Page 29 of Misbehaving With Minotaurs (Haven Ever After #8)

“ Y ou gotta be shitting me.” I stare into my nephew Alarion’s bright blue eyes, shocked at how much he’s changed since I was last home. He’s bigger than ever, almost bigger than me, packed with muscle. The same dark spots litter his broad, thick horns.

The difference is how jittery and on edge he is. He was always a quiet, slow-to-anger calf. As we stand in the forest on my property, squared off like we’re about to fight, the difference in him is stark.

He runs a hand through his chocolate waves, looking everywhere but at me .

“I don’t wanna fight with you, Uncle Nor. The ophiotaurii are doing important work and?—”

“That so?” I quirk a brow up. “‘Cause I heard they were stealing cattle and sneaking out into the human world. What could possibly be so important about that?”

He grits his jaw so tight, I swear it’ll crack.

When he lifts his chin, I suspect I won’t get anything out of him.

So far, he’s been short on detail around why he’s even hanging out at the ophiotaurii den in the first place.

That chimera breed is typically antisocial and solitary as a species.

They pick a territory and don’t venture out of it.

It’s weird how he even got mixed up with them.

They’re far more like their snakelike ancestors than their minotaur halves.

“I want you to come back to Ever with me,” I say when he doesn’t respond to my earlier comment.

Bright eyes narrow, and he shakes his head. “Naw, Nor. I’m a grown-ass male, and I don’t need babysitting in that tiny little haven. I’m not leaving, and you and Daddy can’t make me.”

“Listen to yourself,” I growl. “You sound like a petulant child. Is this really how you wanna play things? Just come back with me for a couple weeks. We’ll hang out while I’m interviewing, and if you wanna return home after that, you can. I strongly suggest a change in perspective.”

His brows knit together, his expression almost desperate, but it’s there and gone so fast I wonder if I imagined it.

“Naw,” he repeats. “I gotta go, Uncle Nor. They need me.”

“Go, then,” I say softly. “But consider my offer even if it’s just for a short time. And consider that Bishop Rygold’s gonna come out of his stone sleep in a day or two, and word has it he’s gonna rain hells down on your crew for whatever the fuck they’re doing.”

“Wouldn’t happen if we had a good keeper,” he grumbles.

“We’ve never been able to keep a good one,” I remind him. “Not everyone’s cut out for these wide-open spaces and all the quiet. I think you gotta grow up here, and nobody’s ever tested positive and come back home.”

“I know.” He turns from me, giving me a view of his broad back and long, powerful horns. “Good to see you. Travel safe.”

I stand in utter silence as he stalks through the trees, crossing the dappled grove where my statues stand. He doesn’t bother to look at them as he passes. It’s disrespectful, and I’d shout about it, but all I’ve done this morning is shout at him.

Last night with Cath was perfect. Beyond perfect. This morning, not so much. This shit with Alarion started my day badly. I can’t help my nephew if he doesn’t want it, and apparently he and my brother aren’t even on speaking terms.

I lift my comm watch to call my sibling and chat about the Alarion convo, but unfortunately, our call devolves into a one-sided screaming match with him shouting and me waiting for him to calm down enough to talk about it.

By the time I’m free to ring Rip Shorthorn, I’ve got a headache building behind my eyes.

Catherine’s sleeping in, so hopefully I’ll be done with this family maintenance craziness by the time she’s up. I miss the days of my father being around to manage Alarion. They always had a special relationship, and when he died, it tore our family up.

Rip picks up on the first ring. “Longhorn, get somewhere private, if you would.”

Fuuuuuuck.

I look to make sure nobody’s around, although nobody would be, not out here.

“Listen,” I start. “I spoke with Alarion just now and?—”

Rip cuts in, “No offense, old friend, but your dumbass nephew ain’t an issue I’d touch with a ten-foot pole. I’m calling about the Punishers.”

I cross my arms and shift from one foot to the other, brows scrunching. “I’m listenin’. ”

Rip pauses for a moment, then clears his throat. “I’d deny this ‘til my last breath if asked, but I’m finally considerin’ retirement. I haven’t fully decided, but if I do, I’ll recommend the Punishers bring you home to take over, assuming you’d want that.”

My mouth goes dry as a ball drops in the pit of my stomach.

Oh gods.

Double triple quadruple fucking shit.

“I…” I can’t manage to find a single godsdamned word.

“I know I said I’d die before I retire,” he continues, “but you know how grueling the pace of coaching is. I’ve got a new grandcalf on the way, and, honestly, I want more time with my grands.”

“Keep me posted,” is the only response I can manage. “I never let myself hope this role would open up, and I’m looking at other opportunities as we speak.”

He’s quiet for a moment. “Understood, Manorin. I’ll let you know when I make my final decision, but, again, between us, I’m pretty well decided.”

We chat for another moment, but when we sign off, I stand in the forest and stare across the winding gulch into the distance.

This is my dream. Has been my dream since I first left Pine Gulch.

But Catherine’s never leaving Ever, and I’d never ask her to.

Not to mention this shit with Alarion is gonna come to a boiling point. If I was around more I could help my brother with him, maybe get him out from under the thumb of the Sidewinders and whatever the fuck they’re doing.

And yet this opportunity’s never coming back around, either. I’ve got one chance to take over my dream team, and this is probably it. Staring at the rolling hills, I close my eyes as sunshine warms my face. But all I can see in my mind is my Sunshine, my Catherine .

I can’t keep this from her. It’s a conversation I don’t relish happening. I can’t imagine taking a job with the Punishers and picking that over her, but I also can’t imagine just saying no without looking at all the options and maybe finding some happy medium.

Grumbling at the way the gods are meddling in my life right now, I return to the Welcome Inn and our room. My Sunshine’s just waking, smiling sleepily up at me from the tousled sheets.

Better rip this Band-Aid off.

She throws the sheets aside and spreads her legs wide for me, shooting me a sultry smile. “Morning, Nor. Want to wake me up with that big tongue?”

I sink onto the edge of the bed and take her hand. “We need to talk, Cath.”