Darin

by Catherine Lievens

  Darin gave Ira a desperate glance, but Ira looked amused, the bastard. “You’ll see tomorrow if I wasn’t right. Those two are going to make you drink the evening away, and you’ll wake up with the mother of all headaches.”

  “I think I’ll risk it. I can handle alcohol pretty well.”

  Nysys pulled them in the living room and yelled, “People! We found the newly mated couple! Give them some love!”

  There was a push on Darin’s back and he just had the time to scowl at Keenan, who was grinning at him, before he was swamped. Darin hugged Jayden, who was cooing in his ears and telling him how happy he was. Darin pushed him away gently, and yup, Jayden was well on his way to being drunk.

  “Where’s Heath?”

  “Mmm?”

  “Your mate?”

  “Oh, he’s at home. He said he’d come by later because he wants to congratulate you, but he had to help a horse give birth first. Have you ever seen a horse give birth? I hadn’t until a few weeks ago, and let me tell you, I hope I never see anything like that again. There was blood, and gore, and I had to look into the horse’s—”

  Someone clamped a hand on Jayden’s mouth and Jayden giggled. Darin looked over Jayden’s shoulder and winced at Shad’s stony glare. “Umm, hi.”

  “Hi, brother mine, my twin, my other half. My brother, who doesn’t think it’s important to tell me he found his mate and is already mated.”

  “I think I detect some sarcasm in there.”

  “You think?”

  Jayden said something, but it was muffled by Shad’s hand. Shad let go and steered Jayden toward the dining room. The doors between the living room and the dining room were open and the dining room table was laden with bottles and bowls.

  Shad glared at Darin, his stay right where you are message obvious. He sat Jayden in a chair and got him a glass of water, then waited until Jayden had drunk it all. He fiddled with his phone in the meantime, took the glass when it was empty, and handed Jayden a sandwich.

  Darin turned to look at Ira, but the traitor wasn’t there anymore. Darin looked for him and found him talking with Taylor. He started to go to him, but a hand on his arm stopped him. He turned around to face Shad’s glare. Shad pulled him along until they reached a corner that was relatively quiet. He pushed Darin against the wall and crossed his arms on his chest, a brow arched.

  “Umm, I’d have told you today. Right now, in fact.”

  “Really?”

  “Of course. Shad, come on. You know I love you more than anyone. I seriously didn’t have the time to get to you, that’s all. Keenan and Nysys didn’t even wait for me and Ira to mate before organizing this party. They didn’t even ask if we’d mated or not!”

  Shad sighed and relaxed. “Come on, tell me what happened.”

  “I was baking, and this guy came in and it’s like time stopped or something. I couldn’t look away from him, and he said we were mates, and he tried to seduce me right there in the kitchen, but I said I wanted to talk at least a bit before doing whatever he wanted to do. So I took him to my room, we talked, we mated, then we went to talk to Dominic. Oh, we went to the infirmary before that.”

  “Infirmary? Were you hurt?”

  “No, no. Ira’s here today because he drove his friend, you know, to see if Adan’s his mate. Turns out he is, and Ira wanted to make sure Yanis was okay. Then we went to talk to Dominic, and Nysys and Keenan ambushed us while we were trying to go upstairs to find you.”

  “So you really didn’t have the time to tell me.”

  “I told you that already.”

  Shad looked at Darin seriously. “So you really mated within minutes of meeting your mate?”

  “More like hours, but yeah.” Darin reached up and pulled the collar of his T-shirt away from his neck to show Shad the bite. Shad nodded and Darin let go of the T-shirt. He waited for his brother to say something. He was terrified Shad would have something bad to say about it, but he wouldn’t change what he’d done. He didn’t regret mating with Ira—he just hoped Shad would be okay with the decision. They were brothers, sure. Twin brothers, and very close, especially after being captured together, but Shad was mated, and it had put some distance between them. Darin didn’t mind, because he knew his brother was happy, but he wanted that, too.

  Shad nodded and pulled Darin into his arms. “I’m happy for you.”

  Darin hugged his brother as hard as Shad was hugging him. “Thanks.”

  Shad patted his back. “Come on. I need to meet that mate of yours.”

