Page 35 of Backstage at the Freak Show
“It’s true,” Raz chimed in, stroking an affectionate hand down her leg. “You’re so beautiful. So perfect for us, it’s unreal.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you for nearly a year.” I dropped a kiss on her cheek.
“I still can’t believe this is real, sometimes.” Hunter clasped his fingers between hers, their rings making a soft, metallic clink. “Some days I still expect to wake up in a cage, stuck between shifts.”
“But Mellie and Connor saved us!” Roo declared, crawling over to his dad.
“And us.” Raz nudged Arjun.
“Ditto here,” I sighed, resting my head on Mel’s shoulder. “From myself, my demons, everything imaginable.”
“You guys, seriously!” Mel fanned her face, tears welling up in her eyes again. “Stop, my fucking hormones—”
“Mellie said fucking!” Rinna cackled, falling over.
“Shit.” Mel bit her lip, catching herself again which got Roo started on the laughing.
Raz tickled the bottom of Rinna’s foot while Arjun pretended to bite Roo’s arm, amplifying their giggles, which spread laughter across the whole bed like wildfire.
“Hey!” I clapped my hands once loudly. “I have something to say.”
Everyone quieted, confusion on some faces at the sudden seriousness in my tone. I waited a few tense moments before speaking.
“I love this fucking family. That’s all.”
The kids collapsed into giggle fits again while the adults tried to keep their disapproving faces on, but it didn’t last. Through the smiles and the way everyone piled around together, I knew we all felt the same.
Part IV
The Circus of Parenthood
12
ARJUN
The thought of home tugged at my once closed-off heart. Years ago, I never thought I’d make it to this age. Every now and again I had to sit back and just absorb that, not only was I alive, I had agoodlife.
I had a wife who I missed terribly while away. I had a son, my little tiger cub in every way but blood, which didn’t matter to me in the slightest. He was every bit mine just as the humans who created him, even the animal instincts deep within me recognized that. I’d tear out hearts and entrails without a second thought to protect him and his mother, my mate.
Eagerness drove me to press down on the gas pedal, to drum my fingertips on the steering wheel as I wound through the twists and turns heading back to our house. I waved at the landscaper, knowing he’d be stern with me if I drove too fast past the veterans center where Connor worked. I already made that mistake once.
Once our charming home came into view, I felt a pulling like Mel herself had her little fists clutched at my shirt as she yanked me down for a kiss. I’d been away at a Shifter-Shaman conference for a whole weekend, and while the time spent was good and productive, it would have been better with Mel with me.
Everyone knew who she was. Stories spread like wildfire of the young shaman woman who rescued her own shifter harem, and busted an entire underground trafficking ring of shifters who’d been sold and experimented on. Her presence at the first organized convention of people like us, now that we were slowly emerging out of secrecy, was sorely missed.
But there would be others in the future. Mason was just too young to travel and Mel wasn’t yet ready to leave him.
I parked the car and hurried into the house, not bothering to grab my luggage from the trunk. It could wait until after I saw my mate and son.
The front door was locked, a bit unusual for a house with so many adults and children coming and going constantly. I fished for my keys and eagerly unlocked it, stepping into the foyer. Immediately, I heard Mason’s cries but didn’t see anyone.
“Mel?” I shrugged off my coat and hung it on my hook. “I’m home, love.”
Mason’s cries intensified at the sound of my voice and the first spark of worry hit me. Our home was usually as busy as a bee hive, but it seemed empty today, with the exception of his cries.
“Melody!” My tiger’s instinct rose to the surface as I walked deeper into the house, not full-on predator mode, but caution and spatial awareness were at their heights.
I followed the sounds of my son into the theater room, which we had half converted into a playroom for him. Relief flooded through me when I saw both of them.
