Darin

by Catherine Lievens

  “Believe me, I know that. The problem is that I sometimes lose control over it.”

  Dominic’s gaze flicked to Darin. “I bet it has to do with strong emotions.”

  “Yes.”

  “Particular ones?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sure the enforcers won’t find themselves in those particular situations when they’re on duty, but I’ll make sure they know about this before they agree to work with you. We have several venomous enforcers, but they almost all live with Celina’s nest. If you agree to this, I’ll have them come and live with the pride.”

  “That’s... yeah, okay. I’ll do it. One by one, though. I don’t think I’d be able to teach big groups.”

  “Of course. Whatever you need.”

  “Now that that’s solved, do you have anything else to tell me?” Kameron asked.

  Ira shook his head. “I just wanted to say goodbye. Dominic already told me I can move into the mansion, and me and Darin are already mated, so...”

  “So you basically came here to get your stuff and say goodbye.”

  “Yeah.”

  Kameron rose from his chair and rounded his desk. Ira got up, too, and Darin let his hand fall down. Kameron hugged Ira and patted his back, then, to Darin’s surprise, Kameron turned toward him. He opened his arms as if asking permission and Darin nodded. This hug was shorter and less intense, and it left Darin a bit weirded out, but it was nice anyway.

  “I’ll see you at home,” Dominic said as they left the office. “And no frisky business on the couch!”

  Darin froze and looked at Ira with wide eyes. Ira’s lips twitched and Darin slapped his arm. “Don’t you dare laugh!”

  “What frisky business?” Kameron asked Dominic.

  Ira didn’t stop laughing until they reached the car.

  * * * *

  Yanis was almost done packing his things when Ira and Darin got to the house Ira and Yanis shared. A few boxes were already waiting in the small living room, and Darin took them to the car while Ira went to his room and took a few bags out from under his bed.

  He didn’t have much—some clothes, some books, his laptop. He hadn’t wanted to settle down in Gillham because he hadn’t been sure it was what he wanted. Now, he was grateful for that, even though he was a little sad to leave the friends he’d made. But like the party a few days before had shown, he was on his way to making new ones. If he could make himself trust them, anyway.

  Although it was hard not to trust Nysys and Keenan. They’d spent what Darin had deemed way too much time with them since the party, and the two were wiggling their way under Ira’s mistrust almost faster than Darin had.

  “Need me to take something to your car?”

  Ira turned to look at Darin. He was leaning against the doorframe, looking in Ira’s room, his arms crossed on his chest.

  Ira gestured at the bag he’d already filled. “You can grab that one, but you don’t have to. I can do it.”

  Darin grinned and flexed his arms. “I have more muscles than you’d think.”

  “I know that. I’ve seen you naked, remember?”

  “Right.” Darin grabbed the bag and left the room, and Ira pushed more clothes in his other bag. There was a knock on the door and he turned to see Yanis handing him three envelopes. Ira grimaced and reached out to take them. “Please don’t tell me they’re what I think they are.”

  That got a smile out of Yanis. “Of course they are. Your parents are the only people who write real letters to you.”

  Ira looked at the creamy envelopes. He felt a weird surge of glee when he noticed one was a little worse for wear—it was more gray than cream and there was a boot imprint on it. “That’s because I didn’t give them any other choices.”

  “Maybe you could give them your phone number.” Yanis raised his hands at Ira’s scowl. “Or at least your email.”

  “Nope. I want them to have to wait for me to answer.”

  “You’re clearly not answering, though.”

  “I’ve had other stuff to think about lately.”

  Yanis leaned against the wall. “Are you going to write to them to give them your new address and tell them about Darin?”

  Ira sighed. “I’m going to have to at least call them. You know how they are.”

  “Oh, yeah. I’d have a hard time forgetting it.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Yanis shrugged. “It’s not your fault your parents are racist. And slightly homophobic.”