  * * * *

  Ira shook his head at the very pink cocktail Nysys offered him but accepted a beer from Taylor. Taylor clinked his own bottle against Ira’s and took a swing. “So, you and Darin, huh?”

  “We’re mates.”

  “I know.”

  Ira smirked. “So, you and Wes, huh?”

  Taylor stopped in the gesture of drinking more beer and peered at Ira from above his bottle. “What’d you know about Wes?”

  “He didn’t tell you about me?”

  Taylor slowly put his bottle down. “What do you mean? What should he have told me?”

  Ira could see Taylor was getting angry, so he raised his free hand in surrender. “Nothing bad, man. I just helped him with his math.”

  Taylor cocked his head. “Yeah? So you’re the reason he’s suddenly better at it?”

  “No, he’s the reason for that. I just gave him a little push. And I found my mate while I was at it.” Taylor frowned and made Ira feel guilty. “Look, I don’t know why Wes didn’t tell you about me, but I’m going to guess it’s because I don’t really matter all that much to him. I just saw him working in the kitchen one day, helped him, and happened to smell Darin on him. He told me who Darin was, and that’s it. No need to be suspicious or anything.”

  Taylor drank down the last half of his beer and dangled the empty bottle from his fingers. “I’m not.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Okay, maybe I am a bit, but not really. I’d be suspicious of any man I don’t know who seems to know Wes more than he should.”

  “I don’t know Wes.”

  “Yeah, okay.” Taylor put his bottle on the table and grabbed another. He wasn’t drunk, not yet, but he would be if he didn’t slow down. Not that it was any of Ira’s business.

  Ira looked around for Darin and saw him coming over with Shad. Ira took a good look at the brothers. He was a little freaked out by the fact that they were identical. They even had the same haircut, and he recognized who Darin was just by the clothes he was wearing.

  But when Shad came close enough that Ira could smell him, he realized he didn’t have to freak out. He could’ve recognized the twins by their smells only. Ira reached out and slipped an arm around Darin’s waist, pulling him closer. He handed his beer to his mate and stuck his hand out to Shad.

  “I’m Ira.”

  “Shad. But you already knew that.”

  “Yeah.” Ira smiled. “I did my homework.”

  Shad narrowed his eyes. “What does that mean?”

  “Just that he’s known we’re mates for a while,” Darin answered in Ira’s place.

  “And why didn’t he come find you earlier?”

  “Because he needed to be sure of some things. He’s been in a lab too, Shad.”

  Shad’s eyes became softer, gentler. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Ira shrugged. “It’s fine. It’s in the past.”

  Someone slung an arm around Ira, making his knees buckle. “Heeeey.”

  Darin groaned. “How much did you drink?”

  Nysys faltered slightly and hung harder from Ira’s shoulder. “Not much. Just a few glasses.”

  “Of what?”

  “Apple cocktail. They’re good, and apple-y. Is that even a word? Whatever, if it’s not, I’m inventing it!”

  Ira looked at Darin. “What should we do with him?”

  “I’m going to go look for Keenan
. Or Morin. Yeah, Morin. At least he won’t be drunk. I can’t say the same about Keenan.” He pointed to their left and Ira saw an obviously just-as-drunk Keenan dancing on the coffee table. He was shirtless and had apparently managed to get his hands on more glitter, because his skin was glistening like crazy in the colored light.

  A big man was standing right by the coffee table, his arms crossed on his chest, his gaze continuously checking the people around Keenan. He didn’t move, didn’t try to get Keenan to climb down, but simply stood watching. Ira tilted his chin toward him and asked, “Who’s that?”

  “Keenan’s mate,” Darin answered.

  “So I guess Morin is Nysys’, huh?”

  “Yeah. I’m not sure he’s here, though.”

  “Wanna dance, guys? Come on, you should dance. You’re the newly mated couple, right?” Nysys said, his apple scented breath bathing Ira’s face.

  Ira wrinkled his nose and wondered if he could dump Nysys on his ass, but Darin’s face made it obvious he shouldn’t. He groaned. “We’re going to have to try to sober him up, right?”

