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A s Luke took a seat at the dining room table, he was caught between appreciating the kindness of the Marwoods and feeling fearful that he’d make a poor impression on them. Richard winked at him as he passed him a platter of mashed potatoes. They were new to being soulmates, but Luke couldn’t detect any awkwardness between himself and Richard.
Of course, he was also no expert on the necromancer, so he could’ve been wrong.
“Everything okay?” Richard asked as Luke piled roasted chicken on his plate.
Luke leaned toward Richard. “Nervous.”
“They don’t bite, I promise.”
“I’ll bite if I’m asked nicely,” Maribeth remarked with a grin.
“Just start asking Lucas your questions so he can relax,” Richard instructed.
“We’re not planning on interrogating the man,” Clark said.
“No, definitely not,” Rosalind added. “But we want to get to know him and learn about the plans you two have made.”
“Mom, we haven’t made any plans,” Richard replied. “We haven’t even had a day to process being soulmates.”
Rosalind narrowed her eyes at her eldest son. “Actually, I have some questions for you too, Richard. You were upset about Douglas and told us about Lucas because we were prodding you. When were you planning on telling us about finding your soulmate? Why didn’t you say a word at breakfast?”
“Because our breakfast was literally a precursor to Eric and Gabriel opening their wedding gifts,” Richard countered. “The last thing I wanted to do was make their weekend about me. Our plan was to talk to you and Mari tonight after Gabriel and Eric left for their honeymoon.”
Eric’s mouth dropped open. “You were going to keep it a secret from me and Gabriel?”
“Out of respect for your recent wedding, yes,” Richard answered.
“Can you believe him?” Eric asked Gabe. The inspirit’s green gaze cut to Eric, and Luke liked the way the stoic man couldn’t hide his feelings for Eric. Their affection for one another was wonderful, and Luke hoped to have that with Richard in the future. “This wedding stuff is so weird.”
“Leave your brother alone. At least he mentioned it to his parents when he found his soulmate,” Clark said. “How long were you and Gabriel together before we were told?”
“Dad, we have to be nice, they were married yesterday,” Richard advised.
“Fine, but there’s no need for anyone to be upset,” Clark responded. “Richard and Lucas were intending to tell us within an appropriate time frame following their discovery. That’s what is important.”
Eric rolled his eyes but didn’t add a comment.
“Anything else you want to know, Mom?” Richard asked.
“Yes, what is your plan for the future?”
Richard set his fork on the table and glared as he patted his mouth with a cloth napkin. “I’ve had about three hours of sleep and no chance to think or discuss the future with Lucas. We don’t know every step of the journey. Obviously, we’re soulmates, but we have a lot to learn about each other.”
“I think we also need to be mindful of Douglas’s feelings,” Luke added. “All three of us work in the same office. Last night, we talked about telling our coworkers, but I’m not sure that’s the best thing right now. Maybe we should delay that announcement until Douglas has healed a little.”
Richard smiled, and his blue gaze grew soft with what Luke hoped was affection. “Thank you, he’s been an extraordinary friend, and I’ve already hurt him enough. Keeping our relationship private outside the family will also give us some space to get to know one another without an audience at work.”
“While I applaud your mindfulness in thinking of Douglas, please consider how difficult it’ll be to keep your relationship hidden,” Clark stated. “Remember, nothing is as secret as people think it is. How will you see each other without tongues wagging? I'm not sure how you pulled off last night without anyone noticing. They may have, it just hasn’t reached me yet.”
“My Dad is notorious for learning everything about everyone because he’s a nosy busybody,” Richard explained.
“Luke and I are friendly, we could tell people he’s coming here to spend time with me,” Gabe suggested.
“Nothing against humans, but they don’t understand soulmates,” Maribeth pointed out. “A newly married man suddenly hanging out with a hot guy? What kind of rumors are you willing to deal with to keep a secret from Douglas?”
Luke flashed a grin at Maribeth. “Thanks for calling me hot.”
“What if Lucas moved to the guest house?” David asked. It was one of the rare times Luke had heard the man speak.
“Guest house?” Luke asked.
