Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

APOLLO

A pollo jumped from the SUV before it even came to a complete stop in front of the estate. Anxiety ripped at his gut. He raced up the stairs to the front door and threw it open, not even bothering to acknowledge the guards standing in the foyer. He strode up the stairs, marched down the River's door, and stopped abruptly. His stomach churned, and he fought the urge to throw up.

Cherry called him fifteen minutes before to tell him that River's need had passed and he could return. It had taken five minutes for Apollo to gather his things and ten to drive to the estate. The whole ride, he'd thought of nothing but seeing River and making sure she was all right. But now, standing outside her door, he wondered. Was Ares in there? Did she still want him? Had she bitten Ares? Given him up in favor of his more gregarious twin?

His wolf paced and grumbled.

Apollo knocked on the door. He had to know. Standing in the hallway wasn't going to get him any answers.

There was a shuffle of feet, and then the door opened.

At the sight of River, his wolf jumped and chuffed. Apollo couldn't help the smile that spread across his face at the sight of her.

She returned his smile and then stepped out and hugged him.

He took in the breath he hadn't even realized he held. He rested his cheek on her head and breathed in her scent.

Ours. Our mate.

Yes.

As Apollo held her, he realized that nothing had changed between them. Everything was just as they left it. She was still his, and he was still hers. Only now, Ares' scent lingered on her as well.

Apollo waited for the punch in the gut from the realization. The fear and anger. The snarl of his wolf. But none of them came. All that mattered was River being in his arms.

"Are you going to invite him in, or are you two just going to keep hugging in the hallway?" Ares called.

River let go of Apollo and smiled before pulling him down for a passionate kiss.

"Do that in his room, would ya?" Ares said.

River chuckled and went to take Apollo's hand. He looked down at it and held out a bag to her.

"What's this?" She opened the bag and squealed. "You found it!"

"Bennett kept it safe from Silas, who tried to steal it." He smiled as she popped fudge into her mouth and groaned.

"Oh my gosh, you were so right. This is the best fudge ever. I'm going to make you go back there to get me some every month."

"I'll go every week if you want. Every day."

She smiled. "We could ride your bike up there."

"It's a date."

She reached up on her tiptoes and rubbed her nose against his. Then she took Apollo's hand and led him into her room.

Confusion scoured Apollo's body as Ares lounged on her bed, a giant tray of fruit, cheese, sandwiches, and a second tray full of candy laid out next to him.

Apollo stared at his brother, and Ares lifted an apple. "Hungry?"

"Uh… no," Apollo replied.

Ares bit into it. "Good, more for me."

What the hell was happening?

"Come and sit," said River. "We need to talk."

Apollo fought for words but couldn't find any as he watched Ares. As strange as it was to find that Ares showed none of his arrogant, selfish posturing, it surprised Apollo even more to find that even his own wolf remained calm and unaffected. That hadn't happened in Ares's presence since before their parents died.

Apollo sat on the edge of the bed, and River climbed up next to Ares and grabbed a pack of M&Ms. She ripped them open and offered some to Apollo, but he shook his head. River popped one in her mouth and then tossed one to Ares, who caught it in his.

River slapped him. "Show off."

Apollo could take it no longer. "What is happening?"

River looked at him. "You're right. This is weird for you, but trust me it's weird for all three of us."

Ares snorted and bit into his apple. "Tell me about it. I mean, I see you, and my head says that I should want to kill you because I know you bit River and made love to her and everything, but my wolf keeps telling me that it's fine. Everything is fine, and I don't have to worry because she's ours."

Apollo nodded. "Same."

"See." River squeezed his knee. "I told you. You are both my mates."

Everything inside him told him that it was the truth. She scooted closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. Apollo wrapped his arm around her waist, waiting for Ares to say something, to threaten him, punch him, something… but he didn't.

River offered him another M&M, and this time, he took it from her fingers and crunched it between his teeth. Her finger lingered on his lips, and his body heated from her gaze.

She still wanted him. Wanted him the way he wanted her. She was still his. He relaxed, and she melted into him.

He looked to Ares to gauge his reaction. Surprisingly, Ares remained relaxed and finished his apple. He'd never seen his brother so calm before. So… content.

"Does this mean we're… friends?"

Ares laughed. "I wouldn't go that far, but I would say that I probably won't kick your ass anymore. At least not without a good reason."

"You kick my ass? Please. You only won when I let you."

Ares snorted. "Okay, Brother. If it makes you feel better to think that, go ahead."

A strange feeling raced through Apollo. Brother? Ares called him brother. Ares never called him that. Ever.

His wolf chuffed and wagged his tail.

A smile traced Apollo's lips as he reached in and plucked a handful of Skittles from the tray. As he popped them into his mouth, he shook his head and looked at River.

She wiggled her eyebrows and smiled. "Are we good?"

Apollo nodded. They were good. More than good. They were… perfect.

She was perfect. Somehow, River had done what he was sure would never have been possible. She'd begun to heal the rift between him and Ares. She had tamed their beasts.

"All right," said Ares. "Time to get down to business."

"What business?" Apollo reached for a cola.

"How we will tell the Council that they don't just have one king, they have two."