Chapter 6
Aries
Nix rolled his eyes at Aries before tilting his head to the side.
As discreetly as possible, Aries shook his head. He knew that whatever Nix was trying to get him to do would only lead to Aries getting in trouble. His Daddy hardly took his attention away from Aries. It was nice knowing that Vin loved him so much that Aries was his priority, all the time.
He knew that his family loved him. Aries was beyond lucky that his parents and brothers were so supportive and encouraging. It had been hard growing up with a single mom of triplets. He’d had to share everything, always. Now he had all of Vin and would never have to share him.
Nix made his eyes big as he pressed his lips together.
Aries made the same face. He was not going to get in trouble. Or hurt like last year when they’d literally fallen down a mountain.
“What are you doing?” Zany leaned into Aries’s side, whispering.
Aries cut his gaze to Vin then over to his friend. “Never trust that look.”
Zany snorted. “I wouldn’t trust Nix for any reason.”
“Okay, boy?” Vin ran a hand down Aries’s back.
“Fine. Can I show Zany my hockey figures?” Since they’d been a gift after the last game, Aries hadn’t gotten to show off his new toys.
“Why don’t you bring them out here?” Vin offered. “You two can play while we wait for the food to be done.”
Aries looked around. They were all there.
Evan and Nix shared a wide two-seater wood chair across from Aries and Vin.
Zany was on the padded bench beside Aries, with Robbs next to him, and Marlin beside Robbs.
Across from them Gem, Thomas, and Lithis sat on a bench with Luka lounging between Gem’s legs.
Dinner was on the grill with Thomas, Lithis, and Marlin taking control of that.
Aries leaned closer to his Daddy. Not that he had much chance of the others not overhearing them when they were all paranormal. “It’s okay?”
“For you to play?” Vin whispered his question. “These are our friends. It’s up to you. Only if you feel comfortable.”
Aries glanced around again. He knew that Nix and Evan wouldn’t even bat an eye.
Neither would Gem, Luka, Robbs or Zany. Zany might even play with him.
It was the others that Aries didn’t know well.
Or well enough to be comfortable being little.
And if Aries played, he would regress. That was just how much he loved it.
But these were their friends.
Okay, he could do this. “I’ll be right back,” Aries told Vin.
“I’m proud of you,” Vin said softly before giving Aries a kiss to his temple.
Instead of responding, Aries scrambled off the chair toward the back door. He’d left the hockey action figures on the coffee table that morning. Aries grabbed a box that the groceries had been delivered in the day before and started to place his guys inside.
“Finally!”
Aries screeched as Nix popped up next to him.
“Shh!” Nix covered Aries’s mouth with his hand.
“What are you doing?” Aries’s words came out muffled.
“Are you going to be quiet?” Nix asked.
Aries nodded.
Nix removed his hand. The look in his eyes was really concerning. Nix wanted to cause chaos.
“What are you doing?” Aries questioned.
“Trying to get you alone,” Nix replied.
“Why?” Aries asked suspiciously.
Nix rocked back on his heels. “Did you see the tree over where we’re all sitting?”
“Yes, that’s why we’re sitting there. The shade,” Aries said.
“And did you see the mangos in those trees?”
“I did.” Aries was starting to get it.
“And the ones right over Gem?” Nix was grinning now.
Aries giggled before slapping a hand over his mouth.
“Come on,” Nix coaxed. “It would be hilarious.”
Aries dropped his hand. “What if we hit Luka instead?” He really liked Luka and Aries didn’t want Luka mad at him. They were family after all.
“There is no way that Gem would allow anything to happen to his boy,” Nix said.
That was true. “How are we going to do this?”
“I left the back door open,” Nix said. “All we have to do is shift and fly into the tree.”
“We’re going to get into trouble for this,” Aries warned.
“It will be worth it.” Nix was bouncing on his toes. “Remember how smug he was telling Vin and Evan everything we did last summer? About the mudslide. He warned them!”
That was true. Aries had been lectured until Vin was almost blue in the face. Or however that saying went.
“This is the best revenge. No one is really going to be hurt. We get to shift. Come on!”
“Why do you even need me?” Aries questioned. This was something that Nix could do on his own.
“Here’s the thing,” Nix hedged.
Aries scowled.
“If I do it by myself, then I for sure will get in trouble. And Evan is diabolical sometimes when he comes up with my punishments. I can also guarantee it won’t be a funishment.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“If you play a prank with me, then I’ll only get into half as much trouble,” Nix said.
Aries had to give Nix credit. He was crafty and smart. “Okay.”
Nix’s eyes widened. “Okay?”
“I’ll do it,” Aries agreed. Gem did deserve it. And Aries did like having fun with Nix. Surely at least this time he wouldn’t get hurt.
