Eventide of the Bear (The Wild Hunt Legacy #3) (47 page)

Leaving us alone. Her own child.

Expressionless, the Cosantir followed her gaze to the silent, dark cabin. “Go on.”

“I-I didn’t know what to do. So I sent Minette toward the tavern.”

“And you ran toward the fucking hellhound—as bait. You think we didn’t figure that out?” Ben’s voice rose into a roar as he started to rise.

The healer yanked him back down. “Sit. Down.”

“Fuck!”

Donal chuckled. “Easy, Griz. You’re pissed at your crazy-brave female, not at me.”

“Sorry.” With a grumbling noise, Ben turned to Emma. “Sorry, darlin’. I got a problem with you being in danger.”

He cared. She knew he did, knew he’d risk his life for—oh, any Daonain—but his uncontrolled anger said he really did love her. Her lips trembled as she smiled at him so brightly that he blinked.

“Finish, please.” Calum recalled her to her task.

“Right,” she said. “Um… The hellhound charged me. Ryder came out of nowhere and attacked, saving me. Ben slammed into the creature, and then everyone attacked, and Alec killed it.”

“Your account will do for now.” Calum studied her. “Now tell me why the renter had a”—his lips twitched—“hissy fit. And why the female ran out of the cabin.”

He knew. He did. He was going to force her to tell everything. She sighed. Evasions were one thing, but she couldn’t lie to the Cosantir. “She’s Minette’s mother—a horrible, abusive mother who’s telling lies everywhere.”

“Thank you, Emma.” Calum’s gaze rested on Minette. “Alec, please call a meeting of the Daonain for tonight at the tavern.”

Emma’s breath caught. A meeting. Would he hand Minette over to her evil mother? Her gaze met Ryder’s, then Ben’s. Could they run?

When the Cosantir turned, the power of the God shimmered about him, muted by the glow of the porch light. “Benjamin, you are ordered to bring the cub, your littermate, and the bard to the meeting. All of them, cahir. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Cosantir,” Ben replied in a tight voice.

And that was that. No Daonain would go against a Cosantir’s direct orders.

A surge of rage shook her. Calum wasn’t supposed to be here. Why had he come back early? Only she knew. She’d messed up when Shay asked her about performing this summer. Vicki had undoubtedly told Alec…who’d called his littermate.

Emma curled around Minette and kissed the top of her head. She and her males would bring Minette to the meeting. But even if she had to defy the God Himself, she wouldn’t let Genevieve have this precious cubling.

“Done here.” Donal handed Ben one of the blankets and rose. “I want you all to eat something, drink at least three glasses of water—no alcohol—and go to bed for the day.” His brows drew together and he added, “The healing will make you sleepy. Do not try to do
anything
requiring concentration or alertness. Am I heard?”

He knew. Emma felt her muscles sag, felt the weariness pulling at her body and mind. He was warning them that they’d risk Minette’s life if they tried to drive today.

“You are heard, healer. Thank you for your care.” The wind whipped at the blanket as Ben pulled it around him. “Cosantir, will you need me?”

“No, cahir.” Calum tilted his head. “Shamus and Zebulon and Alec will finish the rest of the patrol tonight. Can you get your family home?”

Family.
The look on Ben’s face matched what was in Emma’s heart. “Yes, Cosantir. I’ll take my family home.”

‡

T
hey’d taken turns
showering, so someone could stay with Minette in the kitchen. Now clean and aching in every muscle, Ryder had Minette on his lap. His emotions hammered at him, impossible to control.

There was delight as his cub chattered about her night, her words flowing as if she’d stored them up to use all at once.

There was rage as she told him about being scared and how dark the trail to the tavern had been. He felt as if he had a noose around his neck at the thought of losing his little kitten.

He’d thought love was an on-off emotion, not one that expanded to fill the universe.

Sensing she’d lost his attention, Minette twisted in his arms, took his face between her tiny hands, and frowned at him. “Daddy, d’ink you mi’k.”

“Right, kitten.” The kitchen was brightening as the morning sun streamed in the windows. He caught Ben’s glance. What the fuck were they supposed to do now?

Ben’s face was pale. The deepened lines bracketing his mouth showed the strain of the night, of being hurt, of the healing that had drawn on both the patient and the healer’s reserves.

“We’re clean and hydrated as the healer ordered. Let’s get our li’l females to bed.” He put his arm around Emma, lifting her off the chair.

“You’re the only two people in the world who call me little,” The light in Emma’s amber eyes said she didn’t mind at all.

“Keep telling you, bard, to males like us, you’re the perfect size,” Ryder said.

Ben shot him a grin.

“Pretty Emma,” Minette chimed in.

“Aren’t you just the ego-stoking group?” Emma leaned forward to kiss Minette’s cheek as Ryder rose.

His cub was already falling asleep by the time he made it up the fucking, unending stairs. At the top, he waited for Ben and Emma. Neither was moving any faster.

Emma glanced at Ryder and Minette. “If you’re not planning to sleep next to her, do you mind if I do?”

Before he could answer, Ben tilted his head. “My bed’s big enough for three and a half.”

“Aye,” Ryder said, no thinking needed.

Emma’s mouth dropped open. “But—”

“It’s a big bed, darlin’,” Ben said. “We’ve been in it before, aye?”

“Well, true, but—”

Ryder studied her. She didn’t look unhappy at the thought as much as surprised, and he’d bet a breakfast bunny her mother’d never shared her bed with a cub. But with their animal heritage, most shifters reverted to needing tactile contact during stress…like cubs piling in a heap on their mother.

