Backstage at the Freak Show (Harem of Freaks #7) - Crystal Ash Page 0,6

the only human present who wasn’t also a shaman.

Mel threw her head back and laughed at that. “I’m not worried about Connor. He’ll have this guy dancing like a drunk fool before the end of the night.”

3

Gabe

“Ow! Geez, pierce my damn nipple, why don’t you,” Hunter growled, flinching as Razvan pinned the boutonniere to his suit jacket.

“I could if you’d like,” the dragon shifter grinned, securing the purple lily with his tattooed hands before straightening my brother’s lapels. “I did a brief piercing apprenticeship back in Romania. Did one of the studs through my cock myself.”

“Every time I see you, Raz,” Colt laughed from his spot on the couch, “I learn something new about you.”

“I’ve led an interesting life, what can I say.” The small tattoo near the dragon shifter’s eye compressed as his grey eyes roamed over Hunter. “And now I’m marrying the two loves of my life.”

“You guys nervous?” Colt looked over all four of the grooms— Raz, Conner, Arjun, and our middle brother, Hunter.

“Not about getting married, no,” Connor, the only non-shifter fiddled with his cufflinks. “About some of the guest list? Absolutely.” He gave a hard look to Colt and I. Colt told him about Miriam’s vision the minute we arrived at their house.

“Whose bright idea was it to invite a bunch of strangers to our wedding again?” Arjun clipped in his posh English accent. The tiger shifter was of Indian descent and was the only one to wear a non-traditional tuxedo, although his colors of purple and pale grey matched the other grooms. Rather than a jacket and tie, he wore a slim-fitting Jodhpuri suit with ornate buttons and a relaxed collar that made me envious. Mine felt like a fucking dog collar in this heat.

“Your future wife’s,” Raz jabbed at him. “A little late to worry about it now.”

“Mel insisted on it and we all understood her reasons, despite the risks. She always thinks of others first. It’s how she is,” Hunter added warmly.

“You’re quiet today, Gabe,” Connor observed, fixating his dark green gaze on me. “Aren’t you thrilled? A celebration with 99% shifters and one human. Seems like your kind of party.”

My wolf wanted to snarl but I forced him back down. It was true that I didn’t care for most humans, he and a select few others being the exceptions. I personally wasn’t a fan of a bunch of strange shifters congregating in one area either, but this wasn’t my wedding.

I was admittedly rude to Mel when I first met her, and Connor never seemed to let it go. We weren’t buddies by any means but over time developed a cordial, mutual respect for each other. Still, he never failed to bring up my feelings toward humans as a dig at me. And still he wondered why I continued to not be a fan of them.

“Strangers of any kind are a risk,” I responded coolly back to him, keeping my face blank.

“I’m glad we agree on something,” he replied.

“Hey, so what’s up with you two and Miriam?” Hunter changed the subject. “Is she going to be front and center for the bouquet toss?”

“We’re not anywhere near ready for that,” I scoffed before Colt could jump in and say anything.

“Maybe you’re not,” my oldest brother bristled. “But honestly, I’ve given the whole marriage thing some thought.”

“Yeah well, it’s not all about you, bro,” I pulled at the collar of my shirt, already getting hot under it. “The three of us are a package deal. That’s what we decided.”

“You’ve got a funny way of acting like it,” Colt’s tone turned accusing. “Where the hell were you this morning? Then you blow her off and tell her you’re not in a sharing mood? What gives?”

“Can we not do this now?” I growled through my teeth. “We’re celebrating Hunter and the guys today, not bickering about our own shit.”

“You’re the only one making this difficult, Gabe.” Colt would just not let up. “I love her. She loves both of us and you’re just being a dick for no reason.”

“Guys, come on.” Hunter stood between us. “Gabe’s right. Not here and not now.”

“Hey.” Raz went to the liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of something before setting up six shot glasses. “It’s a new day, gentlemen. For us four, it’s the start of our new lives. Let’s wash yesterday away with a toast, ah?”

“Is that some kind of Romanian proverb?” Arjun cheeked, his blue-green eyes flashing as he picked up a shot glass filled with amber