  “I think that would be best. It looks like the party’s almost over anyway.”

  Sure enough, the room was a lot emptier than it’d been an hour before. It was dinnertime, and the snacks Nysys and Keenan had set on the table obviously weren’t enough. A short guy came in, looked around, rolled his eyes, and went to turn the stereo off.

  Keenan swirled around so fast he tumbled off the table and his mate only had the time to grab his arm. It wasn’t enough to keep Keenan upright, and they both ended up on the floor. Keenan laughed like a hyena and Ira saw him grab his mate’s ass and squeeze.

  The big guy got up, his cheeks red, and manhandled Keenan until he was upright. “You’re no fun!” Keenan slurred, pointing at the guy who’d turned the stereo off.

  The guy waved Keenan’s words away. “Yeah, yeah, I’m the bad alpha mate who wants to eat dinner in peace. You can go upstairs if you want to continue drinking, but for Jonah’s sake, I hope you won’t.”

  “Jonah loves me even when I’m drunk!”

  The alpha mate rolled his eyes. “I know. I love you too, but I like you more when you’re quieter.”

  “That’s because you’re boring!” Nysys yelled from where he was still hanging from Ira’s shoulder.

  The alpha mate cocked his head when he noticed Ira. He came closer, his hand held out, and Ira juggled his beer and Nysys to be able to shake it. “I’m Ani.”

  “Dominic’s mate?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ira. Darin’s mate.”

  “Aaah, let me guess. Nysys and Keenan found out about it today?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “I get it now. They don’t usually have this wild a party for nothing.”

  “Wild?” The party had looked anything but wild to Ira. Sure, Nysys and Keenan were drunk off of their asses, and they weren’t the only ones from what Ira had seen, but that was about it. There were even coasters under the abandoned glasses on the table.

  “They’re not bad guys, and they’re actually tamer when they drink because then they’re too uncoordinated to do anything. Unfortunately for everyone, they don’t do it often.”

  “I’m happy about that,” Jonah said. He had Keenan in his arms, bridal style, and Keenan was singing his heart out. Nysys perked up and started singing too, but he wasn’t half as good a singer as Keenan, and Keenan wasn’t very good to begin with.

  Everyone cringed. Shad got back just then, grinning. “Morin can’t make it for another few hours, but he said to take Nysys to a quiet place without alcohol and to let him ride it out. Good luck, guys.”

  “Hey,” Darin protested, but Shad was already hurrying away. Darin turned to look at Ani, but the alpha mate was exiting the room, waving at them. “Traitors!”

  Jonah chuckled. “Come on. Let’s take them upstairs.”

  Ira looked around. “Shouldn’t we clean up or something?”

  “Leave that to the others. We have to babysit,” Darin said.

  Nysys wobbled when they tried to make him walk out, so Ira hauled him up. Nysys squeaked and squeezed Ira’s neck, strangling him. “What are you doing to me? I’m telling Morin!”

  Darin patted Nysys’ arm and untangled his arms from Ira’s neck. “Be good, Nys. Morin will be here soon.”

  “I’m not a virginal bride!”

  “Oh, believe me, we know that.”

  Nysys looked affronted. “Are you saying I’m a slut?”

  “That’s not what I said.”

  “Because I’m not. Well, maybe I am. I like sex. Do you like sex?” He looked at Ira, his face way too close for comfort. “I think you do. I wonder what you look like when you come.”

  “That’s not something you’ll ever get to see,” Ira told him. He looked at Darin. He didn’t look angry but amused. Ira arched a brow in question.

  “I know Nysys. He’d never try anything on you. This is just how he is. Ignore him.”

  “You can’t ignore me!” Nysys said, slapping Ira’s shoulder. “No one can! That’s why I do my hair, and the tattoos, and all that stuff.” The good mood leaked out of him. “I’m not a slut,” he whined. “I just don’t want anyone to hurt me.”

  Ira had no idea what to do, especially when a tear leaked form Nysys’ eye. They entered another living room upstairs and Ira put Nysys on the couch. He dried the tear with his thumb, but another one rolled down, then another. Ira looked at Darin for instructions but Darin wasn’t there, and Jonah had his hands full with Keenan.

