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Chapter Text

Bernard’s patrons didn’t change much from the previous and only time Kate had visited the establishment. They all looked like rich and powerful people that knew they were being watched by other rich and powerful people. Kate didn’t care for them, but at least she didn’t stand out too much.

To achieve this great feat, Kate, together with Julie and Jezebel, had gone into the city to buy a new wardrobe. Curran had insisted on it. He said that since her aunt had destroyed all her belongings, she couldn’t wear only one pair of jeans and pack sweats. Kate had inquired whether he was ill, considering he preferred her wearing nothing at all. But in the end, she hadn’t really resisted. She got to spend time with Julie and not worry about the cost. It had been a nice Christmas present.

Now Kate was standing in the foyer of Bernard’s wearing dark jeans, an emerald green sweater, a brown leather jacket and soft leather boots, the kind she would never have been able to afford barely a month before. Her hair was braided down her back. She had even applied a bit of make-up. She had no idea why she’d done it. Maybe the fumes from the new clothes had made her lose her mind.

A medium height man with the beginning of a receding hairline wearing black slacks and equally black sweater entered the foyer, saw Kate and stopped.

“Kate! What are you doing here?” well, what do you say, Ghastek actually sounded surprised.

“Hello, Ghastek,” Kate replied, aiming for pleasant and casual. Her shapeshifter babysitter straightened from the wall and went deeper into the restaurant. “I’m here for the Conclave.”

The other Masters of the Dead flowed around Ghastek and her, deeper into Bernard’s. Only Rowena nodded her head in Kate’s direction. The others ignored her. Someone was in for a surprise. Kate noted each one as they passed. No Nataraja. Interesting.

Ghastek frowned at her. “Why?”

Kate heaved a terrible sigh. “I was bribed.” This was too much fun.

Ghastek’s frown deepened. “What? You’re not making sense.”

Kate shrugged. “My honey-bunny promised me that if I suffer through the Conclave, I’ll get a proper dinner afterwards, with actual food.”

Ghastek opened and closed his mouth like a fish. Apparently, she had managed to short-circuit his brain.

Before Ghastek thought of a response, Curran entered the room. He wore jeans and a dark grey sweater, and he looked scrumptious.

Maybe she’s been having too much sex and now she was losing her mind. It was the only explanation to this insanity.

Ghastek had clearly decided that he had bigger things to deal with and turned to Curran. “The People greet the Beast Lord.”

Curran inclined his head half an inch in response. “The Beast Lord greets the People.” He came to a stop beside Kate and placed his hand on the small of her back. “Our room is ready. Shall we?”

“Of course,” Kate smiled at him over her shoulder.

Curran pressed lightly at her back and led her deeper into the restaurant. Ghastek had no choice but follow them.

Bernard’s had reserved a large dining room on the second floor for the Conclave meeting. The Pack and the People sat at either side with an assortment of delicate looking entrées arranged between them. All the Masters of the Dead, except for Ghastek were already seated. They had left a seat for Ghastek in the center of the table, next to Mulradin Grant. No seat was reserved for Nataraja. Extra interesting.

On the Pack side all the seats were taken as well. Only two seats, directly across from Ghastek and Mulradin were unoccupied. They had a full house tonight, everyone wanted to see the People’s reaction to their little announcement. Kate and Curran reached their seats. Curran pulled Kate’s chair for her and only sat after she was seated. The Masters of the Dead stared at her from across the table.

“Shall we begin?” Curran asked casually. He was enjoying this too.

Mulradin nodded, cleared his throat, glanced at Ghastek, and said, “Yes. Ahem. The People formally great the Beast Lord and the Pack.”

“The Beast Lord and the Pack great the People, for the second time,” Curran answered levelly. He had noted Nataraja’s absence as well and was testing the water. Good.

Mulradin narrowed his eyes and glanced at Ghastek but said nothing.

“I shall begin,” Curran continued. “We have some organizational changed that we would like to notify you of. I would like to introduce Kate Daniels.” He gestured at Kate, a smile tugging at his lips. “She is my mate. She is now the female alpha of the Pack.” Curran stopped and let that announcement sink.

Ghastek and Rowena only blinked. Mulradin frowned. The others looked in varying degrees of shock, some openly gawking.

“Her title is Beast Lady,” Curran continued. Kate fought a grimace. “You and all your employees are to treat and address her as you would treat and address me.”

Mulradin cleared his throat. “Welcome, Beast Lady.”

Across the table Ghastek mouthed “Honey-bunny” at her. Kate flattered her eyelashes in reply.

***

One thing you had to give Curran, he was a man of his word. Kate had suffered heroically through the Conclave, and he dutifully took her to a grill house. They had a booth to themselves and Curran had ordered what appeared to be a whole cow.

The restaurant was busy, despite the late hour, but Kate didn’t feel crowded. It was just the two of them, sitting across from each other and she felt herself relax little by little. They didn’t say anything, just sat and looked at each other. Kate thought that maybe it was a little awkward, but then the food arrived, and they concentrated on eating.

She finished her ribs before Curran was done with his three steaks, so she sipped her iced tea and watched him. He looked so handsome in the grey sweater. She had brushed her hand over the fabric and knew that it was soft. Really, he was handsome in any sweater. She really looked forward to taking it off him.

Curran finished the last steak and looked up at her. Kate smiled.

Hmm, she might have drunk too much tea. Kate slid from her seat and brushed her hand over his. “Bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

Curran nodded and leaned back in his seat.

A server appeared beside their table and started to clear the empty plates. The boy glanced at Curran. “You’ve got a fifty-fifty chance, I reckon.”

Curran leaned forward, studying the server. “What do you mean?”

The server tilted his head in the direction of the bathroom. “With her. A lot of couples come through our doors. I’d give you fifty-fifty.”

“Why do you say that?”

“You haven’t said anything to each other the whole time you were here, but on the other hand she won’t take her eyes off you,” the server shrugged with arms full of plates, not a small feat.

“What’s it to you?” Curran leaned an elbow on the table.

“Successful dates tip better,” the server grinned.

Curran allowed a pleasant smile. “Noted.”

When Kate returned to the table, it was clear of plates, and Curran was studying the dessert menu.

“Anything interesting?” she asked.

“Our server thinks that I have a fifty-fifty chance with you,” Curran answered, putting the menu down and sliding it over to her. “Apparently not speaking is hurting my prospects.”

Kate laughed softly. “We’ve been spending all our time together. I can’t think of anything new to tell you.”

Curran smiled at her. “You’re not taking dating seriously.”

“You’re right,” Kate made a face. “This is a date. Goddammit.”

Curran laughed. “What’s wrong with a date?”

“I don’t date,” Kate sighed, then thought for a moment. “This would be the fifth date I ever been to, in my whole life.”

“Well, I’ve been to lots of dates,” Curran answered her. “Doesn’t help me with you in any way.”

“How so?” she arched an eyebrow at him.

“Dates have one of two purposes,” Curran lifted one finger. “One: to flaunt one’s date. I have no intension to do that. You’re mine and that’s the only thing that’s important. I don’t care what anyone else thinks.” She wanted to kiss him for that.

Curran lifted a second finger. “Or two: to convince one’s date to have sex with them. I don’t need to do that either, you’re coming home with me.” He flushed her a satisfied grin.

“So sure of yourself, Your Furriness.”

Curran spread his hands on the table, his smile almost blinding. “We’ve been together for a month, in that time you have told me ‘no’ exactly once – at five in the morning after we’ve been having sex for six hours. I’ll take my chances.”

That bastard. She needed to take him down a notch or two. “That’s such a guy reason to date. It’s revolting.”

“Is that so,” he smiled at her like a cat who knew there will be cream at the end of this conversation. Kate wanted to punch him. “What’s the female reason to date then?”

She feigned nonchalance. “Last time I went on a date a friend advised me to see if the guy was fun.”

Curran leaned forward. “Was he?”

Like he didn’t know. “No.”

“Am I?” the self-satisfied smile was back. Curran relaxed back in his seat.

“Please,” Kate rolled her eyes at him. “Your idea of fun would make most women run away screaming.”

“But not you.”

She had completely lost her mind. It was the only explanation. When in doubt, change the subject. Kate tapped her finger on the menu. “Do you want anything?”

Curran shook his head, happy golden lights danced in his eyes, and Kate almost forgot how to breath. “I’ll have desert at the Keep. But they have chocolate cake, if you want.”

She was going to have that chocolate cake if only to make Curran sit across from her and stew a little longer. It had nothing to do with the chocolate whatsoever.

“So, why would you date?” Curran asked, once the cake was requested.

Kate tilted her head and looked at him. They were sitting in a busy restaurant, so many possible threats, the magic was up, and yet he was completely relaxed and focused on her. He made her feel so important and cared for. Warmth and happiness spread through her in his presence, the likes of which she had never experienced. She had never expected love to feel so good.

“I would date to get to know the other person. To see who they were, if they were worth dragging myself out of the safety of my wards for.”

Curran was looking at her with characteristic intensity, completely focused on her. Kate fought not to shiver. “And?”

“I don’t need to do that with you,” Kate smiled. “I know who you are. I may not know anything about you, but who you are I know.”

It was Curran’s turn to arch an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

Kate reached over the table and placed her hand on top of his. “You’re in charge of fifteen hundred people and you feel responsible for every single one. If one of them gets so much as a splinter you take it like a personal failing. But when someone who you’ve nurtured since they were a child, pushed and encouraged in the right direction succeeds, you say it was their own achievement and had nothing to do with you. You untangle their messes for them. You sit and listen to them moan and complain without any indication it bothers you. You care so much. But you don’t have anyone to care for you. There’s no one to tug at your wrist and remind you that you’ve reached your limit. No one that would wrap you in a blanket and just hold you because even you need comfort.”

Curran turned his hand under hers. Their fingers wrapped around each other, palm to palm.

“I may not know what your favorite book is, or what music you like to listen to, but I know you.”

Curran lifted her hand and kissed her finger. “I’ve got you now. Everything else, we have the rest of our lives to discover.”

The server brought them her cake, and Curran let go of her hand. Kate took her fork and slid her foot against Curran’s leg under the table. Curran lifted his eyebrows and Kate winked at him.

When they were done, the server was tipped generously.

Chapter Text

The sun was shining happily on a clear July day. Beatrice was wearing one of her favorite floral dresses and a sun hat. The bakery and cafe, where she was meeting Martha, was a Pack owned business. They had a nice outdoor garden in the back where two friends could drink tea, eat cake and chat without the praying eyes or ears of strangers. Beatrice didn’t need to worry about the establishment itself either. It was Clan Heavy owned, and Martha’s presence would appease any curiosity.

To any outside eye, Beatrice looked like a typical middle-aged woman. Plump, the beginning of wisdom lines on her face, happy dress, and gentle disposition. It was an image she cultivated carefully. Being underestimated was very important when one’s clan was the smallest and rowdiest in the Pack. She would do everything she could to solidify the place of her clan and ensure its safety. There were new winds blowing in their parts, and the person to unfurl their sails the fastest would get ahead. Beatrice intended to leave everyone else far behind.

An African American woman with a big smile and a halo of curls around her head waited at their usual table. She wore cotton slacks and a light blouse. Her oversized bag hung from her chair with knitting needles pocking out. The woman stood up to great Beatrice when she was ushered in.

“Beatrice, it’s so lovely to see you.”

“Likewise, Martha,” Beatrice answered. They exchanged a warm hug and took their seats.

A young werebear girl came in carrying a pitcher of iced tea and an assortment of cakes. The two friends concentrated on the delicacies before sitting back and regarding each other.

The werebear girl came by to gather the empty plates and refresh their iced tea.

“How are you, Beatrice?” Martha asked, in a pleasant voice.

“I’m very well,” Beatrice answered just as pleasantly. “My hooligans are behaving themselves for once. We managed to weather the flare relatively unscathed.”

Martha sighed. “Nasty business. We had some losses. You remember Natalia? Her son and niece didn’t come back. Boris’ brother too. A couple more you don’t know.”

Beatrice placed her hand over Martha’s. “I’m sorry.”

Martha patted Beatrice’s hand and Beatrice let go. “Thank you, dear. It could have been worse.”

Yes, it could have. It was exactly the direction Beatrice was aiming for, but Martha wasn’t done talking.

“I heard that the reason Clan Bouda has been so peaceful lately was because its main instigator is busy,” Martha raised an eyebrow, her eyes sparkling.

