Page 74 of Colin

Fox eyed Dane, who was still looking twitchy as fuck. “You don’t like her much, do you?”

Dane’s gaze bounced around, never landing on just one thing for long. “What’s to like?”

Fox shrugged, not really having an answer for that. He clocked Luc and Jamie across the street, lingering at the fence separating the pool from the sidewalk. Luc’s vamp face was actually hidden for once—Fox hadn’t even known he was capable of that—and his eyes were a shockingly beautiful bright green. It was fucking unnatural.

Jay and Alexei were supposedly around the corner, covering the other side of the pool. Fox didn’t exactly have much faith in tiny, bubbly Jay taking down any kidnappers, but Alexei looked strong enough. Seemed to have a sensible head on his shoulders too.

Fox supposed Colin could have had worse friends.

He turned back to Dane. “Thereisthe fact that she’s helping us catch this dickbag. We could count that as a point in her favor.”

After all, their truce with Luc and Jamie had started on similar ground.

Dane scoffed, kicking his foot against the sidewalk. “Yeah. Sure.”

“You don’t trust her?”

Dane stilled for the first time since they’d arrived, looking Fox square in the eye. “I don’t trust anyone in this world but you.”

Warmth flooded Fox’s chest. It wasn’t like heneededthe words from his brother—he knew where they stood—but sometimes it was nice to get a reminder. He cocked a brow. “Colin?”

Dane looked at him, incredulous. “Of course fucking Colin.” He started kicking his foot again, mumbling, “Goes without saying, doesn’t it?”

But here was a time when Foxwantedthe words. He needed Dane to admit to things, more for himself than for Fox.

“You love him,” he said bluntly. He was met with silence. “So do I.”

Dane shot him a glare. “Obviously.”

Oh, but he was pissy today. Forced separation from their human didn’t seem to be doing either of them any good.

“He’s our mate, Dane.”

Fox’s devil rumbled its agreement.Mate.

Dane’s gaze drifted off again. “We can’t know that.”

“No one knows until they do. It’s a feeling.” Fox stepped in close, putting his face right into Dane’s, forcing him to look at him. “Feel your fucking feelings, brother mine.”

“And if we ruin his life like Robert ruined Serena’s?” There was a naked vulnerability in Dane’s eyes as he voiced his fears out loud.

“Then we spend an eternity making it up to him. And that’sif.” Fox didn’t let his gaze waver. “I’ve never regretted it. Neither will he.”

All at once, Dane deflated. “I love you, you know? I’m sorry I don’t say it more.”

Fox stepped back, giving him breathing room. “We don’t need the words. We’re beyond that.”

“Well then, I’m sorry I let our shitty den get to me. I’m sorry I pulled back.”

Fox grinned. “You’re very after-school special today, you know that?”

“Fuck you.” Dane flipped him off, but the words lacked heat.

“Let’s finish this shit and we can fuck our little lamb instead,” Fox said, waggling his brows in a way he knew his brother found ridiculous.

“Except, where the fuckisshe?”

Dane’s antsiness must have been catching, because now Fox was getting nervous. Something didn’t feel right. He’d been chalking it up to their twitchiness at not having Colin near. But it was more than that, wasn’t it?

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