackered, and that will be something they can talk to Luca, Rowan, their mates, and Antonio abouttomorrow. It won’t be able to wait long—not after Jason’s two-faced response—and Ripley Records is probably already on alert.

The scent of a happy mate makes him smile despite the last fifteen-minute shit show. Leo is over the moon at the possibility of them finally being free.

Jay’s mate leans in, drapes an arm around his shoulders, and rocks them side to side. “Let’s not sweat it right now, babe. We’ve got to tell my dad about our sweet mate.”

Finn, ever the voice of reason, chimes in from his spot across the room, his tone casual.“Leo is right. We can talk about this tomorrow. We all stand behind LRH in every way. I, for one, will be glad not to have to go to that Christmas banquet one more year. The food is atrocious, and listening to Gideon complain about it only ever makes it worse.”

Jay chuckles ruefully, shaking his head. He already knew his family would support them—there had never been any doubt.

Sometimes, change is just what the doctor ordered.

Finn busies himself setting up the two monitors on his desk—one to conference with Antonio and the other for Nix’s council, Erin, who will be expecting their call once they’ve spoken with Leo’s Dad.

“Is it bad if I admit I’m nervous about this? There’s so much that can go wrong. Are we doing the right thing?”

Jay isn’t ashamed to voice his doubts to his mates. He’s relieved Nix is sitting this one out—his omega doesn’t need to see his alpha leader shaking in his boots.

He doesn’t need Finn or the legal team to tell him that the resurgence of an extinct secondary gender will send shock waves through the public, the government, radical groups, and LRH fans alike. Keeping it quiet under the Human-Were Alliance? A whole other ballgame.

The lack of control makes his gut burn with acid and his brain swarm with a million restless ants. The sheer tangle of emotions is almost enough to choke him.

It’s a small relief, then, that Antonio values punctuality. He’s waiting for their call, and Jay is more than ready to get through the hard part—because the sooner this is done, the sooner he can crawl into bed, bury himself in his mates, and shut those thoughts down for five fucking hours.

“Boys! To what do I owe the pleasure of your company so late in the day?” Right to the point, then—at least Jay knows what to expect when it comes to Antonio Costas.

“Dad, we need your help with Nix’s court case. Some things are making it complicated, and we think you might be the best man for the job.”

“Boo-Boo, you are flattering me, and I am no more going to fall for it now than I did when you were seventeen. I understood you were happy with Erin’s work. Has something changed?”

Jay knows how lucky they are to have the brilliant lawyer in their corner. She is driven by those same principles of hard work and loyalty that Jay values. When she asked whether Nix wanted his alphas present for their talk, it was a relief to know that someone other than his mates was there to help him navigate this new life Nix had woken up in.

The least Jay can do is let her employer know that. “Not at all. She has been invaluable, but in this matter, we had hoped you both work together. There are some things you need to know beforehand, and that’s why we’ve called you first.”

“I am glad she’s doing good work. If it’s not about the trial, what is it? It looks serious, Jay. Is Nix not alright?”

Antonio has a reputation for being astute, and he reads the room perfectly. Even through the monitors, it wouldn’t be difficult to discern that Jay’s jaw is clenched and Leo is perched on the edge of his seat. Finn has also subtly wheeled his officechair out of camera range so as not to be perceived by their shrewd father-in-law.

Antonio’s face reflects none of his curiosity, and for a moment, Jay is envious of the ability to shield his emotions from those around him. Jay has never been able to do anything but shout his moods to the room, be it joy, anger, or sadness.

Add to it a scent that smells like a forest fire when he’s pissed, and everyone in a three-meter radius runs for the hills. If Jay feels it, the world will know. It’s made being a celebrity an exercise in masking that he still works at every time.

“Dad, Nix is fine. He’s great, or well, he is okay for now…but…well…”

“You’re not acting like he’s alright, son. Mama told me at dinner that you’d said he was feeling better.”

Jay tunes into the conversation when Antonio’s irritation at his son’s inability to verbalize what he wants to say becomes reflected in his tone. He knows it’s not because Leo wants to drag things out, and he is rarely at a loss for words. It’s just that bringing up that your mate is a mythical sub-gender to your father isn’t like discussing the weather, and Leo has always been conflicted about the kinds of loyalty he still owes his first alpha.

Worrying about expressing it incorrectly or disappointing his father would take Leo’s normal confidence down a notch or two, but Jay won’t stand for any verbal criticism. Leo is his own man, Jay’s mate, and he will always be deserving of respect.

Antonio isn’t paying attention to anything but his son, let alone Jay’s less-than-pleased expression. “Out with it, Leo. It can’t be any worse than your sister telling me she was pregnant out of wedlock, and if Gideon hasn’t murdered anyone, then how bad can it be?”

Fuck, well, that’s almost as close to the truth as Jay could expect anyone to get. Their new matecanhave children, and Gideondoeswant to kill someone…

Leo thinks so, too, and it’s enough to get Leo over his reluctance to spill beans without a preamble. “Okay, I…Dad, Nix isn’t a beta. He’s an omega, and there’s one more in Nashville that we know of, but they’re flying under the radar. There are even four more in countries all over the world. He’s perfect, Dad. You’re going to love him, but he’s hurting, and we need you to make sure he can win this court case.”

It was a word vomit of all the primary points, and in typical Leo form, he flops back onto the couch with a sigh when he runs out of steam. People often think Grayson is the drama queen in their house, but it is 100% Leo Costas, especially in front of his Dad.

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