Beatrice sighed like a put-upon mother. “Raphael proclaims he’s in love.”

Martha raised both her eyebrows. “Raphael?”

“Yes.”

“In love?”

“Yes.”

Martha’s good-natured smile grew bigger and she laughed. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

Beatrice chuckled with her friend. “Neither had I. I’d all but gave up.”

“I’m happy for you,” Martha sipped her iced tea.

“That’s just cruel of you,” Beatrice chided. “You know how well it’s going for him.”

It was Martha’s turn to chuckle. “So it’s true? She’s rejected him?”

Beatrice nodded. “She’s a Knight of the Order. He’s completely smitten, and she won’t have anything to do with him.”

Martha shook her head. “A Knight of the Order. At least he’s aiming high.”

“My Raphael won’t settle for second best,” Beatrice sipped her iced tea. To tell Martha or not to tell? Warning Mahon won’t be in her best interest, but Martha could be an ally if framed right.

“How did they meet?” Martha asked casually.

She already knew, Beatrice realized. Well, that pushed her decision. “During the flare. She was hurt and a Friend of the Pack brought her to us.”

Martha nodded. “A good friend to her as well, to brave the flare.”

Beatrice agreed, but saying it wasn’t necessary. “What’s your position on the situation?”

Martha sighed. “I’m sorry, Beatrice. I can’t help you. You know how Mahon is and she lost control. It doesn’t matter she was attacked or that it was during the flare. If pushed, he’ll say that no loss of control is justifiable and only proved she needs to be put down.”

Beatrice tapped her fingers against her glass. “Alright. Thank you for telling me. Knowing your vote in advance also helps.”

“Of course, dear.”

The two friends sat in silence and sipped their tea.

“What do you think of her?” Beatrice said eventually. No need to specify who ‘her’ was.

Martha reached over to the pitcher of iced tea, found it empty and motioned for the werebear girl to bring them more. Martha was stalling. It was fine. Beatrice had patience in spades.

“I’ve never met her,” Martha said, after they were brought more tea. “I only know what Mahon tells me.”

“And what does he say?” Beatrice really wanted to know.

Martha smiled. “Not a shapeshifter. No sense of self preservation, but somewhat capable. Spits in the face of authority, which is a surefire way to get Curran interested.”

Beatrice allowed herself a small smile. “The last one was you and not Mahon.”

Martha chuckled. “You’re right. Mahon doesn’t understand that about Curran. He says that she’s pretty enough, but Curran would get over it.”

Beatrice shook her head. “Not likely.”

“Really?” now Martha looked interested. “You know something I don’t.”

It wasn’t a question, but Beatrice answered anyway. “Several things. For instance, did you know Myong went to see her?”

Martha’s eyes sparkled. She slid her fingers around the tip of her glass. “Did she speak to Curran on Myong’s behalf?”

“I have no proof, but I would bet this excellent tea on it.”

Martha nodded. “He’s already treating her as his equal.”

“Yes. I was not involved with the Red Stalker affair, and Raphael was only there for part of it, but I would say she proved herself to him somehow.”

Martha left the glass and reached for her knitting needles. She was worried about the implications to the pack. Beatrice knew that her friend concentrated better with the needles in her hands. It was good to know that her own presumptions were mirrored by Martha’s.

“Mahon was heavily involved with the Red Stalker,” Martha said eventually. “The hits on the pack were done by a rogue Master of the Dead.”

“Nasty bugger,” Beatrice spit out.

Martha nodded and continued. “She took the Master of the Dead on her own. Was ready to sacrifice herself for the pack members to survive. She would have died if Curran hadn’t rescued her.”

Interesting. Beatrice would have to file this tidbit for later.

“Mahon argued for Friend of the Pack for her then, and Curran didn’t object.”

“We need a liaison with the Order,” Beatrice confirmed.

Martha nodded. “Only it wasn’t over, and Curran’s wolf was kidnapped. Then the stalker called, and she and Curran went to take care of him. Mahon said that when he went to get them, they were both practically in pieces.”

“She fought by his side,” Beatrice said. “She must have stood her own.”

Martha gave her a look. “He’s the best fighter in the Pack. Mahon can’t take him.”

“Don’t let the old bear hear you say that,” Beatrice chuckled. “But what I said is still true.” She leaned forward toward Martha and lowered her voice. “She made the demon army kneel with a single word. She had a sword and her rage, and she walked out of that battle alive.”

Martha’s knitting needles clicked. “Mahon says that if they are left in a room together, they come to blows within two minutes.”

Beatrice laughed. “Can’t get their hands off each other.”

Martha’s needles paused and then she laughed as well. “How sure are you that he’ll mate her?”

At least Martha didn’t beat around the bush. “Very,” Beatrice answered honestly. “He fed her.”

Martha pondered this news for a few minutes. “Mahon won’t like it.”

Beatrice arched an eyebrow. “Mahon isn’t the one mating her.”

Martha sighed. “He doesn’t think she’s good enough for Curran.”

Beatrice waved her hand dismissively. “There isn’t anyone good enough for Curran, in Mahon’s eyes.”

“Mahon would settle for a bear,” Martha smiled.

The time for jokes was over, Beatrice leaned back in her chair, feigning casual. “Curran needs someone who would not be afraid to stand up to him, which no one in the Pack would do. He needs someone he can trust to fight by his side, which she has already proven she can. He also needs someone who can add value for him and the Pack, which she does. And lastly, he needs a cause. I spoke to her when she came to my house during the flare. The girl is hiding some dark secret that Curran would not hesitate to sink his teeth into.”

Martha nodded and looked suitably impressed. “Good speech. I’m glad you took all that off your chest.”

Beatrice flashed her teeth at her. “Do you disagree?”

“I never said that.”

They sat in silence. Beatrice sipped her tea. Martha knitted.

“I can’t help you with Raphael, but I’ll give on her account,” Martha said eventually.

“How so?”

“I won’t prod Mahon too much. You know how he is. He would never realize where the wind is blowing on his own. It would give you enough time to make your move.”

“Thank you,” Beatrice smiled pleasantly.

Martha nodded. “If Mahon gets a whiff of this, he’ll tear her to shreds.”

Beatrice signed. “The way things are looking, Curran would rip him apart for merely thinking about it.”

“True, true,” Martha conceded. “More cake?”

“Please.”

Chapter Text

Elara was elbow deep in paperwork. It was annoying paperwork, income and expenses, materials and orders and the day-to-day of their lives, and it was important. It didn’t mean she liked it, or that the beautiful spring day outside was improving her mood. There was very little worse than a beautiful spring day when one was forced to be inside and do paperwork.

Nadia rushed into her office. “My lady!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide.

Elara was already rising from her chair. She had wanted a respite from her paperwork, but an emergency was not what she had in mind. “What is it?”

Nadia came to stop in front of her desk. “A couple walked out of the forest. They have a pet lion cub.”

Elara blinked. Well, that was unexpected. “What do you mean?”

Nadia breathed deeply. “A man and a woman walked out of the forest, like they were on a pleasant stroll. There’s a lion cub jumping around them like a dog. They’re coming to the castle.”

Savannah walked into her office. “I don’t like the look of them,” she said, obviously overhearing Nadia. “Should Hugh be alerted?”

Elara sighed. “The man is blond and very muscular, and the woman is almost as tall as him, long dark hair and a sword?”

Savannah frowned. Nadia gapped at her. “Yes. How did you know?”

Well, at least she didn’t need to do any more paperwork. “The lion cub is not a pet. He’s their son. Nadia, please go find Hugh. Tell him his sister is here.” Elara quite enjoyed the look on Savannah’s face, it wasn’t often she managed to surprise her.

***

Elara stood on the top step to the castle. When Kate and Curran would reach the bridge, she would descend to greet them, but in the meantime the ten steps offered her a good vantage point. Savannah and Dugas were beside her. Johanna and Stoyan stood somewhat to the side. No sign of Hugh yet.

Kate and Curran didn’t look like they were in any hurry to reach the castle either. Conlan kept pouncing into the bushes at the side of the road, then trying to jump his parents, who were playing along.

“Since when does Hugh have a sister?” Savannah asked.

Right, Elara hadn’t disclosed Hugh’s family dynamic with her advisers. She had felt it was his private matter. Now she had to do an abbreviated version. “She was abducted as a baby,” Elara said. “They only discovered she was alive about five years ago.”

Dugas harrumphed. “Lucky.”

If only. “Yeah,” Elara said instead. “Just don’t let Hugh and his brother-in-law be alone together.”

“Why?” Savannah asked.

Elara sighed. “Remember a couple of years back Hugh threw a hissy fit over working with the Pack because he hated the Beast Lord?”

Savannah frowned. “Yes. So?”

Elara nodded toward Curran. “That’s him.”

“Hugh’s long-lost sister married a man Hugh hates?” Dugas asked.

“Elara didn’t tell you about the part where their Dad ordered Hugh to kidnap Kate,” Stoyan added helpfully.

“They’re trying to patch things up,” Elara said. “Family is complicated.” Theirs more than most.

“You mangled the order completely,” Hugh said beside her. Elara didn’t quit jump. Hugh’s hand ghosted over her back, but he didn’t linger. “But I think you hit all the important points.”

Kate and Curran stopped about two feet away from the bridge and appeared to be arguing. Conlan rolled happily on the grass at their feet.

“Don’t let him touch the water!” Hugh bellowed.

Kate and Curran glanced at him for a second. Kate nodded, Curran said something to Conlan, and they returned to arguing. Conlan moved to roll on the grass away from the moat.

“What is happening?” Savannah asked. Her bewilderment was quit amusing. Elara glanced at Hugh, his eyes were sparkling in mirth. Wonderful, now they were sharing a private joke. Surely, the world was coming to an end.

“You’ve never seen shapeshifter children,” Elara said.

Savannah gave her an incredulous look. “We have two shapeshifter families here waiting for Pack escort. They have three children between them.”

Elara shook her head. “Those children grew up in fear. Their parents told them to hide and control themselves from the start. Those children are afraid of outsiders and their parents encourage it for their safety. Hugh’s nephew grew up in a pack. He has been completely safe.”

Hugh hmphed beside her. Elara chose to ignore him. “That child has always been free to wear whatever skin he wanted. Right now, the pull of the forest is probably too much for him, so he is in his animal form.”

“It looks like they’re arguing who’s turn it is to change his diaper,” Dugas added.

“Mhmm,” Elara agreed. Close enough.

Kate and Curran looked like they reached an agreement. Curran pulled off the pack he had been carrying and put it on the ground. Kate knelt and rummaged inside. She pulled out some clothing, then turned to the lion cub. He ignored her.

Kate’s stance changed. She twisted to the side, leaning forward, placing more weight on her toes. Then, suddenly, she lunged for her son. She was fast, and the lion cub wasn’t fast enough. Kate caught her son’s back leg, but the cub twisted and freed himself. The cub lunched into the air, away from his mother, and straight into his father, who grabbed him by the scruff. The small lion hung in the air for a few seconds, then switched shape into a human boy. The scruff his father was holding disappeared, and the boy would have slipped from his grasp, if his mother wasn’t ready and caught him in a pair of pants. Curran smoothly put a shirt on his son, as a finish.

The whole thing took half a minute and looked like a well-rehearsed circus routine. Elara wondered if she should clap. Johanna was chocking from laughter. Even Stoyan cracked a smile.

Curran pulled the pack closed and shouldered it. Kate took her son by the hand and the three of them moved toward the castle. Conlan was pouting.

Elara and Hugh descended the stairs. Their people followed. From the corner of her eye Elara noted there were slightly more people in their vicinity. She saw faces peering from the windows as well. Gossip traveled fast.

Kate, Curran and Conlan crossed the bridge. Elara and Hugh met them on the grass.

They just stood in front of each other for a second before Elara remembered her manners. “Welcome,” she said with a pleasant smile.

“Hello,” Kate answered with a small smile. She stepped up and gave Elara a hug. Well.

Curran and Hugh stared at each other.

“Lennart.”

“d’Ambrey.”

It didn’t look like they were glaring, yet, so that was probably a win.

Kate let go of Elara and knelt to Conlan. “Do you remember your aunt Elara and your uncle Hugh?” she asked him.

Large grey eyes studied her. “Hello, Aunt Elara,” the boy said. Then his eyes moved to Hugh. Conlan looked like he was gathering himself, then he jumped, launching himself at Hugh. “Uncle Hugh!” he shrieked happily.

