Page 52 of Covenant

Samson growls, stepping a little closer, and I instinctively shrink back against Matthias. Suddenly I feel overwhelmed, like I don’t know what to fucking do.

I’ve never navigated this before. Not like this, anyway. Meeting Jen’s parents had been sterile. Clinical. A meal at a restaurant where the conversation stayed surface-level.

There was none of this. No odd family politics to negotiate. No sibling rivalries or big personalities to navigate.

I knew I’d be meeting his family, but I hadn’t expected…well,this.

Suddenly, Matthias’s arm around me is welcoming. A port in the storm. I sink back against him, letting him anchor me.

“You look pale,” Matthias says quietly, pulling me from my anxiety. “They’re all overwhelming, huh? Come on.”

“We’re not overwhelming! We’re entertaining!” Cade calls out as Matthias pulls me forward, away from his brothers.

I find myself inhaling sharply, trying to capture my breath but it’s hard. There’s an iron band there, tightening with every motion.

“Breathe,” Matthias murmurs. “Just breathe.”

That just annoys me and I can’t help but snap, “I’m fucking breathing. I’m good.”

Matthias sighs, his arm falling away. “You just seemed…stressed.”

I square my shoulders and inhale deeply. See, I can breathe. There’s nothing wrong. “I’m fine.”

His hand brushes up my back, a slow touch that lights me on fire. I should step away, but I know people are watching, so I lean into it. My hand moves up to his chest, my eyes meeting his. “I’m fine, asshole.”

I see something crackle in those dark depths, but he masks them quickly. “Good. Because you’ve met most of my brothers, but you’ve yet to meet Dalton.”

“Who’s Dalton?” I ask as his hand curls around mine. It doesn’t feel as strange as the first time he did it. I think I’m getting used to it—playing pretend with Matthias.

“The most irritating one. We may as well get this over with.”

Oh, hell. We meander through the crowd, Matthias never releasing me. My spare hand may grab a champagne flute and I guzzle the liquid down without giving Matthias a chance to react. This entire family, all the brothers, it’s too much. They’re all so different, and yet so alike. I can see the similarities. How did their parents deal with raising them all? I knew Matthias lost his mother at a young age, before he met me even.

Which left them all with just their father. One man raising six boys.

After what Cade hinted at, I think I know exactly how he dealt with it. The champagne I downed pitches in my stomach, my hand automatically holding Matthias’s tighter.

If he notices, he doesn’t comment on it. “Please keep anything you own close to you when you’re around him.”

“Why?” I ask as we approach a man with dark swept hair, alluringly light eyes, and a charming smile.

“Dalton,” Matthias nods his head, pulling me in closely and tucking me under his arm.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were here,” Dalton says to Matthias before eyeing me hungrily, like a predator who’s found a particularly delicious prey. “And this must be your husband. I didn’t realize he’d be so attractive.”

“Fuck off,” Matthias replies. His tone is cool, but the fire flashing in his eyes is anything but.

“I don’t think I can.” Dalton turns his gaze to me and winks. “Really though, the spies I have in Matthias’s house didn’t mention how good-looking you are. Maybe I need to give them a pay raise to make sure I’m getting…accurate information.”

Matthias’s eyes narrow, and I realize I like Dalton quite a bit. Anything to get under Matthias’s skin.

“Thanks, I definitely married down,” I say.

Dalton grins and shakes my hand with both of his, his eyes twinkling. “I knew I’d like you.”

Matthias growls, and Dalton grins widely. “Love these cufflinks.”

I stare down at them and then glance up at Matthias, who is watching Dalton intently.

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