Chapter Seven #2
Theo’s brother.
There was no paperwork that existed showing that the ex-unseelie king Jasperkin had a second child.
Bramley’s name was the only child attributed to Jasperkin.
Knowing Theo came from royal unseelie blood didn’t change anything for Dario.
In his very long existence Dario had dealt with both the seelie and unseelie numerous times.
In fact Dario often thought it was easier to deal with the unseelie.
Some myths and legends were based on truth.
The unseelie often didn’t play by any rules. But at least the unseelie motives were usually easy to see. It was seelie, especially the seelie court, that often were hard to navigate with. The pitfalls were massive with how secretive the seelie were.
It would be best for Theo for no one to learn of his heritage.
Being newly bonded meant that Alek and his mates hadn’t officially taken over the chosen tasks as Alek’s fathers were still performing the duties. While Dario and his mates had time until they needed to take over the chosen duties, time wasn’t on their side either.
Fergie made a right onto the street that Dario hoped that they would call home. They passed Evian’s house and rode farther down the street to the biggest house on the block.
Glancing over his shoulder, Dario grinned seeing that Theo and Wylder both nearly had their noses pressed to the window of the SUV.
“This is it,” Dario commented unnecessarily.
“It’s so big,” Theo whispered.
Aurelia bounced and clapped. “So many rooms to manage. I’ll need a full staff.”
Theo kissed the top of the brownie’s head.
Dario loved seeing Theo dote on the newest members of their family. Theo was loving and kind. He didn’t like to make demands for himself but Theo was already speaking up for what Aurelia and Bo needed.
“I can’t see!” Bo grumbled. “I need my troll form.”
“No!” Wylder snatched Bo up and lifted him. “You have to stay small here. No one can see your troll form.”
Bo huffed but was looking out the window as Fergie parked in front of the big house.
“Hey! Ethan’s here!” Theo said, waving madly at his current roommate.
They had a fun little surprise for Theo. After the little shifter had disappeared, he’d missed out on some huge changes. This was going to be shocking to their little mate.
Dario opened the door and the others followed suit, with Mitch helping Theo and Wylder out from the third row.
Theo’s eyes were wide as he clutched Aurelia to his chest. “Ethan?”
“Hey, buddy,” Ethan greeted with a warm smile. “How are you doing? We were worried about you.”
Theo glanced back and forth from Ethan to Evian and to where they were holding hands.
Dario stepped up behind Theo as he just stared at his roommate. “What’s going on?” Theo finally asked.
Ethan shrugged as he laughed. “I should thank you for introducing me to my mate.”
“Mate?” Theo repeated. “Evian is your mate?”
Ethan dropped Evian’s hands as he strode forward. “He is. And you have four mates! That is amazing.”
“Wait!” Theo spluttered. “You know about mates?”
“My best friend growing up was a shifter. I’ve known about the supernatural since I was a little kid. I sort of figured you were something, but you are so shy I didn’t know if I should ask.”
“You know!” Theo bounced forward. “I don’t have to hide it from you.”
“You don’t,” Ethan assured him. “But I came to check out your new house with you.”
Theo stopped bouncing. “That means that we won’t be roommates anymore.”
“It’s okay.” Ethan patted Theo’s shoulders. “We’re something better than roommates now.”
“Friends?” Theo offered.
“We’ve always been friends. We will always be friends. But now we’re family,” Ethan declared.
“Family?” Theo turned toward Evian. “We are!”
Evian nodded. “I am very happy that you’re home safe and sound. Even if your disappearing act did allow me to meet my mate.”
“Wow,” Theo drawled.
“And who is this cutie?” Ethan asked, chucking Aurelia gently under the chin.
“This is Aurelia. She’s our family’s brownie.” He waved Wylder forward. “And Bo. He’s a gnome now but when I met him, he was a giant troll. Like so big.”
“Sounds like you had quite the adventure,” Ethan commented.
“I guess I did. I’ll tell you about it later.” Theo looked back to the house in front of them.
“Now.” Ethan threw an arm around Theo’s shoulder. “What’s this that I hear about you being worried about moving into this gorgeous house?”
“Oh!” Then leaned into his friend. “I was scared if we didn’t room together, then we wouldn’t still be friends. But now we’re family!”
“And I’m moving in with Evian just down the street. We can still walk to class together,” Ethan suggested.
“I told you that Ethan would be fine with it.” Wylder nudged Theo’s shoulder.
Dario allowed the boys to have a moment. Joining Evian and Alek, he nodded toward the house. “Thanks for grabbing the keys for us.”
