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“What took you so long? I brought you lunch, but I was hungry, so I started without you. I hope you don’t mind.”The smugness as he bit into his sandwich was infuriating.

“I’m not hungry.” I shoved past Nyx to see if Kol was even here.

Kol gave a sheepish shrug when I found him lounging in a robe, only half tied. “Good morning.”

“It’s past noon.” I took a seat beside him as to not be forced to sit with Nyx.

“And? It’s my day off, and I was rudely awoken by whatever ever this is.” Kol picked up his cup of tea. “You’d better have brought me lunch, too, brother.”

“Do you think I would forget you?”

“You seem to have lost all of your manners when it comes to Zaria, so I’m sure you’re capable of all sorts.” Kol gave Nyx a flat look.

Nyx rolled his eyes and handed his brother a brown, paper-wrapped package. “I had a feeling you’d be late out of bed.”

“As I said, it’s my day off, and we were out late.” Kol scoffed, and his attitude amused me, but I wouldn’t let on in front of Nyx. He opened the package and softened. “You’re forgiven. Where did you find fresh wild boar at this time of year?”

Nyx handed me a wrapped package too before taking the opposite couch. “You can thank me, but it was the chef. He’s working magic. I snatched up half of what was left because I love you.”

“You do love me,” Kol moaned explicitly after taking a bite. He gave me a sideways glance. “I’m shocked you’re as cheery as you are since you were out late, too.”

I grinned. “I didn’t drink the ale like you,” I reminded him.

“Excuse me?” Nyx’s eyes fixed on mine.

I didn’t meet his gaze, keeping mine on the sandwich.

Kol didn’t speak, either, too busy eating.

“Is someone going to explain?” Nyx said through gritted teeth.

“I didn’t realize we have to explain ourselves to you,” Kol said between bites.

Nyx turned his attention to me, and I took a bite and shrugged so I didn’t have to reply.

“Whatever.” Nyx shoved to his feet and stormed out.

Kol broke out in a laugh. “Grumpy bastard. What are you two fighting about this morning, anyway?”

“He was supposed to take me to get training uniforms from the stores, but he decided to try and charm me into lunch, and I wouldn’t agree. So, I came here to see if you would take me, but he beat me here to prove a point.” I picked at the bread.

“I can take you, but I think you now have a bigger issue.” Kol grimaced. “Sorry. I didn’t think he’d blow fire over you coming out with us.”

“He has no right to. I’m new here. What does he think, he can just put me in my rooms when he’s done with me, and I’ll stay there like an obedient child? I have to be here, but I’m not a prisoner, am I? So, what’s wrong with trying to enjoy it?”

Kol pulled a face. “I don’t know. He’s always been a bit of a grumpy bastard, but this is taking it to a whole other level.”

“Well, it must be me because every interaction we have seems to end like this. And now I’ve got to spend the afternoon weapons training with him.”

“It’s not you. He’s just…Nyx. Come on, I’ll take you to get uniforms and then come with you to weapons so you don’t have to take the full brunt of his temper for my indiscretion.” Kol strolled to his wardrobe, letting his robe fall off his shoulders on the way.

I blinked, staring. His shoulders were massive like his brothers. Huge muscles rippled with the action, cutting all the way down to his butt, which was now out because he’d dropped his under garments. I turned away with a tiny gasp.

He laughed. “You’re going to have to get used to it, sunshine. Flyers don’t have a thing about nudity like some fae. When we shift, we either strip or wreck a set of clothes bursting out of them. Then when we shift back…” He shrugged. “Clothes just aren’t a priority when you spend half your life in animal form.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it.” I put my hands over my cheeks to try and absorb some of the heat. “It’s weird when it’s you.”

“You’ve seen my brother naked.”