Helio’s POV
“I need you to stay behind,” I told Cole as he stood in my office next to Aiden. Cole’s eyebrows raised then dropped slightly before he nodded. Surely, he didn’t actually want to go to another Ball, did he? “Aiden, I want to make sure you get the opportunity to meet your mate this time, so I’m leaving Cole in charge so you can come with us to Winter Harvest. Does that sound all right with you?”
My red-haired brother shrugged. “If you need me here, Helio, I’m happy to wait another year. Or seven.”
I snorted. “Not in a hurry to find your mate, Aiden?” I asked.
“Not really,” Aiden replied.
“It’s the best thing that can ever happen to a man. Trust me,” I said, clapping him on the back.
Cole still had an air of disappointment around him, but he rallied. “I’ll hold down the for