“No problem,” Evian replied. “My friend said to take your time. They know who you are. They’re willing to make any construction changes that you might want. It’s a new build so there shouldn’t be much needed.”
“We can change what we want,” Alek said. “We do have a brownie and Aurelia’s magic will benefit our household.”
“I can’t believe Theo came back with a brownie and a troll,” Evian stated. “Dad didn’t even start adding to the family this quick.”
“Theo is a natural at it,” Dario remarked. “And don’t forget that you’re now added into our little family. Theo and Ethan are the best of friends.”
“Yeah,” Evian agreed. “I was having trouble talking Ethan into moving in with me until I told him about the house. He didn’t want to leave Theo behind to handle living on his own.”
“Come on,” Wylder urged. “Let’s check out the inside.”
“I would like to be placed in the garden, right over there,” Bo said. “There is much to check out.”
Wylder jogged over to place Bo where he wanted as Wylder carried Aurelia toward the front door.
Mitch was keeping a close eye on Wylder so Dario followed behind Theo and Ethan as Alek and Evian brought up the rear. Dario wanted to see the look on Theo’s face when the doors were opened.
“I’ve got this.” Evian sauntered to the front door with a smile on his face.
Of course Evian had been there to walk Dario through the house before Theo had been taken when their biggest concern had been where they would live. Now that seemed like the last thing they should be worried about but Dario still wanted all of his mates in one place.
He didn’t know how he would handle Theo returning to campus when Dario wouldn’t be there to watch over him. Although Wylder, Ethan, and Josh would be with Dario’s boy.
Evian unlocked the door and pushed the double doors open and bowed dramatically.
Alek snorted a laugh.
Dario was watching Theo though as the little shifter stepped tentatively inside.
The doors opened, revealing gorgeous pale green walls with a pretty dark cherry table and massive mirror. The glistening white floors gleamed in the sunlight from the open doors. And a chandelier hung from the high ceiling.
Theo’s breath caught before he smiled slowly.
Dario stepped up behind his mate, placing his palm on Theo’s lower back. “It’s an open-concept house where the living room, kitchen, dining area, and study are all visible to one another.”
At his urging, Theo walked farther into the house.
“Down! Down!” Aurelia chanted.
Theo bent and placed Aurelia down and she was off and running.
“It’s so big,” Theo said in awe.
“There’s a master suite that is even bigger than the one in my apartment. We’ll have a custom-made bed so that all of us can fit comfortably. Plus, eight bedrooms. We’ll each have our own space but we have plenty of room for our family to grow as well,” Dario explained.
“I like it,” Theo whispered. “It…feels right.”
Dario had thought the same. He hugged Theo to his chest. “You can take time to think about it. We don’t have to decide today.”
“Damn!” Wylder practically yelled as he raced up the stairs. “This is awesome.”
Looking up, Theo was laughing. “Are you sure about that? I think Wylder is excited.”
“But it is a decision that we make together,” Dario assured him.
Theo nodded. “I know that. I want to do what’s best for everyone.”
“Sometimes you’re going to have to be selfish in this relationship with all of us and put your needs first,” Dario told him.
“But—” Theo didn’t like being the one to make big choices.
“Tell me what you think,” Dario requested. “We all will do the same.”
“Okay.” Theo blew out a breath as he turned.
“I like that it’s closer to campus. I can even run home some afternoons for lunch.
The downstairs is very nice. I can be in the living room with you close in the kitchen and Alek in the study with all his books.
I can see the back porch and it’s nice. Big.
Maybe Wylder and Mitch will take off their shirts and work out for me. ”
“Let’s take a look upstairs now. I think you’ll really like the shower,” Dario teased.
“Is it big enough for two?” Theo questioned, a little smirk on his face.
“It’s big enough for five,” Dario corrected.
“Show me!” Theo tugged on Dario’s arm.
* * * * *
Alek
This was such a bad idea. Alek had no idea how Mitch had talked him into agreeing to this madness.
“It will be fine,” Mitch said for the third time.
“He’s going to cut his own hand off,” Alek argued.
“He will not. You saw Wylder fight. He’s good but he needs a weapon to go up against the creatures that we will face,” Mitch said.
“Wylder can protect Theo,” Alek reminded his demon warrior. “We weren’t counting Dario as a soldier but his dragon was fierce.”
“And we were lucky that he wasn’t stuck in his other form,” Mitch pointed out. “Dario can’t always transform. It’s not safe for him. And in some realms, he will be the target. Dragon scales bring in big money.”