Page 23 of Arthur

George’s shoulders fell. “Which means someone already has the baby.”

I chuckled. “Yes, but you can be like the others and simply swipe him from them. Patrick said Dad is holding him. You know he will give him to you if you ask.”

George nodded.

“We are coming in. Just outside the garden now.”

We walked through the back garden area and then through the outdoor cook area. It was the end of May now, and we wouldmost likely start using it once more. Really, we could use it year-round, but the winter months tended to be incredibly wet and chilly. It was just more comfortable using the indoor kitchen.

We entered through the door, the others immediately looking our way. They seemed to relax once they saw it was us.

“Everything sorted?” Father asked.

“Yes,” George said. He moved toward Patrick, and Father’s eyes met mine in question. I nodded, agreeing with George’s answer. Everything had been sorted. I wasn’t truly upset with my brother. But I could have hurt him because my first instincts last evening were to protect Patrick and William.

I moved behind George and heard the tail end of him apologizing to Patrick and my amazing One accepting his apology. Patrick was incredibly likable and didn’t hold grudges. We’d not really lost too much sleep over the interruption last evening. At least not much more than we had been with William’s nighttime feedings.

George turned, just about ran into me, then stepped to the side and held out his arms. “All right. I have permission to hold the baby. I’m stealing him from you, Dad.”

There were several chuckles in the room as I sat beside Patrick. He gave me a smile before he leaned closer and bumped his shoulder to mine.

“How is your breakfast?”

“It’s good. Did you want a plate?”

“I do, but I will get it. You enjoy yours, and I’ll be right—” A plate suddenly appeared in front of me, an arm and hand attached to it. I looked up and found Frederick. “Thank you,” I told him as I took the offering.

“You’re most welcome. Enjoy it while it’s still warm. Although, it doesn’t ever get cold. Not here, at least.” Frederick winked, and I chuckled. We had that going for us, at least. Wewere careful with using our magic, but here, inside, we tended to use it more freely.

“You haven’t told us how your travels went,” Oliver asked, looking directly at George.

“It wasn’t bad. I went to several places, met lots of new people, had some good times, some not so good. Sadly, I came home alone.” George looked at me. “Unlike my lucky brother over there.”

I shook my head. “Technically, I came home alone as well. I was sent back out shortly after and then returned with Patrick.”

George sighed dramatically. “If only I were so lucky.”

“Are ye plannin’ on leavin’ again?”

George looked at Dad and shrugged. “Not anytime in the very near future. I want to spend some time here at home before I head back out again. I was thinking about going to Italy next time. I was tempted to go now, but something told me to come home. Now, here I am.”

“I enjoyed Italy,” I said without thinking. Immediately, I tried to clarify. “The scenery is beautiful, and the weather is quite a bit warmer.”

There was a sigh in the room, but I didn’t know who it could have come from as there were so many in here.

“Warmer weather could be good,” George said. He quickly glanced at Father. “Not that I dislike it here. But at times, all of the dreary weather and rain can get to me.”

“Italy is for you, then. Lots of sun, warm weather, but it does get rain, which is nice. The sea there is beautiful, which can be another draw.”

The sigh that time came from George. I was actually a bit surprised that he’d not yet been to Italy. It was such a beautiful place, and although I was mated, I wouldn’t mind going back there sometime with Patrick for a little time away.

“You enjoyed Italy?” Patrick asked quietly beside me. I looked over at my One and nodded.

“I did, yes. The weather alone is worth going. But the scenery is beautiful. It is drastically different in the north part of the country over the south. Would you like to visit with me? We could go once William is a bit older.”

“I haven’t ever been anywhere except here and Zürich. If you wish to go back to Italy, I wouldn’t mind joining you.”

Patrick stopped at that, but I could tell that there was more he wished to say. Because we were in the kitchen with many of the others, I switched back to our bond.“I would never take you somewhere that we could possibly run into someone I had had relations with before. There were several places in Italy that I visited that we can enjoy together. In fact, that is only one place, one that is quite obscure, that I wouldn’t take you. You know that I will only ever desire to be with you for the rest of our lives.”