Page 24 of House of Kallan
“I don’t mean for this to turn into an interview about that family, but I did warn you I was pretty much married to my job.” Aden smirked. “Tell me about them? Just a little? Tyrus specifically, since he’s been like a damn barnacle to that baby, which is actually very sweet.”
“Tyrus is a big goof, fearless and reckless. He’s stupidly loyal but he lacks empathy.”
“So he said. He has an antisocial disorder from what he said.”
Aden chuckled. “You can call him what he is. A psychotic motherfucker. But if he’s fixated on that baby, no one will ever harm him. He’ll take the world apart to protect everyone he cares about. And yes, I know that it’s a bit of an oxymoron since we just agreed that he’s completely apathetic.”
“I don’t get the feeling he’s a criminal or anything,” I said.
“Nah. Just crazy and unnerving. There are eight men in total that make up the Darkyns. They’re nightbreeds except the demonic Tyrus. Tyrus stays home, but I think that’s more for Iker’s peace of mind than it is for any other reason. He assimilates to society pretty seamlessly when he wants to. Although, those moments are few and far between. Viggo also stays home. The rest of them work.”
“Are they a complete family?”
Aden shook his head. “No. They’re waiting for a wife.” He smiled at me, swinging our linked hands a little.
I smiled. “Okay, no more work talk. I promise not to ask about them again tonight.”
He laughed. “I don’t mind. Your passion for your job is important.”
“What do you do?” I asked.
Aden’s smile took over. “I’m a kept man,” he said, and I raised a brow, amused at his amusement. “I’m a househusband,” he said, shrugging. “While I could get into the ugliness of my past and why I prefer not to be out in the world, I think perhapsthat’s a story for another time. Let’s just go with my husbands like to spoil me and take care of me and I’m just as content to remain home and read all day or play video games or… do the shopping. I cook most nights too. But I don’t clean. We have a service for that.”
I loved his smile. It was cute and sweet. Beautiful.
“What do you like to read?” I asked.
“Gay romance, of course,” he says, laughing. I chuckled. “No, but really, I do end up reading gay romance more often than not.Patienceby Lark Taylor is one of my absolute favorites. Have you ever read it?”
I shook my head.
“Please tell me you enjoy reading,” he said.
Shrugging, I glanced into the room we stopped in front of. “I like to read, but I don’t find I have a lot of time for that.”
He sighed. “I’m determined to change that. It’s good for your mind.”
I grinned. “All right.”
“It’s not like I just read romance,” Aden added after a minute. “I read all kinds of things. I love astrology and space and anything having to do with nature. Oh, and I also love mythology and all the different ancient cultures.” He paused as he opened another door, and we stepped inside. One entire wall was covered in bookshelves. When I looked at him with wide eyes, he just grinned. “I also like to collect my favorite books.”
Laughing, I stepped toward them and touched the spine of one.We Burn Beautifulby Lance Lansdale. I pulled it from the shelf to turn it over. The cover was so pretty that I couldn’t help but run my fingers over it.
“That’s a relatively new, debut release. Such an angsty, amazing story. I can’t wait to read it again.”
The passion in his voice for reading was what I felt for helping the people who were brought under my care. The abused and tortured women. Their monstrous offspring. I watched Aden as he ran his finger along another spine.
When he looked at me, his smile was softer. “How many husbands do you have?”
Aden raised a brow. “You don’t know?”
I shook my head. “It wasn’t that kind of meeting.”
He laughed. “I have six. Hadrian and Toby you met.”
“Met might be a bit of an exaggeration. There was little exchanged between us.”
Aden found this highly amusing. “I’m not surprised. Okay, so… Hadrian is our almighty leader who despises when I call him that, so naturally, I do often. He’s a high-profile lawyer and is damn good at his job. Toby is an archeologist, and we could talk forever about some of the adventures he’s been on with his job. It’s like reading a book come to life. He’s enthusiastic and excited about it. Actually, he is about everything, which you might have gotten a glimpse of.”
