Chapter 31
It was early in the day, just past nine in the morning, as the boys loaded into Jackson’s car, Princess Bandit in tow.
Tonight was the full moon. It was no guarantee Eddie would experience his first shift, but a poolside barbecue lunch would be a fun consolation.
The plan was to head over today, Friday.
The following morning would be reserved for recovery if need be, the first shift was infamously the hardest. If Eddie didn’t change then it was just an excuse to have a walk through the grounds with his lovely boyfriends.
Then the group would head back after lunch on Sunday.
Hakeem’s family has a longer travel time, so they would arrive just in time for lunch.
Eddie’s family home was an hour and a half from the heart of Solomon City itself, on the outskirts of the city.
The area was often referred to as rural Solomon, but most people called it the rich part of town.
The area was so vastly different from the metropolitan atmosphere of the city it could be seen as its own town.
Hakeem was told he could invite Charlie as well.
They said they had plans this weekend and that the cafe would be in good hands with the remaining staff.
They seemed oddly giddy and excited about their plans but refused to elaborate when asked.
Hakeem was only feeling mildly guilty about taking the time off, something he was getting better at.
Bernard and Oswald had their own romantic weekend planned beforehand so the boys made plans for them to come over at a later date.
Jackson had extended the invitation to Wendy as well, who declined for her own weekend getaway plans with the tall, dark and handsome suitor she was with during the solstice.
She had told Jackson very little about her mystery man, which he assumed was fair for how dodgy he had been about Hakeem and Eddie.
She did bombard him with congratulation texts after the good news though, so he knew she wasn’t mad.
The drive to the LaLune manor goes smoothly.
Jackson had gotten a new S.U.V for the trip-if only to give Eddie more legroom.
Music blared as the group barrels down the highway, the boys either singing or humming along, windows down to feel the wind tousle their hair.
Princess was ornery about being buckled into a car seat, which wouldn’t have been an issue if she didn’t fight like a bat out of hell to avoid a cat carrier.
She was way too excitable to be trusted to roam freely in a vehicle racing through the outskirts of Solomon.
The car seat is, of course, pink, chosen by Wendy by the grace of Jackson’s credit card.
It did mean she could enjoy being handed snacks the boys had packed for her.
Everyday this little raccoon seemed more animated than the last.
Jackson pulls up to a large silver gate, a full moon between the two doors with a set of howling wolves on either side, both images made of twisted metal. “Very on the nose, don’t you think?” He chuckles at the imagery before him.
From the back seat Eddie, who is on Princess Bandit duty since it seemed no one else could calm her long enough to be buckled in, rolls his eyes whilst smirking. “Says the vampire who uses shadow magic.”
Jackson gasps in mock shock as Hakeem stifles a laugh from the passenger seat, “Excuse you! The technical term is Umbramancy. And technically until my heart stops beating I am an elf with vampiric properties. Isn’t that right, Hunny Bun?”
Hakeem is stifling a laugh with a hand over his mouth, a silent chuckle shaking his shoulders as the gate opens for the group to proceed, “Technically, you’re correct.
” He laughs through the answer. Eddie and Jackson simply smile and chuckle to themselves, enjoying the sight of Hakeem’s infamous cheek filling smile.
The LaLune Manor is surrounded by vast fields, the idea that it’s only an hour and a half east from Solomon City feels surreal when all the buildings of stone and steel are replaced with greenery.
There are a few other cars parked around the grand fountain in front of the house.
The mid spring air is still cool early in the day.
With the sun shining so brightly the weather promised to be perfect for a barbecue by the pool.
The group is greeted by household staff and a swarm of Eddie’s family.
His eldest sister Amelia is with her mate Courtney, his brother Michael with Meghan.
Sarah pulls up the rear, hand in hand with someone the group didn’t recognize.
She seems to be in the company of someone around five foot seven, with bronze skin and strong shoulders in contrast to a thin waist. Their hair is in a low ponytail of blue and blon-
“CHARLIE?!” Exclaims Hakeem. He could recognize his boss/good friend anywhere.
They wave with a toothy grin as they and Sarah walk up the group. “Well, hello there. Fancy meeting you three here.” Hakeem, Eddie and Jackson stare, mouths agape at Charlie’s hand laced through Sarah’s.
