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H umming as he stirred his spaghetti sauce, Victor glanced at the clock. He smiled as he heard booted feet on the stairs. Sentinels were wonderfully predictable, and it made Victor’s schedule easy to manage. There was never any question about when to serve meals. Within seconds, the kitchen filled with Darays greeting him and grabbing everything necessary to set the table for dinner.

His family had worked hard all day and were hungry, so they moved with alacrity.

The Arch Lich sauntered in. He had already changed out of his suit into jeans. Predictably, he was scanning the kitchen for vegetables so he could lodge a complaint about them.

“You like spaghetti,” Victor said to the imp-necromancer as he turned to hug him.

“Yeah, but I bet there’s a salad or something lurking around here,” Chander remarked.

“Of course there is,” Victor replied.

“And you will eat some,” Alaric stated.

“Says you,” Chander retorted. “But the last time I checked, you weren’t the boss of me.”

“Rough day?” Victor asked.

“I swear every jerk in the Council called me this afternoon,” Chander complained. “How was your day?”

The doorbell rang, and Victor grinned. “Good, and about to get even better.”

Chander finally smiled. “Was your new bed delivered?”

“Yep. The construction was completed too,” Victor said. “The bathroom is now remodeled for three, and there’s one giant closet instead of two.”

A redheaded fallen knight with big brown eyes and a lovely smattering of freckles rushed into the kitchen, holding the hand of a sentinel with dark hair obscuring half of his gray gaze, and Victor’s heart rejoiced. His kitty purred with approval, and Victor kissed both of his mates thoroughly.

“How can we help?” Keegan asked.

Victor directed everyone to aid him in emptying pots and pans into serving dishes, and soon he found himself planted on Phillip’s side at the table. Soon, the chairs were full of Darays and Alaric was filling tiny bowls with noodles and sauce for the goblins Chander had summoned for him. They’d tried several options, but ultimately, the goblins preferred to eat at the island. To ensure they were comfortable, Victor had arranged for a tiny table and two chairs to be made for them, and it was tucked against the wall next to the always-full cookie jar whenever Pizza and Rogue weren’t using it.

“How’d your day go?” Victor asked Phillip.

“It went well,” Phillip replied. “I enjoy working in the office, and I only took a single potion this morning. Keegan, did your classes go well?”

“Yep, we had a quiz, and I nailed it,” Keegan said.

“Guess what else he’s going to nail tonight?” Baxter asked. There was a chorus of groans in response to the Daemon Lord. “What? We all know they got a new bed today. Of course they’re going to want to test it out.”

“Mind your own business,” Chander retorted.

“That is a talent he has never learned,” Ducarius muttered.

“Oh, are you admitting to another sentinel fault?” Arvandus teased. “First, we have Eduard with his terrible saxophone skills, and now we have Bax failing to learn how to behave. I think if you guys aren’t careful, the entire Sentinel Brotherhood could be on the verge of collapse.”

“Eduard has improved with his saxophone thanks to Devlin’s coaching,” Hexaniys defended. Victor didn’t want to refute the Imperator’s words, but he couldn’t help his face, and apparently neither could anyone else, given the number of skeptical looks aimed in Hexaniys’s direction. Not even the famous rock star of the family—who performed using the name Develin Nero in the band Barbed Ebon—could work a big enough miracle to increase Eduard’s skill to a level where anyone wanted to listen to him play.

“Sometimes you have to admit when your mate sucks at something,” Benton remarked. “Like I know Bax is shit at behaving himself.”

“You like it that I don’t behave,” Baxter responded with a saucy smile for his other half.

“Gross,” Samson said.

“Sorry that some of us want more from life than to have a mate who shoves cookies in our face all day,” Baxter retorted.

“Stop poking your salad, Chand, and eat it,” Alaric ordered.

Chander flicked the Lich Sentinel off. “No.”

“You are missing out, Chand; it is delicious,” Vellerynd commented.

“Easy for you to say, you actually like green stuff,” Chander replied.

“Anyway, let’s talk about what’s important today,” Baxter remarked. “Victor’s room is ready for a triple matebond. When are Keegan and Phillip moving in?”

Although Victor dearly wanted both his mates to share his space immediately, he understood that Keegan’s training had to come first. Thankfully, graduation was in less than two weeks.

“We’re moving in tonight,” Keegan announced.

