Page 31 of The Storm Within

“Not if he’s only half,” Ryker reminded Hyett. “That would explain how he knew Killian was a bear.”

“But not how he knows Nate is trapped in his own head with a bad man or that he can make snow.” Killian looked at Ryker with a smirk. “He seriously dropped a blizzard on you? Damn. The worst a guy has done to me is…” He glanced toward the bed. “Something I can’t say in front of little ears.”

Ethan sat there happily eating the offered grapes but still kept one hand in Nate’s hair, absentmindedly caressing the strands. It was as if the cub was connecting to Nate on a level none of them could comprehend.

“Bewwy,” Ethan said after swallowing his grape, but he pointed toward his back, not his belly. “Uchy.”

“Itchy?” Quinton asked, his voice as gentle as a tamed bear, which he was for the cub. “Your back itches a lot, little guy?”

“Gwape pwease.” He held out his tiny hand, palm up.

“You have to answer my question.” Quinton tapped him on the nose. “Does your back itch a lot?”

Ethan bobbed his head. “Yup. Gwape?” He licked his lips, his gazed focused solely on the bowl resting on Quinton’s lap.

“Hang on.” Killian walked out of the room as Ryker gazed at his mate. They were pressed for time, but he was at a loss of what to do. It wasn’t as if Ryker could go back to the motel, because it was no longer there. The diner had just been an illusion. They’d never left the shadows, and going back wouldn’t do him any good. Ryker had barely made it out and didn’t know how to find his mate’s mind in a black void.

Where in the hell was he supposed to look?

I’m trying, honey bear, but I have no clue how to help you. Not for the first time Ryker wished it had been him who’d stayed behind. His heart ached at what Diobno could be doing to Nate right now.

Killian returned with Stewart, who immediately walked to the bed. But he stared down at Nate instead of sitting. “He’s really good-looking, Ryker.”

“Thanks.” He’s even better looking with his eyes open and laughing.

“Come here, tater tot,” Stewart said to Ethan. “I want to look at something.”

“Want gwapes.” Ethan’s face fell, and his eyes filled with tears. Which was why no one could say no to the kid. Even Ryker wanted to tell Stewart to back off so the toddler could eat two pounds of grapes in peace.

“I’ll give you two if you let your uncle look at your back,” Quinton said with a smile.

“Pwomise, Gampa?”

Ryker watched his father melt. Now it was Quinton who had unshed tears in his eyes. “Yes, cub,” he said, throat tight with emotion.

“Gets you right here in the tender feelies.” Killian patted the side of his fist over his heart. “Old man looks like he’s about to bawl his eyes out.”

Quinton shot Killian a death glare.

“Ryker said it!”

“Seriously, bro?” Ryker stared incredulously at his brother. “Don’t pin that on me. Dad might cry.”

Killian cracked up. Even Hyett, their serious brother, smirked.

“You can say that while I’m kicking your as—phalt.” Quinton glowered. “I don’t bawl anything out.”

“Gampa badass!” Ethan giggled.

A huge grin split Quinton’s face. “That’s right, buddy. You tell them.”

“Please don’t encourage him,” Stewart groaned. “He’s going to end up in preschool cursing like a sailor.”

“A seasoned bear,” Killian corrected with a shit-eating grin.

“That’s not something—” Stewart leaned in closer, his brows knitted as he ran his fingers over Ethan’s back. “What the…”

“What?” Ryker and his family said in unison, everyone collectively drawing closer.

---