  “Who’s homophobic?” Darin asked as he entered the room again.

  “My parents.”

  Dari stopped and looked at Ira with wide eyes. “Seriously? Not only did they give you away to the company, but they also hate a part of you?”

  “It’s not that they’re homophobic per se, really. Or racist.”

  Darin sat on Ira’s bed. “This is sounding worse and worse with every word you say.”

  “They’re just, well, they’re fixated on keeping our species pure.”

  “You mean the Atheris part, right?”

  “Yes. They’re part of those shifters who think every species should keep to themselves, so they won’t be happy to find out I’m mated with you.”

  “But... its fate. I mean, you didn’t exactly choose me. I’m your mate—there’s nothing you can do about that.”

  “Ah, well, since they think we should keep to ourselves, they also don’t approve of mates.”

  Darin gaped. “Don’t approve? But that’s something every shifter wants!”

  “Not them. Not when it could mean mating outside of our species.”

  “Like we did.”

  “Yeah.”

  “So they’re not going to like me.”

  “Unless a miracle occurs, no.”

  Darin raked a hand in his hair. “Great. Well, I should probably tell you that most of my family won’t be over the moon about you, either.”

  “Same views as my parents?”

  “Not exactly. They don’t think every species should stick to themselves, but rather that predators shouldn’t mate with prey.”

  “Okay.”

  “They’ll think you’ll end up... eating me.”

  Ira’s eyes went wide. He looked at Yanis, and they both burst out laughing. “Sorry, but... eating you? Really?”

  Darin shrugged. “I know it sounds stupid, but it’s what they’ve been taught. They don’t know differently, because they’ve never met predators, and if they have, they probably ran as far and fast away as they could.”

  Yanis snorted and pushed away from the wall. “I’m going to finish packing. See you in the living room after a bit.”

  He left, leaving Darin and Ira on their own. Ira could tell his mate was worried, and he didn’t think anything he said would ease that. They couldn’t choose their families, and they couldn’t change them. They’d have to deal with what they had.

  Ira took Darin’s hand and raised it. He kissed the back of it, then the knuckles. “Look, we can’t help who they are, and I don’t think you want to distance yourself from your family.”

  “I don’t. What about you?”

  “I already have. The last time I saw them was right after I got out of the lab. I asked them for an explanation, anything that would make me understand why they’d done what they did, but they weren’t... they didn’t have one, not a good one anyway. I don’t want to pull away from them completely, because they’re still my family, but apart from these,” he said, pointing out at the envelopes he’d put on the nightstand, “I don’t want anything else from them.”

  “Do you want me to meet them?”

  “Sure, if you’re okay with being looked at like an insect and probably being told we shouldn’t be together. I want them to know that I’m happy, and that they have nothing to do with it. I also want my mother to know she should stop trying to fix me up with one of her friends, or one of her friends’ daughters, or whatever. But a p
hone call will be good enough for now.”

  Darin wrinkled his nose. “That sounds disturbing.”

  Ira shrugged. “Like I said, we’re a very small community. My parents are actually cousins. They’re not closely related, but still.”

  “Oh, eww. Sorry, I know they’re your parents, but it’s still creepy.”

  “I know. Believe me, I know. I’m pretty sure Mother expects me to marry one of my cousins.”

  Darin climbed into Ira’s lap and kissed him. “Nope. You’re all mine.”

  Ira tightened his arms around Darin. “I am. What about you? Want me to meet your family?”

  “Definitely. I love my parents, and they already met Gabriel. They like him, even though he’s different, although I can’t say if they’ll like you. He’s still mostly human, but you’re a shifter. But I know they’ll try. They just want me to be happy. And anyone who’s scared or whatever? You won’t have to see them again.”

  “But you know I will, if you want me to. I don’t care if people are scared of me, or even if they try to make you leave me, as long as you don’t listen to them.”

