Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39596 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“It’s your birthday,” Nathanial said as he shoved past Callan and strode into the house. He stopped, eyes going wide as he looked around. “Whoa.”
“Be careful,” Callan warned, sending each brother a pointed look. “And be nice to Lonnie. He’s…good.”
Rafe’s lips stretched into a knowing grin. “How good?”
When Callan didn’t answer, he whooped and walked into the house with Bartholomew on his heels.
“Where’s Shia?” Callan asked after looking to make sure she wasn’t coming behind them.
“Visiting her parents.” Rafe shrugged. “She said to have a fun ‘boy’s’ night.”
Lonnie picked that moment to step into the living room, his jaw dropping as he took in the huge demons taking up most of the space. But he didn’t cower, just blinked at each of them.
They were all big like Callan, and their horns looked nearly the same with Rafe’s being a shade lighter, making them a dark gray. Callan imagined it was startling to have them all together like this.
“Lonnie, these are my brothers.” He pointed at each one, naming them. They all stared at Lonnie hard, eyes narrowed. Rafe was looking between Callan and Lonnie, and his brows were slowly climbing up his forehead. When a grin of utter joy stretched his lips and he whooped again, Callan rolled his eyes. Of course Rafe would figure out that he really liked Lonnie. He wouldn’t know about the soulmate part since none of them had known humans could be that, but he’d be happy that Callan had found someone. He walked to Callan and pulled him into a back-thumping hug.
“Congratulations, brother.”
When Lonnie gave Callan a confused look, Callan glared at Rafe, who was smart enough to realize Lonnie didn’t know how strong his feelings were yet. He dropped it, and luckily his other two brothers followed his lead, both of them looking Lonnie over with curiosity now. He decided it would be better if they knew the truth right away.
“Lonnie can see through glamours.”
All three turned incredulous expressions toward Lonnie, who nodded.
“He knows what we are?” Bartholomew asked.
“He does.” Callan went to Lonnie and put his arm around his shoulders. “He’s always been able to see preternaturals.”
“Like Bain and Alaric’s boyfriends?”
Callan nodded.
Rafe clapped his hands. “Then we should go to the fights. Nathanial wants a match.”
“No.” Callan crossed his arms.
“What fights?” Lonnie piped up.
“Demon fight ring,” Rafe answered. “Callan is a champion there.”
Lonnie looked up at Callan with complete puppy dog eyes. “Oh, we have to do that.”
Callan growled. “It’s dangerous to take a human. I’m supposed to be his guardian,” he told his brothers. “So, no.”
Bartholomew snorted. “With all four of us? We can protect him.”
“Absolutely not,” Callan growled. “We do something else.” There were no humans at that underground warehouse, and Lonnie would not only stand out, but Callan wouldn’t put Lonnie in that kind of dangerous situation. And Xavier would have his horns.
“Then what do you want to do?” Rafe had picked up one of Lonnie’s figurines and was frowning at it.
Callan quickly moved to take it from him and carefully place it back on the shelf. He gave his brother a glare. “We’ll go to Jenny’s.”
“A bar?” Rafe scoffed. “That’s it? But it’s your birthday!”
“I like Jenny’s. Lonnie will be safe there.” Yes, it was a bar run by a demon and was filled with them, but humans gathered there as well.
“Jenny’s it is,” Nathanial barked out and gave Lonnie a come-hither smile that made Callan’s belly burn. He placed his hand on Lonnie’s shoulder.
Lonnie looked up at him. “You didn’t tell me it was your birthday. I would have gotten you something.”
Callan shrugged. “Not important. Have had many birthdays.”
“Well, I don’t agree. They should all be important, and your brothers obviously agree. Your drinks are on me tonight.” With that, Lonnie grabbed his wallet and keys and stood by the door.
Oh, Callan liked the fierce little glare on his face. His dick twitched, and he willed it not to fill. Not with all his nosy brothers there.
Rafe drove a roomy SUV, so Callan helped Lonnie into the middle of the back seat then climbed in beside him. He tugged him close, so Lonnie wasn’t pressed so much against Bart on his other side. Rafe and Nathanial were in the front, and as they drove, Nathanial kept looking back to stare at Lonnie. Callan frowned at him but Nathanial just grinned.
“He’s hot,” Nathanial said, wiggling his thick, black eyebrows at Callan.
“Don’t get ideas.” Callan glanced at Lonnie, whose cheeks had turned so red he could tell in the dim light. He looked back to his brother.
Nathanial held up his hands. “No, I get it.”
Callan had to resist the urge to growl “mine” at his brother. But his arm around the man and his glares should be warning enough. Nathanial just chuckled and finally turned to face the front.
The five of them walked into Jenny’s to find a darts championship going on. The bar was packed with very large, very boisterous demons. Though there were other humans in the mix, Lonnie stood out, looking small amongst everyone. Callan moved closer to him, every protective instinct he had firing at all cylinders.