Page 16

Rhys

Kairos and Enko selected rooms based on their closeness to Dove, leaving us all tucked in one tiny corner of the large house, but the grin on Dove’s face kept me quiet about it.

It would be good to have all of them so close, if only to keep an eye on them, especially the mischievous Dove. I tried to convince myself this was a good idea.

But before the end of the day, Kairos had people lugging in loads of new items to fill up their rooms almost as quickly as they’d destroyed my privacy. He even ordered an entire range of exercise equipment to be carried down to the basement. I hid myself away in an office as Kairos began to dictate his rules over everyone.

Through the window, I saw my car pulling out of the garage to accommodate his collection of four—four!—expensive racing cars and even then I held my tongue.

“Bring that in there.”

He ordered loudly from outside. “No, the other way. And that chair is for Dove’s room. She needs something ergonomical with how much she studies at her desk.”

At one point during the evening, someone opened my office door without knocking and didn’t even bow to me as they began to place books on my bookshelf.

“Kairos!”

I yelled, startling the servant into hysteria as they bowed their way out of my room.

He showed up a second later. “Yes, Holiest of opinionated assholes?”

“Are you done with all your commotion yet?”

I growled, tossing my paperwork down on my desk in defeat. I’d only read through three pages since he took over the house like a dictator. But there was no fear on his face. He merely smiled, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

“I’m merely making some small changes. The whole house feels unlived in, and I want to make Dove comfortable. You understand, I’m sure. Our Fated mate has her needs.”

I took a long deep breath. And then another. It wasn’t fair to have to share my Fated mate with three kits.

“No, no, it’s too much!”

came Dove’s voice from outside. “Kairos, this is way too expensive! Where are you?”

I raised my eyebrows. “She sounds comfortable,”

I said sarcastically.

Kairos opened the door to find her prowling the hallway, holding a literal armload of clothes. When she saw the two of us, she entered the room, turning to Kairos with a pout.

“Did you get all these for me, Kairos? It’s too much, you have to return them—”

“Nothing is too much for you, Dove. You deserve the very best,”

Kairos said, puffing his chest out proudly as he patted her on the head.

Her bottom lip quivered, tears forming in her eyes. “All for me?”

“I even hired a personal stylist for you, Dove. She picked out things she thought you would like.”

I stiffened as her tears began to fall and she sobbed loudly, repeating, “All for me? You care so much about me?”

Enko barged in, his breath heavy as his feral gaze roamed around for Dove, only calming when he found her and wrapped his gigantic arms around her and the wad of clothes in her arms. “I heard you crying, little fox.”

Seven slinked in, “Why is she crying this time?”

A slight panic laced in his sarcastic tone.

“Goddess, did I not let you all live here so you could have some more space? This is my office,”

I said, knowing now beyond any doubt that my privacy was completely annihilated.

Dove sniffled, ducking out of Enko’s grip and depositing the clothes onto my couch in a messy puddle of silk before rushing over to me and sitting on my lap and hugging around me. “Thank you so much, Rhys. I’m so happy to be living with all my Fated mates.”

Kairos grinned at me knowingly as she nuzzled her face against my neck, saturating me with her delightful scent. My want for her held over my logical senses. My arms wrapped around her, gently over the scars on her back, “Of course, Dove. Whatever makes you happy.”

“You did a complete about-face on that one, brother,”

Seven quipped as I glared at him over her shoulder.

“Dove can do whatever she wants in my home. As for the three of you, get the hell out of my office.”

As the sun went down, the house settled into a semblance of serenity, and I was finally able to get some research done. When I finished close to midnight, I walked toward my bedroom.

Dove’s door was open and she curled onto the gigantic bed. A smile graced her lips, her face calm. I stepped forward, wanting to touch her soft cheek, brush her hair behind her ear—

A movement of Shadow by the door startled me and I jumped as a knowing smirk peeked out from the Shadow Vale.

I exhaled loudly. “Get to bed, Seven.”