Rafe glanced over at Bel to find his twin staring at him with a look akin to speechless horror. “Are you…considering joining the Arsenault clan?”
“What?” Rafe said on a gasp.
“Well, you did manage to get digs in on your family while praising him.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Rafe snapped.
“Are you hungry? Do you need to feed?” Bel inquired.
“Maybe he’s got a crush,” Ethan suggested, causing Rafe to whip his head around to glare at the newest Varik. The look only sent Ethan into peals of giggles that had even Marcus struggling not to smile.
“Wouldn’t that be adorable?” Winter continued when Ethan couldn’t talk between his giggles. “Rafe with a crush on Philippe Arsenault. Are you going to start doodling hearts and writing your name out, Rafe Varik-Arsenault? Or are you just going to change it to Rafe Arsenault?”
Rafe was out of his seat in a flash. His fangs slammed down of their own accord as rage pumped through his veins. The very idea that he would ever choose another clan over his family was fucking ridiculous. He was a Varik. Nothing was going to change that. Nothing. And no one.
Grinning at him, Winter shoved to his feet, ready to counter anything Rafe threw at him.
But Rafe didn’t get within arm’s reach of his youngest brother. Marcus rose and stepped between the two, his hands pressed against Rafe’s chest.
“Enough! We don’t have time for this nonsense,” Marcus barked.
Rafe continued to glare at his youngest brother for another few seconds. He wasn’t fighting Marcus, but he wasn’t retreating either. Winter withdrew first, lowering his eyes and dropping into his seat.
“He’s right,” Winter muttered. “Just joking, Rafe. Never meant it.”
Rafe managed a low grunt as he stepped away from Marcus. He ran a hand along the front of his shirt and jacket as if smoothing away any wrinkles before he returned to his seat. Marcus continued to tower over them, glaring at Rafe and then Winter as if daring them to step out of line again.
“After meeting with Philippe, what is your recommendation? Do we help them or walk away?” Bel asked, breaking the tense silence that filled the room.
“I think we should help them,” Rafe said. He was careful to make sure his tone was completely serious. “If this is something simple, we find Piper or the truth quickly and we acquire a new ally. Whether the Arsenault clan is large or small, it gives the Variks more cachet within the vampire community and makes others more wary of us.”
“It could buy us a little more breathing room and time,” Winter conceded.
“And if it’s not simple?” Marcus prodded.
“Then we uncover something that could be a much bigger problem among the clans, and we prepare for it.”
Rafe frowned. It wasn’t an ideal solution. They’d suffered under a corrupt Ministry for years. These Ministry leaders had allowed for the slaughter of Ethan’s family, the attack on the Variks, the death of Julianna, and probably many more atrocities.
But what was their other option?
The vampires needed a fair and just ruler. Someone who was willing to watch out for the various clans, but also watch out for the humans. Rafe nearly snorted at the idea of finding someone so selfless among his kind.
Well, that wasn’t true. There was Marcus. But thanks to the attack on the Variks and the destruction of the Black Wolf clan, Rafe didn’t think their kind would believe he could be totally unbiased.
So, where did that leave them?
Looking out for themselves and any they decided to claim as an ally.
Which brought them back to Philippe and the Arsenault clan.
“I agree with Rafe. I think we should help them,” Bel announced. “Even if a formal alliance is never formed, it doesn’t hurt to put some goodwill out there. Maybe it will help us find other clans who are simply wanting to exist outside the power-hungry drama.”
Winter smirked. “I like the idea of Bel’s royal benevolence.”
“That is not what I meant,” Bel grumbled at their younger brother, crossing his arms tightly over his chest.
Rafe winked at his twin. “I vote we help find this Piper Arsenault and see where it leads us with the Arsenault clan.”
“Agreed,” Marcus murmured.
Then all eyes turned over to Ethan still cuddled alongside his lover. He blinked wide eyes at them and sat up a little. “What?” he said before twisting to look over at Marcus.
“What’s your vote?”
“Really? But I’m…just…” His voice trailed off as he looked from Marcus to the other three vampires in the room.
“You’re a part of this family, Ethan. You have a say in the things that could affect you and those you care about,” Bel said gently.
Ethan dropped against the couch, and Rafe bit back a smile when he saw Ethan’s fingers drift over to the nearest pillow as his face clouded with thought. Ethan had been a vampire and a Varik for less than a month. Rafe had a feeling he wasn’t expecting to be involved in family matters so soon.