Hugh caught the boy midflight, threw him in the air, caught him, and sat him on his shoulder. “Hello, trouble-maker.”

Elara and Kate looked at the spectacle in fond amazement. Conlan had decided Hugh was his absolute favorite uncle and no amount of cajoling, by Curran, could sway the child. It was probably because Hugh facilitated the more dangerous type of Conlan’s play ideas.

“Hello, Elara. Lovely castle,” Curran said by her side.

“Curran, welcome,” she answered with a smile.

“I hope you didn’t let Hugh decorate,” Kate said.

Elara frowned. “Why?”

“His previous castle looked like someone had raided old music videos for furniture,” Kate answered with a smile.

“And everything creaked,” Curran added.

“Only your furniture creaked,” Hugh commented. They had started walking towards the castle. Conlan still sitting on Hugh shoulders and enjoying it immensely. “It was chosen specifically to prevent you from relaxing.”

“No matter,” Curran said, deceptively casual. “We relaxed in the shower, and in the mountains. Repeatedly.”

Not even five minutes. Elara raised her eyes to the heavens. Kate rolled her eyes. Their escort looked at them in horror.

“I’m sure you’ll find your rooms to your liking,” Elara interrupted. “We have enjoyed your hospitality and we’ll make sure you will enjoy ours.”

“Thank you, Elara,” Kate shot her a grateful glance, then looked pointedly at Curran and Hugh. “Also, please don’t kill each other.”

Curran and Hugh stared at her. Their entourage gapped.

“What?” Kate crossed her arms over her chest. “It needed to be said.”

Hugh picked Conlan off his shoulder and tossed him down. Conlan rolled in the air and landed on his feet, grinning.

“Want to see the horses, trouble-maker?” Hugh asked.

“Yes!” Conlan answered excitedly.

Hugh took his nephew by the hand and they peeled off to the side, toward the stables.

The rest of them reached the castle. Elara lead Kate and Curran to a large sitting room with soft couches and a table set up with iced tea and refreshments.

“Please,” Elara gestured.

Kate and Curran sat at one of the couches. She took up another. Their entourage hovered behind them.

Elara looked at them. “Sit,” she instructed. “These are our advisers, Savannah, Dugas, Johanna and Stoyan.”

Kate looked at Stoyan with narrow eyes. Curran studied him as well. Did they know him?

“Your father,” Curran sad. “You went to see your father and came back with him.”

“Right,” Kate nodded. “You look better. I’m glad you survived.”

Stoyan nodded his head but said nothing. Elara would have to ask for the story later.

“To what do we owe this visit?” Elara asked.

“Just a social call,” Kate shrugged. “You’ve been to our house three times already. Figured we’ll visit you this time.”

Elara could feel Savannah and Dugas’ stares burrowing into her back. Yes, she hadn’t mentioned that either. “We’re glad to have you,” she said. “We have school set up down in the village, and two shapeshifter families with children waiting for an escort to the Pack. I can talk to the teachers and they would be happy to include Conlan.”

“That would be lovely,” Kate said. “He might get bored though. The forest fascinated him. Could you find someone who could take him explore for a bit?”

Elara nodded. “Hugh has several shapeshifters in the ranks. They are familiar with the forest, one of them would happily take him.”

“Wouldn’t you prefer to take him yourself?” Dugas seemed to have found his voice.

“My animal form is too large for this forest,” Curran shrugged. “And he would run away from Kate just to prove he can. We’ll take him swimming in the lake. Unless the water in the lake is dangerous?”

“No, no,” Elara reassured them. “Just the moat. The lake is fine. I’m sure other children would love to join you.”

“Of course,” Curran nodded. “You mentioned that you have shapeshifter families waiting for an escort.”

It wasn’t exactly a question, but Elara didn’t have a problem elaborating. “Yes. Kentucky has banned packs, so shapeshifters come to us and the Atlanta pack comes to pick them up. They usually send an escort. The road is so dangerous.”

“When are they due to arrive?” Kate asked.

“The families only got here a couple of days ago,” Savannah said. “It usually takes the Pack a weak to organize an escort and get here.”

“Tell them we’ll do it,” Curran said. “What do you say?” he turned to Kate. “We’ll do it in the same timeframe too, and Conlan would have friends on the way back.”

“Sure,” Kate nodded.

Dugas frowned. “The Pack escort is usually six shapeshifters.”

Curran smiled, and Kate smirked. “We’re more than enough.”

“They’re either insane or suicidal,” Johanna signed.

“They’re Hugh’s sister and brother-in-law, what else did you expect?” Elara signed back.

“What did you say?” Katye asked. They haven’t commented on the sign language until now. Savannah had been signing their conversation from the start.

Elara sighed. “Johanna said you’re insane and I said you’re Hugh’s sister.”

Kate smiled, and Elara wanted to back away. “That’s definitely true.”

Chapter Text

Petitions were an unacknowledged international torture device. If Kate had to sit for much more of this drivel, she would kill someone.

Slayer was in her lap, and Kate run her fingers over the edge of the blade, just for something to do. Curran was sitting beside her. George sat to the left of them behind her own desk. The two petitioners stood in front of their table, Clan Jackal and Clan Wolf. Those two were always at each other’s throat.

Kate couldn’t concentrate on the petition even if her life dependent on it. She was so bored, it felt like her brain would start leaking from her ears. She had to amuse herself somehow.

Her fingers trailed Slayer again, and Kate cast her eyes around the room. There weren’t many people in the hall, maybe twenty shapeshifters. This would probably be the last petition, and afterwards they would be able to go back to their rooms.

Hmm. That’s an interesting thought.

Kate waited for a lull in the petitioner’s words and slid Slayer back into its sheath. She did it casually, but she turned her body slightly and pressed into Curran’s arm as she did it.

Curran glanced at her from the corner of his eye but remained focused on the jackal.

Kate suppressed a smile and waited until the jackal finished speaking before reaching for the glass of water waiting for her on the table. On her way to the glass, she trailed her fingers along Curran’s forearm. She sat back with her glass in her hand and re-crossed her legs, so that her leg rested against Curran’s.

A glance above the rim of her glass showed a muscle tensing in Curran’s jaw, but no other sign he had noticed. Kate smiled behind her glass and took a sip of water.

Next it was the wolf’s turn to drone on. He had the most monotone voice Kate has ever heard. Whatever this wolf was doing for a living, he had missed his calling. He should read people to sleep.

Kate reached over to put her glass back on the table and pressed her whole body against Curran’s side, pretending to read his notes over his shoulder.

With exaggerated care, Curran lifted his hand and slid it under the table to place it on her thigh. Kate could feel the muscles of his arm straining not to move. She let him listen to the wolf talk for a couple of minutes, then trailed her hand from his shoulder down to his fingers and laced their fingers together on her thigh.

Curran breathed deeply against her, very calm and collected, but she was pressed against him and she felt him. She exhaled and her breath brushed his ear. Curran’s eyes turned gold and the wolf stumbled on his words.

Too much.

Kate pulled back from Curran’s side, but left their entwined fingers on her thigh.

She didn’t do anything else for the rest of the hearing, letting Curran give his ruling in peace. When Curran asked George if there were any more petitions, she pulled his hands all the way up her thigh and closed over it with her other leg.

Curran didn’t stumble on his words, but she could see it was close. Kate glanced at George and saw her frightened expression. A look back at Curran revealed he looked murderous. Oh boy, she was probably in trouble.

Fortunately for everyone involved there were no more petitions.

Kate casually released Curran’s hand from her legs and her fingers, as they waited for everyone to vacate the hall. Curran watched their people leave the room, and Kate watched him.

George gathered her papers and looked at them apprehensively. “Do you need anything else?”

Curran shook his head. “Dismissed.”

She was in so much trouble. Curran never spoke to George like that.

The last person left the hall and Curran turned to look at her slowly. His eyes were pure gold, and his expression was thunderous.

Suddenly, Kate realized he was going to have her on the desk right there. Her little game had aroused her, but that realization spiraled her out of control. She would let him and wouldn’t care until afterwards.

Curran leaned toward her and she forgot how to breath.

The door behind them banged open and Derek run in. “My Lord!”

Kate jumped. “What?” Curran snarled with enough force to stop an army.

Derek skidded to a halt. “Nowak and Hanson are fighting.”

The jackal and the wolf. Goddammit.

Kate sighed, her excitement deflating. “Go. I’ll get dinner ready for when you’re back.”

“This isn’t over,” Curran growled at her, but he got up and went to the door.

***

It was late and the darkness was heavy around the lone vehicle driving down the road away from Atlanta. The magic was down and the hum of the engine kept Kate’s mind at bay. She was so tired.

A couple more minutes and she would be at the Keep. She would be home, and this day would be over.

Kate turned onto the path leading to the keep and the Magic rolled over. The car’s engine died. Fun-fucking-tastic.

Kate pushed at the car’s door and slammed it shut after her. It would take fifteen minutes to chant the damn thing to work and twenty minutes for her to walk to the Keep. She’ll take the walk.

She started down the road, making as much noise as humanly possible. Within five seconds a monstrous half-man half-wolf rushed at her but managed to skid to a halt before actually attempting to tackle her. Good reflexes, she should mention it to Curran.

“Coshhhurrrrt,” the sentry managed through mangled jaws.

“My car’s dead at the turn,” Kate told him, waving behind her, and continued toward the keep.

The wolf raised his head and howled. His howl was answered by several others, and the sentry melded into the darkness. Derek had tried to explain to her the different type of howls, but she wasn’t a werewolf, and it was beyond her.

Five minutes later Kate saw a woman run on the path toward her. The woman didn’t stop, just tilted her head mumbled a low “Consort” and continued on. Her jeep would get to the keep eventually.

An eternity later, the gates of the Keep loomed over her. There was light in the small windows, and the gates were open, expecting her. Kate didn’t quite sigh in relief, but it was close.

The only thing left was to conquer all the stairs, and she would finally be home.

Nothing to it. One step at the time.

Argh.

Kate managed to enter the keep and go through the courtyard relatively unmolested. It was early evening by shapeshifter standards, a lot of people finishing shifts and wrapping up their business for the day. She was greeted by a chorus of ‘Good evening, Consort,’ on her way and she had waved or nodded back. All she wanted was to get home.

Kate headed for the nearest entrance, but it was blocked. A man, broad shoulders, tight corded muscles, blond hair, and grey eyes. She was so tired it took her an actual moment to register that Curran was blocking her way.

Some distant thought suggested that he might be upset about something. Kate didn’t care. She had a horrible day, and she was so tired. She launched herself at him.

Her arms went around his neck, her face buried in his chest. His scent, his warmth wrapped around her like a blanket. After a surprised second, his arms went around her. She had missed him so much.

“Baby?” he asked quietly. His voice sending warmth through her. She was so lost it wasn’t even funny.

“Mmm,” she answered, burying her nose deeper into his chest. The people in the courtyard were probably looking at them. They weren’t much for overt displays of affection. The gossiping shapeshifters were probably lapping it up. She was so tired, she couldn’t muster herself to care.

“C’mon,” Curran said, turned and led her deeper into the Keep without letting her go.

“Magic hit just as I made the turn to the Keep,” Kate told him, to say something. “I walked the rest of the way.”

“Rough day?” he asked. His arm slid from around her shoulder, and he took her hand in his instead. It was easier to walk, but she missed him.

“Yeah,” she nodded.

“Up for the climb?” he asked. Whatever he was upset about before was not that important, apparently. Golden lights were dancing in his eyes.

“Do I have to?” Kate asked with a sigh.

“No.” What?

Belatedly, Kate noticed that Curran wasn’t leading her up to their rooms, but down the long corridor that circled the Keep. “Where are we going?”

Curran didn’t say anything, just kept leading her until they arrived at a door. It looked like any other door. There were in fact several just like it along the corridor.

Curran pushed the door open. Finally, Kate’s brain caught up with her, and she realized they were in the guest wing. All the rooms were guest rooms. Why were they there?

Curran pulled her inside and closed the door behind them. It was a standard Keep guest room: a bed, a dresser, probably with pack sweats inside, a door to the bathroom. But Kate didn’t have a chance to admire the room, because Curran pushed her back against the door and kissed her.

