Fated to the full Moon.

oo simple, too childlike for someone who had been around him long enough to know better. What was he thinking? There were times,

something more amused than anything else, and with a hint of frust

h confusion, as though he genuinely couldn't

e?" He gestured toward the kitchen, his hands still

expected Rickie to understand. They were family friends almost like brothers but there were things that even time and famili

luence. He had spent years working his way to the top, but now it felt like he was suffocating in the

oftly, meeting Rickie's gaze.

an't buy everything, Ric

ression unreadable for a moment. Then he shrugged, the muscles of his s

gested Rickie didn't entirely understand what it meant to be truly

hide behind an impenetrable mask. He could spend hours in meetings, dealing with power players, makin

e dynamic they shared. Azriel could remember a time when Rickie had been just a boy, eager to impress, eager to learn from his older "brothe

t sluggish, worn down by too many sleepless nights and too much stress. He pi

aised in mild disbelief. "Finished a

mall smile. "I'm ea

. "You eat like a cat, barely touc

xhaustion in his bones. "It's deliciou

the type to dive into meals with such zeal that it was almost comical. But Azriel h

away, his movements automatic. He'd always been like that efficient, almost mechanical when it came to tasks. It was one of the t

his hands on a napkin. He didn't wait for a respons

pt up on him, his stomach feeling unsettled from too much food. As if on cue, his bo

imself up from the table. His joints ached, a deep, persist

anced over his shoulder. "Alri

his legs stiff, his chest tight. When he sank into the sofa, it felt like a small relief, but it didn't last. He opened the newspaper on the

e. He had finished his meal and had become more relaxed, as if th

ake?" Rickie asked, st

the second floor. You can choose any other room. There sh

"I didn't bring anything with me, so the

orgetful when it came to his personal belongings. "There are new toiletries in the gue

hen bring them now

Rickie still had that... bossy tone. The tone that Azriel used to humor him when Rickie was just a

." Azriel replied with a soft sigh, standing u

ging you for my services," he teased, though i

up with that same mischievous ene

th every step, the familiar ache of years of use and wear. Rickie followed behind, his st

idn't head straight for it. Instead, he motioned toward one of the guest