Fox looked up at Winter, but the vampire gave the tiniest of head shakes. Not now. Well, he was definitely asking later. He was pretty sure Julianna was their mother, but she was the one thing Winter didn’t talk much about other than his explanation about their names.
“Marcus, if you came over here because you’re worried about me with Fox, then you came for nothing. We’re fine. I’m safe,” Winter announced when Ethan appeared settled again.
“No, it’s not. Blush was burned to the ground tonight,” Marcus announced.
“What?” Winter snarled, launching to his feet. He looked as if he were about to climb across the coffee table to get to his brother.
“No one was hurt,” Ethan quickly added. “The place was already empty when the fire was started, but it was a complete loss from our understanding.”
“Are we sure it was arson?”
Marcus nodded. “There were a few witnesses who saw people setting the fire.”
Winter paced away, swearing loudly. Fox stood, but he wasn’t sure what to do.
“Blush. That’s Rafe’s nightclub, right?” Fox asked Ethan.
The young vampire nodded. “He loved that place. Hadn’t even been open a full year yet.”
“Rafe?” Winter shot out, stopping in his stalking of the living room.
“About what you’d expect,” Marcus replied, shoving one hand through his thick, midnight-black hair. “Pissed and ready to start ripping off heads. Aiden is with him right now, talking to the fire chief. Lola and Jullien are with Philippe at Rafe’s penthouse. Ryder and Gideon are with Bel and his wolves.”
“And Bel?” Fox asked. As Rafe’s twin, he had to be incredibly worried as well.
“About what you’d expect,” Ethan repeated. “Pissed and ready to rip off heads.” Ethan sighed. “River and Wyatt are keeping a close eye on him. They’re afraid he’s going to try to make that goo formula again.”
Fox blinked and dropped back down in his seat. “The what?”
“Bel accidentally created this formula that’s quite effective at killing vampires. Reduces them to bubbling goo,” Ethan explained.
“Nasty shit,” Marcus added. “The Ministry has forbidden Bel from ever making it again.”
“Like that fucking matters,” Winter muttered under his breath.
“The bigger concern is anyone else getting their hands on it and using it,” Ethan pointed out, and at least Winter nodded at that.
The room fell silent, and Winter returned to pacing. After a couple of seconds, a mumbled, “This is all my fault,” rose from his lips.
Fox shot to his feet. “What?”
“I should have planned better. I should have seen this coming a mile away. If I hadn’t let myself…”
“Let yourself what?” Fox snapped. Fire burned in his veins, and he clenched his shaking fists at his sides. “Get distracted with me? Have fun? Laugh? Be a person instead of this scary myth everyone thinks you are? Why isn’t it Rafe’s fault for not doing more to protect his club? Or Marcus’s? He’s the oldest. Or Bel? Or any of the others? Why does it always have to be you who’s one step ahead and covered in blood?”
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by Fox’s quick pants.
“Yes, Winter,” Marcus surprised him by agreeing. “Why does it always have to be you?”
Winter gaped at his brother for a full second before he finally shouted, “Because it’s what I’m good at! The only thing I’m good at.”
“You’re good at more than death and destruction. You protect your family, and you watch out for me constantly!” Fox yelled back at him. “Maybe you should spend more time worrying about that, and let your brothers help protect your family too.”
“Oh, I like him. Really freaking like him. Winter definitely has to keep him,” Ethan whispered to Marcus.
Damn straight Winter was fucking keeping him. The vampire needed someone to shake some sense into him. He was pissed at Winter, but he was more worried about him than pissed. He didn’t question that Winter cared about him, but he was all too eager to toss his own life and needs aside and take responsibility for all the safety needs of the Variks. And that was just wrong. It wasn’t all on Winter’s shoulders.
“Fox—” Winter started but Fox just waved a hand at him.
“We’ll talk about it later.” He had no desire to air all his thoughts in front of an audience. God knew they’d already learned more about them than Fox was ready to share. He was still getting to know Winter, figuring out what they meant to each other. There was no reason to share things with the rest of the Variks yet.
Flopping down on the chair again, Fox turned his attention to Marcus. “I take it you’ve heard nothing from Zelda.”
Marcus shook his head. “No. I’m getting the impression that she’s avoiding us. We may have to take on Damon without talking to her.”
“What about that forum you were using,” Winter asked. “SpellIt?”
Fox shook his head. “I wouldn’t trust them for a prophecy. We’d get nothing but trolled. It’s only good for old, time-tested spells and possibly rare ingredients.”