The world fell away. Nothing existed outside the feel of them. His lips covered hers, their tongues sliding against each other. Curran’s hands were on either side of Kate’s face, touching her gently. She didn’t want gentle, she wanted him. Now.

Kate held on to Curran’s hips and pulled herself flush against him, pressing all of her against the length of him. She writhed against him, eliciting a growl from him. One of his hands left her face and slid down to cup her breast through her shirt.

Off. They needed to take their clothes off.

Kate let go of Curran’s hips and her hands drifted up, taking Curran’s shirt with them. He had the most magnificent abs. She should appreciate them while she was there.

Curran’s hand moved from her face to burry in her hair. He pulled gently to tilt her head to the side. His mouth left hers and started to travel down her neck.

She wanted him inside her so much it hurt.

A knock vibrated through the door, shocking through Kate as she was pressed against it.

“Kate!” Derek called from the other side. His voice sounded urgent.

Curran growled into Kate’s neck. They both stilled.

“Kate, it’s Julie,” Derek called from the other side of the door.

It was the worst day ever.

“Is she okay?” Kate called out through the door.

“I saw Jezebel carry her to Doolittle,” Derek answered.

Curran pulled the door open. Kate was running before it finished swinging.

***

Kate sat at her desk and sorted through the pile of newspaper clippings in front of her. Cutting Edge was hired by a nice lady to find out what was eating her chicken. The old lady had lucked out and had a big back yard where she kept chicken, geese, and ducks. Whatever it was took only chicken and left weird imprints in the mud. Kate’s biggest clue was the large black and yellow feather she had found under the coop. She was sure she’d seen something about some black and yellow feathered creature in the newspaper, but she couldn’t remember what it was or when she’d seen it.

Julie and Ascanio had started a ‘weird shit’ folder. No way would they have overlooked a black and yellow feathered thing that eats chicken for fun.

At least she was by herself. It was early afternoon. Julie and Ascanio were in school. Andrea was gone. Derek was on a job over at Ponce de Leon, Kate didn’t expect him back for a few hours. Blessed silence, and she had work to do.

The knob on the front door turned and the door opened.

What now? A client would have knocked. This was someone from the Pack, probably Jim, or Barabas to chide her about something.

A broad-shouldered man entered the room, he was tall, blond, and emanated power. Curran.

This was better than Jim or Barabas. Kate smiled. “Hey.”

Curran closed the door behind him. “Hey.”

“To what do I owe the honor of Your Majesty’s presence?” Kate asked as she got up from behind her desk. The chicken killer could wait.

“I was in the neighborhood,” Curran shrugged, his grey eyes dancing with gold flakes. “Thought I’d drop by.”

Kate walked around her desk and went to meet Curran. “This morning you said you were going to Clan Heavy House to supervise the negotiations with Clan Nimble.”

Curran stepped fully into the room and closed the distance between them. “I did,” he said. “Then I was called into the city. A pack owned business was burned down.”

That made Kate stop. “Is everyone okay? What happened?”

Curran nodded. “Everyone is accounted for. I left Colin in charge. It was one of theirs.”

Kate exhaled in relief. “Good.”

“Since I was already here,” Curran continued, lifting his fingers to caress her cheek. “Figured I’d come around see if you’ve had lunch yet.”

Mmm, lunch. But Curran was right in front of her and the light in his eyes was promising. “Lock the door,” Kate said, putting her hands on Curran’s chest, and pushing him back. It was futile, pushing him was like trying to push a hundred-year-old oak.

Curran leaned down and brushed his lips lightly over hers. “What?”

He wasn’t even listening to her. She had to try before she forgot herself completely. “Lock the door, before a client walks in on us.”

Some sort of understanding lit behind Curran’s eyes. He took two steps back, not taking his eyes off Kate, turned the key in the lock without the looking, and pounced at her. Kate found herself swept off her feet into Curran’s strong arms. His mouth covered hers.

Her arms went around his neck. Her fingers digging into his short hair. Curran took two steps forward and leaned her against the desk. One of his hands sneaked under her shirt.

She wanted to wrap around him and never let go.

Something scrapped against the door, then Derek’s distinct voice said, “what the fuck?”

Curran and Kat froze. Slowly, they separated and looked at the door. The doorknob turned, but the door didn’t open. Kate’s key was preventing Derek from opening it with his own.

Curran put his forehead against Kate’s shoulder and breathed deeply. Kate studied the ceiling.

“Kate? Are you in?” Derek called from the other side. “The door is stuck.”

Kate sighed.

***

Kate surveyed the kitchen. Everything looked ready. Anxiety rolled through her stomach, making her a little nauseous. She tried to tell herself it was ridiculous, but it wouldn’t let up. Nothing to do about it. She had one more thing to do, and then she would just have to wait.

Kate pulled on some pack sweats and went to the guard station.

Three people sat at the guard station. One of them was Derek. Oh, no.

“What are you doing here?” Kate demanded as way of greeting.

Derek blinked at her. “Hey, Kate. Larisa asked me to cover her shift.”

“Get out,” she demanded.

Derek got up from his chair, his brow creased. “Is something wrong?” He was asking if she was mad at him.

Kate pointed at the wererat that was sitting next to Derek. “You! Get out too.”

“Kate, what’s going on?” Derek had stepped out of the guard station.

Kate glared at him. “In an hour the Beast Lord is going to walk through that door,” she pointed to the door of the Beast Lord’s apartment to her left. “And he’s going to go through this corridor and enter that door,” she motioned with her hand along the corridor until she finished with the door to their privet rooms. “He will close the door behind him and not a single person would approach it until tomorrow morning. No one would even think about approaching that door.” She looked at the third shapeshifter, Blake, a werejackal. This particular werejackal was new and was terrified of her, which was perfect. “Am I clear?”

Blake nodded, trying to shy back in his chair.

“If you need the place secure, let me stay,” Derek said.

Kate turned to him. “I don’t need the place secure. I need to be left alone. You are too familiar with us. One of the clans would come up here tell you some sob story, and you won’t hesitate to knock on our door so Curran would go hold their hand while they do their damn job. Blake is terrified of us. He is terrified of us significantly more than anyone that would come through our door. For the next twelve hours, unless the Keep is physically on fire, I don’t want to know.”

Derek took a step back from her, his eyes wide.

“Am I clear?” Kate asked, just to hammer on the point.

“Yes, Alpha,” Derek answered.

“Yes, Consort,” the wererat and werejackal answered in unison.

Kate stayed at the guard station long enough to verify that only Blake remained, then turned back to their rooms. Nothing left to do but wait.

A little more than an hour later, the door to their rooms opened and closed in quick succession.

“Kate?” Curran called. He sounded tiered. “Why did you dismiss the guards? Blake looked terrified half to death.”

“In here,” Kate answered from the kitchen. Show time. If only the damn butterflies would leave her stomach it would be very helpful.

Curran walked to their kitchen. “What’s go –“

He stopped mid-sentence and stared. That was a good sign, right?

Their kitchen table was loaded with food. She’d worked half the day to make him dinner: rolls, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and a salad. The steak, marinated in beer, was in the oven. The apple pie was waiting on the kitchen counter.

Kate was standing by her chair, wearing a lacy bra and blue cotton panties. Her hair was braided. She had thought about leaving it down but didn’t want it to get in the food. She was trying very hard not to wring her hands.

Curran’s eyes darted all over the table, then he focused on her. He looked at her like a man lost in the desert would look at an oasis. Slowly, he managed to unhinge his jaw. “It’s November 15^th.”

It wasn’t a question. She nodded anyway.

He took a step toward her and she lifted her hand. “No.”

“What?”

“You’ve been out of the Keep all day. Go wash up, change your clothes. Then come have dinner with me.”

“You expect me to sit quietly and eat dinner, while you’re looking like that?”

Kate smiled. “Yes.”

“Kate,” Curran breathed.

Kate spread her arms. “It’s your own terms. You missed the first time. Here’s your chance to discover what could have been.”

“If you had opened the door to your house, looking like that, it would have taken us hours to get to dinner.” Curran was inching toward her as he spoke. He was leaning forward slightly, preparing to pounce. That wouldn’t do.

“We’ll never know, would we?” Kate took her chair and put it between them. The look in her eyes was a challenge.

Curran corrected his stance, put more weight on his heels. “As you wish.”

Kate’s breath hitched. She grabbed the back of the chair to steady herself. Curran left the kitchen with a self-satisfied smile.

Dinner was torture. Usually, shapeshifters ate with a single-minded purpose. Nothing was more important than food. Curran kept stopping and looking at her. His steak was half eaten, he barely touched the potatoes. He didn’t even look at the salad and mushrooms.

She couldn’t take it anymore. “Is the food not to your liking?” she spent the whole day cooking. He hadn’t had problems with her cooking before.

“Baby,” Curran said. “The most beautiful woman in the world is sitting almost naked across from me. It’s hard to concentrate on the food.”

Oh. Well, in that case there was only one thing she could say. “Should I leave?”

Curran’s eyes turned completely gold. “If you get up from the table it would mean that dinner is over.”

Kate arched an eyebrow at him. “That sounds like a threat.”

“It is,” he showed her his teeth. She was in so much trouble.

Kate drummed her fingers on the table, studying Curran’s face. To torture him some more or not?

Curran put his utensils to the side and leaned back in his chair. Damn it all to hell, she couldn’t wait for much longer herself.

Kate pushed away from the table and stood up. Curran straightened in his seat. “Let me clear the plates,” she told him. “I’m supposed to wait on you.”

She took their plates away and went to put them in the sink. She was about to turn back when two arms appeared on either side of her. A broad chest bumped into her back. He trapped her against the counter.

His breath ghosted against her ear, and his lips closed on her neck. He planted hot kisses from her ear to her shoulder, and Kate let go. She tried to turn to face him, but his hands caught her arms.

His hands slid down her forearms, took her hands and placed them on the counter on either side of her. “Leave them there,” Curran breathed into her ear.

Arousal had been swirling steadily in her stomach all evening, but the way Curran spoke to her had her weak at the knees. Liquid heat pooled between her legs. She let her head fall back against Curran’s shoulder, giving him everything.

Curran’s hands trailed back up her arms to her shoulders, leaving a line of sparks on her skin. He pulled the straps of her bra down.

“For shapeshifters, food is the best way to show affection,” he said into her skin. “To give food to a perspective mate means I’m willing to sacrifice my own sustenance for you. When a prospective mate makes you dinner, they’re showing they are willing to put time and effort into the relationship. They are demonstrating consideration and sacrifice. It’s a showy gesture at the beginning of a relationship full of promise and optimism.” Curran switched to kiss the other side of her neck. His hands light over her back. “That you would do this after all the shit we’ve been through this year… You have no idea how much this means to me.”

She had to say something. “I didn’t know,” Kate whispered.

“Would you still do it if you did?”

“Yes.”

He snapped her bra open and pulled it off her, replacing her hands on the counter after taking it off. His hands danced all over her body, caressing her back, cupping her breast, pulling her against him. His mouth started to move down, kissing along her spine. His hands found her panties and pulled them down her legs. Slowly, torturously, he pulled the tiny fabric down, all the time peppering kisses along her back.

Kate leaned on her hands on the counter. She didn’t know if her legs would keep her upright.

Once her panties were off, Curran didn’t stay down. His hands moved over her legs, as his mouth mapped her back. When he was back on his feet, he pulled her against his chest, his arms bracing her.

He was still fully clothed, and she was completely naked. Kate could feel his hard length against her back. She leaned shamelessly against him and moaned.

Curran left one hand around her stomach, bracing her. The other hand went lower and dipped between her legs. Kate almost screamed when he brushed her clitoris, but his fingers didn’t linger and dipped inside her.

“You’re going to come one my fingers,” Curran’s voice was gruff. Kate was completely lost in him. “Then you’re going to come on my tongue. And if I’m satisfied with you, I’ll let you come on my dick.”

Her nipples were tight on her chest. Her skin was on fire. The feel of him against her was both heaven and hell. His fingers inside her were moving, and she whispered his name like a prayer.

Tension was coiling in her, ready to burst. Curran’s mouth found the sensitive spot under her jaw. The hand bracing her moved to flicker her nipple. The fingers inside her curled just so. Pleasure burst from her. Kate screamed. Her body spasmed around Curran’s fingers. Sensation rolled over skin. She leaned on the counter, barely keeping upright.

“So beautiful,” Curran mumbled against her skin.