  So Ira did the only thing he could think of. He sat next to Nysys and hugged him, even though he wasn’t particularly fond of touching other people. Nysys clung to him and sobbed loud enough that Jonah looked at them, alarmed. Ira shrugged and Jonah gave him a small smile.

  Ira patted Nysys’ back until the sobs disappeared, but Nysys didn’t look like he wanted to move away. He snuggled closer, pressing his face against Ira’s neck.

  So of course, that was when Darin came back in.

  * * * *

  Darin almost laughed at Ira’s face. Ira started to push Nysys away and get up, but Darin shook his head. “Relax. I know you two aren’t doing anything.”

  Ira sat back, and Nysys snuggled closer. Darin laughed at the awkward expression on Ira’s face and took pity on him. He leaned forward and gently pried Nysys away from Ira, even though Nysys protested. “Don’t wanna! He’s comfortable. You’re a lucky bastard, Darin.”

  “I know.”

  “Morin never parties with me. He always works.”

  Darin could see there was another teary crisis barreling toward them, so he pushed a big pillow in Nysys’ arms and helped him lie down. “I know he works a lot, but it’s almost over, huh? Once his father’s company is completely dismantled, he’ll have all the time in the world for you. Maybe you can even go on holiday, huh?”

  “Oooh, we could go to the beach? Do you think he’d like that?” Nysys tried to sit up but Darin pushed him back down. “But I want a cocktail with a little umbrella!”

  “I’ll go get it for you, okay?”

  “Uh-huh. Pink.”

  “Pink what?”

  “Pink umbrella. Please.”

  “Pink. Sure.”

  “Ya know, I like pink.”

  “I think I could guess that just by your hair.”

  “You don’t think it makes me a girl?”

  Darin could see the drama coming up, so he shook his head. “Nope. Pink isn’t only for girls. I already told you that, remember?”

  Nysys beamed. “Oh, that’s right.”

  Darin covered Nysys up to his shoulders and patted his hand. “Try to rest. Morin will be here soon, okay?”

  “Mmm, yeah, okay.”

  Darin hovered over Nysys for a few moments until he was sure his friend was asleep. He sighed and flopped next to Ira, who promptly curled an arm around his shoulder. “Is he always like that?�
��

  “You mean touchy-feely or drunk?”

  “The first one. I already know he doesn’t usually drink.”

  “Nysys is—well, he’s peculiar. He had a very lonely life before he came here, and he doesn’t like to talk about it. We’re his family now, and he knows that, so he lets go when he’s here in Whitedell. He’s just himself.”

  “Can I ask about his mate? Nysys doesn’t seem too... happy.”

  “Oh, he is. Morin’s a great man, albeit a lot quieter and more sober than Nysys. He’s really working a lot right now because he wants to get rid of his father’s company as soon as possible.”

  “Yeah, but why doesn’t that leave him time to be with his mate? It’s obvious it’s what Nysys wants, and that he’s lonely.”

  Darin squirmed and Ira gave him a curious glance. “Well, Morin’s company is the Glass Research Company.”

  Ira frowned. “I guess I can see why he wants to get rid of it as soon as he can.”

  “Yeah. He’s a nice guy, really. Nothing like his father. He didn’t know about the shady part of the company until Dominic stuck his father in jail and he had to take over for him. Once he found out about it, he shut everything down, but it hasn’t been easy.”

  Ira nodded, then smiled. “Enough talking about this stuff, huh?”

  Movement on their left made Darin turn around. Jonah was helping Keenan up from the couch and toward the door. Keenan looked green around the edges, and Jonah was probably leading him toward the closest bathroom. Darin hoped they made it, and he held his breath until they exited the living room.

  Night was falling and the living room was dark, but not completely yet. Some light came from the setting sun, some from the lights outside the mansion, and it gave the room an eerie feeling. The house was warm and Darin was comfortable with Ira wrapped around him.

  Nysys snuffled and snored every now and then, and it was surprisingly cute. Darin smiled in the darkness and settled closer to Ira, but Ira apparently had other plans. He pushed Darin on his back and Darin went willingly, a smile on his lips.