A Bevin Hero [The O'Hagan Way 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) by Joyee Flynn

about us,” Rylan explained. “Experimenting on us and trying to figure out how to use our blood and its strength for their benefit. What better test subject than the Prince? Bevin knew they hated my family and were immoral but didn’t know how far it went. When they came to him, demanding that he help them take me, using our friendship to draw me into a trap, he said no.
    “They said they’d find a way with or without him and if he was part of their family, that he’d assistance them. He realized they’d really do it, so he agreed. Instead he led them into a trap. He knew some wolves from the closest pack to the old palace and got them to help, not even wanting their blood on my hands. He killed his father himself as the wolves did his mother and two brothers. We heard a commotion at the entrance of the palace and came running.
    “Imagine my surprise to see Bevin sobbing over his dead family, crying that that he had to kill them to protect me. He was inconsolable for months. I thanked and rewarded the wolves and handled everything from there. Bevin demanded a new last name, not wanting even to be a part of them anymore. We went to the elders and they deemed him Bevin Innocente.”
    “Which means innocent ,” I whispered as I stared at our mate. “How old was he?”
    “It was twelve years ago last week, on his birthday,” Rylan said sadly. “He just turned thirty.”
    “Eighteen! The poor lad,” Ma cried softly. “He has a family now and we take good care and love our own.”
    “Aye, that we do,” me da, Manus, agreed. “He’s one of us from here out.”
    “I get it now,” I said as I looked at Rylan. “Why ya got so upset immediately at what happened. He’s not just your friend or one of your people. He’s your person. He’s yours.”
    “Yeah, he is,” Rylan agreed, giving me a meaningful look. “I love my mates and I would do anything for them, but Bev ranks right there with them. He’s my person. I never, ever have doubted him. We’ve been best friends for twenty-five years. Ever since this little five-year-old came walking over to me cute as could be, and tiny even then for his age, and announced I wasn’t cool enough to be Prince.”
    “He did that?” Ronan chuckled, brushing his fingers over Bev’s cheek.
    “Oh yeah,” Rylan answered, shaking his head. “He said a Prince had to be the best at everything and totally cool. I thought I was so cool at ten of course, and I looked at him and asked what I couldn’t do better than him. I absolutely thought he couldn’t come up with anything. Bev proceeded to burp the alphabet and then smirked at me, saying he was way cooler.
    “I realized right then anyone, even that young, who had the balls to talk to a Prince like that would always be honest with me, the most loyal friend, and help me be the ruler I wanted to be. We’ve been friends ever since.”
    “You know we’re going to ask if you can burp the alphabet, my love,” Ferris chuckled.
    Rylan glanced at his mate and I saw the mischief in his eyes and the smirk on his face. “Backwards, forwards, and in a few languages, my mate. I’m the coolest kid around. Bev made sure of it.”
    I laughed with everyone else, staring at me mate. How awesome was it that our mate had the love and respect of a King like that? He’d won the heart of a ruler. Honestly, from what I’d already seen from our mate, I couldn’t say I was surprised.

Chapter 6
     
    Damian
     
    “Talk to me, mi alma,” I whispered gently when Cyrus finally stopped moving when he was outside. I figured he just needed some air and that was understandable, but I couldn’t help him if I didn’t know what was going on. I mean, I knew because hearing that his family was in Bilbao, Spain, meant something to him. But it was more than that.
    “Just when I thought my heart couldn’t hurt anymore,” he sobbed, my chest tightening in fear and at the grief my mate was feeling. “I cannot take much more, amante. I truly