My Mate Said It Clearly
Roarke
By the time Devin and I finished the shower, I was well and super hungry.
It turned out that getting soapy and wet together was not conducive to serious talks.
Devin ended up pinning me against the shower wall and filling my ass.
I loved how he took control. It was something I’d always longed for but couldn't find in anyone else.
Everyone always assumed because of my size and demeanor, I'd be the top.
As we made our way down the stairs, we heard laughing and talking in the kitchen. I stopped dead in my tracks. I recognized those voices.
Impossible. How are they here? How did they find me? I thought.
Devin paused a few steps below and turned to me with a question on his face. I must have amplified my thoughts, and he heard me. I'd need to learn to control that.
Who are they? He whispered through our bond.
My brothers. I don't know how they found me or what they are doing here. I thought back.
Devin gave me a look. Why are you worried about them? I thought you were close to your family.
I am close to my family. It's just—they’ve never come looking for me, and I never told them about you, or what happened with my lineage.
If they have a problem with any of that, I'll kick their asses. You would have died if Krispin had not done what he did, he said firmly in my mind.
He took my hand. There's only one way to find out why they’re here.
We finished coming down the stairs and entered the kitchen. Seated at the table were my three brothers, laughing and talking with Ben and Krispin.
Finding my voice, I said, "Good morning."
I smiled as they turned to look at me. Two of the three wore matching grins on their faces. Aaran kept his expression flat.
“Hallelujah! They finally did it. It's about time. You must be hungry," Ben said, standing up and motioning us to the table. “I made a ton of food. Your brothers eat a lot, Roarke.”
They blushed at his comment, and I laughed. "Try growing up with them. I had to fight for every scrap of food."
"Ah, don't be like that, runt. It toughened you up," Angus replied, standing up and walking toward Devin and me. He had a broad smile, and like always, wore his black shirt and kilt.
"My name's Angus. You must be the unlucky sod that is saddled with this one," he said with a grin, reaching his hand out in greeting to Devin.
"Devin. It’s nice to meet you," Devin replied, shaking Angus' hand, "but I think I was lucky to find Roarke."
Addison quickly stood and introduced himself to Devin, shaking his hand following Angus' lead. Aaran, on the other hand, stood examining my mate with a scowl. Without offering his hand, he simply tipped his head up and said, "I'm Aaran."
I growled low at the disrespect but was pulled from my anger by Angus, who turned to me and gripped me in a hug.
"Congratulations, brother," he whispered.
I hugged him back. Of the three, I was closest to Angus. I knew they all had my back if ever I needed anything, even Aaran. However, Angus had always been my champion against Aaran and our father.
"What are you three doing here?" I asked as I hugged Addison in greeting. I even hugged Aaran, even though I wanted to strangle him.
"You haven't called or texted us in nearly five weeks; what did you think was going to happen? Da has been going out of his mind with worry, and if Da is not happy, Father gets involved," Angus said.
"Why didn't you tell us you’d found your mate? Or at least responded to our calls or texts?" Aaran, the asshole, asked rigidly.
I hedged; I didn't want to mention my injury or how I was recovering. Luckily, Ben interrupted, giving me time to think about how to respond.
"Here, sit down. You and Devin had a busy night, and you need food," he said, placing a plate full of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast on the table.
It smelled incredible. Devin and I practically raced to sit down and devour the food.
I scooped a big helping into my mouth and groaned; it tasted as good as it smelled.
After a few moments of silently eating, I lifted my head from the plate and saw the amused smirks of everyone at the table.
Even Devin had a smirk. He whispered through our bond, The sounds you were making almost caused me to take you back upstairs.
I blushed at his thought. I looked at my brothers; they still had grins on their faces.
"Sorry, was hungry," I mumbled.
That caused everyone to laugh.
"We could tell, little brother," Angus said with a grin.
Then he suddenly looked very serious. When he got that look, it usually meant our father had done something that would affect us.
"What?" I asked, tensing.
He cleared his throat, another sign that he was uncomfortable. This was going to be bad, and I was really going to hate what he was going to say. Devin, picking up on my feelings, sat up straighter and stared at Angus.
"Since we couldn't reach you for nearly five weeks and Da was worrying, Father ordered us to find you and bring you back to Glenfinnan," he said flatly.
That couldn't be it. There had to be more. It would be as simple as calling up my dad and telling him why I was out of contact. He would understand. The way Angus looked, there was definitely more to it. He cleared his throat again.
“Spit it out, Angus.”
"Father decided the best way to stop you from your roving ways was to facilitate a mating. He promised you to Lord Finnley of the Bracara circle," he rushed out.
"No fucking way!" I yelled.
''Da was okay with that? Forcing me to mate someone I dunna even know." My brogue was becoming more pronounced as the anger surged through me.
Angus cringed. "I dunna think Da knows."
Of all the crazy things my father had done over the years, this took the cake. I loved my father, but he truly was the "lord of the manor" type. He liked to make decrees and expected everyone to follow his commands. It was one reason I was hardly ever home.
I was livid. My dragon was angry too, and he wanted to kick our sire's ass.
I looked at Devin, and I saw my rage mirrored on my mate's face.
His eyes had turned blood red, and his hands transformed into vampire claws.
He seemed to grow before my very eyes. His vampire nature exploded to the surface.
"What the fuck is it with you dragons, thinking you can force a mating?" he hissed through his fangs, obviously not forgetting what Krispin had said yesterday.
Aaran went to speak, but Devin wasn't finished.
“Roarke is mine! I will kill any who dare think to threaten my claim. So, tell your father to fuck off!" he exclaimed as he turned and stormed out of the room.
I had a feeling that if he had stayed, he would have taken off my brothers' heads. I turned to my brothers; their eyes were round with shock.
"I think my mate said it clearly. I'll be calling Da, and you three will be going home empty-handed," I said, standing up and following my mate.