He gave her a moment to come down, slipped his fingers out of her, then span her around to face him. She watched, dazed, as he put his fingers in his mouth and licked them clean.

She had just come and still he was the hottest thing she had ever seen. Before she could reach for him, he caught her hands and placed them back on either side of her. Then he lifted her easily and sat her on the counter. Her legs spread naturally to accommodate him against her.

But Curran had other plans. She had expected him to kiss her, instead he put his hands on her thighs, keeping them open and sank to his knees before her.

Oh, dear lord.

She’d just come. She was still so sensitive. He didn’t care. She watched as he buried his face in the short curls between her legs. Kate’s eyes rolled into her head. Curran’s tongue thrusted inside her, and she screamed.

There was a limit to how much sensation she could take. It was too much. She tried to close her legs around him, but he held her firmly. Her hands curled at the edge of the counter. Her body arched and spasmed. “Curran,” she begged.

He didn’t stop, wouldn’t let up.

Waves after waved of sensation rolled over her. She was trembling, falling apart, but Curran held her together. Suddenly everything crested. Another orgasm overtook her, this one almost violent compared to the first.

Curran held her. If it weren’t for him, she would have been on the floor.

When the spasms ended and Kate managed to take a shaking breath, Curran let go. He got to his feet in one fluid motion.

Kate didn’t move. She had no idea how she looked to him, sitting on the kitchen counter, naked, legs open, liquid dripping down her thighs.

Curran pulled his shirt off, wiped his face and threw it away. His pants were next. For a second, he stood nude in front of her. He looked gorgeous, corded hard muscles moving under his skin, his cock dripping for her, his eyes pure gold.

The next moment he moved to her. His mouth covered her. He ravished her mouth and she surrender. The taste of him made her drunk, the traces of her sex on his tongue drove her mad.

 Curran’s hands were frantic on her body. He couldn’t stop touching her, couldn’t settle. Finally, his hands found her hips and he grabbed her, pulling her to him.

“Please, Curran,” she moaned into his mouth. “Please.”

His fingers flexed on her hips, so hard she might find bruises the next morning. Kate didn’t care. She needed him inside her and she need him now. Curran pulled on her hips and thrusted into her in one smooth motion.

Kate shuddered. Her arms went around Curran’s neck, her legs wrapped around him. She couldn’t stay still if her life depended on it. Curran buried his face in her shoulder, his breath rugged.

Kate tried to move, but Curran held on to her. She couldn’t fight his strength.

Her fingers went to his hair. “Let go,” she whispered. “Let go. Take what you need.” She could feel the muscles on his back flexing and relaxing. He was wound too tight, he sank too much into her pleasure, and now he was fighting for control.

“You don’t have to prove anything to me,” she whispered to him, to this wonderful man that she loved more than anything. “You don’t have to be strong for me. I want you as you are. Let go, Curran, let go.”

A rumble rose through Curran’s chest, part snarl, part growl, part man at the end of his control.

“I’ve got you,” Kate kissed his face, anywhere she could reach. “I’ve got you. You can have this, it’s yours. I’m yours. Curran!” His name tore from her lips when he finally moved.

He set a brutal rhythm, she could do nothing but hold on, as he lost all control. Within moments he was shuddering against her. She could feel him emptying inside her and the sensation dragged another orgasm out of her.

They came down together, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, wrapped around each other.

When Curran got his breathing under control, he lifted Kate off the counter and carried her to the bed. They fell on the blankets together. Curran covered them.

Kate wiggles around until she was under Curran’s arm, and rested her head on his chest.

“Are you going to let me participate in round two, or am I supposed to just lie here and take it again?” she asked him, her eyes sparkling.

“You make me lose my mind,” Curran answered. He propped his pillow up under his head and looked at her, happy lights dancing in his eyes. “How long have you been planning this?”

Kate shrugged one shoulder. “A couple of weeks. I thought of going to my house near Savannah, but it would have taken me a couple of days to set everything up and you would have definitely come looking for me. I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”

Curran shook his head. “I don’t think I can survive many of your surprises.”

Kate made a face at him. “That would just be embarrassing. The Beast Lord, whom no one could defeat in battle, died because a woman tried to seduce him.”

Curran slid down the bed and turned. They were lying on their sides, facing each other. “Not just a woman. Kate Daniels. At this point I’m sure it’s common knowledge that you are my greatest weakness.”

“Weakness, Your Fuzziness? I kick ass,” Kate tried to look offended, but Curran’s arm was caressing her side from hip to breast and it was distracting.

“My ass before anyone else’s,” Curran leaned over to kiss her lips.

It would probably kill her if she let him have the last word. She couldn’t risk it. “I like your ass, I won’t kick it.” She grabbed his butt for emphasis.

“Mmhm,” Curran mumbled and kissed her in earnest. Kate decided the discussion was over anyway and there were more important things to concentrate on.

Chapter Text

Martha sat in her soft couch, her book in her lap. This month’s reading theme was previous century science fiction. It was strange how some people thought Tech would last forever. Her book was about constructing man-like machines that could mascaraed as human. While they had vampires. Martha wondered what was worse.

Mahon lounge on their large sofa with a few newspapers spread around him. He was a methodical man. Each night, after dinner, he would go through all the major newspaper and look for shapeshifter related articles. It was his version of tasting the wind.

Well, Martha had some wind to test as well.

Martha read another chapter of her book, then placed her bookmark, a knitted owl, and tucked the book against the armrest. Mahon lifter his eyes from his newspaper.

“Can you bring me up to speed with the Midnight Games?” Martha asked, keeping her tone level.

Mahon sighed. “Nasty business. You don’t want to know.”

“Mahon,” Martha chided. “Two pack alphas and the Beast Lord have been sentenced to eight weeks of Keep construction. There was a Pack invasion of Unicorn Lane and some sort of magical gem was brought back. This would be brought up in the next Council meeting and I would like to know about it.”

Mahon put his newspaper down. “The gem is a topaz, it’s called the Wolf Dimond. When a piece of it goes under the skin of a shapeshifter it prevents transformation.”

Martha growled, the hair on her arms standing on end.

Mahon nodded. “The creatures in Unicorn Lane were using shards of the gem to kill shapeshifters. They got Derek, Curran’s wolf, put a shard in him, then tortured him.” Mahon leveled a look at Martha. He hadn’t wanted to tell her, but they both knew she had to know. “Jim wanted to get the gem and get back at the creatures for what they did to Derek. Problem is, he decided to do it without telling Curran, and his mode of action was to enroll in the Midnight Games.”

Martha shook her head. “Idiot.”

“Yes,” Mahon continued. “By the time Curran found out, they were already there. So, Curran went into the Games with them, to prevent more people from getting killed. Beatrice and I sat on the Games. They fought well. Then, on the last tournament, when it was clear the Pack team was winning, the creatures took the Order girl, the gem, and flew away. We had to get the gem, so Curran got our people. We chased them down and killed the lot.”

She had promised Beatrice, but things have changed. Martha looked at Mahon. “What about the girl?”

“What girl?”

Martha knew for a fact Mahon didn’t think she was an idiot. “The Order girl. You said the creatures took her.”

“We got her. Curran had her sent to Doolittle,” Mahon tried to make it sound unimportant.

There you are. She would pull this thread until the spool unraveled. “Is it the same girl that fought with the Pack during the flare and with the Red Stalker?”

Mahon’s jaw clenched. He knew where this conversation was going and didn’t like it one bit. “Yes.”

Martha nodded, but said nothing. If she let Mahon stew enough, he’ll talk on his own.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Mahon said within a minute.

Didn’t even take him that long. Martha lifted her eyebrows but said nothing.

“She’s just a girl. He’ll chase her for a while, then move on.”

“Are you sure?” Martha asked. “You know I talk to people. I hear things and it doesn’t sound like she’s ‘just some girl’.”

Mahon scowled. On anyone else it would have worked. Martha just looked at him calmly. “She has some power,” he said eventually. “But she’s human and that won’t do.”

Martha sighed. “You can’t decide for him.”

“I’ll talk to him and he will see reason,” Mahon put his newspapers in a neat pile on the coffee table.

“Mahon remember that I love you when I say this,” Martha leaned over in her chair and looked Mahon straight in the eye. “Curran won’t listen to you.”

“I’ll make him listen. I won’t have him making my mistakes.”

Martha shook her head. “He’s a grown man. He can make his own decisions and he hasn’t needed you to guide him for many years. Try to remember that when you talk to him.”

Mahon shook his head, got up and left the room.

Martha laced her hands in her lap, reclined, and listen to the sound of her husband’s heavy footsteps as he went up the stairs to their bedroom.

As the door on the second floor clicked shut, George’s loose curly hair peaked into the sitting room. “Mom?” George asked.

Martha waved her daughter in. “Were you listening?”

George shrugged. “I was in the kitchen.”

“Alright,” Martha nodded. She pulled her book from the armrest and put it on her lap.

“Leana was at the Games,” George said. “Dad was the whole time. But for the last game they had stationed Pack members. She went to the Unicorn Lane thing too.”

Martha smiled. “Let me guess, Leana’s version was a little different than your father’s?”

George snorted. “A little? Leana said that Curran couldn’t care less about the yellow rock. In the last game, the human impaled herself on a sword. Curran went nuts. Leana said that there was shuttered glass from the force of his roar.”

“Wait,” Martha stopped her. “What do you mean ‘impaled herself’? Surely she was run over.”

George shook her head. “The way Leana said it, the Order woman deliberately put the sword into her own stomach and then the sword shuttered.” George spread her fingers. “Poof.”

Martha looked at her daughter, incredulous.

“I know,” George nodded. “Anyway, Curran saw her go down and lost all sense. They went to Unicorn Lane, but the creatures were in a flying palace. They had to wait for it to land. Leana said that Curran had marched back and forth for an hour waiting for the thing to land. Full warrior form and everything. And then he attacked and didn’t let go until he had the woman in his arms, personally brought her to Doolittle, wouldn’t turn or let himself get treated until Doolittle assured him she’ll live.”

Martha leaned back in her chair. She needed to think. Mahon was like a father to Curran, but Curran was Beast Lord. There were things Curran wouldn’t tolerate, not even from his own father.

“Is Curran in love?” George asked, brining Martha back to the present. Her daughter looked almost shocked by the idea.

Martha drummed her fingers on the cover of her book. “Most probably.”

“I hope Dad won’t make Curran kill him,” George’s face twisted.

“It won’t come to that,” Martha assured George. “I will make sure of that.”

“Okay,” George nodded. “I never thought I’ll see the day Curran would be in love.”

Martha allowed herself a smile. “She must be an exceptional woman. Even Beatrice is impressed with her.”

George’s eyes widened. “Really? Good you didn’t say that to Dad. He would have gone to twist her head right now.”

Martha laughed. “Who’s head? Beatrice’s or Curran’s girl?”

George giggled.

Martha reached over, her eyes twinkling, and patted her daughter’s hand. “Don’t worry, Georgetta. Your father talks big, but in the end, Curran would do what he wants.”

“We’re going to have a Pack Alpha female,” George said. “It’s going to be interesting.”

***

~Two months later~

Martha sat in the car and watched the road ahead. Mahon drove, steadily like the man he was. Silence stretched between them.

“Are you satisfied?” Martha asked him eventually.

“What do you mean?” Mahon didn’t take his eyes off the road. He knew exactly what she was referring to, but she would spell it out to him.

“Curran is so agitated that when someone tries to talk to him, he only growls. Clan Rat, Clan Nimble and Clan Jackal are bewildered. Clan Wolf and Clan Bouda are clearly concerned. Jim is downright worried. But you. You sat in the council meeting today as happy as a freshly baked honey-muffin.”

Mahon didn’t look at her and didn’t reply.

“What did you do?”

“An opportunity presented itself and I used it.”

You stupid, stupid man. “Do you think Curran will appreciate what you did?”

“I tried to talk to him. He won’t see reason,” Mahon shrugged. “A little distance and all this mess will be behind us. And good riddance. Curran will thank me once he comes to his senses.”

Maratha didn’t say anything. She hoped that after Curran found out she’ll still have a husband.

Chapter Text

Genevieve reclined on the couch in her sitting room. A pleasant summer breeze ruffled the curtains. She felt lighter than she had in months.

A soft knock sounded in the room, then door opened before she had time to answer.

Lorelei entered the room, and Genevieve smiled.

