Page 118

Tell them how you feel, Dellan suggested.

He was right.

Horvan raised his glass of champagne.

“Firstly, thank you, all of you, for joining us. Even the ones we had no idea were coming.” He gave Rael a mock glare. “This is what you get for having a sneaky mate who iswaytoo good at hiding his thoughts.”

Rael preened. “What can I say? I learned from the best.” When Horvan pushed his chest out, Rael snorted. “I learned it from Dellan.”

Laughter erupted around the table, and Horvan narrowed his gaze.

It was only then that it hit him. With the exception of Irena and Mrs. Landon, everyone gathered around the tables was part of a triad.

The thought staggered him.

Horvan took a deep breath. “When Rael turned up on my doorstep back in March, I learned that mates were real, and that I was a lucky man.Then I learned about Dellan, and my good luck doubled.” He gazed at the faces around him. “We thought we were the only ones.”

“We were,” Dellan interjected. “For about five minutes.” That earned him more laughter.

“Then our world was turned upside down when Vic walked into it, and discovered he had two mates who were both human.” Horvan raised his glass to them, and they did the same. “Jamie’s entrance into our lives was… memorable.”

Jamie chuckled. “I thought you were going to shoot me under the table.” He glanced at Crank. “Andyouwere going to put a bullet in me.”

“That’s my mate,” Saul said with a touch of pride. “Shoot first, think later.”

Crank dug him in the ribs with his elbow, amid laughter.

“And it took a DNA test to show us what was staring us in the face—he and Dellan were related.”

Jamie sighed. “Not that I believed you right away.”

“You got there eventually,” Dellan said with a smile.

He glanced at Shawn and Brandon, who nodded. Jamie sighed again. “I have some news. Aelryn’s people located my birth mom.” His face tightened.

Aw fuck.Horvan wanted to hug the life out of Jamie, but he figured that was something for his mates. “Not good, I take it?”

“Nope. She wasn’t interested. She really didn’t want to be reminded of my conception, put it that way.”

“Fuck her,” Jake growled. “If that’s her attitude, she’s no great loss. You have family that loves you.”

“Yeah, he does,” Shawn said quietly before leaning in to kiss Jamie’s cheek, and Brandon slipped his arm around Jamie’s shoulders.

“Can I be the voice of reason here?” Doc said in a clear voice. “I don’t think we should think unkindly of Jamie’s mother. After all, she was essentially raped, correct? Can any of you blame her for not wanting to be reminded of such a heinous act, which she would be every time she looks at Jamie?”

Jake flushed. “You’re right, of course. I’m sorry I said that.”

Horvan glanced at the trio at the end of the table. “Then our favorite polar bear found one of his mates, Aric, and we learned the other, Seth, was Dellan’s half brother, and that Dellan’s dad, Jake, was still alive.”

Dellan’s eyes glistened. “In one fell swoop, I gained two half brothers and the prospect of seeing my dad for the first time in thirty-one years.”

“And yet more mates kept coming.” Horvan raised his glass to Eve, Hashtag, and Roadkill. “The highlight of all these meetings had to be when Hashtag and Roadkill found out that after a decade of fighting together, drinking, and—” Horvan coughed. “—other pursuits, they were mates.”

Eve laughed. “You’re not kidding.”

“I beg to differ,” Jake interrupted. “I think the most surprising meeting has to have taken place a few hours ago.” He glanced at Victor and smiled.

“Can I take a moment to thank Rael for his invitation?” Aelryn stood. “It has been my pleasure to know Horvan and his mates, and to be included in their extended family.”