Page 19 of Finding Embers and Stars (Twin Flames Duet #1)
Chapter nineteen
M y mind is still reeling. We found our mates, and that we have two seems like a bonus, even though it’s clear that Sage and Piper are worried about how we are taking that news.
To me it’s dumb to get wrapped up with Piper’s wolf being male. Personally, I don’t see the big deal. To us, Atlas is just another brother we can embrace. Sure, it’s new and has never happened before, but that doesn’t make it bad.
And when I look at Piper, I have no doubt that she is all woman.
Sage is beautiful, and I can honestly say that I’m equally attracted and drawn to both of them. It’s so nice to be able to kiss someone without having to bend in half.
“We can start downstairs and work our way up. I figured we could show you the house before we pick a movie and veg out.” Piper leads us down the stairs that are off the kitchen into an impressive four-car garage. I could tell they had money from the house alone, but looking at the cars lined up in here is giving me an entirely new insight into our mate's financial status.
A teal Jeep Wrangler with a tentacle decal across the hood sits closest to the kitchen door. Next in line is an Audi S5 convertible in a shimmery blue that matches Atlas’s eyes. Then a black Navigator and a dark purple Buick Envision that has a black decal of running horses along the side.
My stallion tosses his mane and arches his neck. Just the chance that one of our mates might like horses has him in the mood to show off.
Shifters are separated into predator and prey categories, much like nature. A group like ours with both is rare. Usually, the predators try to dominate the perceived weaker prey animals. I can see why that would be a problem with a bunny, but I’m big enough when shifted to push Maverick around and I’ve given Walker a run for his money. Horses may not eat meat, but they are powerful and have an innate instinct to protect their family.
When I finally break my gaze away from my likeness painted on the Buick, I lock eyes with Mav. We need to have a discussion about finances sooner rather than later. I handle all our portfolios and investments. We aren’t struggling, but it took all five of us working full time to save up for our dream house next door.
And our house is half the size of this place.
How is this going to work when we’re instinctively driven to take care of our mates and it’s clear that they could buy and sell us like trinkets. We are meant to care for them, not the other way around.
Walking past a fortune in cars like it’s just another day, Piper leads us into the home gym of my dreams. The guys stop dead the same way I do as we take in the top-of-the-line equipment and a complete set of free weights.
Am I drooling? I think I’m drooling and for the first time all day, it’s not over my mates.
We all have a workout routine, but Wyatt and I are the biggest gym rats. He’s looking around in awe, then finally back at our mates. “Do you guys use all this stuff?”
Sage hums. “Not really. Archer and Zeke set this up for us, and they use it when they visit with their mates. Zeke gets cranky if he misses too many work outs.”
Piper chuckles, sharing a smile with Sage. These two have such a bond, it’s nearly a physical presence, like a rope that connects them. “When the weather's nice, I prefer to run on the beach and Sage is more of a swimmer. We get enough indoor gym time when we’re in Wyoming. The weather is less forgiving there.”
I tilt my head in confusion. “You guys keep mentioning Wyoming like you go back there all the time. How does that work?”
“Oh.” Sage stops walking to look at us, then back at Piper. “I guess we kind of glossed over that part. Everyone grab a bench.”
I’m slightly apprehensive knowing this conversation is one we need to sit down for, but the more we know now, the less there will be to surprise us later on.
“The DV shelter we went to is in Wyoming. That’s where we met everyone that we refer to as our family. We were adopted by the six families that started and now run the shelter.” Piper uses air quotes when she says adopted, letting us know that it’s more of an honorary thing.
Sage picks up the story. “When we first got there, we didn’t know what to expect but what we found was a group of people that not only have the money and desire to make a shelter for supernaturals work, but also the personal experiences that help them understand what everyone needs when they get there. They gave us everything we needed to feel safe and follow our dreams, as cheesy as that sounds.”
“They offered us each a home. We could have split up and each taken a residence, but honestly, even if Atlas hadn’t been a factor, that thought didn’t cross our minds. Instead, we split our time between this house and the one we have in Wyoming. Every three months or so we switch. Today is our first day back.” Piper’s voice trails off. She seems to understand that we need a moment to think about this situation.