  “I won’t. Living in the labs and in the mansion made me realize that one’s species doesn’t have anything to do with who they are. I won’t let prejudice take you away from me, not even if it comes from my family, or from yours.”

  “Good. When do you want to go?”

  Darin tapped his finger on his lower lip. “It’s my mom’s birthday next week. She already knows Gabriel, Shad, and me are coming over.”

  “Have you told her about me?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Won’t that be a bit too much for her birthday?”

  “I’ll call her and tell her I met my mate and that I’m bringing him along, okay?”

  “Are you going to tell her I’m an Atheris?”

  “Yeah. I think it would help her and Dad to get used to the idea.”

  “All right. Next week, then.”

  “Yup.”

  So Ira had about a week to gather his courage—and check with Shad and Isaiah to see what he could find on Darin’s family. Just in case.

  * * * *

  Darin had been lucky enough to find the kitchen empty, although that might have been because it was still only four in the morning. The house was silent around him and he was able to concentrate on the cupcakes he wanted to bake for his mother.

  He always baked a first batch to see if the flavors worked together, and this time wasn’t any different. He knew all the cupcakes would disappear as soon as people started to get up and come downstairs to have breakfast, even if they weren’t that good.

  He added the butter and the eggs to the mixture of sugar, flour, and tea he’d just made, and mixed. It was a little too hard, so he added a few tablespoons of milk, and this time, the batter was just like he wanted it.

  Darin hoped his mom would appreciate the lavender-peppermint cupcakes and that they’d smooth out Ira’s presence. He didn’t want to ruin his mother’s birthday, but he also didn’t want to have to keep Ira away from what was a family celebration. Ira was family now, and Darin wanted him to know that.

  He spooned the batter in the liners and put the first batches in the ovens, then started cleaning up. The kitchen slowly filled with the mixed scent of lavender and peppermint, and Darin was hopeful the cupcakes would be as good as their scent was.

  “It’s too early to be baking. And why aren’t you lying in bed with your hot new mate? I swear me and Morin wouldn’t have left the bed for a week after we mated if it hadn’t be for the killer who was after him.”

  Darin smiled and looked at Nysys. He still looked half-asleep and was wearing only a pair of pajama pants. It exposed his tattoos, and Darin couldn’t help but look at them. He’d seen them dozens of times, but their beauty still amazed him. “We’ve spent plenty of time in bed, don’t worry. And you know I’m used to being up early. Why are you already awake?”

  Nysys climbed on a stool and slumped against the counter. He yelped when his skin touched the cool marble surface and Darin threw him a towel. Nysys put it on the counter and leaned on it. “I went to pee and smelled the cupcakes.”

  “And you couldn’t resist coming and stealing one?”

  “Exactly.”

  “I’d have kept a few to the side for you, you know.”

  “I didn’t want to risk it. When do you need to leave for work?”

  “After I’m done with these. I’ll give you a few and bring some to Ira.”

  “Don’t forget Trevor’s.”

  “I’m not.” Darin reached in the cupboard over his head. “Look, I bought him these boxes.” They were red, with a small transparent part in front so that Trevor’s mate would be able to see what was inside the box without having to open it. There even was a small handle Trevor could tie his note to.

  “Mmm, pretty. Do you think he’ll actually find the guts to talk to the man?”

  One of the oven timers rang and Darin opened it. He took out the first batch of cupcakes and put it on the stove, slid another one in, and closed the oven again. The second timer went off and Darin repeated the same steps. Once the second batch was in, he put the icing sugar and water together in a bowl and worked them together.

  “I hope so. I mean, I know he’s very shy, but it’s his mate.”

  “We’ll help him.”

  “I’m not too sure about that, Nys. I know you mean well, but Trevor isn’t like you.”

  Nysys pursed his lips. “What do you mean?”

  Darin gestured at his friend with his dirty whisk. “You’re colorful, you talk loudly. Everyone knows you, and you don’t care what they think of you. Trevor is the exact opposite of you. He’s quiet, and you have to admit not many people in the house know him.”

