two of the four of us to have died…I want to know. In case.”
“Okay. I’ll call Karter.”
“What are you going to tell him?”
“Exactly what we discussed. We both want to make sure there isn’t some pre-existing condition that will pop up down the road. That we want to be ready in case there is. All the truth.” He didn’t want to lie to Karter about this, not ever, but a tiny part of Hyatt wondered about the deaths of Dorian’s two siblings. Wondered and hoped they’d simply died of natural causes, as Dorian had been told. But what if not?
No. Hyatt wouldn’t play the what-if game. He’d wait for the information he knew Karter would provide for him.
“Do you want me to go with you?” Hyatt asked, his mouth blurting the question before his own brain caught up with his thoughts. “When you visit Dustin?”
“They probably won’t let you in, since you aren’t technically family yet.”
“That’s okay. I can sit in the waiting room or whatever. I just don’t want you to be alone after you talk to him.”
Dorian held him impossibly tighter. “Then yes, thank you. I’d like you to come with me.”
“Then I will. You aren’t alone, Dorian. You don’t ever have to feel like you are again. I promise.” Hyatt sealed that promise with a long, claiming kiss, and then relaxed into his alpha’s arms.
No matter what challenges the future threw at them, Hyatt could step forward confident they would handle all of them together. Period.
Eighteen
Dorian had no real reason to be nervous as he parked on the street in front of the Jenks house the following morning for brunch. He’d been here multiple times and knew everyone he was eating with. Well, he didn’t know the two youngest Jenks boys all that well, but he’d met them both. And he’d have Hyatt by his side proudly wearing Dorian’s ring. A ring he’d said yesterday he couldn’t wait to show off.
Mostly, he was nervous because Hyatt promised to speak privately with Senior Jenks about the medical records Dorian wanted. The elder alpha was practically Hyatt’s adoptive father, and it felt strange to be asking his future sort-of-in-law for a favor this soon into his and Hyatt’s courtship. But Hyatt had brought up excellent points yesterday about knowing Dorian’s genetic background a bit better, just in case their own future offspring could have a medical crisis they needed to prepare for.
Dorian’s own doctor hadn’t found any genetic anomalies during all the testing he’d done, but he also hadn’t run the full genetic panel that looked for everything. It had been focused on reproductive areas.
Hyatt had brought bottles of chilled champagne and tropical fruit juice. Mimosas were now his new favorite brunch drink, and he’d wanted to share the discovery with his family. “Everyone except Karson,” Hyatt had said, “if we get the news I’m hoping for.”
Jax opened the door before they could ring the bell, and he made a gesture Dorian was beginning to recognize as “Hello.”
“It’s great to see you,” Hyatt said as he gave Jax a one-armed hug. “Are we the last ones?” Jax gestured more as they stepped into the small foyer, and Hyatt translated for Dorian. “Rebel and Karson are running late, but will be here in about fifteen minutes or so.”
Running late could mean anything from oversleeping to a bout of morning sickness.
“I brought drinks.” Hyatt led the way into the kitchen, and Dorian followed. Everyone was bustling around taking food from the countertops or oven into the formal dining room. “Who wants a mimosa? I had my first one at breakfast yesterday, and they are amazing.”
“Ooh, can I try one?” Jenson asked.
“You’re fourteen.”
“Fifteen next month.”
Hyatt looked at Jax, who smiled and gestured. “Half a glass.”
“Cool.”
Jax produced a small juice glass from the cupboard, followed by several champagne flutes from a higher shelf. Symon and Jaxson were setting the table and kind of ignoring Dorian’s arrival but he took no offense. The only person he didn’t see stepped into the kitchen while Hyatt was finishing up the drinks.
“Dorian, Hyatt, good to see you both,” Karter said. Even out of his uniform and in casual clothes, the Senior Constable had an air of authority to him that still intimidated Dorian a bit.
“You as well, sir,” Dorian replied, giving the elder alpha a firm handshake.
Karter hugged Hyatt, and the man’s eagle eyes didn’t miss the flash of silver on his hand. “And what’s this.” He held up Hyatt’s hand, and Dorian couldn’t stop the swell