Her daughter looked well. Her chestnut hair was loose around her. She wore jeans and a light blouse. Her face was clean and smooth. She did not appear to be harmed. Lorelei’s eyes, on the other hand, were sullen. She looked like she had when she was a small cub and had lost her favorite toy.

“My treasure,” Genevieve said. “You have returned. I am so glad.”

“Hello, Mother,” Lorelei answered. She was a hair away from a pout.

How adorable. But more importantly, she was alive. “Come, sit with me,” Genevieve indicated the space beside her on the couch.

Lorelei came to sit beside her mother. She sat for moment, then let out a big breath and slouched.

“Now, now,” Genevieve admonished. “This won’t do.”

Lorelei corrected her posture. “Sorry, Mother.”

“How was your trip?” Genevieve asked, her voice pleasant and neutral.

Lorelei scowled, then her face smoothed. She clutched her hands in her lap. “It was fine, Mother.”

“Lorelei, my treasure, don’t lie to me,” Genevieve watched her daughter closely. She was so young, so much more to learn.

Lorelei half turned to her mother, her eyes on fire. “I was so close, then the idiot Kral ruined everything,” she said through clenched teeth.

Genevieve didn’t tense only because of years of experience. “Where is Jarek Kral now?”

“He’s dead,” Lorelei shrugged. “His daughter killed him.”

Genevieve did not sigh in relief, it would be unstately. “Perhaps you would like to tell me from the start?” she suggested gently to her daughter.

“Fine,” Lorelei huffed. “Kral’s whore daughter got herself pregnant by two different men. One Ukrainian and the second Italian. Some years back Kral promised that his daughter’s first born gets some piece of land somewhere. But Kral didn’t want to give it up. He managed to get the United States Pack involved. You know, the one from Atlanta?”

Genevieve nodded. She remembered Curran Lennart very well, though it has been several years since she’s seen him. The previous time he’d gone to Europe hadn’t gone too well. He would have come better prepared. They were fools to have tried.

“Kral approached me,” Lorelei continued, unaware of her mother’s musings. “Apparently Curran, the Beast Lord, has mated. He mated a human. Mother can you believe it?” Anger colored Lorelei’s voice.

Genevieve started. Curran had mated? The kind of woman that would hold and keep Curran had to be a force to be reckoned with. She had been Pack Alpha for the Ice Furies for over a decade. She knew exactly what it meant to lead and hold that many shapeshifters at bay. That Curran had chosen a human added more fuel to the dread in her chest.

Fear for all that could have been clenched at Genevieve. She reached over and took a delicate ivory comb and started to smooth her daughter’s hair, needing the reassurance she was here, safe and alive.

“She’s nothing special,” Lorelei continued. “Not that pretty. Not strong. She carries a sword, like that would help her. She’s nothing. And all of her Pack follows her like she’s a queen.”

That’s because she is, Genevieve thought. She let her daughter continue.

Lorelei shook her head. “Anyway, the plan was simple. I get Curran. Kral gets rid of his daughter. Everybody is happy. And it was going great! We were staying at some castle and the lord of the castle was chasing Curran’s human. It was perfect!” Lorelei huffed.

“What happened?” Genevieve prodded. She wondered what Lorelei had promised Kral for a chance at Curran. It couldn’t have been a price that was worth paying.

“I had Curran. We went to have a hunt and we run together. He let me finish his kills. Then in the castle, his human had holed up in her rooms or wherever, Curran invited me to sit next to him. Whenever he had time Curran was with me. It was so amazing,” Lorelei’s eyes glazed with recollection. “He wanted to know about Belgium, about our house and everything that had happened since we’ve seen each other. We talked for hours.”

Her dear girl. Genevieve almost sighed. Curran let her talk. Lorelei hadn’t noticed he didn’t speak. She had wanted to be center stage, and Curran encouraged her. Her tiny treasure, her daughter never stood a chance. “What went wrong?” Genevieve asked quietly.

“All the mustard went into Kral’s nose!” Lorelei exclaimed. “I don’t know what happened, I was with Curran, but Kral decided to kill the human. Idiot.”

Not surprising. The Jarek Kral Genevieve remembered didn’t play by anyone’s rules but his own and was unpredictable even in the best times. “What happened next?” she probed.

“The human disappeared, and Curran looked like he lost his mind,” Lorelei turned to look at her mother. “I’ve never been so scared. He roared at his own people. The whole place shook. The human disappeared in the mountains, so he just took off. Everyone walked on tip toes the whole time he was gone. His Pack closed off their floor and snarled at anyone who tried to get close.”

Genevieve wondered how much of his power Curran hid. His people knew, but the other Packs didn’t. She couldn’t even guess.

Lorelei shrugged and turned to look gloomily at the wall. Genevieve resumed combing her hair. “In the morning Curran came back with the human. It all went off from there. He wouldn’t see me, wouldn’t talk to me. Nothing. That night we had a big dinner. They sat me at a side table, like I was second-class, unimportant,” the last words were said in anger. “I wouldn’t stand for such an insult. Who did they think I was?”

Oh, no. My dear treasure, what did you do?

“I got up from my seat and I challenged her.”

Genevieve’s hand stilled in her daughter’s hair. She put the comb on the side table and let her daughter talk.

“She didn’t even look at me, like I was that much beneath her. And you know what Curran did? He told me to sit down. Like a child,” Lorelei’s shoulders slumped. She buried her face in her hands and cried.

It took Lorelei several long moments to calm down. When she lifted her face, her cheeks were stricken with tears. “They had another me. I don’t know how. Another me walked into the hall and she had the contract I signed with Kral. She turned into a man. They started fighting, I…”

Lorelei had run. Well, at least some sense had returned to her daughter’s head. Genevieve hugged Lorelei as hard as she could. “I’m so glad you went for Curran,” she said.

Lorelei sniffed. “What do you mean?”

“From all the people you could have tried to manipulate, I’m glad you tried Curran.”

“Why?” Lorelei frowned, then straightened, breaking her mother’s embrace. “You don’t think I would have succeeded?”

Genevieve shook her head. “Of course not, my treasure. But from every other possibility, Curran is one of the few who wouldn’t have killed you for trying.”

Lorelei gapped at her.

Genevieve pulled her daughter back into her arms. “My darling daughter, my treasure, I’m so happy you’re alive.”

Lorelei sniffed. “Why don’t you want me to succeed? Every time I try, you make me stop.”

“What does success mean to you?” Genevieve asked patiently, stroking her daughter’s hair.

“Being an Alpha,” Lorelei answered without hesitation.

Genevieve tsked. “Being an Alpha is not success. It is claws and fights and sleepless nights and struggle.” She would know, she’d been one for long enough. “I want a better life for you.”

“I would have had a better life with Curran,” Lorelei answered just to be antagonistic.

“And what would you have done when another girl had come to challenge you? Do you really want a man that would change his mind about you every time he saw a fresh new thing?”

“I would fight,” Lorelei answered, but Genevieve could see uncertainty begin in her eyes.

“Being with Curran, or any Alpha is a constant fight,” Genevieve told her. “I wish for you to live.”

Lorelei slumped against her mother. “Fine.”

Mother and daughter sat in silence for a few moments.

“Why do you think I wouldn’t have succeeded with Curran?” Lorelei asked.

Genevieve suppressed a sigh. “What do you know about Curran?”

“He’s the Beast Lord of the Atlanta Pack. He turns into a giant grey lion.”

Genevieve nodded. “What do you know about his mate?”

Lorelei made a face. “She’s human. She knows how to fight. She fought the lord of the castle and defeated him. Don’t know how impressive human fighting is. It looked fast though.”

Just as Genevieve suspected. “And their people?”

“They brought all sorts. I’ve never seen so many species together. They had a bear, a tiger, and a couple of hyenas. Others too, I didn’t pay attention.”

This time Genevieve did sigh. “So, to summarize, you know nothing about Curran and even less about his mate and you dismissed his Pack.”

Lorelei gapped at her mother. It was unattractive. Genevieve would have to train her against it.

“Treasure, I only know what you told me, and I know more about them than you do.”

Lorelei opened her mouth to interrupt, but Genevieve raised her hand and she remained silent.

“If you intend to take another’s mate, you have to know everything you can about the person you’re replacing. Everything. How old is she? What does she like to eat? What is her favorite pastime? What does she hate? Who are her friends? Who are her enemies?

“When you’re replacing someone, you need to present yourself as better than the existing mate in every possible aspect. You need to start with their weaknesses – see she’s bad at this thing, but I’m good. See, she doesn’t like that thing, but I do. Afterwards, you need to address her strengths. Oh, she’s good in a fight, well I’m better. She cooks for you, well my food is better, And so on and so on.”

Genevieve leveled a stern look at her daughter. “How do you compare with Curran’s mate?”

“She’s human, I’m a shapeshifter,” Lorelei said with confidence. “I’m younger than her. And…” she hesitated.

“Exactly,” Genevieve nodded. “You don’t know. But I’ll tell you that you’re not better than her. Because Curran doesn’t care she’s not a shapeshifter, otherwise he would never have matted her. I can tell you just from your words that she’s a better fighter than you.”

Lorelei grimaced. “When I challenged her, Curran told me that if we fought, she would kill me.”

“I imagine so. Another thing, their people were loyal to her. That means she won over the Pack. Curran would only have brought the most loyal, but it doesn’t diminish the implication. If she had proven herself to his subjects, you should never have dismissed her.”

A determined look came over Lorelei’s eyes. “I will go to Atlanta and study her. Next time, I’ll succeed.”

Genevieve grabbed Lorelei’s hands in hers. She looked in her daughter’s eye until Lorelei looked away. “Do not go to Atlanta. If you do, you will be killed. It won’t even be Curran or his mate that would do it.”

“I refuse to give up,” Lorelei declared. “I hate it here. I will go back to Father.”

“Your father doesn’t care about you,” Genevieve answered sharply. “He will sell you to the highest bidder. He will treat you like Jarek treated his daughter. Is that what you want?”

Lorelei crossed her arms. “You hate me as well. You don’t want me to succeed.”

“It is what I want for you most of all,” Genevieve answered truthfully. “Unfortunately, we don’t seem to agree on what that means.”

Lorelei stood up and headed for the door.

“Lorelei,” her mother called, and she stopped and turned to look back. “You are an adult woman. Your decisions are your own, but I would ask you to think of what had happened and what I told you. Learn from this. And know that I love you most of all.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Lorelei answered and left.

Genevieve slumped onto the couch.

Chapter Text

The phone rang.

ARGH! She had just got all her books in order.

Julie glared at the door to the kitchen, but the blasted sound wouldn’t let up. With a much-earned put-upon sigh she rose from her place at the coffee table in the living-room and went to answer.

“Lennart-Daniels residence.”

“Ah, child,” the softest, most pleasant, most comforting, fatherly, enveloping, trustworthy voice Julie has ever heard spoke at the other side. Julie closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing. “It should be the Daniels-Lennart residence.”

“Good evening, Your Lordship.” Julie did a mental fist bump for nailing her reverent voice.

“Repeat the words, child,” Roland said ever patiently. “How can I teach you if you resist to learn?”

Julie shrugged, though he probably couldn't see her. Probably. “Kate said it sounds better like this and Curran was beast lord not she.”

“My daughter has left that life,” Roland said calmly. His voice a caress, a blessing and an order to obey. It was also a complete lie.

Julie pressed her teeth together but didn't grind. He would probably hear it.

“Sharrim is the head of your household, her temporary companion,” Julie arched an eyebrow but didn't say anything. “is her consort. He is second and inferior to her in every way.” Now Roland’s voice had turned to steel. Boy, he really didn’t like Curran. What a surprise.

“I'm sure that if you called in an hour or two,” Julie said with all the honesty she could master. Although being sixteen, she couldn't master that much. “You could convince Curran to take Kate's name after the wedding.”

Roland laughed. “Ah, the impunity of youth. Let us speak a while, my child. Wisdom is much preferable to mere attitude.”

Julie rolled her eyes but stayed on the line until she heard the clop of hooves outside.

***

The phone rang.

Concentrating on the steaks sizzling on the pan, Curran lifted the receiver and grunted. “This is Curran.”

“Beast,” the terse voice of the damn wizard sounded from the other side of the line.

Curran was tempted to slam the receiver down and be done with it. But it would only mean that Roland would call again, and that time Kate might have the misfortune of answering. He can spare her at least once. “What do you want?”