“It’s behind the main house,” Richard explained. “It was built because Gabriel refused to live with us. Long story, but Gabriel somehow convinced himself he wasn’t a Marwood. Thankfully, my brother is irresistible and they’re soulmates, or Gabriel would still be out there brooding. We have a guard resurrected by Eric last year that we offered it to, but Takoda preferred a quiet house by himself. Given how annoying our family is, I don’t blame the man.”
“We could casually mention to people that Lucas wanted something serener than the condominium building,” Clark suggested. “Perhaps as a temporary option until he chose a house of his own or something. By the time people grew suspicious, you could go public with your relationship.”
“What do you think, Lucas?” Rosalind asked.
Luke wasn’t sure how to respond. While he loved the idea of being close enough to Richard that they could see each other without having to figure out how to meet up clandestinely, he wasn’t sure what the necromancer thought. He glanced at Richard and was delighted by his smile. His soulmate was on board.
“I have no argument with moving,” Luke said.
“We can help you pack,” Maribeth insisted.
“No, that’s not happening,” Richard replied. “The only reason you want to help Lucas pack is so you can snoop through his things. If he has a ton of stuff, we’ll hire movers. Professionals who won’t rifle through his belongings.”
Luke laughed. “It’s a furnished apartment. I have clothes, shampoo, and a freezer full of frozen meals.”
“One small thing I’d like to add prior to finalizing anything,” Rosalind interjected.
“Somehow, I knew it wasn’t going to be that easy,” Richard muttered.
“Ignore my son’s rudeness, we taught him manners, though I know that must be hard to believe at times,” Rosalind said with a quelling look for Richard. “We can tell people that Lucas is living in the guest house, but it’s barely habitable. Sorry, Gabriel, but you put little effort into making it welcoming. While I normally love a decorating project, I see no point in making the guest house reflect Lucas’s personal style since it’s temporary. He should live in the house with us. We have plenty of extra rooms, and they aren’t bland or beige.”
“And don’t worry, you can keep the door locked so Maribeth doesn’t snoop through your stuff,” Clark added.
“I appreciate the offer, but I think I’d like to speak to Richard privately before I accept or decline,” Luke answered.
Everything was moving fast, and Luke had nothing more than a look from Richard to go on. The last thing he wanted to do was make Richard uncomfortable in his own home. If he stayed in the neighboring guesthouse, at least he’d allow Richard to keep some distance between them as they adjusted to their new reality.
“Very sensible,” Clark said.
“We can talk after dinner if you want,” Richard offered.
“Thanks, I’d like that,” Luke replied.
“Great, now that we have that area settled for now, let’s move on to the next topic,” Rosalind remarked.
“I told you they probably made a list while you were driving over,” Richard muttered.
“This doesn’t involve you, Richard,” Clark told his eldest son. “Lucas, I was curious about your necromancer. You mentioned when you first arrived that you were still on speaking terms. How is he doing? Is there anything we can do to assist him? Is he alone somewhere, or does he have family?”
Luke closed his eyes and sighed heavily. “We were on speaking terms until yesterday.”
“Oh no, what happened?” Richard asked.
“Right before I left for the wedding, he called me. The conversation didn’t go well, and it became obvious that his only reason for communicating with me was so I could continue sending him half my paycheck. He won big yesterday at whatever casino he’s at, and I begged him not to gamble it all away. His argument was the same as ever. You can’t win money without gambling it. And he didn’t see the harm in doing so since he had a steady supply of cash being funneled to him by me.”
Richard rested his hand on Luke’s arm. “I’m sorry, that must be very painful. He’s your family.”
“Thanks, Dragonfly. I suppose it’s fair to say he’ll always be family to me, even if we can’t communicate until he’s willing to get some help.”
“Are you doing okay with money?” Clark asked. “I wish you’d let someone know you were sending so much of your hard-earned wages to your necro. We would’ve supplemented that income.”
“Oh, I couldn’t ask for that,” Luke argued, appalled at the thought. “It was my choice to send it. I was foolish enough to think I wasn’t enabling him to continue being irresponsible. I’ve been sensible with the other half. Nearly all of it is in savings. I was planning on buying a car in cash since I wasn’t sure if I was staying, but now I can afford to take on a payment.”