“Yes!” Nix pumped his fist. “We need to hurry. I told Evan I was going to the bathroom and your Daddy won’t wait too long to come check on you.”
Aries kicked off his flip-flops. “Let’s do this then.”
Nix was with him as he yanked his tank over his head.
It didn’t take long for them to get naked and shift into their fruit bat forms. Aries hopped over his clothes then onto the coffee table. He wanted to play with his toys but after this Vin was going to be annoyed with him. It was still going to be funny.
Nix hopped closer and flapped his wings.
Here they went. Aries launched himself off the coffee table and flew around the room, gaining speed.
Nix flew beside him.
Aries loved this. Loved shifting. Loved connecting with his brother in their other forms.
Nix flapped his wings again, heading out of the living room, and Aries followed behind him. Nix made a cackling sound that was his laugh in shifted form and Aries shrieked at him.
They flew fast out of the house.
“What the hell!” Gem yelled when Aries and Nix swooped down and nearly smacked him.
Aries darted for a high limb to get away from Gem as he waved his hands over his head, protecting himself.
Missing the limb that he’d intended, Aries crashed into a larger one.
Nix landed on the branch directly over Gem and began to drop mangos.
Gem cursed.
Aries squealed and batted his wings. There was a sharp prick to one of his wings. No! Oh no! His wing! He screeched and fought against the vines as Nix dropped another mango from high.
“Hey!” Gem jumped up and caught the mango. “Nix! I know that was you! Get down here!”
Nix turned to him and froze.
Aries chattered for help. He was stuck. In a dang tree. And his wing was bent at a weird angle. It hurt! He cried out louder. He needed his Daddy! Aries wanted Vin!
Nix
Perfect execution! Nix hopped from his perch in triumph and turned toward Aries and froze. Uh, what was Aries doing?
Aries chattered at him.
Was Aries trapped? That didn’t look good at all. The way that Aries was shrieking and screeching sounded bad. Awful. This was bad…very bad! Nix was going to get blamed for this. He just knew it.
He flew down to land in front of Vin, shifting quickly. “Hey, Vin.”
“You little shit!” Gem threw the mango at Nix.
Nix darted away. It would have been funny if he couldn’t still hear Aries freaking out. Nix held up a hand toward Gem to hold off further assault.
Vin was staring up at the tree. “Aries?”
“Yeah.” Nix winced. “I think he’s stuck.”
“Stuck?” Vin’s eyes flashed red.
Oh, that was a little scary. Nix had only seen Vin mad on ice and that was when he was protecting Aries.
“What do you mean he’s stuck?” Vin demanded.
“Well, see…” How did he put it? “I think Aries missed his landing spot. He kind of got tangled in the branches.”
“Well untangle him!” Vin demanded.
Nix looked up at the tree. “He’s really high up there.”
Vin growled.
“Nix,” Evan said. “Help your brother.”
“I’ll try.” Nix shrugged and shifted again.
He flew up the tree, making sure to be more careful than the first time.
He had not studied the tree enough. It sure was leafy and full of sharp branch ends.
Maybe he should have planned this prank better.
If Aries got hurt, Nix was never going to hear the end of it. Again!
It wasn’t hard to find Aries since his little brother hadn’t quieted. Had Aries got himself more tangled?
Nix couldn’t shift back into his human form up here. There was no way. So how exactly was he supposed to help? Closing the distance, Nix clung to the branch he stood on with his claws.
Aries stopped struggling before giving the saddest sound that Nix had ever heard him make.
Being careful not to get tangled too, Nix brushed their heads together. He’d have to figure something out. Nix needed thumbs to untangle his brother, not claws. Backing away, Nix flew out of the tree again.
Everyone was standing now as they stared up at the tree.
Landing, Nix shifted again. Wow. That made him dizzy. Luckily Evan wrapped an arm around Nix’s waist. “I can’t get him.”
“What do you mean?” Vin demanded.
“He’s like really stuck.” Nix pointed above his head.
“I can fly up there and try.” Gem stepped forward.
“You need thumbs to get him out of that mess,” Nix informed them.
Everyone turned to look at Vin.
Looking near panic, Vin growled. “What do we do?”
“How are you at climbing trees, vampire?” Nix asked.
Vin growled and his eyes flashed red again.
Nix pushed back into Evan. Surely his Daddy would protect him.
“You are in so much trouble,” Evan warned quietly into his ear.
Yeah, that was fair.
Vin
He couldn’t believe that he was doing this. Vin was too damn old to be climbing trees. Hell, he was worried that the branches of the mango tree wouldn’t even hold his weight.
“I can do it,” Gem offered.
“I’m smaller than you. I’ll go,” Zany said.
“I’ll do it. I weigh less,” Robbs declared.