But Daddy’s gaze was trained on Ryde. The boy stood in the middle of their pack, wide-eyed and curious, with Assa’s hands on his shoulders. Like the others, he remained silent, letting Zinn, Asher, and Valentin take the lead.
“That’s him?” Daddy asked in a high-pitched whisper. “Your son.” His focus shifted to Valentin. “And yours.”
“Yes,” Zinn said. “This is Ryde. My son. And Valentin’s. And Wes’s and Assa’s and Calder’s.”
“What?” Daddy’s brows furrowed.
“These four men—” Zinn motioned to each of them “—are my partners. And the boys are our children.”
“You’re…together?” Daddy sank back on the couch. “All of you?”
“I realize you’re very traditional but I’m confident you’ve heard of polyamory.”
Father stood, looming over Zinn. “This will not do.”
Zinn laughed, feeling a wave of awareness that he was free. “You don’t get a vote.”
“No. Absolutely not. If anyone found out.” Father’s fists clenched.
He leaned toward Zinn but was cowed by Calder’s immediate forward movement. “I’ve been quiet to this point,” Calder growled. “But if you even hint at trying to intimidate Zinn, I will make sure it’s the last thing you do.”
Father was brash, but not stupid. Calder was the largest man in the room.
“You needn’t worry about your precious reputation,” Zinn said, placing a placating palm on Calder’s wrist. “I’m not here to make your lives harder. Yourunconventionalson need not become public knowledge because no one is going to connect Zinn Rosen of Bellwether Province to Zeller Parkenson of Warburton unless you send them looking. Our friends who know the truth won’t expose it, and even with Asher and me back in each other’s lives, no one else has put it together. Because no one cares—unless you give them a reason to.”
Daddy’s eyes returned to Ryde.Hello, he mouthed. Ryde shyly buried his head in Valentin’s hip. Then Daddy looked at Lachie in Wes’s arms.
“Can you…introduce us to your family? Please.”
Father sat back down. “Deveron, you can’t possibly be entertaining this…this…depravity.”
Daddy patted his thigh. “Please, my love. I just want to meet them.” His gaze fell on Zinn. “This is the last time we’ll see you?” His voice was barely audible.
Zinn studied his omega father. The sharp perception in his features. “Yes,” he replied. “I think you can guess why we’re here.”
Daddy nodded, his eyes teary.
“What are you talking about?” Father sputtered. “Obviously they’re here because Jem’s gone. Someone needs to take over as my heir. Asher is a beta, but he can still marry well and—”
“We’re not staying, Father,” Asher interrupted. “I told you.”
“Then why come back at all!?” Father bellowed, standing again. “After you blew everything apart leaving the first time! You realize Jem was okay before Zeller turned twenty-five? Then you both left, and he turned sullen. Drinking. Cheating. Embarrassing himself in public. His whole life, he’d done what we’d asked him to do, but after you defied us, it was like he realized…”
“He hated us for it,” Daddy mumbled to no one in particular. “Resented us for choosing an incompatible omega. He was so…out of control. In the end.”
“And now he’s dead!” Father shouted. “He’s gone, and one of you needs to step up. Someone has to carry on the Parkenson legacy.”
Zinn eyed Asher, recognizing they both had mixed feelings about Jem. He hadn’t been a good man, but he’d been their big brother. And he’d carried the heaviest burden of their parents’ expectations.
Asher opened his mouth to speak but Zinn stayed him with a hand to the shoulder. “No, Father. You can’t pin this on us. We are very sorry Jem is gone, but we’re not responsible for what happened to him. And we’re not staying.” He looked at Daddy. “But I will introduce you to my family. As long as you understand, it’s hello and goodbye.”
Daddy nodded as Father rolled his lips inward. “At least we have Jem’s omega brats,” he hissed. “I don’t love the idea of having to wait to turn my legacy over to one of their husbands, but at least that will allow us time to plan.”
“No,” Zinn said. “That won’t be happening either.” He glanced at Daddy. “You understand?”
“That you’re here for Lanni and Bevin? Yes.”
“Good.”