Chapter 5 Rael
It took a day or two to feel better and during that time, I plotted my revenge.
I didn’t know how or when it would happen, but I would find a way to get my brother back for that prank.
I tried to ignore the fact that I had it coming.
If I thought about it, I’d done far worse to him in the last six months than he’d ever done to me.
Maybe I should just let him think I was going to do something crazy and watch him squirm. It would be fun.
As the date grew closer for the wedding, I couldn’t help grinning as I entered the house through the garage, finding my family in the kitchen as they gathered for lunch.
Nylah kept the boys to a schedule, and both were busy munching on peanut butter and apple slices, grapes, cheese cubes, and little sandwiches she called pinwheels with ham, cream cheese, and green onions.
My boys ate every bite, which shocked the shit outta me because I wouldn’t have eaten raw onion at their age for all the candy in the world.
I paused as I entered, noticing her expression. She seemed upset or distracted. “What’s bothering you, kitten? I can practically see the wheels churning in your head,” I joked.
Nylah was perched on the edge of her chair, facing our little Gia as she watched her pick up plain Cheerios and mashed banana and clumsily shove her breakfast in her open mouth.
But when she wasn’t ensuring our nine-month-old baby wasn’t in danger of choking, she kept glancing around the kitchen with a frown. “It’s just this setup. I don’t know.”
“What about it? Something you want changed?”
I will rip out all the cabinets and rearrange the whole kitchen, my Berserker announced.
I didn’t think it was necessary.
“Actually, yeah. The deep freezer is in the garage, and the backup fridge is on the back porch. I have to take Gia with me every time I need something. And you know I have to gate off the boys. It’s not a great flow.”
Never thought about it. “Well, I’m happy to move things around. Just tell me where you want them.”
She described the layout, and I nodded. “I can get it done tomorrow. That work?”
“Yes. I’m going shopping with Cameron, so we’ll have to figure out childcare for the kids.”
I remembered. “You’re picking out a dress.”
“I want something special.”
“You’ll find it.” She could show up in a potato sack, and I’d be happy. “Don’t worry about the twins and Gia. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks.” Her shoulders relaxed, and she smiled. “How was church?”
“Uneventful,” I replied as I grabbed an apple off the table and bit into it.
“That’s good, right? No drama, no worries.”
I chewed and swallowed the bite of apple. “Right.”
She watched me, seeing deep into my soul like the sorceress she was. It was fucking scary how clearly she understood me. “But you’re a bit bored, aren’t you? Not enough souls for the Reaper?”
He grumbled in response.
“Or chaos for the Berserker?”
He made a guttural, frustrated sound at her words.
Gavin leaned over to whisper in Gage’s ear. “Daddy’s Reaper and Zerker make lots of noises.”
Nylah snorted.
I crouched and slowly stalked my way toward the boys, who began giggling.
“Daddy’s coming,” Gage whispered.
To be clear, my boys did not know how to whisper.
I began to growl as I got closer. “I need brains.”
The twins went still.
Nylah covered her mouth to hide her laugh.
Gage leaned closer to Gavin as they watched me. “It’s the zombie Zerker.”
Gavin nodded. He inhaled and exhaled twice. “Get him!”
The two boys roared as they rushed from their seats, tackling me as I went down to the floor. I pretended to use my claws and teeth to attack, slashing at their little bodies as I acted like one of the Wild Things in our favorite bedtime story.
The boys managed to roll me onto my back and climbed on my chest and stomach, punching as they subdued me. It didn’t hurt. After all, the twins were only four.
“Oh, no!” I shouted. “Gavin and Gage got me!”
The boys cheered. I closed my eyes and played dead. The Reaper loved this, sticking out our tongue. The Berserker couldn’t hide his urge to grin, twitching our lips. I must have looked deranged.
And then I got smacked in the face with something tiny and opened my eyes. Above me, Gia was smiling, picking up Cheerios and throwing them over the front of her highchair to pelt me in the face. How did a nine-month-old baby have such good aim?
Nylah couldn’t hold back her laughter. When she saw my surprise, she clutched her stomach, tears leaking from her eyes. “Rael.”
Gavin and Gage were encouraging Gia to throw more Cheerios as I covered my face.
Then I dropped my hands and growled. Gavin and Gage tried to flee but I caught and hugged them to me, squeezing as they screeched and laughed.
Being a dad was the best fucking thing in the world, and I felt so fucking lucky to be one.