They'd reached the house. Alexius whistled. "How did I never see this place?"
Mikar shrugged. "You didn't exactly use to socialize with the rest of us."
"What can I say? You don't have tits." Alexius shrugged. "It looks pretty good. Maybe we'll build the new house in the woods, too."
"No way. This is our territory, Helsing. You stay on the obnoxious side of the hill." Mikar walked away downhill. "I have to pick up your chairs and table."
He could have done that any time: he was giving them some time alone. Diana had truly lucked out with this man.
"Do you want to come in?"
Alexius shook his head. "I have to head back. I just wanted to ask about the song. You were pretty good, for a snotty face."
That was the highest of compliments, from her brother. Diana rolled her eyes. Then, all humor left her. "You really weren't responsible for Mother's death. Don't think that for one moment. Father wanted to hurt you." She was going to have to say it. "I could be wrong, but it's possible that you might not have been his. At least, it's possible he believed it."
If she'd expected surprise, she didn't get it. Alexius laughed, appearing delighted. "Solene Helsing, screwing around?" He could barely manage to get the words out. "By all the gods, I would never have thought of that. But it would be logical," he added, still amused, though he managed to control the laughter. "That'd explain why the old man never bothered with me. Damn." His grin widened. "Who do you think my father was, then?" Then he grimaced. "Ew, let's hope I don't have any De Villier in me."
Diana shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe there's a reason your fated mate is a wolf. You got used to running around on four legs like you were born to it."
Alexius's eyes widened. "Wasn't the alpha of the pack blond when we were growing up?"
She could only laugh. "He was. He had a huge beard, and long, matted hair." After a second, remembering the long-dead shifter she'd known as a child, she admitted, "He was kind of hot, if you think about it."
"That would make me a Rosedean-slash-whatever that werewolf was, not a Helsing."
Diana reached out to his forearm and squeezed it. "No way. You're Alexius Helsing. My brother."
He mirrored her move, holding on to her other arm. "I'm glad you're finally home."
And after hundreds of years of drifting across the entire planet, she was.
* * *
The End.