Page 95 of Protected By Her Mate

Chapter 35

Courage, Strength, Commitment

LENNOX

Iwatch from the doorway, my arms crossed as Charlie tells tales of real-life firefighting rescues to a rapt audience of four. Surrounding her where she sits on the floor of our suite are Luke and Sarena, and Sarena’s children, Ebony and Winter.

The twin wolf shifters are five years old and usually quite a handful, except at the moment they’re peaceful and quiet. Ebony is in her wolf form, sprawled out on Luke’s lap where he absently scratches her ears, both listening to the story with rapt attention. She’s been obsessed with Luke from the moment the older human child entered the castle.

Winter is in his human form, leaning against his mother, yawning widely as he tries to stay awake to listen to the story.

For her part, Sarena is captivated by Charlie’s stories of her time with the New York Fire Department. “Did you really carry a man twice your size out of a building?” she asks, interrupting the story.

“I did!” Charlie says. “Stand up and I’ll show you how.”

Sarena claps her hands and gently sets Winter aside, standing. Though not twice the size of Charlie, as a wolf-shifter Sarena is significantly larger. Standing in front of Sarena, Charlie pushes her leg between Sarena’s legs, then grabs Sarena’s right arm and drapes it over her shoulder. Charlie bends and sticks her head under Sarena’s right armpit, wrapping her arm around Sarena’s left knee.

I watch, utterly fascinated, all of the children staring with breathless anticipation as Charlie squats, positioning Sarena’s body across her shoulders. Then, slowly and steadily she straightens, lifting Sarena off the ground.

With her arm looped between Sarena’s legs, she uses her right hand to grip Sarena’s arm, steadying her. She waves her left hand, saying, “This stance frees up my other hand so I can use it to get us out of the burning building.”

“Show me how to do it!” Sarena demands excitedly as Charlie sets her back on her feet.

They practice on the children, much to everyone’s delight and I quietly leave the room, content that my family is safe for the moment. Intending to make my way down to the Great Hall for a pint of Wolf-Haven brewed beer with whichever brother is hanging about, I lope down the castle stairs.

“Lennox!” A woman’s voice stops me in my tracks.

“Magdalene.” I give her time to join me on the stairs. When I catch sight of her worried expression, I ask, “What’s wrong?”

“I have to tell you something.” She looks around and then says, “Privately, if you don’t mind. Rush is in our suite so we can’t talk there.”

It’s never good when my sister-in-law is keeping something from my brother because it’s usually something that’ll piss him off, which means it’s more than likely going to piss me off too.

Still, if this involves Charlie, I have to find out what it is.

“Come with me.” I lead her to the castle library, a dark, dank place in desperate need of a good renovation. Neither Lock or Sarena are big readers and the large tomes contained in the library are mostly made up of castle records and history books.

As Magdalene walks through the door I open for her, she stares around with wonder. “I didn’t know this was here.”

“Most people don’t.”

Several tables litter the room haphazardly, a couple of ladders make the higher shelves more accessible and a truly embarrassing amount of dust and cobwebs coats everything.

I’m about to apologize for the accommodations when Magdalene exclaims, “I love it! I wonder if Lock will allow me to move Rush’s and my suite to this area. I could happily live in here forever. Maybe I’ll have some books moved from the magical library in the Shadow Realm to here…”

“Magdalene,” I interrupt her. “What did you want to tell me?”

“Riiiight…” She turns to face me, guilt twisting her features.

“What have you done?” I demand.

She looks offended, her hands going to her hips. “I’ve done nothing but try to help this family at every turn. I’m getting a little sick of you wolf brothers being so suspicious all the time. I’m here to help you and Charlie, the same as I helped Vanessa and Keenan.”

She’s right. I shouldn’t insinuate she’s done something wrong without proof. Feeling guilty, I say, “I apologize, Magdalene. It’s been a long week. What do you need to tell me?”

“Promise you won’t get mad.”

My guilt evaporates. “Out with it.”

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