Page 41 of The Devil's Bargain
“Baby brother,” Aodhan corrected, smirking when both Calix and Zane rolled their eyes simultaneously.
“Tell me,babybrother,” Calix put emphasis on the word, statement filled with sarcasm since he was clearly addressing a full-grown man, “Are you a threat, or is he just being a drama queen as per usual?”
Zane grinned. “The last one. Absolutely.” He turned to Aodhan. “Congratulations on finding someone who understands you and is still breathing.”
“Was that a corpse joke, brother?” Aodhan snorted. “Your humor is the same as always. Too bad you didn’t bring my brother-in-law with you. I’ve missed him terribly. Also, it’s kind of rude of him not to show, don’t you think? I was pretty badly injured. It’s only right he pay his respects.”
“Titus Mercer the fifth not doing enough for you?” Zane drawled, trying and failing not to fall for Aodhan’s goading.
“Careful,” he warned with the smile still on his face. “Calix doesn’t take kindly to people badmouthing his First.”
Cal was still holding the blaster aloft, and he tipped his head when Zane glanced back at him. “I take it you’re not a fan?”
“Of Titus?” he snorted. “No.”
“Good.” Calix holstered his weapon.
“Good?” Aodhan pouted. “No fun.”
“I’d rather your married brother not be interested in Mercy,” he explained, moving up to his side to press the back of his hand to Aodhan’s forehead. “Your fever’s gone.”
“You were feverish?” Zane asked. “I thought you were better?”
“It was a severe brain injury,” Calix explained. “He still needs Mercy to funnel energy into him every day. But there’s nothing to worry about. He’ll be fine.”
“Says the guy who was freaking out the most,” Aodhan teased.
“Should I go get into a horrible car accident so you can experience what that’s like for yourself?”
His arms wrapped around Cal’s waist and he pulled him close, resting his head on the center of his chest. “Nope. I’m good.”
Zane blinked at them. “I’m not sure whether to be disgusted or worry the brain injury is having lasting effects.”
“I’m always like this with my Third,” Aodhan helpfully told him. “Don’t be jealous because I have two hot pieces of ass and you’ve only got the one, baby bro.”
Caliz sneered down at him but didn’t pull away. “Seriously?”
“What?” He gave him a mock look of innocence. “Don’t like being referred to as a piece of ass?”
His eyes narrowed. “Say how hot you think your brother’s husband is again, do it. I dare you.” He settled his hand pointedly over his holstered blaster. “Better yet, give me a second to call Mercy and put him on speaker first so he can hear it as well.”
Aodhan tightened his hold and smoothed a palm up Cal’s spine. “It was a joke, Be’urn. Pavel Hart who?”
“Aren’t you two the same age?” Zane crossed his arms, clearly wanting to put an end to their awkward flirting.
“I’m older,” Aodhan stated.
“By a few months,” Calix reminded.
“Still counts.”
Cal’s multi-slate started to ring, but when he tried to step back, Aodhan clung to him. “Let go.”
“Never.”
“Aodhan.” He stared him down until the doctor finally sighed and released him. It only took him a second to pop out the earbud and place it back in before accepting the call. “Hey, what’s up?”
“I may have found something,” Mitri’s voice greeted him, getting straight to business. “Are you still at the hospital? Can you come down and take a look?”
