Page 101 of Elas

“We don’tknow.”

“Fuck,” I grunt.

“Fuck, indeed.”

Another round of laughter comes from inside the house, and a reluctant smile finds my face. “It will be good for them to have each other,” I say, and Ronan grunts but refuses to voice his agreement. “Oh, come on.” I punch his arm as he bares his teeth at me and punches me back, and I grin as I rub my stinging muscle. “As much as we don’t want to share our mates, they need friends. It’s important to have others who know what they’re going through.”

“Cameron has me,” Ronan argues. “He doesn’t need anyone else.”

I sigh and shake my head as he stirs the rice far more aggressively than what’s necessary. “You aren’t human, Ronan. There will be times you can’t understand what he’s experiencing because your mind doesn’t work the same way.” He furrows his brows, and I can tell he wants to argue, but as more laughter leaves the house, reluctant acceptance crosses his expression.

“Food’s ready,” he finally says, and decades of friendship tell me not to push the matter.

“Alright.” I grab the pot of rice while Ronan transfers the meat from its spit to a large plate. August, Cameron, and Reyes all perk up when we walk inside with the meal, heads popping up like groundhogs. “What are you three laughing at in here?” I ask.

August chuckles as he jumps up to help. “Reyes was telling Cameron how you threw him down when he came charging up the stairwell.”

Reyes shoots me a sheepish grin as I say, “Well, to be fair, he had a knife.”

Silverware clatters loudly to the counter as Ronan drops his serving utensils and whirls to face us. “Youdidtry to stab him then! I fucking knew it!”

“They were coming down into my lair!” Reyes cries, returning Ronan’s glare and crossing his arms in defiance. “What did you want me to do? Just say, ‘Oh, hey, giant, musclebound monster. Would you like to come down for a cup of tea?’”

Ronan snorts and turns around to dish the food. “Knowing Elas, he would’ve responded positively to that.”

“I would’ve liked some tea,” I admit, and everyone laughs. Even Ronan chuckles a little from behind me.

“What can I do to help?” August asks. Ronan stares at him for a moment, sizing him up with that unnerving silent judgment he projects so effectively. I tense as I prepare to defend August from his verdict, but Ronan eventually nods and gestures towards a cabinet.

“Glasses are in there,” he says. “The well water from the tap is safe.” August beams his giant, genuine smile, leaving Ronan baffled as August happily pours drinks for everyone.

“What’s wrong with his face?” Ronan asks me, and August glances back with a raised brow.

“Nothing’s wrong with his face,” I sneer, but Ronan shakes his head like he doesn’t believe me.

“Yeah, there is. He’s doing that weird thing with his mouth, just like you.”

I bark a loud laugh and shove Ronan, making him grab the counter to keep from toppling over as a rare, giant smile spreads over his face. “Fuck you,” I say with achuckle. “Just because you’re used to Grumpy McSnark over there—”

“Hey!” Cameron shouts indignantly, and August and Reyes’s laughter joins in the chaos.

“—doesn’t mean that we’reweirdfor smiling.” August yelps as I snag him around the waist, the cup in his hand thunking onto the table as I spin him and yank him against me. “I happen to love his mouth.” I pull him into a kiss, and he grins against my lips, throwing his arms around my neck and kissing me back. Cameron wolf whistles while Ronan scoffs and throws a towel at us.

“Love you,” August whispers as he pulls away, and I kiss him again before hugging him against me. My eyes close and I bury my nose in his hair, breathing in his scent.

“Yeah, I love you, too, doc,” I murmur.

“While this is sickeningly sweet, I’m starving and you’re in the middle of the fucking kitchen,” Cameron says dryly from the table. I shoot him a glare as August separates himself from me with a laugh. There are only four chairs in the kitchen, so Reyes settles into an armchair across the room.

“Nyx isn’t eating tonight?” Cameron asks Ronan, who shakes his head.

“I doubt he’ll come out of the woods for a few days.”

“Boomerang is with him, so at least he isn’t alone.” Cameron chews on his lip, staring out the window. “Maybe tomorrow I’ll go looking for him and see if I can explain that these are friends.”

“Frands?” Ronan asks with a smile—a soft one I’ve rarely seen from him in this long life we’ve shared.

“Yeah, frands,” Cameron agrees with that same softness about him.

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