Page 47 of Fated Surrender

“Yes, but I think that Ashby really does want a child. He is young and he has experienced all of these powerful emotions, which will only get stronger when the babes are born. As you can see, I have many children.” Gabriel indicated to his full lap.

“I think Ashby would find it hard to mother and fuss over men and women who are hundreds of years older than he is. He may be their prince, but he still is the youngest,” Connor pointed out.

Gabriel blinked. “I never thought about it that way. I have already reached out to some of my council contacts in regards to adoption. I’d do anything to make my mate happy.”

“Wouldn’t we all?” Connor asked softly, looking down at his mate.

Gabriel inclined his head.

Aleks walked up with Kurt.

“We’re ready to head home.”

Chapter Nine

In the end, to keep the smell of shifters out of the car, Daniel, Rhys, Gabriel, Kurt, and Lauri drove back in one SUV. Aleks, Duncan, Emmett, Gavin, and Benedict stayed in their SUV, and Finn, Connor, and Madison took Connor’s truck home. Finn volunteered to drive so that Connor could stretch out next to his mate in the back. Five minutes outside of Arkadia, Gabriel’s car broke away and headed toward the coven house.

By the time they reached the clinic Madison had shifted back and was gloriously naked, awake and looking around. Connor was not amused at the way that Finn kept laughing at him when he growled every time Finn went to turn around. Madison laughed and snuggled into Connor’s jacket.

The truck door opened and Doc Claybourne stood there with a white hospital blanket for Madison. His face was pinched with worry. Connor handed off his mate to her brother and followed them into the clinic. He watched as Doc gently eased his sister down on the bed.

“Okay, let me see,” he demanded.

Sighing, she removed Connor’s jacket under the blanket and rolled onto her stomach and let her brother pull the sheet down to expose her back. Connor stood beside the bed and traced his fingers down the puckered, pink lines. To still have this much visible damage after a shift, it was evident her wounds should have been fatal.

With a trembling hand, Doc carefully pushed on the skin on either side of the furrows. Connor looked over and saw that Felix wore an identical sick expression on his face.

Connor was about to say something to Felix about how ill Doc looked when the small redhead forced his mate to lie down on the bed opposite of Madison.

“I’m so sorry, Maddox,” Madison whispered. It was only then that Connor made the connection. Madison, Madelyne, and Maddox were triplets. He had felt her pain and as a doctor he knew that it had been life threatening. He had to sit in Arkadia, completely helpless, and endure it.

Connor looked over to where Doc lay on the bed, one hand covering his eyes as tears dripped down his face. Felix stood on the other side of the bed with a death grip on Doc’s other hand.

“I thought I had lost you,” Doc said brokenly.

Connor swallowed hard around the lump in his throat. He brought the blanket up and tucked it in around Madison.

“I’m harder to kill than that,” she joked.

Doc looked over to stare at Connor.

“Vampire blood?” he asked.

Connor nodded. “Daniel donated a few drops. Psycho drugged her so she couldn’t shift and heal,” he explained.

“Just when I think I have a handle on paranormal medicine.” Doc shook his head.

“I feel so stupid,” Madison whispered.

Connor, Doc, and Felix stared at Madison.

“Don’t say that, baby. He had this planned down to the minute. He killed three Sentinels at the perimeter to get in and to create an escape route. He shot Ricochet to create a diversion. Like Daniel said, he’s a sick bastard, but, he’s smart.” Connor rubbed Madison’s back in small round circles.

“I had a general idea of what he looked like, knew he was a smaller guy, I should have never turned my back on him. He just looked so small and helpless.” She buried her face in her pillow.

Connor pulled her out of her pillow. “That is how he kills, sweetheart. He wouldn’t be successful, if it didn’t work.”

Suddenly she sat up and gripped the sheet to her chest.

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