I drifted off into my own slumber not long after, the same sense of warmth and safety Ali had mentioned speeding me to my rest. I woke about six hours later, my face full of scented golden hair and my dreams full of comfort and joy. I thought about getting up but decided I wanted to stay like this for a while. Warm and happy without and demons or infernals or other unpleasantness. Besides Ali needed her sleep, especially any that wasn’t disturbed by her usual nightmares.

I’d been worried about her dreams for ages, we’d tried tea and crystals wards and potions, but the only thing that made her sleep soundly was lying next to me. Not every night of course, she didn’t like to admit that it happened and didn’t want me to worry, so I only convinced her to nap with me when I saw she was exhausted, or during special circumstances like now. I leaned down to kiss her on the forehead lightly before slipping from the bed and padding over to my bags. I was going to have to unpack eventually, four years was too long to live out of a suitcase.

I dug through the bags for my shoes and unzipped a garment bag to find one of my suits. Ali and I would need to hit the town tonight to establish our credentials as hedonistic nitwits. Just as I was about to head in to shower I heard my phone buzz on the end table. I darted over as quickly as I could hoping the sound didn’t wake Ali and picked up the phone hitting the button without looking. “Ethan.” I’d just talked to dad and Alex and Nick and Thomas mostly ignored me so I had a decent idea who it was.

A clear ringing female voice came through the phones speakers “ Three rings brother dear? Twins are supposed to have a psychic connection, I was expecting you to pick up before the first chime.” I smiled and rolled my eyes at Erins antics. My twin sister was engaged to Ali’s brother Aiden just like Ali was engaged to my oldest brother Nick. Erin was fostered with the Tierneys but always made sure to call and bother me at least once a week. As the only other child my mother ever had Erin and I were much closer than my other siblings, even with the distance my sister was my closest friend besides Ali.

I made sure my voice dripped condescending annoyance (just for appearances) when I replied “Thankfully little sister we managed to avoid that particular old wives tale. A fact I’m grateful for every day, I cant imagine living in that terrifying jittery rainbow explosion you call a brain. I still don’t get how you know what we know and are still so damn cheery, it isn’t natural.” I made sure my voice showed some of the fondness I felt too, Erin might be an annoying spaz but she was still my twin. That really is a bond most people don’t understand. When dad sent her away when we were six I cried for months. Only Ali managed to finally cheer me up.

I got a fond snort in response “Whatever Captain Killjoy, its certainly easier than trying to spend all my time coming across seductive and mysterious.” I could actually hear her mockingly wiggle her eyebrows as she said the last three words, and rolled my eyes even harder. “Regardless I’m not calling to talk about the dumpster fire that is your personality. Aiden and I are on assignment for the Tierneys. We’re going to be attending Hellstrom with you. Congrats brother dear, your life will once again be worth living!”

I laughed at that, not even annoyed as the relief of being able to live near my twin for four whole years flooded me. “That’s amazing! I haven’t seen you in months! We’re going to be living near each for the first time in thirteen years!” I couldn’t wait to see her. Erin always got me better than even Ali did. This whole job was going to be easier with her here. We were a perfect team. She and Ali were best friends too, so that would make things easier, and I’d always liked Aiden, he didn’t take himself nearly as seriously as Nick.

I heard a dry voice in both my own ears and the phone as she responded “Well…for certain values of the word near.” I turned around to find my black haired blue eyed twin sister grinning lasciviously at the sight of me sitting on the bed next to a rumpled Ali from the doorway. Ignoring her ridiculousness I jumped up and bolted across the room scooping her up and spinning her in squealing circles. We both laughed as I squeezed her and Ali moaned and jammed a pillow over her head as my twin and I laughed.

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Ali’s moan rose in volume as she punched the bed, her wordless complaint muffled by the pillow over her head. I gave Erin a smile and put a finger to my lips, pulling my sister out of the room and slowly closing the door. She grinned at me “I see my darling sister in law to be still has you wrapped around her pretty little finger. I think I would resent her for it if it wasn’t so obviously mutual. Honestly one of these days one of you is going to kill Nick in his sleep, and not just for being a pompous asshat.”

I snorted as we made our way out to the living room “Neither of us would disappoint the family like that, and besides, asshat or not Nick is my brother, I wouldn’t do that to him. Ali has been ready to marry him for a long time. Speaking of which where is my illustrious brother in law. I know he never leaves your side. The boy follows you around like a puppy.”

Erins snort was much less disbelieving and quickly dissolved into giggles as a sour voice said from the couch “I do not follow her around like a puppy, and we aren’t officially married yet. Its good to see you too Ethan. She misses you terribly when you aren’t together, as much as she tries to hide it when you talk. This assignment is going to be good for you both.” The golden haired blue eyed guy that stood to greet me looked more than a bit like Ali, and I smiled at the man I’d known was there. It was my duty as Erins brother to mess with her boyfriend, but I liked Aiden, which made messing with him a pleasure as well as a responsibility.

I grinned and crossed the room pulling him into a hug “Hey brother, damn glad to have you onboard. You been taking care of my sister? I’d hate to have to kick your ass. She would sulk for a month.” Aiden grinned as his faux pompous and businesslike air melted into a return hug. Out of all of Ali’s family Aiden was easily my favorite person, hell I liked him more than most of my own brothers, Alex being the only holdout.

He released me from the hug and shot me a smug smirk “Please you know I’m almost as devoted to Erin as you are to my own baby sister. I’d ask if you were taking care of her but you would carve out your still beating heart and put it on a plate with garnish if that girl wanted a snack. I like the deflection though, acting like I’m whipped so no one will check her purse for your balls.”

I gave him a glare as I slumped down on the couch, with him retaking his own seat as Erin plopped down in his lap. “Ali does not have my balls in her purse. I’ll have you know my romantic life is fulfilling and varied. Unlike yours which I assume contains only my sister, an assumption which for your sake better be true. Anyway Erin says you guys are crashing here? Are you going with us to hit the town tonight? We’re headed to set up our covers as addlebrained fuckwits. It should be a good time, drinking and throwing around huge wads of cash like we’re morons.”

Another voice cut in as my best friend came sweeping in, in a slinky low cut black dress plopping down on Erin just like Erin had on Aiden “Er-bear! Is my stick in the mud brother taking care of you? You look fantastic, your asshole brother should have woken me up when you both got here! He also shouldn’t have asked, I insist you come out with us and wont take no for an answer.” Erin squealed as Ali landed on her wrapping her arms around her as they both crushed the life out of a weakly twitching Aiden.

I laughed and grabbed Ali yanking her onto my lap and saving her brother from asphyxiation “It is as my lady commands it. I clearly should’ve checked with my keeper before I made any decisions. Aiden I’m sure you brought a suit and Erin you never leave home without some kind of shimmering neon monstrosity that shows way too much leg. I still have to shower so I’m going to do that while Ali entertains you, before she and my sister decide to attempt my murder the same way they just tried to kill you.” I shot up dislodging an enraged Ali and bolted for the bathroom laughing, my sister and best friend howling obscenities at my back. It was good to be around my sister again.