Page 18 of Bear Your Fate

“That’s correct.”

“In all that time, can you think of any instance where it wasn’t acceptable for a family member to stand in a representative’s place if an illness or some other kind of emergency prevented them from performing their duties?”

“No.” Damien’s gaze, filled with swirling flames, pinned Ricardo to his spot. “And it’s something all members of the council are well aware of since one of their first tasks after being appointed is to decide who in their family would best handle the responsibility should the need ever arise.”

Seth took over from there. “Is this a task you didn’t complete when you joined the council, Ricardo?”

“Of course not,” the lion shifter huffed.

“Then can I assume you had forgotten about doing so when you questioned my right to make an announcement that’s perfectly in line with the rules by which we all abide?”

“I forgot nothing.”

Seth placed his palms on the table and leaned forward. “Then maybe you’d care to enlighten all of us on the point you were trying to make.”

“Selene’s connection to the shifter community is unique. She’s mated to one of us. As such, I would respectfully suggest that her situation is different than any of our others when it comes to selecting a temporary replacement. Each of us have family members or seconds who are shifters from whom we can make our choice, but there is no other witch who’s mated to a shifter to step into Selene’s place.”

“Ah, I see.” Seth crossed his arms over his chest, a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he leaned back in his chair. “It’s not that you’re against a witch fulfilling Selene’s duties while she recovers from the birth of her twins; it’s that you feel there isn’t anyone qualified to do so.”

“Yes, that’s it exactly.” The lion had no idea that he’d just handed us the perfect opportunity to solidify Audra’s position and ensure that nobody else tried to usurp the witch’s seat on the council.

12

Audra

Seth’s gaze swung to me and I barely refrained from fidgeting in my seat when everyone else’s attention followed. Having Carrick’s arm around my shoulder’s steadied me, and I met Seth’s stare without flinching.

“Audra, what is your rank in your coven?”

“I’m the high priestess.”

“For those of us who might not be familiar with what that means, can you explain what that means in regards to your place in the hierarchy as compared to your daughter?”

“Of course.” I nodded. “My role as high priestess would be most similar to your alphas. Selene served the coven behind Tempest, our maiden or the equivalent of your second.”

“That only means she’s qualified to run a coven, not serve on the shifter council,” Ricardo butted in.

Seth sent him a dark glare before returning his attention to me. “Have you served the witch council in any capacity?”

“Ys, I’ve just returned from spending nine months as their emissary, working to improve relations between witches and shifters.”

“So you’re sensitive to the issues that exist between our two communities?”

I nodded. “Absolutely.”

“And what kind of connection do you have to the shifter community?”

“I’m the mother of a bear shifter’s mate. Grandmother to two of the newest members of the McMahon Clan.” I turned to face Carrick as I finished. “And desperately in love with the clan’s alpha.”

The first two facts most likely would have been enough to prove my point, but the third was the most compelling—even though I’d never said the words aloud before. Not to Carrick. Not even to myself. But they were true nonetheless. I’d spent too much time running from my feelings, and it was past time for me to admit to them. Judging by the huge smile on Carrick’s face and the heated look in his eyes, he agreed.

“The McMahon Clan alpha is also in love with her and plans to convince her to allow him to mate her at the earliest opportunity.”

“Ma—”

Carrick cut off my gasp with a quick shake of his head and a squeeze of my shoulder.

“You’re taking her as your mate even though you are fated?” Ricardo asked.

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