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The reasoning behind this entire situation finally clicks in my brain, and the twist in my chest eases.
Doughnut buddy. Okay. We can be doughnut buddies again. My word. That’s calculating, but I am far too familiar with the doubts that can eat away at you and reduce the most amazing accomplishments into nothingness.
Tears brim in my eyes as something else clicks late. “Wait. My family…will still be able to see and hear me?”
“After familiarizing yourself with your glamour, yes,” Zylus provides, continuing to coddle Ollie. “It shouldn’t be very difficult.”
Ollie mutters, “It shouldn’t have been a worry at all. If I weren’t so inadequate—”
Cael flicks Ollie in the forehead. “Alpha of literal millions. Prince of the largest pack in the world. You’re making everyone else look bad talking like that.”
Largest pack in the world? Scrubbing tears from my eyes, I sniff. “How big is Markov’s pack?”
Cael’s eyes roll, and he crosses his legs, glancing sidelong away from us all. “Not even two hundred. His pride is an insurmountable thing, and I’m quite nearly out of patience for it.” He pats Ollie’s head. “Little one, if Ollie’s too embarrassed, would you care to fight for your own? As mates, it is within your rights to take his place.”
“Absolutely not,” Ollie snaps.
“What would be more emotionally damaging for Markov and his goons?” I ask.
“Oh, definitely you the size of a Pomeranian and Ollie behind you daring them to disturb your fluff.”
Ollie grumbles, “Brittny is not here for your amusem—”
“I like that mental picture,” I say. “I like it a lot.
“Sunshine…no.”
“Sunshine, yes.” I scowl. “Those turd nuggets are the reason behind all of this. If they’d just treated you better—like brothers should—you would have swept me away the moment you saw me, completely confident in what you were doing.”
“Like an alphahole?” Ollie grumbles.
“I would have gotten over the alphaholeness. On account of the dimples.” I point at him. “Dimples cover a multitude of sins.”
“Sunshine…no.” Ollie’s eyes close, and he swipes a hand down his face. “This was a very convoluted course of events. I’m not a fan of the manipulation or the opacity. Couldn’t you have just sent me to therapy?”
“Do you really think years of therapy would be the less painful option?” Cael tilts his head. “What do you think creates insecurity of such magnitude in someone if not a very convoluted course of events? I assure you, I’ve tried many options in an effort to get you to understand simple things about yourself, for years, because although your brothers seem quite ignorant to it, I know for a fact you are worthy of so much more than you’ve given yourself.” Cael looks at me. “Both of you are.”
I cower, slightly, because—yeesh—the way his amber eyes are staring into my soul feels almost like a threat. It’s a don’t make me go to these extreme measures for you, too, kid. Because I will. I absolutely will.
Message received, Your Highness.
I will love and value myself.
Or else.
“All of this is too political,” Ollie mutters.
“Stated precisely like someone content to continue living beneath my rule in spite of the fact they could start a thriving kingdom on their own?” Cael’s antennae perk along with his smile.
The dweeb is coming on strong.
“Seriously? As if that’s a concern.” Ollie absently pets Zylus’s head while the large vampire man keeps cuddling him. “I’m no ruler. I just have a community online that conveniently solves all our problems.”
Zylus hums, nearly purring, “Like it was written that way. My starlight has been loving this.”
“Willoughby knows about all of this?” Ollie cringes. “How devastating.”
“There’s that negative self talk we’ve been going to great lengths to get rid of,” Cael says.
