Page 12 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

Scott did his best to get his emotions under control. He smiled, holding up his hands. “It’s okay, I know what’s happening. There’s nothing to be scared of.” He stood, not moving any closer.

She didn’t move but stared at him, wide-eyed.

“What’s your name?” he asked in the gentlest tone he could manage.

“Kia. Kia Lombardi.” She cocked her head. “I’ve seen you around here. Aren’t you one of the medical staff?”

“Sort of. I’m here because my mate asked me to help out. You might know his name. Aelryn?”

“Aelryn? Yes, I’ve heard of him.” She froze. Dear gods, her eyes were huge. “Yourmate? Then the rumors are true?”

“Yes, but there’s something I need to explain. You see—”

He knew the moment the penny dropped. Kia’s mouth fell open, and her breathing quickened. “We’remates?”

He nodded. “Yes, but—”

“Wait, you already have a mate. so how can I—” Kia gasped. “I havetwomates?”

Scott laughed. “I know. Isn’t this amazing?” Then she was laughing too, and joy surged through him. “Hello there.”

Her eyes sparkled like black diamonds. “Hey. I have so many questions.”

“I was the same, when I found Aelryn.”

Her breathing hitched. “But that’s my first question. If you’re together, doesn’t that make you gay? And if you are, then—”

Scott stopped her words with a chaste kiss, and her arms were around his neck in a heartbeat. Their foreheads met, and she sighed.

“This feels….”

“Right. It feels right.” He kissed her again, only this time with a little more heat, and Kia molded herself against him, as if she couldn’t get close enough. Scott forced himself to break the kiss. “Aelryn and I are both bi.”

Kia’s soft exhale told him she liked that answer. Then she shuddered. “I… I have a confession.” She swallowed. “Can we sit? My legs feel like they’re made of Jell-O.”

Scott took her hand, and they sat together on the bench. “Is something wrong?”

She swallowed once more. “In the camp, they… they….”

His intuition kicked in, and he decided to see if something else had too.Did they use you in the breeding program?

Kia stared at him. “How did you—”

You can do it too. It’s part of being mates. Try it and see.

She shivered.Oh my God, this is so cool.

Scott stroked her hand. “I’m right, aren’t I? About the Gerans and their breeding program?”

Kia’s face contorted, but she nodded. “When they found out I was a puma, that was it. I was in the camp for three years, and in that time I had five babies, two sets of male twins and a little girl. Twins run in my family.”

“What happened to your children?”

Her eyes glistened. “I have no idea. They were taken from me after a few weeks. They could be anywhere.” Her face tightened. “When I was a teenager, my mom used to tell me I had to save myself for my husband, that my first time should be special.” She sobbed, and the sound broke him. “I wonder what she’d say if she knew my first time wasn’t even consensual.”

Scott pulled her into his arms and cradled her. “Listen to me. I can’t tell you to forget what they did to you, because I don’t think you’ll ever do that. In fact I’d go so far as to suggest you tell anyone who’ll listen, because there are millions of shifters out there who need to know the ugly truth. But…. We took all the records from the Maine camp. And we’re going to trace every child who was born as a result of their program.” He lifted her chin with his fingertips. “We’ll find your babies, okay? Aelryn and I will do whatever it takes.”

Kia sobbed even harder, and Scott knew exactly what to do to dry her tears. He stood, removed his clothing, and shifted.

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