He briefly considered backing away, disappearing downstairs so Natalie wouldn’t judge him.
Instead, Natalie’s eyes lit up. She took the basket, stepped forward, and pulled Micah into a warm hug. Micah tensed.
“You look like you needed it,” Natalie murmured in his ear, smelling like butter and roses. “Thank you for the gift.”
Micah’s voice stuck in his throat. After what he’d done, this was... generous of her. “Thank you,” he croaked.
Except she paused, sniffing. “Oh, you’re wearing Kai’s scent, too. Kai said nothing about this.”
Micah gulped. The brothers had agreed to let their scents linger on Micah’s skin. Next to Micah, Kai stepped forward, his jaw set. “He’s mine, too.”
Micah’s heart tripped, even as he feared for Kai’s relationship with his mother.
To his surprise, Natalie laughed. “I shouldn’t have expected any different.” Then she stepped back, waving them in. “Come, let’s discuss this inside.”
Once the door was shut, Natalie leveled Kai with a look. “You weren’t planning to tell me?”
For all that Kai was fierce and possessive, he blushed. “I... was thinking about telling you.”
Micah knew it was really because Kai hadn’t made up his mind about staying in Meadowfall, or committing.
“Spike and I, we...” Kai trailed off, glancing at his brother. For a moment, Micah thought they might come clean about their own relationship, and his breath stuck in his throat.
“We’re sharing Micah,” Spike said, crowding close against Micah’s side. “I love him very much.”
Natalie broke into a fond smile. Micah’s face burned. He wasn’t ready to admit the same in front of everyone. Then there was having two relationships at the same time, and well. It wasn’t the most befitting of an omega. Natalie had to remember the TV shows from when they were younger, about polyamorous relationships being persecuted in the courts.
“I’m really sorry,” Micah said to Natalie, his face scorching so hot, it felt like his skin might peel.
Natalie frowned and squeezed his hand. “No, don’t be.”
Micah bowed his head. “I’m their professor. I shouldn’t—”
“You’re our omega,” Kai growled, linking his fingers with Micah’s. “Couple more years, and it wouldn’t matter.”
“Micah’s beautiful. He’s clever and sweet and he’s a single dad.” Spike slid his palm down to Micah’s belly, and Micah flushed even harder. “Well, he’s not exactly single now.”
“Oh,” Natalie said, her eyes growing wide. “I must’ve missed that. Congrats, Micah!” Then she turned to look accusingly at Spike. “What did I tell you about using protection?”
“Mom!” Spike turned beet-red. Then he glanced at Kai, and said, “Kai didn’t, either.”
Kai flipped Spike off, and got the same glare from their mother.
Micah wasn’t sure if he should step in to defend them. It had been his fault, too. Except this was a mess as it was, and the more Spike revealed about their sex lives, the more Micah wanted to bury his face in the paisley couch.
“You two will drive me to an early death,” Natalie said, scowling at her sons.
“No!” Spike yelped. “No dying.”
“Yeah, definitely not,” Kai growled, narrowing his eyes.
Micah couldn’t help the tiniest smile. Natalie, too. She shook her head, blowing out a sigh. “I can’t say I’m surprised about the three of you.”
“You aren’t?” Micah blurted, the tiniest bit or relief seeping into his chest.
“These two are tight as blood brothers,” Natalie said with a fond smile. “There hasn’t been much they don’t share.”
“So I’ve heard,” Micah answered, daring to relax slightly. Unlike York, Spike’s mom wasn’t judging them for their relationship with each other. It was such a welcome relief.
“Has Kai or Spike ever told you about the time they shared the toilet so they could poop at the same time?” Natalie asked, a glint in her eye. “They were eleven.”
Spike looked horrified. Kai just stared, his mouth falling open. “Mom,” they croaked.
Micah imagined them as children, identical grins on their faces, balancing on the edge of the toilet seat so they didn’t push each other off. “They haven’t told me, no. But it sounds adorable.”
Kai rubbed his face. Spike groaned.
“The only reason I found out,” Natalie continued, “was because we had to get a plumber to fix the toilet after.”
Micah snorted, trying to hold down his laughter.
“No,” Spike said, his face bright red. “No more! You’re going to lose us an omega by the end of this.”
“I swear it was all the TP,” Kai muttered, unable to meet Micah’s eyes.
“I only had one eleven-year-old, not two.” Micah laughed, leaning into his alphas. “You’ll have to tell me all their childhood stories.”
The brothers squawked; Spike tried to tug Micah away from their mom.
“Oh, I will,” Natalie promised, chuckling. “You won’t believe the things they’ve gotten up to.”
“Somehow, I think I will.” Micah smiled, finally starting to relax. This visit... maybe it wouldn’t turn out as bad as he’d expected, after all.
“Let’s change the topic,” Kai said flatly.
“To Kai,” Spike said. “Or Micah.” He wrapped his arms around Micah, his body warm and solid. “I want to marry them both.” Then Spike froze, glancing at his mom.
“Shit,” Kai said under his breath.
Kai and Spike glanced at Natalie, Spike with some uncertainty, Kai with his jaw clenched in determination.
Natalie sighed. “I’m not surprised by that, either. It’s taken you a while to tell me.”
Surprise darted through their faces. “You aren’t?” Kai asked, at the same time Spike said, “How?”
Natalie laughed. “You’re my sons. I’ve watched the two of you grow up. Did you think I never saw the bottles of scent suppressants lying around? And the way you look at each other? There was the time Spike fell down and scraped his knees—he was fifteen, Kai, and you kissed his temple. Normal brothers don’t do that.”
Spike turned red; Kai grumbled, looking away.
Their mom shrugged. “I’m just glad the two of you are looking out for each other. That’s all I ask.”
“You don’t care that—that Kai and I—” Spike gulped “—I want him to be my bondmate.”
Kai didn’t
