Page 38 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

Roadkill was too busy enjoying Hashtag’s lips locked on his.

Care to make this a three-way kiss?Eve put her arms around them.

Only if we take this up to our room. Roadkill didn’t want sheep for an audience.

“Making love in a four-poster bed? What a hardship. But I guess I can put up with it for a few days,” Hashtag quipped. They walked toward the steps leading out of the garden.

Eve’s phone buzzed, and she pulled it from her jeans pocket. She came to a dead stop.

“Something’s wrong.” Roadkill’s senses went on high alert.

“Notwrong, exactly.” Eve sighed. “It’s a message from my dad. My grandfather died an hour ago.”

“Does his death change anything?” Hashtag asked.

Her face tightened. “I’m sorry he’s dead. I do havesomepleasant memories of him, but they’re overshadowed by what he stood for—or rather, who he stood with. As for what it changes?” She let out another sigh. “My future has a few more options, thanks to him.” She linked their arms. “Would you mind if we just got into bed and cuddled?”

Roadkill kissed her soft hair. “We can do whatever you want.”

Anything not to think about Eve walking into Thurland Castle.

“WE SHOULDN’Tbe doing this.” Brick couldn’t fight the feeling that he should be preparing for the incursion, checking his weapons, instead of lying in a gloriously comfortable bed, his mates curled up on either side of him.

“Yes, we should,” Aric declared in a decisive tone. “Tomorrow’s gonna come soon enough. Let’s make the most of this.” He gazed at the rich red velvet curtains hanging from the corners of the bed. “Talk about how the other half lives. I feel like I’m in a historical drama.”

Seth chuckled. “I know. This is so wild. I love it.”

Brick stroked Aric’s back. “Are you sure you’re okay with what I said the other day? About retiring?”

The glance Aric gave Seth told him there was a conversation coming.

“About that….” Seth sighed and leaned against Brick. “I know you told Horvan you want to retire, but, well, maybe think about it some more?”

He should have realized it wasn’t as cut-and-dried as he’d thought.

“Why, baby? Don’t you want me to be home with the two of you?”

Seth kissed him on the lips. “More than you know, but…. Okay, when you dream? Sometimes I see it.”

Aw fuck.

“Your heart says you want to quit and stay home,” Seth continued, “but I know that’s not you.” He smiled. “You’re built to save the world, or at least people in it. Like you did for me and Aric. The thought that someone out there could be hurt or worse because you’re not out there fighting for them? It kind of bothers me.”

Somewhere deep in the recesses of Brick’s soul, it bothered him too.

“So what are you saying?”

Seth reached over him and took Aric’s hand. “We talked. Yousayyou want to quit, but neither of us truly believes your heart is in it. You’re doing it because you think it’s the right thing for us.” Both of them snuggled against him. “But we can make it work no matter what you decide.”

“Don’t think I don’t love the idea of you being a stay-at-home bear, because I do,” Aric added.

Seth leaned over and kissed him. “That’s because you’re a stay-at-home kitty.” He pressed his lips to Brick’s chest, brushing them over his nipple. “But wherever we lay down some roots, we’ll need a place near space where I can shift.”

“We can do that.” Brick shivered when Seth tugged on his nipple, and it sent ripples of pleasure all the way to his dick.

Seth chuckled once more. “Ooh, you like that.”

“Can we be serious for another minute?” Lord knew the pair of them could distract him in a heartbeat.

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