Victor was so stunned he dropped his forkful of pasta. “Huh?”

“I’m already packed,” Keegan stated calmly. “If Phillip’s not, I can help him get his stuff. There’s no reason I can’t teleport to the Ascension Center every day for my classes, and Phillip can get to the Sentinel Brotherhood just as easily.”

No one said a word in response, so Victor focused his attention on his plate and grabbed his fork and twirled it unnecessarily in his mound of spaghetti.

“It might help you, Phillip,” Victor offered quietly. “If you were around us in the morning, you may not need that last potion you’re still taking. I know you don’t want to take them at all, and moving in could help you achieve that goal.”

“You need not convince me of the merits of moving in together,” Phillip responded. “If you are ready to share your suite with us, I will pack my belongings tonight.”

“Good, it’s settled,” Baxter said. “You’re welcome.”

“Sometimes I wish I could stab you with my fork,” Chander replied conversationally.

“I know how you feel,” Vellerynd responded, toasting the Arch Lich with his own pronged utensil.

“I am sure Victor, Phillip, and Keegan would have figured out their living arrangements without your aid, Bax,” Ducarius stated.

“But thanks to me, they’ve already got it worked out,” Baxter answered.

“Just tell Victor how delicious the spaghetti he made is, then shut the hell up,” Chander ordered.

Victor chuckled as Baxter ducked his head and praised the food he’d made. If the Arch Lich demanded anything, the sentinels in the household immediately responded accordingly. Although Victor didn’t doubt that Baxter appreciated his meal, he would’ve kept chatting about living arrangements until someone insisted on a subject change.

Since he was feeling grateful that Keegan and Phillip were moving in, Victor smiled at the Daemon Lord and accepted his compliment with grace. It was a testament to how much Victor was loved that Baxter’s greatest concern that evening was discovering how quickly Keegan and Phillip would be joining their family. Victor had a great deal to be grateful for and silently thanked Fate for every gift she’d granted him.

∞∞∞

Keegan bounded into the closet with his bag. It was so cool that Victor had opted to create one large closet instead of separating them, and he already longed for the opportunity to sit in there to watch the cat shifter dress and apply his make-up.

“Does anyone need anything?” Victor asked from behind Keegan.

“Do you have any spare hangers?” Phillip inquired. “Alaric had plain formal uniforms made for me to wear in the office until we can figure out my permanent role. I would prefer to keep them from getting wrinkled.”

“Of course, Spicy,” Victor responded. Keegan watched with appreciation as Victor lifted to the toes of his heeled sandals to pluck a handful of colorful hangers from the rack. The vivid blue shorts he was wearing bared most of his legs, and Keegan liked the way his long muscles flexed as he stretched.

“Thank you,” Phillip said, taking the hangers from Victor.

“Are you okay, Sunshine?” Victor asked, resting his hand on Keegan’s lower back.

“Yeah, sorry, I was admiring your legs and forgot what I was doing,” Keegan replied.

“Stop apologizing, you have done absolutely nothing wrong,” Phillip reminded him. “It is impossible not to admire Victor’s sexy legs.”

Victor responded with a pretty smile and a little roll of his eyes. “Let’s get you both squared away so you can relax.”

Eager to get moved in, Keegan set his bag on an empty dresser painted a bright teal and unzipped it. His uniforms were all casual, so he stowed them along with his socks and underwear in drawers.

“I want to let you both know that this space reflects my taste, but it should be for the three of us. Whatever you want to change, we can. At any point. You have big things to deal with right now, but when you have more time to think about it and learn what you like, we can switch stuff, okay?”

“Victor, it is perfect,” Phillip said. “It makes me and my dragon happy the minute I walk through the door.”

“Phillip’s right. It’s bright, fun, and pretty. I love it.”

“There isn’t much black or gray,” Victor lamented. “Those are colors associated with your race. At least our suite at D’Vaire is in Daray-inspired hues.”

“I want to come home to this,” Keegan insisted. The space Victor had created was charming, and Keegan’s favorite part was how it calmed him and, more importantly, Phillip. “You had my dresser painted with sunflowers, Sparkles. Phillip’s bureau has a dragon, and don’t think I missed the spices spilling out on the bottom drawer.”

“You can thank Jeremiah for the artwork; it was his idea,” Victor revealed. “He insisted.”