Well then. That’s something else that will need to be discussed. We have known Sage and Piper less than twelve hours, but already the thought of being separate from them for three months at a time is enough to send me spiraling.
Walker squeezes my shoulder. The look that passes between us tells me this is something we can talk about later.
“You guys are welcome to use the equipment and pool. Hell, the whole house is fair game as far as I’m concerned.” Sage shrugs like it’s no big deal to offer five strangers the use of her home. “We will get you the code for the doors later.”
Leading us back upstairs, they take us through the living room right off the front door down a long hallway. “There are two offices here, but we don’t really use them. Liam, you and Milo can decide which one works best for each of your needs. I think the one closet would be big enough for a dark room.”
The casual way Piper just gives us entire rooms to use for our space has Milo and I exchanging confused looks. This feels too good to be true.
Just as we move to leave the second office, Milo freezes and stares at a framed photo hanging on the wall.
You can just make out the hint of a log cabin at the edge of the picture. It is focused on a gathering of animals that would never be seen together in nature. A large red wolf stands next to Atlas alongside a stream. A lynx, again larger than a wild one, is laying on its back in the sunlight. It looks more like an overgrown house cat than a fierce predator. In the sky overhead is a raven I’m assuming is Sage flying alongside a tiny lizard that has butterfly wings?
The look of shock on Milo’s face almost has me concerned, but I can tell he’s about to geek out about something in this photo.
“I’ve seen that red wolf and the lynx before. Is this a Maggie Larsen photo?” He spins towards Sage, who can’t keep her giggles contained.
“Yes. That was taken about two weeks after we escaped the pack and got to Wyoming. Maggie and her mates are one of the families that run the DV shelter where we ended up. She’s become a close friend of ours.”
Piper’s smile is just as happy as Sage’s. The look on her face is one of fond remembrance. “That was one of the first genuinely happy moments of my life.”
Sage runs her hand across Piper’s shoulder, a subtle gesture of comfort that doesn't go unnoticed by my brothers. What exactly did they go through?
“The butterfly dragon is Nox. He’s one of Maggie’s mates. He was teaching me how to fly. I was injured the night of my first shift, and I didn’t get a chance to fly until we escaped, and I was healed.” Turning away she gestures towards the closet. “Milo, I think this will make a dark room if you need one.”
Walker scratches the back of his head, looking very confused. “How are you guys okay with this?”
As one, Piper and Sage turn to look at him. “Okay with what?”
“You just offered up two rooms in your house to us to use and change as needed. We’re practically strangers.”
Piper grins at him, her expression somewhat wicked. “We believe in the bonds that the Moon Goddess blessed us with. That doesn’t mean this is going to be all sunshine and roses, but if we work hard enough, we have a chance at something amazing. Why wouldn’t we offer rooms we aren’t using to our mates?”
Sage leads us back into the hall, calling over her shoulder to us. “We also have enough bedrooms upstairs that you can each have your own. That doesn’t mean that you need to fight over who gets what room today.”
“Unless you want to and agree to do it shirtless.” Piper’s stage-whisper has us all laughing as we continue down the hall to the theater room.
Piper’s stomach gives off a loud growl, letting us know it’s time to figure out dinner. The way she blushes at the sound is adorable, being hungry is nothing to be embarrassed about.
Walker grabs Piper and throws her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. Her adorable squeak of surprise gains an octave when he follows up with a gentle slap across her ass.
Sage’s cackling is abruptly cut off when I scoop her up in the same manner. I fling her over my shoulder and follow Walker out of the room, stumbling slightly when I feel her hand on my ass.
When we step into the kitchen, I tip her up, letting her body slide down my front. Putting on my best stern face, it takes every ounce of my willpower to focus on her eyes and not her tits as they go past my nose. I’m so focused on not staring that I’m not prepared for her to lean in and lick the end of my nose.
I jerk back in surprise, rubbing my nose. “Life with you two is never going to be boring, is it?”
They both start giggling. “Nope.”