Page 87 of Act of Brotherhood
Edee sighed. “Auberi, it sounds to me like on some level, you recognized who she was to you, and you did what any father would. You fought to save her life and did what had to be done. And look at you now. You’ve been at Garth’s throat about her and you’re not pleased he claimed her. No man is good enough for her—your daughter.”
Duke snorted—and then broke into a full-blown laugh.
Everyone stared at him like he was nuts.
“Think about it,” said Duke, still laughing. “This means Auberi is Garth’s father-in-law. When Garth has kids, Auberi will be their grandfather. They hate each other, and they’re going to have to spend eternity learning to get along.”
Edee smiled and then tried to wipe it away quickly. It didn’t work.
Malik chuckled too.
Rurik shrugged. “What I want to know is if this means we now have a Mrs. Captain?”
Garth soaked in what Rurik was asking. He looked up at Auberi from across the jet. “I have a wife.”
“I have a daughter,” returned Auberi.
Striker grunted. “Great. They’ll be repeating this shite the rest of the way. I say we encourage a fight to the death between them just to get this to end.”
Edee elbowed him again, something it seemed she did often.
He stiffened. “Ouch. You’ve a bony elbow.”
Garth shook his head, unable to believe it all. He thought about the pain he’d felt in his chest while in Nicolette the last time. It had been accompanied by the feeling of being stitched together with her. He’d really claimed her. “I have a wife.”
“Yep. You do,” said Duke. “I’d make fun of you, but I was in your shoes not long ago. Let it sink in and then come to terms with the fact your father-in-law is a vampire. And your mate is part-vampire. Hey, you might have already gotten one past the goalie. You claimed her and we all know that means there wasn’t nothing between the two of you in bed. She could be pregnant already. If she is, that means Auberi is going to be a grandpa before he has a chance to be a real father to the girl.”
Pregnant?
Garth was aware of Auberi’s shouting as the vampire continued to announce that Nicolette was nothing to Garth. The vampire also insisted he be permitted to end the “Swedish Dick-cicle.”
“Och, I’m nae allowing you to kill the Viking, regardless how fun it may seem,” said Striker. “But I may be willing to allow you to maim him. All in favor?”
“Striker!” scolded Edee.
“Never mind. Red is giving me the evil eye, and I do nae want her threatening to castrate me again. Someone else maim the Viking.”
“I’m in!” added Boomer loudly, near Auberi once more, pinning the vampire to the seat. “Rurik, want to join me?”
“He’s my captain,” said the Russian. “I should say no.”
Boomer laughed. “That didn’t sound like a no to me.”
“It wasn’t,” returned Rurik.
Auberi snarled more.
Boomer eyed him. “Dude, it could have been worse. Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t youwatchas I claimed my mate because of some fucked-up vampire clan politics? You could have had to watch the Viking claiming your daughter. I’ve been in that spot. Remember, my mate is from your line of vampires, which makes her like family to you. That means I get stuck with you too. At least you didn’t have to be a witness for your daughter’s mating.”
Auberi went nuts.
Duke was forced to help pin him in place. “Kitty, your help is not helpful in the least.”
Boomer grinned. “I know.”
Garth nearly commented on the entire ordeal but stopped, his gaze going to Edee. A couple of weeks back she’d warned him that his mate was in danger. Garth had thought she was nuts. He didn’t think he had a mate then. But Edee knew. She knew, and she’d tried her best to protect Nicolette without ever having met her. “You warned me. You told me my mate was in danger. That my brother had been watching her all her life. I thought you were nuts. I didn’t want to believe you. And he has her now.”
Edee moved to him quickly and offered a warm hug. “We’ll find her, Garth. I know we will.”
