Page 21 of Call of the Ride
I was a bit overcome with how deeply my Riders cared for me, even after such a short time. Of course, I realized that what I felt for them eclipsed anything I’d experienced before, but I was still finding it difficult to express my emotions.
Why are three little words so hard to articulate?
It suddenly occurred to me I was in the presence of two people who loved each other so intensely, I’d felt it before our connection materialized.
Clearing my throat, I decided to conduct a little research. “When did the two of you first know you were in love?”
Tan spun around to beam at us from the front seat. “Oh, I fell in love with our southern peach the moment I first laid eyes on him. He looked so pretty and lost and completely out of place amongst the knuckle-dragging grunts he’d been recruited with. I just knew he needed to be mine.”
“Yes…and you told me as much on our first date,” Asa murmured, blushing deeply, adorable as always.
“The date you didn’t know you were on!” Tan howled in laughter before slyly winking at me. “I tricked him into going out to dinner with me in Moscow, doll.”
Well, that’s a story for another time…
I sweetly smiled at the Rider seated next to me. “And what about you? Since when did you know Tan was destined to be yours?”
Asa lifted my hand and brushed his lips across my knuckles—love humming through our bond so acutely, I could feel it in my bones. My Beautiful Dawn’s pale blue eyes met mine, searching for something I hoped he could plainly see as he solemnly replied, “Always.”
Chapter 17
Taneer
Ileft Ace and Vasi to their mutual adoration in the back, attempting to sip from their heady emotions to calm my nerves. While I was eager to crush my mum in a bear hug—then promptly gorge myself on the treats she would have waiting for us—the conversation we needed to have was not one I was looking forward to.
Especially as all signs point to the Worst News Ever.
Knowing she’d encountered Veles in the past—through Cass, of fucking course—left little doubt about who the godly half of my parentage was. Naturally, I understood how lonely mum must get whenever dad deployed for long stretches of time, but the thought of that salty devil’s hands on her properly soured my stomach.
And if Veles ruins my enjoyment of mum’s baklava today, horned heads will roll.
I realized I might also see a couple of my younger brothers at the safe house today, although I had little interest in catching up with them. As the seventh son of thirteen, I’d always been more interested in my older brothers, whom I’d looked up to as gods throughout my childhood. And being the kid who could make anImamlaugh during prayers, I’d been allowed to run with them, as long as I kept the jokes coming.
This made me think of how I’d been the one to start the family legend that our brother, Sanjay, looked more like the milkman than dad. The current irony of that rumor was not lost on me, and even I had to admit, this turn of events would be incredibly hilarious…if it were happening to anyone other than me.
As I watched the buildings outside the passenger window steadily become more decrepit, I wondered who was looking after our house in Istanbul, including mum’s beehives. We were a people known for our sweets, and homemade honey was a key ingredient in many of my favorite desserts. However, our bees were also treated like family, and it was actually my mum who’d taught me to talk to them. “Telling the bees” about important events in our lives was a traditionshe’dbrought back from her time at university in England—where she’d met Cass.
I let out an annoyed huff as the taxi rolled to a stop in front of a surprisingly well-kept flat. Cassandra Moonstone had been around my entire life, as an honorary great-auntie of sorts, and she’d filled that role in an exceptionally overbearing way. Her signature brashness sharply contrasted with mum’s sweetness, although I’d heard tales of the two of them stirring up trouble together in years past. Only Cass had consistently maintained her reign of terror—especially in the back rooms of her emporium—but now I wondered how often mum was still involved in the debauchery over the years.
I’m already losing my appetite…
The tragic possibility of missing out on baklava was immediately forgotten as the front door swung open to reveal mum’s smiling face and the irresistible smell of baked paradise.
“‘Ello, Tanny!” she cheerfully called, and I immediately forgot my grievances in favor of being showered with hugs and kisses.
“Let us in already!” I laughed after a full minute of motherly love. “I’d rather catch up without getting a knife in my back from the smarmy locals, ya?”
Mum ignored my protests, gracefully dancing around me to share her affection with the others. “Acey, my love! It is always a pleasure to see you. Oha! Is this lovely lady the one you were hiding out with?”
I grimaced, realizing the last time we’d communicated was when I’d emailed her from Harbison’s in Zerkalo. My message mostly said we were still alive, while vaguely mentioning we’d left the Facility but were holed up somewhere safe. Pulling Vasi close, I opened my mouth to explain our relationship, then promptly snapped it closed again. Simply calling her my girlfriend wouldn’t even begin to describe the depths of my feelings, not to mention the complications of how Ace and Nox were also involved.
Hi, mum! This legendary witch is the fourth in my divinely destined, polyamorous quad...although she’s the only one sleeping with the grumpy Russian.
“He calls me histutly juddah,” Vasi cut in, already completely comfortable with mum, as most people were upon meeting her. “Which I’ve been told fittingly meansa very stubborn woman.”
Mum laughed heartily, snatching Vasi into her arms for a tight hug as she finally led us indoors. I entered last and quickly shut the door behind us, growling under my breath when I found little more than a standard deadbolt for security.
“Settle down, suge,” Ace chuckled in my ear. “Don’t youfeelthat?”
