Page 12 of Night's Bride

The male’s ears flattened to the sides with obvious embarrassment, but Nash was pleased to see him become more relaxed. Vrel peered at him, and to Nash’s surprise the male took several cautious steps toward him.

“It did occur to me,” Vrel admitted. “Not to leave you,” he immediately amended with another embarrassed flick of his ears, “but that you might harm us… and our mate.”

The last was said so quietly that, for a moment, Nash thought he had imagined it.

“You have a mate?” he queried, just to make sure he had heard right. He glanced around cautiously. “Your alpha?—”

“Oh! No, there is no alpha,” Vrel interrupted with a nervous chuff. “Evelyn, the human who established the clan, thought that a mate would be good for us. She did not understand the… uniqueness… of twins.”

Nash did not know a lot about twins, but this was one point his second father expounded on during his explanation: the reason why it was difficult for twins to be able to successfully mate. The uniquely close connection between the twins that made it nearly impossible for them to be accepted into a triad would also interfere with their ability to mate without another male to act as alpha. Neither twin would be able to take the position of alpha over the other. And yet they had a familybecause of the clan. It gave Nash hope. It also explained what that third scent was.

“How do you…” he began delicately, and Vrel’s head dipped as the male gave another awkward chuff.

“Our Emily is not only very understanding but willing to assist us,” he admitted. He fidgeted in place, his tail flicking nervously. “She is very strong, brave, and kind… and…” his eyes rose to lock directly in a faint, if very nervous, challenge with Nash’s secondary eyes, “and she will never leave us.”

Nash’s mouth curved in response to the defiance. Despite his obvious unease, the male was letting him know in no uncertain terms that he could not steal their female from them. It was admirable and sweet to see that level of devotion and affection, not only on the part of the males but hearing it of the female.

“He is right,” a feminine voice interrupted, startling Nash so much that his head turned toward the voice.

He had been so distracted by Vrel, and the den was so laden with the combined smells of the twins and their female that he had not noticed her approach. His breath left him, however, as he stared upon her. Humans possessed an unusual appearance that bordered on ugly in some respects and yet there was a uniqueness to it that was interesting. And with Emily, her interesting appearance was as captivating as her delicious scent.

“Emily, I presume,” he rumbled.

She inclined her head in agreement as a second male, identical to Vrel except for the braid he wore behind his left ear in contrast to the braid behind Vrel’s right ear, peered at him warily.

Her lips worked silently, and her gaze was guarded… cautious. He might have thought that it was entirely out of worry for her own safety if it was not for the way she regularly sought out her males with her eyes as if silently weighing their own wellbeing.

“I mean no harm,” he repeated, lowering his head further. “And I extend my thanks to you as well for seeing to my welfare. And I also extend my appreciation to meet a female of such generous spirit as to be a loving mate to twins.”

A look of surprise crossed her face, but she must have been educated by her mates on the lot of twins because the icy reserve in her eyes melted a little and she exchanged a glance with the male behind her before once more meeting Nash’s secondary eyes.

“Thank you, but it is not necessary. They are mine and I could do no less. Nor could I do less than what I did for you seeing that you were in need. But I am relieved to see that you understand the situation so well. And now that you are awake?—”

“Now we eat,” the other male, Vikt, interrupted as he exchanged a look with his twin before regarding Nash with outright curiosity.

Nash was not sure what Emily had intended to say but the disbelief on her face communicated that it was not that. But she did not disagree. Instead, she smiled and nodded, and he felt relief flood through him to such a degree that he dared to lift his primary eyes to them.

“I could eat,” he admitted, and her smile grew.

“Then we eat,” she agreed.

Chapter

Eleven

CHAPTER 11

Vikt tried not to stare at Nash, but as the evening wore on, the more excited he grew. Although the male was a very large alpha who could have easily crushed them, he radiated a kindness and propensity for cheerfulness that eased Vikt’s heart. It gave him hope despite the fact that he had known far too many devastating disappointments from alphas in the past. Throughout their meal, Thral’s words kept returning to his mind that the alpha’s presence could be good for them. He did not think that the male was a seer and yet those words teased his consciousness.

Those words gave him further hope, but convincing Emily to accept a male she had been in a hurry to get rid of from the start could take a little more work. He knew that it was in part due to her sense of duty and affection that she wanted to protect them and preserve their feelings, but she did not understand how natural it was for Ragoru to wish for a triad in their family. Ifthe male proved himself to be as good as an alpha as he showed himself to be, they could accept him easily among them and welcome his strength. But Emily had become comfortable, and he understood that it would need more coaxing for her to see the benefit of opening their family to him.

“You will stay with us, of course,” he pointed out, taking advantage of the moment the conversation turned to the snowstorm. “It will get even worse before it eases up at all. We usually have one or two days of passable weather before—” He snapped his mouth shut, cutting off the direction of his thoughts, and gave the male a nervous smile. “Well, before it grows heavy again. There is no reason for you to leave when we have plenty of room. We do not have a spare nest, however.”

Nash blinked at him, clearly startled by the offer, but the male’s expression quickly softened with gratitude that sent a swell of warmth through Vikt. “My thanks. And do not concern yourselves. I can sleep well enough in the main chamber?—”

“No, that will not work,” Vrel interrupted, startling the alpha anew. Vikt bit back a smile, grateful that he and his twin tended to think and plot in the same direction. “It takes a lot of extra wood to keep that chamber warm enough at night with the temperatures dropping as they have. Now that you are no longer unconscious, you can join us in our nest to share in the warmth rather than exhaust the wood supply.”

Emily and Nash wore matching expressions of surprise as they glanced between him and Vrel before looking at each other uncertainly.

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