Page 5 of Bear Your Fate

“Like she did to you when she almost broke your nose and put you on your ass the night you met her?” Carrick asked.

“Dad!” Braden grumbled, while the rest of us laughed.

I listened to their chatter surrounding me as I peered through the window at my two, tiny grandbabies. Nixon and Nyssa were in bassinets next to each other. Nixon had almost a full head of dark hair, just like his daddy, while Nyssa had a few wisps of strawberry-blonde hair that was almost an exact match to the shade on my daughter’s head.

My daughter. Their mommy.

My baby girl had two babies of her own, a consort who adored her, and the big shifter family that came with him. It wasn’t what I’d pictured for Selene when she was little since witch and shifter unions were unheard of back then. But I wouldn’t change it for anything, not when she was elated with the life she was building. A life she’d worked hard to get, and one I’d do anything to protect—including putting a stop to whatever it was that was going on between Carrick and me.

“It’s good you’re back in town.” The deep, masculine voice startled all of us and had us turning away from our avid inspection of the twins to find Damien standing behind us, with his gaze latched on me.

Carrick didn’t seem to like that much. I heard the air he breathed in as his chest puffed out before he stepped in front of me, blocking me from Damien’s view. Not that it did a lot of good considering the dragon shifter was insanely tall. He just cocked his head to the side and looked at me over Carrick’s shoulder.

When the rumbling noise coming up Carrick’s chest hit my ears, I placed my palm between his shoulders and rubbed in soothing circles. Since I was a particularly strong water witch and his body was made up of more than half water, I was able to send energy through my hand to help calm him.

Once he relaxed, I moved to his side to face Damien. The dragon shifter’s eyes were dancing with humor—and an awareness which made me incredibly uncomfortable. I didn’t want to even begin to guess what he thought he knew about Carrick and me, especially not while we were surrounded by his family.

3

Carrick

I didn’t like the way the dragon shifter was looking at my woman—and there was no doubt in my mind that’s exactly what the beautiful high priestess with strawberry-blonde hair, green eyes, and curves that fit perfectly in my palms was. Mine.

Sure, she’d run from me twice, but that didn’t make her any less mine. Nothing would; not even the fact that she wasn’t my fated mate. Fate could go screw herself for all I cared, considering the woman she’d paired me with and all the shit she’d pulled to harm my family. I knew what I needed better than anyone else, and it was Audra. No doubt about it.

“You’re the only guy I know who could manage to start a fight in front of a nursery full of newborn babies,” Tahlia chastised Damien, although her words were softened by the teasing glint in her eyes and the hug she stepped forward to give him. They’d formed an odd friendship during her time spent as an agent for the shifter council, and she was one of few people he seemed willing to take shit from. “Stop pushing Carrick’s buttons and come look at my adorable new niece and nephew.”

As she pulled Damien forward to the window, Braden sent the dragon shifter an irritated glare. He moved quickly to join them, pulling his mate close to his side in a not-so rare display of possessiveness that just made Damien chuckle and Tahlia shake her head.

“So my dad can get all growly at Damien for no apparent reason, but I can’t remind the guy who loaned you his home that you’re happily mated?” Braden protested.

Oh, I had a reason all right. It just happened to be one only Audra and I knew about. But if I had my way, that was going to change. And soon.

“That was forever ago,” Tahlia groaned, elbowing him in the side. “And it was because of a council mission, not anything romantic, for fuck’s sake. Get over it already.”

“I’ll never get over anything that has to do with you, honey.”

“You’ve turned him into a teddy bear,” Damien chuckled before addressing Braden. “You have nothing to fear from me. I know she’s your mate and that you make her happier than I’ve ever seen her before. I’m glad she has that with you. She’s a good woman, one I’m still indebted to, but I’ve never seen her as anything other than a colleague and friend.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” Tahlia grumbled.

“I do,” he disagreed, and I couldn’t help but wonder again what had happened during the mission where they’d met that had made the dragon shifter feel like he was in her debt. “But that’s not why I’m here. As wonderful as it is to meet the newest additions to the McMahon clan, I came because I need to speak with Audra.”

“Me?” Audra gasped from beside me, sounding as surprised as I felt.

“Yes, you.”

“Then you’ll be talking to me as well,” I insisted, threading my fingers through Audra’s.

“Did I ask for your help?” she hissed, her gaze darting towards my family as she tried to tug her hand out of my grasp.

“No, but you’re going to get it anyway,” I growled, dragging her away from the group and down a quiet hallway, not giving a damn about how it would look to everyone. I assumed Damien would follow since he needed to talk to her, and I was right. When I stopped and turned around, he was right behind us. “What do you need Audra for?”

“Council business.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. I don’t have anything to do with the shifter council,” Audra argued.

“But I do, seeing as how I’m a member of the council and have been for quite some time,” I pointed out.

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