“But you told him what to paint,” Phillip argued. “Stop trying to give away all the credit. You wanted it to be us too. You added dragons and sunflowers to the border of our new bedspread.”

“You already noticed that, huh?” Victor asked.

“How would he miss it? He’s a sentinel,” Keegan responded with a chuckle. “He literally misses nothing.”

“Just tell me if you have any ideas on how to improve our living space,” Victor said, his green gaze sincere. “That’s all I ask.”

“Sunshine and I will both be happy to promise you that we will,” Phillip responded.

“Agreed,” Keegan added.

“Good. Can I help you guys with your unpacking?” Victor asked.

Keegan pushed a drawer shut and folded his empty bag. “Where do I put this?”

Victor showed Keegan where he kept his luggage, and Keegan added his duffel to the appropriate shelf. A minute later, Phillip stacked his bag on top of Keegan’s.

“Now what?” Keegan asked.

“Now we thank Victor for taking on the task of changing our suite to work for all three of us by himself and for being caring and mindful enough to add things that reflect us perfectly,” Phillip said.

There was a spark in Phillip’s dark gaze that told Keegan exactly how their mate wanted to offer his gratitude to their pretty cat shifter, and he wholeheartedly approved. So did his dick. Keegan smiled as heat rushed through him.

“What did you have in mind, Spicy?” Keegan asked, eagerly anticipating his answer.

“I was thinking of a surprise,” Phillip revealed. “Victor, would you mind giving Keegan and I a moment to plan?”

“Uh, sure. I guess I could wait in here.”

“No need,” Phillip said. “Go ahead into the bedroom. We will join you in a minute.”

There was confusion in Victor’s gaze, but he left them alone with an awkward wave.

“What are we going to do?” Keegan asked, eager to follow Phillip’s instructions.

“Easy. We are going to undress and join Victor.”

“Yay,” Keegan enthused and yanked his T-shirt off. He dumped it into the laundry hamper, then sat on a poofy stool to peel off his boots and socks. It took little concentration to remove his footwear, so Keegan watched eagerly as Phillip bared his smooth chest. His fingers itched to trace the rock-hard abs, but what had him nearly drooling was the thick cock Phillip was freeing from the confines of his pants and boxer-briefs.

“Sunshine.”

“Yeah?”

“Stop playing with your boot laces and get naked.”

“Sure,” Keegan replied, licking his lips as Phillip stood there in all his gorgeous, nude glory.

The sentinel sighed and kneeled in front of Keegan. Phillip shoved Keegan’s hands aside and tugged off the fallen knight’s boots himself. Swaying with all the lust coursing through his veins, Keegan grinned stupidly at Phillip.

“Sunshine, should I call Victor in here and change our plans?”

That snapped Keegan to attention. “No, I want to thank him.”

“Good. Take off your pants because if I touch you, we will need to get Victor into this closet immediately.”

Keegan admired Phillip’s long frame as the sentinel stood, but forced himself to tear his gaze off the rigid length rising from its nest of black curls. They had a mission. He dragged his pants and underwear off, careful not to unman himself.

Phillip grabbed his hand, Keegan got to his feet, and they left the closet. Victor was perched on the floral bench at the end of the bed. The cat shifter gasped when he caught sight of them.

“My goodness,” Victor whispered as he slowly rose.

It took everything in Keegan to refrain from jerking himself to a fast orgasm as Phillip pulled Victor close and fused their mouths together. Watching his mates kiss never failed to excite him. Eager to be involved as Phillip flicked open the first button on Victor’s shirt, Keegan raced behind Victor and molded his body to the cat shifter’s.

Victor moaned long and low, and Keegan gave in to the impulse to grind his erection against him as he slid his arms around him. Keegan wiggled a hand between Victor and Phillip to undo Victor’s belt. Since the night was about pleasing Victor, Keegan unbuttoned and unzipped him.

Next, he cupped Victor’s erection through his semi-sheer lacy underwear and rubbed. Victor hissed. Phillip took a step back and traced his fingers along Victor’s chest and belly. Victor’s breath came in pants as Phillip—with some help from Keegan—pulled off Victor’s shirt. Keegan dragged Victor’s shorts down his legs.

Phillip pulled Victor’s tiny pink panties to the floor, and Victor leaned heavily into Keegan.

