Page 62 of Bianca and the Monsters

He is smugly satisfied with that and, hopefully, me as well. “Okay then, I’m glad we understand each other. Now, tell me what’s happening with her.”

“She informed you about her bond with Bastien, correct?”

He nods.

“Thatis what’s happening. He is fully becoming hers and she is fully becoming his mistress. She consented to this role, but some of this may take her—them—by surprise. Tarans are exceptionally rare and a true match even rarer, so no one can guide them in how this bond will be forged. But, I assure you, he can’t do anything that she doesn’t want. He willneverhurt her. He literally exists to serve her, fulfilling every need she ever has.”

Sir Jimmy considers that. “And what about you and Lord Archie?”

“What about us?” Archie asks, claiming the seat beside me.

“Tell me about your intentions with Bianca.”

Archie nods for me to begin, looking stern to cover his nerves.

“I knew she belonged with us. Her heart, her quirky mind, her kindness, and that spark you mentioned. Our duty now is to provide the life she has always deserved. What I can promise you is that she will never want for anything that we are able to give.”

“And if she can’t get Nico back…?” He lets the words drop, probably not wanting to upset us.

Archie crosses his arms over his chest. “We don’t know what to say to that, only that we will do everything we can to ensure her heart is safe with the rest of us. Nico is beloved by us, our family. We want him back, but we can’t promise you a fate that is anything but certain. That said, we don’t underestimate our Lady’s ability to convince any adversary to bend to her will.”

Sir Jimmy’s smile broadens, his cheeks pink now. “You’ve seen her in action at the homeowners association meetings, haven’t you?”

I laugh, recalling some of the best episodes of our own Bianca reality TV show. “We made popcorn and ate chocolate in celebration, and had shirts made during the affair of the offending willow tree. I thought we were going to have to cross the border when she chained herself to that gorgeous tree, but they cracked in the end, didn’t they?”

Her father takes another bite and then nods as though to himself. “I think we understand each other, so I’ll save all the threats fathers like to throw around.” Intensity flashes in his eyes and a deep sorrow reveals itself. “Just swear to me that you won’t ever take her for granted. Life sometimes steals what is most precious, and what you lose can’t ever be reclaimed. So you endure, do the best you can to honor what you lost, and live. But life is never the same again.”

He leans forward and pats my hand and then does the same to a very surprised Archie. “I know you can’t promise to bring Nico back and heal Bianca’s heart, but you’ll be there for her no matter what happens.” He scoffs and waves his hands at the two of us. “Most fathers probably wouldn’t celebrate this kind of relationship for their daughter, but I have to say that having four of you all dedicated to my daughter’s welfare suits me just fine.”

“You are very progressive, Sir,” Archie says with deserved admiration.

“I guess I am, and for what it’s worth, I’m very grateful to be here and will work to honor the sacrifice Nico made for my daughter and me. But this isn’t over and I hope to tell that furry monster exactly how grateful I am to his face.”

Chapter44

Bastien

Ican barely notice anything about the present moment. Not the endless forests, the occasional river or stream, the bouncy ride on this steed, even Pennie’s warm arm around me. The present is entirely distant, as I relive every second of mating my mistress for the first time.

In every panic-ridden imagining of my first mating, all I saw was the loss of self, the end of any independence, and the beginning of complete subjugation to the needs of a cruel owner. Just how wrong I was makes me doubt any deeply held, unexplored belief I’ve ever had about anything. Everything around me and within me feels new and worthy of a fresh look. Nothing dank and dark can thrive now that I know exactly how beautiful and perfect it is to be mated to my one true mistress.

Pennie leans down and says softly in my ear, “It’s so good to see you like this. In all our years together, I never once realized just how heavy a weight you’ve carried all your life. But now I do, because it’s finally been lifted and the difference in you is remarkable. You shine all the time now. I’m sorry I couldn’t make you feel safer, but I hope I helped as much as I could.”

“You did, Pen. You and our family kept me safe so that I could find her. Without you and everything you’ve done for me, I couldn’t—wouldn’t—have endured.”

His grunt is one of satisfaction and surprise. “It’s nice to think that destiny isn’t a cruel joke, isn’t it? All our years of hoping and dreaming for more, only to realize that our best dreams could never match this bliss that finally arrived. We will cherish this new life even more because we’ve lived so very long without it.”

I stroke his arm that surrounds me. “You’ve lived without it much longer than the rest of us.”

“I have, beyond what any creature around me could fathom. Only the trees and the rocks could possibly understand what forever means. But she’s finally come and we were right to carry on, to walk all the roads that led us to each other and now to her.”

“We need Nico back. Nothing is right without him.”

Pennie is silent while the sounds of all the clomping hooves form a soothing cadence. “I’m not saying that I believe success is assured, but I’m struggling to imagine our Lady ever relenting on this quest. And since we can ensure she lives forever, I find myself daring to believe that our family will be reunited.”

I tilt my head up to gawk at his chin and the side of his face. “Belief looks good on you, Pennie.”

His arm around me squeezes. “And love, safety, and purpose look good on you.”

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