“Were you thinking of quitting?” Richard asked, his blue gaze wide with shock.
Luke had finished his plate and had no appetite left to take more, despite not being full. He fiddled with his napkin as he thought through his options. But there was only one way for him to answer Richard, and that was with full honesty.
“I don’t want secrets between us,” Luke said. “So, I think it’s time for me to admit that I wasn’t completely truthful when I first arrived. My necromancer learned about your family, and he believed this was a good option. That I’d come here for a bit so we could pull some money together. I didn’t think I was starting over, but now I wonder if that wasn’t his thought from the start. I’d work and send him money to keep his favored lifestyle afloat. While his father was alive, that was our existence. We had a condo, a little money to keep our freezer stocked with frozen dinners, and the rest was wasted by Foxe. Once his father died, his brother cut him off. We hit the road and mostly grifted from one town to another.”
“I don’t want to speak poorly of Foxe because I know you love him, but Lucas, he doesn’t deserve you,” Richard remarked, squeezing his arm affectionately again. “No matter what your intentions were, I’m glad you had the courage to try something different. You’ve been a remarkable asset to the office.”
Maribeth elbowed Richard hard enough that he squeaked. “And?”
“And what?” Richard asked, rubbing his midsection where she’d nailed him.
“Soulmate,” she hissed.
“Yeah, and?” Richard retorted. “You want me to thank him for that? It was destiny. That’s what we were taught.”
“At least thank the man for taking you to bed.”
“Stop embarrassing me,” Richard insisted with a glare. His cheeks were bright with either temper or modesty, and it reminded Luke of how his face flushed with passion. Luke grinned like an idiot.
“Children, behave yourselves,” Clark chided. “Lucas, I’d lie and say I don’t want to pry, but destiny has made you part of the Marwoods, so I’ll be as direct with you as I would with anyone else in the family. Necromancers are immortal, how did yours lose his father?”
Luke tore his gaze from the enticing Richard and shrugged. “No clue. Foxe wasn’t close to him because of his gambling addiction, and his brother never explained how he died.”
“Oddly, that story sounds familiar,” Gabriel stated. “Is their surname Wynnter?”
“No,” Luke replied. “Their family tradition is to name their inspirits with the last name Wynnter. The wynn part comes from their last name, which is Arwynn.”
Clark lifted a black brow. “Interesting. Do you know the Arwynns well?”
“Nope, never met any of them besides Foxe. According to him, both his brother and father are assholes. I saw the outside of their estate in DC, it’s huge. So, they have money. That’s about all I know.”
“Tell him everything, Dad,” Eric said.
“Fine, the Arwynns contacted us last year. We, along with several other important necromancer families, had a conference call. The purpose was to build an alliance of sorts, but that has never worked for us in the past, and it was as fruitless this time around,” Clark explained.
“I didn’t know all the necro families knew each other,” Luke replied, not sure what to do with that information.
“We don’t. I collect information. I’m good at it, but despite that, I couldn’t discover the identities of the families who were invited. Each person used something to disguise their voice, and we didn’t introduce ourselves,” Clark said.
Luke’s brows furrowed as he considered what he’d just learned. It didn’t take long for him to come to a startling conclusion. “But you mentioned it was Arwynn who invited everyone. So, he knows. That would be Foxe’s brother. Rowan Arwynn. That’s his name, but I never met him. Foxe is convinced he killed their father.”
“Weston Arwynn,” Eric commented. “I remember that name because I was arrested for his murder despite never meeting the man.”
“What?” Luke asked while privately wondering how many more surprises were in store for him.
“My father set Eric up. He kidnapped him, intending to kill him,” Maribeth said, her voice thick with pain.
“Don’t relive it,” Richard ordered as he pushed back his seat and stood to wrap his arms around his cousin.
“We need to tell Lucas about Eric,” Gabe commented. “Danger will always follow this household, and he deserves to know why.”
Luke bit his lip and braced himself with a slow exhale. “Eric is destiny-touched.”
“How did you know that? Did the Arwynns find out?” Gabe demanded.