“This is why you are not a match for my daughter,” Roland said. He sounded like he was discussing the weather. “It amazes me you can even speak. Strength of arms is not a match for strength of mind, and you have none.”

Curran whistled. “Did you write that in advance? I bet you’ve been sitting in your dead swan just waiting for the tech to be up so you can call. Are you all giddy inside that someone will speak to you?” He forked one steak and flipped it to sear the other side.

“I will not have some brute marrying my only daughter!”

The windows in the kitchen beside Curran rattled. He eyed them suspiciously. “Whose fault is that? If you hadn’t killed them all you might have more in-law choices.”

“How much?” Roland demanded.

Curran flipped the other steak. “How much what? How much daughters have you killed? I’m just strong of arms not strong of mind but I think it should be ‘how many’.”

“HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE MY DAUGHTER?” Roland’s voice resonated through the house.

Vaguely Curran heard something crush in the other room and Grendel exploding into barks. The steak he had lifted slid off the fork and flopped on the floor. Curran didn’t notice. “What did you just say?”

“How much do you want?” Roland repeated, as if Kate was not going to kill him anyway. “Perhaps not money… Let me think… Oh, another woman? I can arrange a selection of ten women to be sent to your doorstep, you can have all ten if you’d like.”

Curran growled. It was a miracle the phone wasn’t shattered in his hand. “There is nothing you or anyone can give me to leave Kate. I would not exchange her for anyone else. There will be no negotiations, no propositions, no anything. If you utter such a thing again, I will strangle you with my bare hands.”

A tense silence stretched over the line.

“Wonderful,” Roland said cheerfully. “A father must be sure of his daughter’s intended-to-be. Well done.”

The line went dead.

Curran stared at the receiver in his hand, roared at it in frustration, then he slammed it in place.

At that moment, Kate opened the front door. “Curran?” she called. “What is going on? Why are you roaring? And why do I smell smoke?”

Curran span to find the second steak burned to a crisp and roared again.

***

Kate slammed open the door and marched into the kitchen. She picked up the phone and dialed her father’s number from unfortunate memory.

The phone rang.

“Blossom,” Roland’s voice materialized on the other side. “How I long to hear your voice this quiet spring day. How fortunate that the fates have graced my request.”

“You sent harpies into my city, father,” Kate growled into the phone.

“Don’t growl,” Roland admonished. “You are spending too much time with the animals, picking up all the wrong habits. Come live with me, light in my life.”

Kate gritted her teeth. “The harpies, father.”

Roland sighed. “Who knows why harpies do anything, Blossom?”

He should be an actor in one of those Spanish-speaking soap operas. “You are violating the terms of our agreement.”

“If only we could spend more time together,” Roland went on.

It was like they were having two different conversations. “I do not wish to see you, father. I will not have dinner with you, and you are not invited to my kid’s school play.” That had been the subject of their previous fight.

“I have two tickets to the Fox Theater. The first concert for Aivisha this season.” Kate’s mind raced as her father continued talking. “One of the tickets has your name on it,” he was probably trying to tease. It sounded patronizing.

Kate sucked a big breath and thanked her lucky stars that her father didn’t think she was smart. “You bought Curran and I tickets to see Aivisha?” she exclaimed, her voice completely different. She needed to sound like a dumb bimbo. What would Lorelei say? “Thank you, father! Thank you so much! I think you’re finally getting the hang of apologies. I knew you could do it!”

Silence.

Kate imagined Roland gapping at the phone on the other side. Ha! She got one.

“Of course, Blossom,” Roland said levelly. He recovered fast. Damn the bastard. “Anything for my beloved daughter and future son-in-law.”

“Thank you, father,” Kate said again. She really couldn’t lay it on too thick. “It means a lot to me. Thank you.”

“Certainly, Blossom. I must go.” He hung up.

Kate replaced the receiver carefully, grinning to herself.

“What was that about?” Curran asked from the doorway.

Damn that man for walking silently. She had been so preoccupied with Roland that she had blocked out everything else. Kate shrugged. “We got tickets to see Aivisha on Roland’s expense.”

“Aivisha?” Curran echoed.

Kate nodded and started up the stairs to their room. She needed to remove all the harpy blood. Curran followed. “She’s a singer. Well, performer, maybe? You’ll see.”

“You’ve seen her before?”

Curran’s surprise wasn’t unmerited. It wasn’t like she went out to party or had tones of money to spend. “Crest took me,” Kate answered simply.

Behind her Curran growled. He grabbed her arm and spun her around to look at him. They were almost to their room. Couldn’t he have stopped her there? Or better yet in the shower? “What?”

“We’re not going,” he bit out. His eyes pure gold. What has gotten into him?

“Of course we are,” Kate spat back, turned and continued to their room and towards the blessed shower. “We got one over my father for once, and Aivisha is great.”

“We are not going,” Curran repeated through gritted teeth.

“What is up with you?” Kate asked. They have finally reached their bedroom. Kate began shedding clothes even before Curran closed the door behind them.

“Why would you want to go somewhere that Crest took you?” Curran demanded.

He was pulling clothes off as well. She got a little distracted by that. But then realization hit her like a pack of bricks. He was jealous. Cute.

The last of their clothes shed, they stepped into the shower together. Kate took up the soap as Curran played with the water until it was scorching.

“Crest took me to see her sing and it was one of the most amazing experiences that I’ve ever had,” she said as she started to leather up his chest. “I think I genuinely cried.”

Curran put his hands into her hair and started massaging to get all of it wet. “So –“

Kate cut him off, “let me finish.”

He nodded and started shampooing her hair.

“It was amazing and all I could think was how I wish to have shared it with someone I actually care about.”

Tension seeped out of Curran’s body. The muscles under her fingers relaxed.

“I don’t want to go see Aivisha with Roland. He doesn’t deserve my reaction and defiantly not my tears. I won’t let him.”

Curran tugged on her hair to tilt her head up. When she did, he placed a soft kiss on her kips. “I understand. I love you.”

Kate smiled. She pulled him closer. Their bodies slick with suds. “I love you too.”

Chapter Text

Curran kept clutching and releasing the wheel as he drove. Jim watched him from the passenger seat.

An undead mage of unknown affiliation had attacked them at the Mercenary Guild. Immediately after its Guild Master was murdered. An idiot could see that the things were connected. Considering that Kate was the one in charge of the investigation, and she was most defiantly not an idiot, she had accepted the Pack’s assistance in the case.

Jim and Curran had stuffed the body of the undead mage into a couple of plastic bags and put it in the trunk. Now they were taking it to Doolittle in the Keep.

Jim had had to change shape and back. He was wiped. Curran, on the other hand, who had done the same, was as fresh as a daisy. Jim would pay good money for the kind of Lyc-V that Curran was packing.

Curran clenched the wheel, remembered himself, and let go.

“What’s eating you?” Jim asked. He had a pretty good idea, but it looked like Curran needed to talk.

Curran growled.

Jim looked at the road ahead. “It’s going to take us the better part of an hour to get to the Keep.”

Curran glanced at him but said nothing.

“The Beast Lord is waiting for us in the Keep. Until we reach there, we could just be two Pack members on a job. Our job is taking that piece of meat to Doolittle. It stinks and I’m bored.”

Curran didn’t react.

“What’s eating at you?”

“I haven’t seen Kate in three weeks,” Curran said through clenched teeth. “Until today.”

Jim raised his eyebrows. “She made you dinner, but you haven’t seen each other?”

“She never made me dinner.”

Jim shook his head. “Could have fooled me.”

“What does that supposed to mean?”

“Maybe you should start from the beginning? A month ago, you were so happy you went into Council meetings with a smile. These days you’re so agitated even Aunt B is apprehensive to talk to you.”

Curran sighed. “I asked Kate to make me dinner. She called me at the keep to set the time and place. It was that day Boris was killed.”

“I remember.”

“When I finally came to in the ward, I was more than four hours late. I asked and was told she hadn’t called. I went to her house. She wasn’t there. She’d been there and left. I haven’t seen or heard from her since.”

Ouch.

“You saw her right now. She wouldn’t even look at me.”

Jim looked at Curran. “Do you want me to drive?”

“What?” Curran glared at him. “You’re barely awake.”

“You look like you want to curl in a ball and cry at your woes. I thought I’d oblige.”

Curran shot him a scathing look.

“If it’s any consolation,” Jim said. “Kate didn’t look like she was over you. She looked angry, like she could barely control herself.”

Curran nodded. “After you left, she said she called the keep and was told that I didn’t want to talk to her anymore. How could that be? Who in the keep wouldn’t know who she is?”

“I’ll check into it,” Jim nodded. “If the magic was down, we might have transcripts.”

“Thank you.”

They sat in silence.

Curran was still glaring at the road ahead of them. There was more he wasn’t saying.

“What else?” Jim asked.

A muscle jumped in Curran’s jaw. He clenched his fingers on the wheel again. He kept doing that. “Seeing her… It’s not easy.”

“You protected her from the mage,” Jim said.

“What else was I supposed to do? I heal. She… I won’t let her get hurt.”

Curran had held Kate to protect her from the mage. Jim looked at Curran’s hands clenching and releasing on the wheel. He had held her after being apart. Letting her go must be hell. Not knowing what happened was driving him mad. Curran could probably still feel her scent.

Jim let his head fall back against the head-rest and closed his eyes. If Curran was willing to go through all of this, then Jim would have to at least try. “I need to talk to Dali. When this mess is over.”

Curran snorted. “Took you long enough. You need to offset my misery with some happiness?”

Jim didn’t open his eyes. “If you’re willing to be miserable over the Heiress of the People, the least I can do is talk to a weretiger.”

Jim couldn’t see Curran’s expression, but he imagined it was thunderous. When Curran spoke, Jim was surprised to hear lightness in his tone. “I’m King of the Shapeshifters, stands to reason I would mate with a princess.”

Jim laughed. “Her dowry is going to be a horde of vampires.”

“Wonderful. I’ll need the practice.”

When Jim fell asleep, Curran was no longer torturing the wheel.

***

Jim went up to Curran’s quarters first thing in the morning when Curran usually had breakfast. He wasn’t a coward, but the kind of news he was bringing won’t go down well with the Beast Lord. Maybe having food around would help.

Curran was sitting in his private conference room. Several platters of food were arranged around him. When Jim entered, he stopped eating. His eyes backlite in lethal gold, then subsided.

Yeah, the food wasn’t going to help.

“Sit,” Curran indicated.

Jim sat and accepted the empty plate Curran passed him. For several minutes they ate in silence. Once they were both sated, they leaned back. Curran looked at Jim, expectant.

“Boris was killed on November 15^th,” Jim said calmly.

Curran grimaced. Not likely that he had forgotten the date, but Jim was nothing if not thorough.

“We’re in luck and the magic was down,” Jim continued. “I pulled the call log from that evening. There was a call from outside Atlanta at 20:49. Here’s the transcript.” Jim pulled a page from his folder and passed it to Curran.

Curran took the page and read through it. It hadn’t been a long conversation. The page crumpled in Curran’s hand.

Jim gave him a moment.

“Who is the idiot -?” Curran asked through clenched teeth.

“I checked into it,” Jim sighed. This was the part he didn’t want to tell Curran. “It was Mahon.”

“When I came to, I asked if there had been calls and I was told there weren’t.”

Jim nodded. “I don’t remember that night as well as you. But I wouldn’t have lied to you, had I known.”

Curran drummed his fingers on the table. “Mahon again?”

“I have no proof.”

Curran nodded. “Anything else?”

Jim grimaced. He pulled another page out of his folder. “I took the liberty to check the investigation file on Boris’ murder.”

“Proceed.”

“When John Irving challenged you, it was Mahon’s responsibility to hold on to Mick. In his testimony he said Mick ‘slipped away from him’.”

“Slipped away?” Curran asked, his voice completely calm.

Jim nodded.

“From Mahon?”

Jim nodded again.

Curran swore.

“I hadn’t looked at the closing report too closely,” Jim continued. “At the time the matter seemed to be done and irrelevant…”

Curran massaged the bridge of his nose. “My adoptive father is trying to kill me.”

“I don’t think so,” Jim said cautiously.

“Just tell me,” Curran sounded tiered.

“None of the things Mahon supposedly did would have led to your death, even Mick Irving. But it all led to you not seeing Kate. I think Mahon doesn’t wants her as your mate, and he’s actively working to prevent it.”

“Mahon came to talk to me. I think in October. He told me he forbade me to mate her.”

