40. Rami #2
“I think we’ll start with Nate, if that’s okay?
” he said delicately. I bit back my smirk.
Ethan was about as done with Nate’s grumpy attitude as everyone else was, but far too polite to show it.
I gave him another month before he was giving Nate as much shit as the rest of us did. “Then we’ll get to you two.”
“Where’s Theo?” Jeremiah asked as Nate stalked towards the chair Ethan gestured to. Really, the two of them didn’t need to be here until later, but we’d figured the more of us here with Nate in this mood, the better. “Is everything okay with you guys now?”
“How the fuck should I know?” Nate all but growled.
Noah raised a brow, probably contemplating smiting Nate for taking that tone with his mate. “Jeremiah’s just concerned, Nathaniel. We all are.”
Nate ignored him, pointedly turning to face Ethan. “How do you want me?”
There was none of the flirtation in his tone, not like when I’d asked Ethan the same question during similar circumstances all those weeks ago. Which was good, because Nate was already asking for a beating.
Ethan talked him through how to position himself before lifting the camera. “I want you to stare off into the distance. Moodily. Perfect.”
I covered my snort with a cough. Not very well, given how Nate glared at me. Couldn’t blame Ethan for working with the vibe Nate had walked in with.
All in all, the shoot went smoothly. Nate moved silently into whatever position Ethan requested without a single inappropriate comment. Meanwhile, Ethan kept snapping away, displaying a level of professionalism I’d certainly never experienced as his model.
And thank fuck for that.
“That’s it,” Ethan said, finally lowering his camera. “Thank you, Nate.”
He nodded curtly before ducking down to grab his discarded shirt. Before he could straighten, the door to the room slammed open. Theo stood in the doorway, hair wild, eyes manic, and smelling oddly like…
Smoke?
“I met him,” Theo blurted out. “I met my mate.”
I took a measured step towards Ethan. From the corner of my eye, I saw both Noah and Jeremiah do the same.
Nate paused, still half bent over. He closed his eyes briefly, the hand gripping the cotton shaking. Then, he straightened and looked his twin dead in the eye. “Congratulations. Glad you came straight here to brag about it.”
I snapped a shield over Ethan. Two more followed suit.
Hurt flashed over Theo’s face. “I’m not bragging about it, Nathaniel. I’m stating a fact. You could try being happy for me.”
“I’m happy for you,” he said flatly.
Theo clenched his fists. “Why do you have to be such a prick about this?”
“I literally just said I’m happy for you, Theo. What the fuck do you want from me?”
“You could try showing it,” Theo spat, taking a step forwards.
Sighing internally, I reached out and hit the discreet button on the wall. Alarms began to ring in all corners of the house. Ethan threw his hands over his ears, eyes wide as he watched the twins continue to spiral.
“I can’t fucking help that I’ve found my mate before you, Nate! If this was the other way around, I wouldn’t be behaving like an emotionally stunted toddler.”
“Like hell you wouldn’t,” Nate roared, lightning sparking around his fingers. “You’re as bad as I am, don’t fucking pretend otherwise.”
Noah and Jeremiah exchanged a look before stepping in between the twins. Noah took Nate, which was wise. Of all of us, only he and Benji had a hope of containing him when he got like this. “Nate, you need to calm down. Ethan’s in here. Rami’s mate.”
I groaned and grabbed Ethan. Wrong thing to say, buddy.
“His mate,” Nate spat, the lightning crackling louder. Noah’s power rose to meet it. “That’s right. Everyone here gets to meet their mate, but not me.”
Freeing my wings, I lifted us into the air. We couldn’t go far, but I had to try and get Ethan out of the firing line. He couldn’t die, but he could feel pain.
If Nate dared hurt him, even accidentally…
More figures appeared as the Seraphim rushed into the room. They formed a barrier between the twins, various angels trying to talk them down.
I thought we all knew this situation wasn’t going to be resolved by talking.
Ezekiel sought us out immediately, noting how I had Ethan cradled protectively in my arms. “Take him to the cosy room, Rami. Sam’s there already.”
I nodded briskly. I hadn’t wanted to cross the room before, but I trusted everyone to keep the twins contained while I got Ethan out of here.
“The cosy room?” Ethan asked as I flew us to the doorway. “What’s that?”
“It’s our panic room,” I explained, returning to the floor when we were in the hallway. “The name triggered Sam’s OCD, so he renamed it. He’s really made it his own, too. There’s a TV, a mini fridge stuffed with drinks and snacks, a gaming station, and even a futon.”
Ethan chuckled. “I don’t know whether to be impressed or worried.”
“Why would you be worried?”
“Because he probably made it that comfortable as he’s spent a lot of time in there.” Ethan sighed. “Which probably means I’m going to as well.”
“At least you’ll have Sam for company.”
“That’s true.” A shadow passed over his face. “Is he normally alone in there?”
“Yes. It’s not ideal, but it’s the safest way. Part of being mated to a Seraphim means there are always going to be people who want to hurt you to hurt us.”
“And another part means having somewhere to keep us safe when the twins decide to let their family issues disrupt the entire household.”
“That about sums it up.” I stopped in front of the heavily reinforced door. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Of course,” he huffed. “Now hurry up and go and help, I’ve got to go and keep Sam company.”
I smiled, brushing away a curl. “You’re a special male, Ethan.”
He shrugged off the compliment and blushed. “No one should feel alone. Not even for a minute.”
“Then get in there,” I said, kissing his cheek. I went to say something else, but a loud bang from the opposite side of the house cut me off. “Okay, seriously, get in there just in case they make it down this way.”
He opened the door and smiled. “Just in case I haven’t said it today, I love you, Rami. Thank you for being there for me.”
I knew what he meant. Thank you for making me feel less alone.
It was the least I could do, considering he’d done the same for me.
I squared my shoulders as I prepared to walk back into the fray. This was the precise issue Nate was facing. He’d never been alone before. Ever.
But with Theo finding his mate, he was facing that as a real possibility.
I had no idea what fate was playing at with the twins. Then again, it, or they, hadn’t made it easy for any of us so far. Why would it be different for them?
Fate had made me the fool over and over again with every man I’d ever approached. Ultimately, it had all been worth it, to be able to call Ethan mine.
Because that’s exactly what he was.
Mine.
Just as I was his.
Exactly as it should be.