Page 38 of What the Hex
“That’s Rhia,” King muttered from the side of his mouth.
Before King could do anything more than nod, the matriarch spoke.
“He’ll have water.”
Daniella Mathers was undoubtedly beautiful, with a curtain of wheat-colored locks that brushed the tops of her shoulders. Despite the casualness of the gathering, she wore a full face of makeup, as well as a fitted black dress that looked more suited to a five-star restaurant than a pool-side patio.
“Mom.” The other sister—Reina, if he remembered correctly—brushed her chestnut hair over one shoulder and sighed. “Relax.”
She wore an understated sundress and a disapproving scowl as she squared off with her mother. Storm liked her immediately.
King cleared his throat and shuffled forward. Storm followed, linking their hands together and squeezing to lend his support.
“Everyone, this is my mate, Storm Black. Storm, this is my family.”
He started with Rhia, and went around the group, introducing each one by name. The two sisters smiled and nodded. The brother, Royal, beamed and gave him a big wave. Daniella folded her hands together at her waist and bowed her head.
King’s father, Tim, however, didn’t move from his seat on the sofa, other than to briefly glance up from the book he was reading. His expression held only the barest hint of acknowledgement without any sort of welcome. Since he was just as ardently ignoring his own children, however, Storm didn’t take it to heart.
Clearly, the guy had been coerced into the gathering by his wife and felt they were all intruding on his time.
“Beer?” Royal saddled up beside them and held out a bottle by its neck.
“Thanks.” He accepted the drink, but before taking a sip, he turned to King. “What about you?”
King shook his head quickly. “I’m not a big fan of beer. Enjoy.”
“Here, drink this.” Bouncing over to join them, Rhia pushed a cocktail of some electric pink concoction, ringed with yellow and topped with at least half a dozen cherries, into King’s hand.
“Uh, what is it?”
His sister shrugged. “The Rhia special.”
King’s gaze flitted to his mother, then back, before he took a tentative sip. He must have liked it because his head popped up, and his eyes widened. “It tastes like candy.”
Rhia smirked. “Told you so.”
“Just be careful,” Reina warned. “It definitely packs a punch.”
While Storm appreciated her concern, he wouldn’t let anything happen to his mate. “Just have fun. I can get us home.”
King answered by leaning into him with a warm smile and a quick nuzzle under his chin.
“Okay, be honest,” Rhia blurted. “He totally slipped you a love potion, didn’t he?”
“Don’t be stupid,” Royal argued. “How would he know if he’d been given a love potion?”
Reina scoffed. “You’re both idiots. A potion would wear off. It’s obviously some kind of spell.”
The tone of the conversation was light and teasing, and it was obvious none of them actually knew how potions or spells worked. To Storm, it was nothing more than some good-natured ribbing of their baby brother.
Yet, King wasn’t laughing. Hell, he was hardly breathing, and he looked for all the world like he wanted to crawl under the nearest rock and disappear.
“Interesting theory,” he noted casually. “Have you considered that I’m the one who gave him a love potion?” He tilted the mouth of the bottle toward them with an arched eyebrow. “I mean, he is pretty cute.”
“That’s fair,” Rhia allowed as she reached out to muss King’s curls. “He gets it from me, of course.”
“King,” Daniella called from the open doorway. “Come help me in the kitchen.” Then she met Storm’s gaze and smiled. “Please, make yourself at home. We’ll be ready to eat soon.”