Chapter Four
Vin
The house was quiet as Vin made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen. He loved early mornings where he could prepare Aries’s schedule for the day. It didn’t matter if it was a game day, practice, or a rare day off, Vin always had a plan. It helped ease the constant anxiety he carried.
Upon waking, Vin always had to check that Aries was still asleep by his side and everything that had happened the last few months wasn’t some fevered dreams or a concussed episode.
All the years that he’d played professional hockey, Vin had received a lot of injuries. It wouldn’t be a shock to learn that he’d made up Aries as some fucked-up way for his brain to deal with an injury. Or to help with the absolute loneliness that had stalked him.
Yet, every morning Aries was there in bed, sleeping against Vin’s chest.
Vin started the coffee machine before gazing out the window above the sink. More snow had fallen. As a vampire, Vin didn’t really feel the weather; a trick that came in handy playing hockey, but he knew that his boy would be freezing.
His boy.
Aries was real and not some figment of his imagination.
Vin nearly turned and went back up the stairs to check on Aries once again. It was getting ridiculous with how possessive Vin was becoming over his boy. Vin didn’t like Aries to ever be out of sight. Part of his vampire nature, yes, but there was more to it.
In the past, stories of his kind had been shared; romantic tales passed from generation to generation.
Beloved. It was something out of a book.
Or a modern movie. The word was said in a hushed tone, but it was said.
Vin had never witnessed a vampire meeting and claiming his beloved.
Not that it mattered. In his heart, he knew that was what Aries was to him.
He gripped the edge of the counter when his knees went weak as the implications hit him. If Vin registered Aries as his beloved, they could never be separated. The government considered registering a beloved the same as a marriage.
Was it too soon?
They weren’t even officially living together.
Vin planned to remedy that and ask to move into Aries’s apartment with him as soon as they got home. Vin had only waited to bring it up because Aries had been stressed about the holiday with his family and considering what to share about their relationship.
He’d considered moving Aries in with him, but they already spent all their time at Aries’s apartment. Truthfully, it felt like a fresh start for Vin. His existence, including the apartment, was the old Vin. The sad and depressed Vin before Aries had come bouncing into his life.
Living with Aries was all Vin cared about. Making it official. He didn’t give a damn where that happened. Aries had worked hard in making his apartment a warm and safe space for them both. It just made more sense to move his stuff in with his boy.
The coffee machine beeped, catching his attention. Vin turned as Evan shuffled into the kitchen.
His old friend looked barely awake as he made his way to the coffee machine. Evan frowned at the full carafe before lifting his face.
“Good morning,” Vin greeted.
Evan grunted as he reached for a mug in the cabinet above.
Vin waited, watching in amusement as Evan poured two cups of the strong brew, passing one over to him before drinking deeply. Half the mug was empty by the time Evan sighed and looked over at him. “Morning.”
His laugh filled the room. “Long night?”
“Good night,” Evan replied with a smirk.
“I heard.” Vin did not want to talk about hearing Nix’s screams and begging for half the night.
“Sorry.” Evan shrugged his shoulder. “I don’t have many visitors here so I never had the rooms soundproofed.”
“It might be a good idea for the future,” Vin suggested.
“I’ll call a contractor after the holidays,” Evan said. “Especially if Nix keeps inviting his family.”
“The boys are close,” Vin allowed.
Evan nodded, then drained the rest of his coffee. He poured himself a refill before he darted his gaze around nervously.
Vin was barely half through with his own coffee and had no idea what was going on. “Problem?” he questioned.
“Not really,” Evan replied. “But have you spent much time with Gem?”
“No. A few hours. He calls Aries a lot,” Vin shared.
“He calls Nix a lot too, but I mostly know him by reputation,” Evan told him.
Ah, and Evan and Nix’s relationship was pretty new. “I’d say he’s reasonable with a healthy dose of overprotectiveness for his brothers.”
Evan glared at him from over the rim of his mug.
Vin chuckled. “It’ll be fine, man. The one you really need to worry about is their mom. She’s a cross between Aries and Nix with a dash of bossy affection. I swear that woman has never heard the word no in her life. She even adopted Robbs and calls him after games now.”
“Robbs?” Evan choked on his coffee. “Our friend Robbs? The short-tempered and snarky hellhound?”
“That’s the one. They met when she came to check on Aries after the hit that sent him through the glass.”
Evan winced. “It’s a miracle he wasn’t seriously injured.”