Emma’s shivering hadn’t stopped despite a hot shower. She needed them. He admitted the rest—they needed her just as much. “We’ll even let you sleep between us. No nightmares will get past us.”

She looked shocked he’d join Ben in ganging up on her. Then, with a soft accepting sigh, she showed her courage. “I want that. I want you both and Minette with me, so I can make sure you’re still alive each time I wake up.”

“Yes. Exactly.”

When they were all piled in the bed, males, female, and cub, Ryder gave a long, low, contented sigh. Minette was against his chest. Emma’s cinnamon scent drifted to him. He could hear his brother’s slow breathing.

Alive and together.

*

As a gentle
afternoon rain began, Ben woke and lay still, taking stock. The weariness was better. The aches in his shoulder, arm, and sides—gone. Thanks to the God’s gifts, cahirs had more resilience than most shifters.

He also hadn’t slept so deeply in years. Didn’t take a genius to know why. On his side, he faced the center of the bed, curled around a soft, lush body. Emma’s round ass was pressed against his groin, her back was against his chest, and he had his arm over her and Minette. Ryder was in the same position, facing the cub, his arm over both females.

For long, contented minutes, Ben soaked in the joy of having his female and cub in his arms. Of having his brother beside him to love and protect their small family. This was how it should be.

Last night had been…bad. If he lost his family now, he doubted he’d survive. His mouth tightened as he recalled his terror at hearing Minette was missing, seeing Emma on the ground, and Ryder fighting the hellhound.

His littermate had risked his life to save Emma, and afterward, charged in to help Ben. Emma would’ve sacrificed herself to save the cub. Could a male have any more worthy partners in life? Fuck, they made him proud.

He loved them. His littermate. Emma. Minette.

That needed to be shown. Made fact. If the Cosantir thought to take the cub, he’d face them all.

But a united front was merely a side benefit, he admitted. The step they’d take now was what his heart, not logic, demanded.

Emma’s breathing was slow and even, the flush of health in her cheeks. She’d recovered. His brother’s color had returned. Minette looked like any happy, sleeping cub. From the little twitches, she’d awaken soon.

Sliding out of bed, Ben headed for the phone to call Angie.

Fifteen minutes later, Angie showed up, her van filled with her grandchildren. A bouncing, talkative Minette was delighted to join them.

After waving the cub off, Ben trotted back up the stairs to find Emma and Ryder were awake.

“Who was at the door?” Emma’s voice was husky with sleep as she stood beside the bed.

“Angie and her grandchildren. They took Minette to join them for an afternoon of frosting cookies.” He shook his head. “She said something about the cookies having the shapes of shifters and OtherFolk.”

“Oh, I saw the cut-outs. The dwarf one was really cute. All beard and nose,” Emma said.

Ben winced, hoping Gramlor never saw the cookies. The dwarf wasn’t known for his sense of humor.

“I can imagine it now. Purple pixies and green salamanders with stripes.” Ryder grinned, and then lifted his eyebrows at Ben, asking silently why he’d sent the cub away.

“Almost dying last night made me think.” Why couldn’t his tongue be smoother? More persuasive? “I saw how easily I could have lost you two. How much I love you both.” He stepped closer to Emma, crowding her slightly to run a finger down her cheek. “Seeing you in danger sets my blood to boiling. I have a need to…feel…for myself that you’re alive.”

He knew his scent was changing, conveying his desire.

Emma’s mouth formed an “O.” But as Ben’s finger trailed down to the hollow of her neck, her scent took on the fragrance of arousal.

Ben glanced at Ryder, then at the bedside table.

Ryder hesitated before nodding. No further explanations were needed. This was what they wanted. What they’d planned to do all along. As always, since meeting as adults, he and Ben were running the trail, shoulder-to-shoulder, as littermates should.

Ben pulled Emma into his arms and kissed her, slowly and deeply, savoring the way her mouth softened, how she melted into him, how her arms came around his neck.
Cinnamon and spice, and everything nice.
Yes, this was the right time to make her theirs.

A drawer opened and closed.

He lifted his head and turned her to face Ryder. As Ryder’s arms came around her, Ben took one bracelet from his littermate’s outstretched hand.

Despite the anxiety welling within him, he smiled as Ryder took his time kissing Emma. When his littermate stepped back, their female was flushed, and her arousal scented the air. Nothing in the world could smell as sweet.

Now…if she agreed, they could celebrate properly.

She reached for them and frowned when they didn’t move. “What’s wrong?”

Ben glanced at Ryder and knelt.

Ryder’s shoulder was against his as he did the same.

Ben cleared his throat. “We love you, Emma. And you love us, don’t you?”

Her hands covered her mouth. “I still haven’t said it, have I? But…it’s so hard.” Yet even as her lips trembled, her eyes grew determined. Straightening her shoulders, their female gave them all that was her. “Yes. I love you both.”

She pulled in another breath. “I love you, Ben. I love you, Ryder.”

“She makes it sound as if her claws are being pulled out.” Although Ryder grinned, his voice rasped with emotion.

“Let’s see what she sounds like when she says yes to something else,” Ben said. He lifted his hand, the lifemating bracelet on his bear-sized palm. The silvery, moon-shaped discs ranged from the thinnest crescent to a full circle. “Emma Cavanaugh, we love you. We want you as our lifemate, to carry in our hearts and souls throughout this life and into the next.”

Tears filled her eyes.

Ryder lifted his hand, his lifemating bracelet on his callused palm. “You’ll be our center, the heart of our family. We’ll laugh with you in times of joy, hold you during the sad times, and guard you from danger.” He grinned. “And teach you to cook.” Trust the cat to add something extra.