Page 106

Story: Darkness Echoes

A small evil smirk flashes across Gideon’s face before he picks up the knife he’d used to eat his breakfast and sits back down. “Well, in that case. I made a call to the Department of Investigative and Forensic Services inOctober.”

Now it’s Jay’s turn to sayohwhen he realizes Gideon had been instrumental in his parents finally getting what they deserve.

Karma, thy name is Gideon Carnell.

“Why all of a sudden, then?”

“Well, for one, your father is a lying, cheating scumbag who made you think our mate died in a car crash that kept him from us for a decade. They got less than they deserved,” Gideon says with a head tilt. He seems genuinely curious about Jay’s question. It’s fucking cute.

“Yes. True. But how did youknow?” It’s the million-dollar question and the one they all want to know but are afraid to ask.

“Ah. Well.” Gideon hesitates, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fuck. I…have files on everybody.”

It takes a moment before utter chaos breaks out, the cacophony of noise making Nix flinch. He sends a burst of energy along the bond, and Jay isn’t the only one who reacts as another flinch ripples through their connection.

Finn grabs his head. “You’re okay.” It’s not an answer to a question anyone else can hear but him, but Nix nods on his lap.

“Quiet, everyone. Fuck. Gideon, maybe you should tell us what you mean. Exactly, and with no prevarication,” Finn says with a clenched jaw.

“You have files on our families? Why?” Leo asks.

“For this exact reason. Look, my job is to protect you. We’ve been over and over this all week. What do you think I’ve been doing since October?” It’s punctuated by his hand slamming on the table.

It triggers a feedback loop of tension as Nix flinches again, both from the noise and how agitated Gideon’s bond must be.

“Please. Calm down,” Rowan says through gritted teeth. “You are ramping up the vibe in here and my wolf is about to freak the fuck out.”

Jay has a fleeting image of Rowan snatching Nix up and throwing him over his shoulder and fleeing over the back fence like King Kong. He’s proud of his mate, though, for speaking first and acting second.

Grayson, on the other hand, is vibrating in his seat next to Jay, exuding a veritable heat wave of energy.

“Gray?”

“I’m good. I’m good,” he says breathlessly, eyes closed and hands clenched.

Gideon takes a deep breath and lets it out. Then another and another. They all sit quietly until he’s done and his tone is once again even-keeled.

“I’m sorry. I’ve got no excuse.”

“So tell us, Gideon,” Grayson pleads when he has himself under control.

“When you found me, and I knew you were going to accept me,” Gideon begins.

“You mean you were going to acceptus, right?” Leo asks, rubbing a soothing hand up and down Rowan’s back.

“No. I meant what I said. I knew I was weird, had unique tastes, and my family was shit. It was always going to be a crap shoot about whether you would accept me.”

Jay hates the self-doubt in his voice. Hates the self-recriminations, no matter that it’s not new. It’s still terrible to hear.

“Love…”

“No, I know what you’re going to say, Jay. Just leave it. For this minute. Please?”

Jay nods, even if Luca looks mad at the very idea.

“Okay. Where was I? Oh yeah. I’m a poor choice for a mate.”

Jay thinks he and Nix might be the only ones who feel it, but there’s a burst of hot air, and then Grayson is slamming his fist on the table. Everyone jumps when the silverware clanks and the glassware shivers.