Page 86 of Dream Weaver

Years back, my brother Chris had stumbled back to the firehouse after a weekend off with “the most amazing” woman, claiming his life had permanently changed. Over the next two weeks of firefighting, he’d done nothing but croon about destiny, love, and forever.

At the time, we’d laughed him off.

Now, as I lay in the darkness, holding Abby close, my inner bear crooned the same way.

Destiny… True love… Forever…

Chris had made a beeline for Mara the minute we’d returned from our next forty-eight-hour break and came back engaged. Nearly ten years on, his enthusiasm hadn’t waned one bit. If anything, he was happier than ever, the proud dad of three kids, and cheerfully looking forward to forever together with his mate.

I nuzzled Abby’s shoulder, inhaling her floral scent. Just enough moonlight filtered into the room for me to make out the flames tattooed along her arm. Her chest rose and fell under my arm, and her auburn hair cascaded over my hand, half covering her bare breast.

Seeing Abby at rest was a little like glimpsing a UFO. I felt super special — and I doubted anyone would believe me if I told them. Not that I planned to spill the beans, of course.

I held her a little closer. I would never, ever betray her trust.

Will never, ever leave her,my bear declared.

I never wanted to, but did she feel the same?

I nuzzled some more, marking her with my scent. Thinking. Wondering. I’d never thought I might end up with a hard-talking, tattooed, single mother from what Mom would call a “broken” family. And I’d never, ever imagined myself with a witch.

Then again, I’d never, ever imagined I might find myself a woman who could fight blazing fires — along with her inner demons — and work solid steel, not to mention raising a really sweet kid.

Would all hell break loose if I brought Abby home as my mate, or would everything fall into place as easily as it had for Chris?

I took a deep breath, telling myself this was a little like working a two-week shift. Whatever would happen, would happen. In the meantime, the best thing to do was catch some rest.

I closed my eyes, snuggled Abby closer, and drifted off to sleep.

But what felt like only a second later—

Bam!I jerked upright, completely disoriented except for Abby’s tight grip on my arm.

“What’s wr—”

She cut me off with a sharp gesture, staring out the window, where the stars were beginning to fade.

It wasn’t quite dawn, but not far off. Was some foe on the prowl out there? My inner grizzly growled.

Abby tensed again, and her fingers clamped down on my arm. Her eyes were wide and wild, and her breath hitched.

A moment later, her shoulders loosened a little.

“You didn’t feel that?”

“Feel what?” I asked.

She opened her mouth to explain, then froze.

“Not that either?” she asked when it passed.

I looked around. Earthquake? Thunder? A landslide? I’d felt nothing, but Abby looked like she was ready to bolt.

“Look.” She pointed to the water glass I’d left by the bed.

Seconds ticked by.

“Watch wha—” I started, then froze.

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