The growl escaped before Vin could control it. “Yeah.”
“But he’s fine? No lasting aftereffects?”
“He wasn’t down long. Thankfully, with his shifter genes, Aries bounced back. His mom and dad still came and checked on him.”
“And adopted Robbs.” Evan laughed.
“It’s what she does,” Vin said. “She texted me this morning to let me know that their connecting flight is delayed.”
That brought a frown to Evan’s face. “Nix will be disappointed. He was looking forward to spending time with her.”
“I asked if it would be easier for them to cancel their trip, but she wouldn’t hear it.
She, and I quote, informed me that she would be spending Christmas Day with her boys, all five of her boys, if they had to drive.
They should be here after dinner tonight.
The boys will have all Christmas Day with her. ”
Evan paled. “Five.”
Lifting his mug into a toast, Vin grinned. “Welcome to the family, man.”
“That’s…” Evan cleared his throat. “Unexpected.”
“Didn’t Nix give you any kind of heads-up about his family?”
“My boy,” Evan said seriously, “tends to exaggerate things.”
“Not this time,” Vin assured his old friend.
“At least it seems I’ve got a few more hours before I meet the parents,” Evan commented.
“Gem should be here after breakfast,” Vin said. “What are the plans for today?”
Evan’s eyes lit up. “I thought we would challenge the triplets to a friendly game of hockey in the backyard.”
“Friendly?” Vin asked with obvious skepticism lacing his words. His own boy would never lace up just for fun. He didn’t believe Nix would either.
“I think the young ones might need a reminder of why we have action figures,” Evan replied.
Vin laughed so hard he needed to set his mug down. He'd been embarrassed to see that Nix had bought Aries his old hockey figure from back when he played in the NHL until he saw that Evan’s had also been included. It was a good gift and Aries had been excited.
“I love the way you think,” Vin admitted. “I’m in.”
“Great.” Evan drained his second cup of coffee. “It’s probably time to start breakfast.”
Vin hesitated.
“Is there something going on with you?” Evans asked when Vin froze.
“No, yes.” Vin huffed. “Maybe.”
“What is it?” Evan asked softly. “You know you can talk to me about anything. Is everything okay between you and Aries? I’ve never seen you so happy.”
“Everything is great between us,” Vin said quickly.
“Then?” Evan asked.
“How much have you told Nix about your dragon?”
“A lot.” Evan shrugged. “It gets easier the longer we’re together. If it comes up naturally.”
“This was a big trip for the two of you. He saw your other form.”
Evan nodded. “Yeah.”
Okay, Vin needed to stop fucking around. He just needed to get the words out. “I think Aries is my beloved.”
Instantly, there was a smile on Evan’s face. He didn’t even look surprised.
“You knew,” Vin accused.
“I suspected,” Evan said. “We all did. You're different with him.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“Maybe not,” Evan agreed. “But he had you wrapped around his little finger before you had even met. You used to follow his career.”
“He was an upcoming rookie sensation. I knew the Vikings were looking at him,” Vin defended.
“Uh-huh,” Evan said. “And how did your first meeting with him go?”
“I thought we were making breakfast for the boys.” Vin changed the subject.
Evan chuckled, closing the distance. He pulled Vin into a rough hug, pounding on his back.
Vin grumbled but hugged his old friend back.
“I’m happy for you,” Evan whispered.
“Thanks,” Vin returned. Now he just needed to figure out how to tell his boy.
* * * * *
Aries
He could hear his Daddy and Evan in the kitchen as the scent of bacon wafted through the house. Aries nearly made a beeline for the food, but this was his chance. Sneaking down the hall, Aries hurried to the back of the first floor where the master bedroom was located.
Aries hadn’t seen inside the room where Evan and Nix were staying, but Vin had pointed it out when he’d given Aries a tour the day before.
Reaching the closed door, Aries debated on knocking.
There was a small chance that his Daddy and Evan were distracted enough by making breakfast that they wouldn’t hear, but Aries didn’t want to take the chance.
As quietly as he could, Aries turned the knob and pushed the door open a few inches.
He peeked around the door to see if Nix was awake.
There was a lump in the bed which had to be his brother. Nix had always liked to curl his knees under him with all the blankets covering his entire body and head. It appeared that it hadn’t changed since they’d been apart.
Aries pushed the door open enough to squeeze through the crack. He quietly closed the door behind him. On silent feet, Aries crept across the room.
“Nix?” he hissed once he reached the bed.
The lump didn’t move.