Sarah kisses them on their cheek, “So, long story short. Would you believe I’ve never been to the ‘Shape of Brew’ cafe? I wandered in a couple weeks ago and our eyes locked. And, well, the rest kind of speaks for itself.”
Hakeem points a finger between the two of them as staff take their luggage from Jackson’s car to Eddie’s room. “So, you two. The two of you are-”
“Fated Mates!” Exclaims Charlie triumphantly from Sarah’s side, striking a celebratory pose. “I wanted it to be a surprise when you showed up. I know, it’s very dramatic of me, but I retain the right to be as flashy as I want.”
Sarah chuckles and pulls Charlie in for a deep kiss, “Be as dramatic as you want, my fated darling. I love that about you with all my heart.” Charlie smiles against her lips before diving into another kiss.
* * *
There’s still a few hours before lunch so everyone breaks off into their groups till then.
The boys head up to Eddie’s room, their bags sent up ahead of them by the manor staff.
Eddie lets Princess run free in the house, his mother insisting she be let roam instead of trapped in his room all weekend.
“Don’t you cause any problems, young lady.
” Princess simply waves and skitters away.
Jackson flops onto Eddie’s king sized bed, stretching his arms and legs out from the drive. Their shoes are put to the side as Eddie and Hakeem flop down next to Jackson on the bed, curling up next to one another.
“So this is the room you grew up in,” Hakeem’s eyes trace the walls, decorated with various posters of sports and musicals as he cozies up to Jackson, who is sandwiched between him and Eddie, “It’s so…perfectly you.”
Eddie grins up towards the ceiling, “Yeah, after I figured I could channel some frustrations of being the sibling left behind by beast and magic into sports, I kinda tried everything. After getting hurt too many times to count, my curiosity was piqued by physical therapy. I had so many appointments after a particularly nasty leg break. I’m all better now, some advantages to magic medical procedures I guess,” he chuckles weakly, mind returning to his youth.
“I figured helping people deal with their hurt might make me feel better about my own shortcomings. It was a selfish reason to go for my masters.”
Hakeem reaches over and gives his hand a squeeze.
Jackson pulls him into a kiss, guiding the larger man’s face to him with two fingers under Eddie’s chin.
“None of that, my darling. You wouldn’t have gotten this far into your degree if you truly didn’t care about helping people.
And now, with your wolf so close to emerging, your motivations to finish are as noble as can be.
Regardless, you won’t be left behind again, not while we’re here. ”
Eddie loves these two so much, eternally thankful for both of them. Worried it might be too soon to say it out loud, he decides to show them both how he feels instead.
“You know,” Eddie draws out the last syllable, hand tracing Jackson’s chest, “we do have time before lunch and Hakeem’s family arrive. We tend to eat a lot in this house, so perhaps we should work up an appetite?”
Hakeem giggles mischievously and dives into Jackson’s neck, littering his skin with kisses. Jackson bites back a moan, back arching as Eddie lifts the hem of his shirt, exposing pale skin to trace large fingers across. “You two,” Jackson says through clenched teeth, “are truly unbelievable.”
Hakeem pouts as he looks at Jackson through his lashes, “Does that mean we should stop?”
Jackson grab’s Hakeem’s shirt, removes his glasses with a shadow and dives in for a deep kiss.
He licks his way into the mages mouth, swallowing the pleasured moan escaping Hakeem.
When he breaks away, both of them gasping for air, he levels his gaze to the man smirking up at him, “You will do no such thing.”
Hakeem giggles, caressing Jackson’s sharp jawline with a feather light touch. “As you wish.”
Tendrils of shadow lock the bedroom door. Shirts, pants and underwear go flying. The three of them are a tangle of limbs, hushed laughter and lingering kisses.
Eddie is pushed to his headboard, hands bound above his head courtesy of a spell from Hakeem.
“I think we should thank our host. Don’t you agree, Hakeem?” Jackson and Hakeem straddle either of Eddie’s legs, pinning him down further.
“Oh, I agree, Jackson.”
Eddie is more than willing to sit back and enjoy the view of his boyfriend’s naked bodies on top of his.