Chapter 18

“Donal, what’s wrong?” Alexei asked, putting his arms around him and pulled him into his chest. “What has you so unhappy, little mouse?”

“Look around you, I don’t belong here.” Donal pointed to the gilded moldings, the golden tableware and plates. There were raised gold and enameled serving platters, and the furniture was of French origin and upholstered in blue silk. Donal had worked the armory one year during the antique show, and he recognized the great value of the pieces in the room. He looked around him. Alexei’s security acted as footmen. Donal shook his head.

“You forget until this past year, I was where you were. Different country, same treatment. Some scars you can’t see. I want you here, therefore, you belong. The other boys weren’t wealthy when they were found, ask Sean about Dimitri, ask Ian about Sal, Colin about his neighbors, and the worst before we found you, Kane and his students. You have had it harder than the others have. If they belong, so do you. No one has made you feel unwelcome, have they?” Thunderclouds formed on Alexei’s face when he asked the question.

“No, of course not. Everyone has been more welcoming than I deserve. I’m surprised your guards aren’t making you hide the silver.” Donal made an attempt at self-deprecating humor.

“You are well-loved already, little mouse. You have already charmed my staff and my friends’ husbands. Be yourself and you will be fine. Now, sit and eat your lunch.”

They went back to the table and the meal was served. Armand first, then Sean, Rémy, Ian, Marc, Colin, Gabriel, and Kane then finally Alexei, then him. Donal wondered why Alexei wasn’t served first in his own house but figured it must be some weird Russian tradition. It was then that he noticed it. A tether the size of a large ribbon tied him to Alexei. He waved at it, and his hand went right through it. Sean saw him waving his arm, and his brow furrowed.

He remembered a song his mother had sung to him before she married Arthur McConnell. A golden tether will connect your true love fair. But, put out your hand and you find it’s not there. Only to grow thicker out of thin air, because of the love for you that he bears. “Or something like that,” he said aloud.

“Something like what?” Sean’s eyes sparkled.

“A song my mother sang about a golden tether. It was passed down in my family for generations and she taught it to me.”

Armand raised one eyebrow. “Sing it for us.”

“My voice is a little rusty, but here goes.” Donal sang in a pure, bright tenor marred only by the lack of breath control from his bouts with pneumonia.

“A song from your family, you say? Alexei, you know you only need the tiniest snippet to put you over fifty percent.” Armand smiled.

A light dawned on Alexei’s face. “She will be able to change.”

“Yes, but now is not the time to discuss it,” Rémy said, clearing his throat.

Donal understood. After all, he was a stranger.

“What made you bring up that song?” Armand sipped his coffee.

“I told Alexei yesterday that I hadn’t read for years because my eyes were bad. Katya bought me glasses from the corner store. She said they were only a dollar. I would have done most anything to be able to read again, but then I never had a dollar or a book.” He frowned. “Anyway, my eyes are bad unless I have on the glasses Katya gave me. I thought I saw a golden tether and it reminded me of my mother and the song.”

Alexei’s eyes lit up, and the others all smiled. “Why are you all smiling at me?” he asked, this time his tone puzzled rather than suspicious.

Sean spoke, “We’re just happy that you’re getting better and happy enough to sing, Donal. You have a beautiful voice. Ian and Colin have to go back to class. Kane had parents’ meetings this morning so he’s off this afternoon. We thought we’d hang out with you if that’s okay.”

“If it’s okay with Alexei, it’s great for me. Oh, Colin, before you leave I have to tell you your books are wonderful. I’m already halfway through the first one. It makes me wish that it were true.”

Colin gave him a sly smile. “What would you do if it were?”

“I’d be happy for the lucky ones who found their Mates, but sad for me because I don’t deserve one.”

“You are so wrong, Donal. You of all of us deserve one,” Ian said as he got up to leave. “Armand, thank you for saving me from Sal. Now I know what I would have faced.”

Ian kissed Rémy. “You know how I feel about you. Today I have a class, not an estimate, so I must run. Otherwise, I’d stay. I’ll drop by later in the week, and we’ll watch a movie or something, Donal.”

Marc helped Colin with his coat. “I’ll drop off some more books,” Colin promised on his way out the door.”

The boys all kissed each other and Donal good-bye, and except for Sean and Kane, they and their husbands went out to the waiting limousines. Alexei also stayed behind. “Don’t you have to work?”

“Not yet. I needed to be healthy to start. Dr. Artis has yet to clear me.”

“Why aren’t you healthy?” Donal asked, puzzled.