Page 72 of Tides of Fate

Gideon just sighs. He must have determined that it can’t be too serious, but he still sits up just in case.

“You don’t pay me enough for this, James Rhodes.”

Jay’s treasure must say this a hundred times a week.

“I know, love. I promise to make it up to you.”

“Oh really? I seem to recall you owe me already.” The low growl sends a shiver down his spine. Gideon is referring to his knockout when Nix burst in and took the door down with Rowan hot on his heels.

“What?! No way! I was distracted, and that KO was not entirely you.” Jay can hardly be blamed for not watching Gideon’s left hook.

“Still counts. I hit you, and you went down. KOs are automatic wins.”

Jay is saved from having to admit defeat in what is always a win-win when Finn arrives, singingHappy Birthdayand carrying the most delicious-looking chocolate cake, topped with berries and shredded chocolate.

There are also what looks to be enough candles to light Jay’s eyebrows on fire, and it’s surprisingly hot when he blows them all out in one breath and a single wish.

Please help him heal.

Perhaps it’s not as much a wish as it is a prayer.

When Jay opens his eyes, he meets Nix’s through the wisps of smoke curling from the candles. Their bond warms, flooding with love, and the sudden intensity pricks tears behind his eyes. Nix smiles—as if he knows exactly what Jay wished for.

He can’t be sure how long they’ve been gazing at each other when Finn steals a piece of chocolate off the top of the cake, right from under his nose.

“Did you make this, Gideon? It’s beautiful.”

Sugared raspberries and blueberries dot the top, and now that the candles aren’t blinding him (thank you for that, Finn), he can see the cake is covered in a multitude of rainbow-colored sprinkles—in red and pink, magenta and blue, green, turquoise, and purple. And maybe even the softest, palest yellow.

Luca pushes the plates toward him while Leo looks ready to scoop the vanilla ice cream.

Gideon serves it up, and within minutes, Jay is handed a slice. He moans with his first bite, the rich flavor melting on his tongue.

The couch cushion dips beside him, and he catches the scent of the sweetest vanilla.

“Is it good?” Nix asks shyly, his voice barely rising above the hum of pleased moans around the room.

Did Nix bake for him?

He’d forgotten how much his mate had loved baking when they were kids—brownies and cookies had always been Jay’s favorites from Nix’s repertoire.

Holding up a forkful of his birthday cake, he offers it with a smile.

“It’s delicious, baby boy. Will you share with me?”

Jay is mesmerized as Nix just opens his mouth, trusting him to feed him, while he slides his toes under Jay’s pant leg. The butterflies in Jay’s belly swoop and swirl.

“It’s good. Gideon is so talented.”

“Kitten, I only cleaned up after you. You did all the work—and the decorating, too.” Gideon pops a bite into his own mouth before feedinganother to Luca, who is sitting on the floor at his feet.

“I put the candles on, Gideon,” Rowan complains.

Grayson laughs. “You counted past ten, Ro! Way to go.”

Rowan lunges, locking Grayson in a headlock for his sass, plates clinking as they jostle. Tsuki barks, trying to lick Rowan’s face, and the whole scene dissolves into chaos.

“Alright, thank you to everyone. For cooking, cleaning, baking, and decorating. And yes, thank you for counting all those candles, Rowan—and for not setting Leo’s new hair products on fire.”

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