Page 30 of A Promise of Forever (The Vallaverse #3)

When we enter the viewing box, I immediately notice how different it looks from usual.

The room is much darker than normal, the blinding lights from the club down below not penetrating the specially treated glass.

It's almost completely silent in here despite the growing noise from the crowd outside, the sound-dampening technology creating a sanctuary of quiet.

Forrest is on the couch with Sterling curled up in his lap under a soft blanket, and the sight makes me grin with genuine happiness for my brother. This is what our father looked like with his Omega, that complete contentment and protective tenderness that only comes from finding one's true match.

"Hey, brother," I greet Forrest as I step closer.

Forrest smiles up at me, and it's one of the largest, realest smiles I've seen on his face in years. All the hardness and calculation he usually carries has softened into something almost boyish with happiness.

Sterling peeks up from his cocoon, his dark eyes cautiously looking us over. "Hello."

"Do you mind us being in here?" I ask, willing to leave if Sterling needs more privacy or quiet.

Sterling hesitates, clearly torn between politeness and his actual preferences. "No, you’re fine in here. I can change the settings back if Forrest needs me to, but..."

Astra immediately plops down onto the couch with zero regard for social niceties, cutting off whatever Sterling was going to say. "Fuck what they think, Sterling. I like this. It makes everything all cozy and comfortable. Do we have pillows?"

Sterling's eyes go wide at Astra's casual demeanor, like he's waiting for someone to reprimand the Omega for speaking so freely. When nothing happens and no one reacts negatively, he visibly settles again.

"There are pillows in the closet," Sterling offers quietly. "But I'm not moving from here."

Forrest purrs immediately, tightening his arms around Sterling and running his nose along the Omega's forehead in a gesture of pure affection. The contentment radiating from both of them is almost palpable.

I pull away from Bryn's possessive grip and twist around to mutter, "Possessive bastard," before settling onto one of the bar stools near the window. There's no heat in my voice, though and if Forrest and Sterling weren't here, I would absolutely let Bryn fuck me against the glass.

Just like last time.

Clearing my throat, I push that thought down before my mates catch it through the bond. "Everyone's been debriefed downstairs," I report to my brother, falling easily into business mode. "I assume you'll speak with the new fighters afterward to finalize contracts, yes?"

Forrest's expression shifts slightly, taking on a harder edge that suggests he has other plans. "Dorian will announce before the fights start tonight. A public acknowledgment of the transfer of his fighters to my organization."

I raise an eyebrow, realizing why Dorian was lingering around the side of the building.

Making Dorian announce his own defeat in front of an audience will cement Forrest's authority while also protecting the fighters from any blowback.

"So, we get a little appetizer before the main meal? Excellent."

Bryn moves toward the closet and retrieves several pillows, bringing them back to Astra, who immediately begins constructing a little nest right there on the floor in front of the couch. The fabrics are just as dark as the rest of the room, but it adds to the cozy, homey feel of it all.

Forrest looks between me and Bryn, his expression shifting to something like amused exasperation. "Bryn, why do you look like you're about to bend my goddamn brother over the nearest surface?"

"Because I feel like it," Bryn responds with his usual brutal honesty, his nostrils flaring as he scents my arousal.

I sigh, realizing that he's probably approaching his rut cycle and we haven't been home consistently enough lately for proper maintenance. Shit. That's going to need to be dealt with soon before his control completely deteriorates.

I was excited to have fun this evening, but I might actually be limping tomorrow.

Forrest snorts with laughter. "Make sure you take care of that tonight before I find you guys fucking in my goddamn space." He turns to me specifically. "I love you, brother, but not enough to see that."

"If only they would fuck me!" Astra pipes up from his nest on the floor, his tone carrying obvious frustration. "I have a perfectly good hole just waiting, but nooo, they're too busy with work."

Both Bryn and I look over at Astra sharply, and he lets out a shocked whine like he can't believe those words just came out of his mouth.

I can see the exact moment he remembers they aren't just around Forrest anymore, that Sterling is present and probably not accustomed to such explicit discussion.

I glance at Sterling, concerned about how the Omega might react to Astra's crude language.

Sterling is still curled up against Forrest's chest, but his entire face has turned bright red with a mixture of embarrassment and unmistakable need.

His scent sweetens ever so slightly, responding to the sexual tension in the room despite his obvious discomfort with the conversation.

Forrest dips his head to catch whatever Sterling is whispering against his chest, too quiet for the rest of us to hear. Then he looks up at me and changes the subject.

"Next conversation. Who's in the ring first tonight?"