Three

 

Alasdair and Lysander slipped away into the living area not long after the little talk and left me with Grayson.

“They’re old friends, they’re probably just discussing their next poker game,” Grayson said as he handed me a sandwich.

I couldn’t ignore the feeling that they were discussing me - my failings, perhaps.

“They must have had a shock when they found out the great Alasdair Kerrigan had been given a made wolf as his lifebond,” I said wryly.

Grayson wrinkled his nose and laughed a hollow fake laugh.

“It wasn’t what we had expected. He waited some six hundred or more years, but once he got to know you and learned about your stubbornness and fire, he was smitten.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“And how did he find out those things?”

Grayson looked away. “We might have stalked you for a couple of weeks and asked around about you. We trust the goddess did the right thing, but there was no harm in seeing exactly who Alasdair was going to spend the rest of his life with.”

“She didn’t give me any warning or chance to know what the fuck was going on. I didn’t even know there was a chance I’d have a lifebond!”

“We’re not a traditional pack, but we’re protective over each other. And that includes you now,” Grayson said with a shrug.

My wolf seemed perfectly satisfied with that answer. They were simply looking out for one of their own. I, my non-wolf part of myself, was less convinced.

Alasdair and Lysander emerged a few minutes later with big smiles on their faces.

“You do know how to play poker, don’t you, Niko?” Lysander asked me.

I hadn’t played poker since the ritual, and then it had been strip poker. Alasdair and Lysander looked like the types to take poker very seriously, and, by all accounts, I really didn’t want to upset Grayson’s mom.

“Maybe. I played some Hold ‘em in my teens,” I said cautiously.

“I’ll remind you of the rules, don’t worry about it,” Alasdair said with a grin.

I saw Grayson giving me an ‘I told you so’ look out the corner of my eye.

“You’ve been officially invited to the next get together.” Lysander turned to Grayson. “Your uncles will be there.”

“They’re going to love Niko.”

“They are not doing anything to him without both my and Niko’s consent,” Alasdair said with a soft growl.

“They’re alchemists. They love poking and prodding Dad and Alasdair. They’ve given up poking Mom after she set my uncle’s hair on fire.”

“For the fourth time,” Lysander added.

“Have his eyebrows grown back yet?” Grayson asked.

“He had some tonic that made them grow back within the hour - he came prepared,” Lysander said with a grin.

So, Grayson’s mom set people in her pack on fire. This was going to be a memorable night.

“Everyone will be in the cottage down in Cornwall at the end of the month. We’ll see you there?” Lysander said as he pulled Alasdair into a hug.

“We wouldn’t miss it,” Alasdair said.

That was my cue to leave. The weight of the new information imposed on me and felt like too much to handle. It wasn’t the revelations as much as the questions that ate at me as I walked out to the car. There was so much I didn’t know.

 

 

 

“Tabs and Misha are in town for a couple of nights. You’re coming out with us, right?” Grayson said as he looked up from his phone.

I looked between him and Alasdair, waiting for someone to explain who Tabs and Misha were.

“Tabs is Tabitha, my sister, and Misha’s her girlfriend,” Grayson said with a smile.

Alasdair pulled a face that wrinkled his nose and formed creases around his eyes. He was not keen on Gray’s plan.

“When was the last time you went out and relaxed?” Grayson asked.

Alasdair leaned back against the sofa and draped his arm over my shoulders.

“It’ll do Niko good to meet them, so he knows some more people at the big family get together…”

“I’m up for it,” I said.

The gods only knew the last time I’d been out and relaxed with people. There had been Lyall, but given he was a barman and working at the time, it didn’t really count.

“We’ll meet them at eight. It’s Misha’s first time in Galway, so we’ll have to give her a good time,” Grayson said.

I turned to Alasdair.

“And you, relax and wear casual clothing for a change,” I said, gently tugging on the collar of his starched shirt under his pristine suit.

He narrowed his eyes a little. “We still need to get you fitted for some suits.”

I shrugged. “Looks like we won’t have time before we’re back in work. Shame.”

“I’m sure Saoirse would give us an afternoon to get you suitable attire,” he said with a predatory edge to his sharp smile.

“So, should I give you guys some room…?” Grayson asked.

“Are we eating with the girls?” Alasdair asked.

“No, they’re getting food before they meet us. Are we ordering in?”

“Indian,” I said.

Alasdair shrugged and turned the tv on.

“Indian, it is,” Grayson said.

I leaned against Alasdair and smiled at the solidity of him and the comfort that came with his closeness. The idea of a lifelong relationship was still terrifying, but I was slowly coming around to it. He stroked the nape of my neck and brought a small smile to my face. The goddess thought we were perfect for each other. Lysander’s words flickered through the back of my mind, and the quiet peaceful moment faded as I thought back to my shadow magic. The shadow god was the opposite and thus enemy of the moon goddess, what would it mean if he was the one my mother had done the deal with?