Page 17 of Roman
“I’m sure they will.” Roman made a face, but I quickly realized why. “I can’t be certain, but I’d venture to say that you are close to their age. The twins are twenty-four.”
That sunk in for a moment. “Actually, I’m only twenty-two. Is that an issue for you? How old are you?”
Roman winced. “Sixty-eight. Is that too old?”
I shrugged. “Do we get much choice? We’ve been chosen for each other.”
“Yes, but if my age is going to be an issue, perhaps we could figure something else out. Maybe someone at the council could talk to one of the fates, and new mates can be chosen.”
That actually hurt. “Do you not want me?” I asked as I set my plate down. We’d yet to start eating, and although I had been incredibly hungry, the thought of my mate not wanting me because of something I had no control over hurt to the point of upsetting my stomach.
Roman reached for my knee and touched it gently. “Don’t ever think that I don’t because nothing could be further from the truth. I very much want you, Beau.”
Chapter 7
Roman
I’d been through a lot in what I would consider a still-short life. But trying to force my tiger to leave our mate on Treasure Ridge was by far the most difficult. I learned a little about Beau but still wanted to know more. I had time, of course, but telling that to my tiger was impossible. Which was why I was currently in Ramsey and Phineas’s spare bedroom. My tiger absolutely refused to let me leave the mountain.
Was I closer to my mate? Somewhat. He was in the single enforcer housing somewhere with his brother. I was trying my best to at least relax because I knew that sleep was absolutely out of the question.
A quiet knock on the bedroom door pulled me from my thoughts. “It’s open,” I called out quietly. It could have been Ramsey or Phineas, and either would have been able to hear me. When I saw my brother’s form appear in shadow, I sat up. “Hey, Phineas. Is everything all right?” I asked, reaching for the light that was on the nightstand.
“Yes. I wanted to check on you. How are you doing?” Phineas asked as he came into the room and crawled onto the bed, getting himself situated at the foot of it.
“I’m doing about as well as can be expected. How about you? Everything going all right for you?”
Phineas sighed. “Yes. I…” Phineas stopped for a moment before continuing. “I’m going to be going into heat soon. Ramsey wasn’t exactly thrilled because of what happened with Raiden and Alexander. It was the same thing before, when I was pregnant with Hazel. But his brother came to talk to him earlier while you were out running.”
That was why I’d scented him around the area. “Are the two of you not planning on having more children? I had thought you wanted several.”
“I do, but my mate doesn’t. It’s a situation where we have to compromise. I mean, I understand his reasons for being cautious.”
“I thought that what happened to Alexander wasn’t all that common?” I should know more about gargoyle pregnancies, or the pregnancies of gargoyle mates since my brother was mated to one.
“Yes, but that doesn’t stop Ramsey from being worried. I do understand why, though, because there isn’t a gargoyle mate on this mountain that hasn’t had a difficult pregnancy. Even alpha mate Mael has had at least one challenging pregnancy.”
“Do you need me to take Hazel? I shouldn’t even be here if you’re going to go into heat,” I said as I moved to the edge of the bed to get up. I hadn’t even thought to ask them about what was going on earlier. It wasn’t really my place to butt into their relationship. I’d offer advice if asked, but I was doing my best to give them space. Perhaps too much space.
Phineas smiled at me while shaking his head. “No, Raiden and Alexander are going to take her. They offered, as did Knox and Philip, but with Raiden being right next door, it just makes more sense for them to watch her. Well, Alexander, since he spends so much time with her already.”
“Is he not working? I was under the impression that he’s running the clinic in Timber Valley.”
Phineas shrugged. “I think he works when needed, but he doesn’t go to work every day. If I remember correctly, he’s planning on going back full-time once Rowan is in school. He has a few more years though, and I’m not completely certain about that.”
It made sense in some ways. Many shifter couples had one parent stay home with the children while they were young. They couldn’t go to human schools or hospitals, and they often lived with their pride, pack, den, or similar, and that was just how things were. But I was honestly a bit surprised that it was Alexander that was staying home. He had spent so long going to medical school. But then again, he was quite a bit older than I was, so it was possible he was ready for a change.
“Well, if you need anything in the next couple of weeks, let me know. I understand that you are going to not really be able to reach out, but I’ll check in and make sure you are doing all right.”
“That’s why I wanted to talk to you,” Phineas said. “If I go into heat as quick as I think I will, I won’t be around to congratulate you. And then you and Beau are probably going to be doing the same things.” Phineas looked down at his lap, wringing his hands together. He was nervous about something, and I hated that I didn’t know my brother well enough any longer to know what about.
“I’m not sure Beau will be ready to be claimed in such a short amount of time.” I was willing to claim him tonight if that was what he wanted, but when he left with his brother, I knew it wasn’t time. Actually, I had picked up on the fact that he was going to take a while to come to terms with everything when we were enjoying our meal together.
“I have no doubt he will come around. I’m not sure if you saw us or not, but Ramsey brought me over to peek at the two of you, and the way he was looking at you…” Phineas sighed. “I’m sure it’s much like how I look at Ramsey. You could ask him tomorrow, and I’m sure he’d say yes.”
I chuckled. “I appreciate your encouragement, but we are going to take things at a slower pace. He’s just opened the bakery, and I’m going to do everything I can to support him in that. It was something that he brought up.” I wasn’t sure if it was because of what his brother had said or if it was also very much in the forefront of his thoughts. Either way, I was going to wait and take things at his pace.
Phineas snorted. “You say that now, but wait. He’s going to change his mind about taking things slow. Have no doubts. But I just wanted to tell you congratulations. I didn’t intend to keep you up.”