“It’s my gift,” Luke replied. “Foxe decided that it’d be a good idea to create an inspirit with the ability to detect destiny-touched necromancers. People like Eric have trouble swirling around them, and Foxe wanted some forewarning. My job was to alert him whenever I found a destiny-touched so we could run like hell. But I didn’t tell him about Eric. If I had, he would’ve insisted I quit my job. I didn’t want to do that. I like what I do, and as long as I’m spilling my secrets, I already had a bit of a crush on Richard.”
Everyone at the table stared at Luke, and it unnerved him. He had no clue what any of them were thinking.
“Why the fuck didn’t we think about giving an inspirit that gift?” Eric demanded.
“I didn’t know it was possible,” Clark replied. “How many destiny-touched have you discovered?”
“Including Eric, two. The first was years ago. As I was taught, I alerted Foxe that a destiny-touched was in the restaurant where we stopped to get burgers. We didn’t even stay to eat. I never saw him again.”
“Oh, Gabriel, imagine how different and awful your life would’ve been if Samael had thought to give you Lucas’s gift,” Rosalind said. “I shudder to think of it.”
“I would’ve preferred it, actually,” Gabriel responded. “Far better than being his goon for fifteen years while he murdered the destiny-touched.”
The Marwoods were quickly piling up the secrets, and Luke was overwhelmed by what he was learning and the pieces still missing from his education of Richard’s family. Since he was overloaded, Luke didn’t bother with the questions swirling in his mind. If things worked out between him and Richard, he’d learn everything eventually anyway. He could only process so much in a single weekend.
“You have a remarkable gift, Lucas,” Clark stated firmly. “As the son of a destiny-touched and a parent of one, it gives me hope to learn that there are necros who don’t prey on the most special of our people. I won’t ask you to use your gift. It is yours to decide what to do with. But please know that the Marwoods have sworn to help those like Eric, not harm them.”
“It was a relief to sense Eric the last time I was here,” Luke replied. “I don’t understand why anyone would want to hurt the destiny-touched. Meeting Eric reassured me immediately that I wasn’t working for a family involved in what Foxe had convinced me to run from. I wish I could tell you all Arwynns feel like Foxe, but I don’t know them.”
Richard left his cousin’s side to lay a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “It’s a wonderful gift.”
“Did you get your tattoos to help conceal the mark your brother was born with?” Luke asked.
“Yes,” Richard said. “Every Marwood in this house would willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect our Eric.”
“And Maribeth has already paid a price in blood, so let’s leave that subject alone for now,” Rosalind commented. “She’s still healing.”
“I’m fine,” Maribeth insisted. Luke didn’t dare ask what had happened to Maribeth, but given how her eyes had darkened with secrets, he already knew it was intense. Rosalind was right about her journey to recovery not being over yet.
“Does anyone mind if I ask why people want to hurt the destiny-touched so bad?” Luke asked.
“Varied reasons that all boil down to fear,” Clark responded. “Men and women like Eric are rare, and their power exceeds us normal necromancers. That can be frightening to small-minded people and those looking for any reason to be violent.”
“I’m not sure if this helps or not, but my senses tell me Eric is incredibly strong,” Luke said. “Far stronger than the other destiny-touched necro we encountered.”
“Given that Eric is in his twenties, I’m not sure if I should be proud or more frightened than ever,” Rosalind commented.
“I guess I never thought to consider how old any of you are,” Luke remarked. He glanced at Richard. “How old are you?”
“Thirty, and you’re ten, so no calling me a child. I know there are necros who are ancients, my parents are both antiques,” Richard retorted.
“And don’t ask Rosalind how old she is because she won’t tell you,” Clark said.
“When was the last time you supplied your age to anyone?” Rosalind countered.
“I told you the exact number,” Clark countered. “That’s all that matters.”
“Ignore them,” Maribeth teased. “We taught them manners, but they clearly didn’t stick.”
Richard rolled his eyes. “Eric, come with me so we can get you packed. You and Gabriel are leaving soon. Lucas, you can hang out down here if you want. Don’t answer any of their nosy questions. Especially if they’re coming from my mother or Mari.”
“Don’t overdo it with the pants or your brother’s new husband won’t appreciate it,” Luke told his soulmate, who winked at him.
“Thanks for the reminder,” Richard replied.