“My knees are weak,” Victor whispered.

“Come with us to the bed,” Phillip encouraged.

Victor nodded, but it took him a full minute to move his feet. Keegan knew at least sixty seconds had passed because he’d distracted himself by staring at the clock to keep from emptying his balls. It didn’t matter how often he was with Phillip and Victor. Whenever they were together and naked bodies were involved, Keegan’s hormones shifted into immediate overdrive.

Phillip directed Victor to lie in the middle of their giant square mattress, then Keegan climbed up alongside the sentinel.

“What now, Spicy?” Keegan asked.

“Would you like to suck Victor’s cock?” Phillip inquired. His voice was infinitely polite, but his gaze was pure molten desire.

“Fuck yes,” Keegan shouted. He’d learned from the beginning that he liked oral sex.

Victor was clearly keen on the idea. He bent his knees and spread them apart. Keegan eagerly scrambled himself between Victor’s legs. The fallen knight coasted his palms up Victor’s thighs as he settled into the perfect position. He dragged his tongue up the underside of Victor’s length and delighted in both his whimper and the way he shivered.

Phillip lay on the bed next to Victor and captured his mouth as Keegan sealed his lips around Victor’s cock. Keegan grabbed his own dick and jerked himself as he bobbed his head slowly to savor Victor’s salty taste. Each time he sucked one of his mates, he worked on improving how far could take them in.

Someday he hoped to be a master at it, but for now he’d concentrate on getting the head of Victor’s prick as close to the back of his throat as possible. With one of Victor’s silky hips in his grasp and his fingers bringing himself closer to the brink, Keegan teased Victor with increasing urgency.

There was tension in Victor’s slight frame, and Keegan loved knowing he and Phillip were already luring him perilously close to the edge. Phillip had a fistful of Victor’s short blond locks as he devoured him with deep kisses and Keegan squeezed his eyes shut because the sight of his mates with their lips locked made sparks dance along his spine.

Unfortunately, closing his eyes heightened his other senses, and he groaned around the dick in his mouth. His seed spurted over his fist as his climax burst out of nowhere. But he had enough of his scattered wits to ensure Victor didn’t suffer at his lack of control.

He sucked harder and was rewarded with a shout. Victor’s frame clenched, and his come splashed onto Keegan’s tongue. Eagerly, Keegan swallowed Victor’s essence and flicked his tongue along the slit of Victor’s cockhead to give him every ounce of pleasure possible. Victor moaned appreciatively.

Victor’s hand landed on Keegan’s head, and his fingers danced delicately through the red waves.

“Hmm, thanks,” Victor said as Keegan pulled off his prick with a smile.

“How do you want to come, Sunshine?” Phillip asked, his voice rough with desire.

“Already did,” Keegan assured him. “Shit. I came on the new bedspread.”

“That’s okay,” Victor said, reaching out and grabbing Phillip’s dick. “Spicy here is going to make a mess on it too. There are cleansing potions in the house. We’ll take care of it later.”

Phillip buried his face in the pillow next to Victor’s head as the cat shifter jerked him. Eager to help, Keegan considered his options. Phillip’s firm ass was exposed, so Keegan pressed his palms to those muscular cheeks and kneaded.

Keegan massaged his way up Phillip’s body as the sentinel groaned. It took some crawling to get up to his shoulders, but it was worth it to feel Phillip’s shudder. A heartbeat later, Phillip suddenly went rigid as he climaxed.

“I think I need a nap,” Phillip eventually muttered into the pillowcase.

“We’re cuddling Victor in the middle,” Keegan said.

“Oh, I could definitely get used to that,” Victor replied. “Get over here, Sunshine.”

Keegan was kissed soundly by a cat shifter, then a sentinel. They grinned foolishly as they tangled their limbs.

“I vote we never get out of this bed again,” Keegan suggested.

“Oh, agreed,” Victor responded.

“Have we thanked you appropriately for all the hard work you did to make our cohabitation possible, Sparkles?” Phillip asked.

“Absolutely, but whenever the need to offer your gratitude strikes, please feel free to strip me again,” Victor replied with a smile.

“I’m going to feel that way after our nap,” Keegan said, snuggling close to Victor.

In fact, Keegan would bet their new bed would be a frequent reminder of how wonderful it was to live together and the urge to get undressed would hit him with stunning frequency.