  “I do.”

  “I know. If you really want to help him, maybe you should try to get to know him before barging into his life and taking it over. I love you like a brother, but sometimes you can be a bit much, even for me.”

  Nysys pouted and Darin handed him a still warm cupcake to make him happy. Nysys’ eyes lit in pleasure and he proceeded to peel the liner away. He blew on the cupcake a few times, then took a bite. Darin waited for his opinion and smiled when Nysys closed his eyes and hummed.

  “Peppermint?”

  “And lavender.”

  “Sounds like something a grandma would make, but they’re good.”

  “They’re for my mom. It’s her birthday next week, and I plan to bring Ira with me.”

  Nysys chomped on the cupcake. “Of course you do,” he said around a mouthful.

  “It’s... complicated. I already know they won’t be happy, and that they’ll be scared he’ll hurt me.”

  “Why?”

  Darin started spreading icing on the cupcakes. “Because of what he is. Don’t laugh, but they’ll think he’ll eat me.”

  Nysys choked on a bite of cupcake and Darin reached out to pat his back. Nysys coughed a few times and Darin put down the icing to get him a glass of water. Nysys nodded in thanks and drank half of it. He put it down and took a deep breath, and Darin went back to his icing.

  “Eat you?”

  “Yup.”

  “I’m guessing they don’t mean it in the fun way, huh?”

  “I certainly hope my parents don’t even think about that.”

  “They’ve had sex, you know.”

  “Can we stop talking about sex and my parents, please?”

  Nysys finished his cupcake and Darin handed him a frosted one after he’d sprinkled a bit of the tea he’d used to make the cupcakes on it. “Okay, fine. So they think he’s gonna eat you? Is it because he’s a snake and you’re a rat?”

  “I’m not a rat, Nys.”

  “Fine. Not a rat.”

  “But yes, that’s the reason.”

  “Are they going to be able to accept him once they meet him?”

  Darin shrugged. “Probably.
If they give him a chance.”

  “But what about Gabriel? He’s a tiger. Why aren’t they afraid of him?”

  “Because he’s not really a tiger. He’s human. He can’t shift and eat Shad.”

  Nysys snickered. “I’m sure that doesn’t stop Gabriel from eating him out.”

  “Again, eww. Can we not talk about any of my family members in the same conversation as sex?”

  “You said members.”

  Darin rolled his eyes. “What are you, five? You know I wasn’t talking about that kind of member, but if you want I can call it love rod, just so you get it when I do talk about that.”

  “Please, yes. I want to see the face of the people who might hear us.”

  Darin finished sprinkling tea and took out the second batch of cupcakes from the ovens. The familiar movements helped to calm him, and Nysys’ humor did, too. It was reassuring, and Darin knew it was something he’d always have, even if his parents couldn’t accept Ira. Darin wasn’t sure what he’d do in that case, but he knew the mansion and its inhabitants would be there for him.

  “Just take him there and wait until they tell you they like him before telling them about his snaky half.”

  “Mom would kick my ass if I did.”

  “So?”

  “And it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be afraid of him.”

  Nysys reached out and patted Darin’s arm. “Give them a chance. They accepted Gabriel. I know you said it’s because he’s mostly human, but they could have kicked him out of their house for those tiger parts he still has. God knows some people find it weird and scary.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “Of course I am.” Nysys snatched another two cupcakes, and Darin didn’t protest. “I’m going to go back to bed.”

  Darin looked at his cell phone. “Yeah. I need to head out soon anyway. I’ll just finish icing these and leave them here for breakfast.”

  Nysys jumped from his stool, looking a lot more awake than he’d been when he’d come down. He walked around the counter and kissed Darin’s cheek, stealing yet another cupcake. “Everything will be fine, don’t worry. And if it’s not, you’ll still have us.”

  He left, and Darin put aside another two cupcakes for him.