Jim snorted. “That went well for him, I’m sure.”

“I was tired from hauling rocks all day. I think I laughed at him and told him to go away.” Curran looked at Jim.

“Mahon is an idiot,” Jim sighed. “But you have no proof, and even if you did, he committed no crime.”

“I know.” Curran snarled, frustrated. “What am I going to do now?”

“I wouldn’t presume to tell you what to do, I can only advise.”

“Just spit it out.”

“The Steel Mary takes precedence. Afterwards, you fix your love life and put Mahon in his place,” Jim smiled at Curran, without showing his teeth. “Also, the Conclave meeting is tomorrow.”

Curran grimaced. “Fine. What did Doolittle say about the undead mage?”

Jim shook his head. “He’s running tests, will let you know with any news.”

Curran nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”

Jim got up. “Thank you for breakfast.”

Curran waved him off, an obvious dismissal.

Chapter Text

The phone was ringing.

It kept ringing and ringing and ringing.

Argh.

What time was it anyway?

Jim stirred beside her. He rolled over and the damn phone stopped ringing.

“What?” he growled into the phone. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

If she concentrated, Dali could probably hear what was said to Jim on the phone. But he was Chief of Security, and they have talked about it. She had agreed not to eavesdrop. Dali turned away from Jim’s warmth and put a pillow on her head. There.

Jim had sat up in bed and was listening intently. He’d only come back to her the previous night. Dali hoped nobody was dead.

“Alright,” Jim said eventually. “We’ll be there.” He hung up.

Dali pulled the pillow off her head and turned to her mate. Jim looked at her with an expression she had never seen on his face. It took her a moment. He looked… shocked?

Dali sat up in bed. “What’s wrong?”

Jim opened him mouth, waited a moment, closed it, then opened it again, but then closed it. No words came out.

Dali frowned. She reached out and took his hand. “Tell me. We’ll deal.”

Jim opened his mouth again. “You know how when you went to sleep last night you were Clan Cat’s Alpha Female?”

“Yes,” Dali answered carefully. Where was this leading?

“This morning you woke up Consort to the Beast Lord.”

What?

WHAT?

“What?” Dali demanded. “Curran and Kate are dead? Oh my God! Oh my God!”

Jim grabbed her before she freaked out completely. “Curran and Kate are not dead. They stepped down.”

Dali breathed a sigh of relief. But then the rest of what he said settled in her head. Dali gapped at Jim. “You’re Beast Lord? We’re in charge of the whole Pack? Jim…”

Jim nodded. “I know.” He reached for her and clutched her to his chest.

Dali wrapped her arms around him. They sat, wrapped around each other, for a long moment.

“Okay,” Jim said eventually. “We can do this.”

“Yes,” Dali agreed. “We’ve got this. You’re awesome. You know what you’re doing, and I won’t open my mouth.”

“Dali, you’re amazing,” Jim chided. “We’ll do this together. But if you don’t want to, just say so and I’ll say no.”

Dali breathed deeply, then shook her head. “You want this. You’re good at it. Like you said, we’ll do it together.”

“Good,” Jim kissed the top of her head. “We need to get to the Keep.”

***

Jim sat beside Dali in the large empty conference room and drummed his fingers on the table. His other hand was holding hers, their fingers laced.

They had gone to the Keep as fast as they could, but in post-shift Atlanta that took almost an hour. When they had arrived, Curran and Kate were already gone. They hadn’t disappeared, just escaped the mayhem they’ve caused.

At least they left a note.

Well, it was more a list of all the Pack’s failings, but they were very clear on why they were leaving.

Barabas entered the conference room with a stack of paper in his hands. He bowed his head. “My lord, my lady.”

Dali suppressed a sign. She would have to learn to live with this.

Jim nodded his head. “Sit.”

Barabas sat across from them and waited.

“First, how did the Beast Lord leave undetected?” Jim asked.

“The former Beast Lord had requested breakfast be brought to his quarters. While this was arranged, he and the former Consort had scaled the outer walls and went into the forest. Their ward had taken a Pack jeep at the pretense of going to school and met them on the road.”

Dali stared at Barabas. “How did they scale the wall?” It was solid stone. The whole point was that it was unscalable.

Barabas coughed. “From what we can surmise, they jumped down to some balconies. And where there were no balconies, the former Beast Lord made holes in the stones with his claws.”

Right. They were dealing with insanity.

Beside her, Jim rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Fine,” he said. He looked up at Barabas. “Are you planning to separate with them?”

Barabas narrowed his eyes. “It is against Pack law to influence an individual’s decision on the matter.”

“I have no intension of influencing your decision. I just need to know if I need to start looking for a replacement or not.”

Barabas frowned. Dali could see it too. Jim was going to look for a replacement anyway.

“I plan to separate with Curran,” Barabas said.

Jim sighed in relief. “Wonderful. Then I can trust you to help. We need a strategy for the council. After that’s done please prepare a transition plan for yourself.”

Barabas sat up a little straighter. “Of course, my lord.”

Jim pulled up a notepad and a pen. “What positions we need to fill because of the transition?”

“Clan Cat Alpha couple, Pack Chief of Security, Pack Lawyer, Beast Lord Guard, your auxiliary staff,” Barabas hesitated. “Pack Executioner?”

Jim wrote each one on his notepad. “Our Betas will be Cat Alphas. If the clan doesn’t like it, they can sort it out themselves.”

“I will make a list of candidates for Pack Lawyer,” Barabas nodded. “Chief of Security?”

Jim drummed his fingers on the table some more. “It would have to be the Rats.”

Barabas raised an eyebrow.

“The Lonescos proved themselves in the past week, and I need their loyalty,” Jim said. “They expressed their displeasure with me before. If I don’t give them something, they will antagonize me. If they get Security, it will show I trust them. Besides, no one else can do it.”

Dali nodded. “Clan Wolf and Clan Cat Alphas are too new to take up the responsibility. Clan Nimble couple are too old. Clan Bouda are too small and undisciplined. Clan Jackal have no experience, and Clan Heavy would just be bad.”

“Speaking of Clan Heavy…” Barabas trailed off.

“Mahon is going to be pissed,” Jim growled at his notepad.

They sat in silence. Jim scribbled notes.

“Call the Rats,” Jim said eventually. “Let’s get the base steady, then we’ll go from there.”

“Yes, my lord,” Barabas rose and left the room.

They were alone again.

Jim let go of Dali’s hands, placed both elbows on the table and buried his face in his hands.

Her poor Jim.

Dali put her hand on Jim’s shoulder and her head against his arm, trying to give him her strength.  “We’ve got this,” she whispered.

“I know,” Jim said back. “I should have seen this coming, but it’s still a shock.” He took a deep breath then straightened, his pen back in his hand. “How good is your roar in human form?”

Dali frowned. “Pretty good, why?”

“Mahon’s biggest problem with Curran was that he chose a human mate,” Jim half-turned to look at her. “Now we’re Pack Alphas he’s going to get what he wanted. We need to give him what he wants to see. My roar is shit, and you need to be my equal. In the meeting I’m going to let them get in a little frenzy and when the time is right, I want you to roar at them and say something imposing. Something like ‘the Beast Lord is speaking’. If you can make your eyes glow even better.”

Dali pursed her lips. “They had one Beast Lord before, now they get two. Okay. I can do it. How would I know it’s the right time?”

“I’ll signal you.”

“Okay.” Dali looked at him. “I love you.”

Jim’s expression softened. His lips twitched. “I love you.”

Dali leaned forward. Her lips touched Jim’s and the world fell away. He kissed her and everything was alright. All their problems, all the mess in front of them, it took a step back.

A knock sounded on the door, and they separated.

Dali sighed. Jim smiled, took her hand back in his, and turned back towards the table. “Enter!”

Barabas opened the door. “The Lonescos are here.”

Jim nodded.

Barabas stepped into the room and Robert and Thomas Lonesco entered after him.

Dali prepared to get up in greeting. Jim’s hand tightened around hers. Right. They were Pack Alphas. They didn’t get up for anyone.

This was going to take getting used to.

The Lonescos stared at Dali and Jim. Dali and Jim stared back. The silence stretched.

Then, both Robert and Thomas lowered their eyes.

Jim smiled without showing any teeth. “Please, sit down. We have much to discuss.”

***

They were walking the corridor to the Pack Council meeting room. Dali had attended several council meetings to this point, but she hadn’t actively participated. Now she had to lead it.

Oh, boy.

Jim was holding her hand. At first Dali had thought it was for her benefit. Now she was wondering if it was also for his. That it was making them appear unified didn’t hurt.

“Dali,” Jim whispered. “Remember when we went to that old lady’s house and there were miniature vampires?”

“The jenglots. I remember,” Dali whispered back.

“When we go into the council room you need to look like all of them are jenglots, and you are going to exterminate them.”

Okay then.

Dali took a deep breath. “Badass faces on?”

“Badass faces on.” Jim squeezed her hand.

They reach the door to the council room. Jim opened the door and they walked in, both glowering.

The rest of the council was already present. Mahon was standing, his arms crossed and a thunderous expression on his face, Martha beside him. Thomas and Roberto stood to the right, seeming relaxed, but ready. Andrea and Raphael looked white, as did Colin and Geraldine from Clan Jackal, and Sofia, Jim’s cousin, the new Cat Alpha. Desandra tried to look uninterested, but her eyes were darting around. The Alphas of Clan Nimble were unreadable as ever.

“Where is the Beast Lord?” Mahon demanded.

Dali and Jim walked calmly into the room. Jim pulled Dali’s chair for her and sat down after her. They sat at the head of the table.

“I’m here,” Jim said calmly. “You may sit.”

A thunderous silence descended on the room. Dali hadn’t known silence could be so loud before.

A chair scrapped the floor. All eyes turned at the sound. Raphael pulled Andrea’s chair for her. The Alphas of Clan Bouda sat down.

Clan Rat, Clan Wolf and Clan Cat followed.

A moment later Clan Jackal and Clan Nimble sat down as well. Martha, female alpha of Clan Heavy sat down. Mahon was the only one left standing.

“Where is Curran?” Mahon demanded again.

Jim leaned back in his chair and swept around with his free hand. “He left.”

“What do you mean ‘left’?”

“He stepped down from the position of Beast Lord. He left a note with his reasoning. I’d be happy to provide it to you. If you’re concerned for his safety, then I can tell you that he is in the city looking for a new residence. But the matter stands that I am Beast Lord now, and I told you to sit.”

Mahon’s eyes narrowed, but before he could say anything Desandra interrupted him. “Curran finally got enough of your bull and left, shut up and deal with it.”

“Do not speak of things you don’t understand,” Colin from Clan Jackal admonished her.

Desandra’s nostrils flared.

“Do be quiet,” Raphael shot at the jackal. “No one asked you either.”

The council room descended into shouting and growls.

Dali counted the second in her head. One – two – three… After ten seconds Jim squeezed her hand. Show time.

Dali took a deep breath and roared. She roared like she needed to purify a three-story building in one breath. Thank all the Gods the magic was up.

The wave of her magic broke over them and engulfed them like a high tide over the shore. When it was over, they were reeling.

Dali leaned over and glared. “I don’t remember my mate had allowed you to speak. You forget your place. We have no problem to remind you. Next time wouldn’t be as pleasant.”

The council collectively closed their mouths. Mahon sat down in his seat.

Jim squeezed her hand under the table. Dali squeezed his hand back and didn’t slump in her chair.

Now the real work started.

Chapter Text

Curran strode out of the bathroom into his bedroom. It was late even by his standards and it was time to go to sleep. There were many things to do. The Mary was still a problem. His people still had their usual issues. He needed to have a clear head in the morning.

His rooms felt too large. They felt empty.

He’d lived in these rooms for more than ten years. They have never felt empty before.

If he closed his eyes, he could feel Kate’s skin under his fingers, could smell her scent, could taste her on his tongue. When he opened them, he was alone in his empty rooms.

Curran had seen mating frenzy. He had watched it unfold thousands of times, with a quiet bewilderment born from detachment. To him, it was a loss of control, something he could forgive in others, but would never tolerate from himself.

He wanted to run to the city and crawl into Kate’s bed. The want, need, so strong his muscles strained.

He would not succumb. He was the Beast Lord. It was all or nothing. He would not beg.

Curran strode determinedly toward his bed. He took a deep breath, preparing to leap onto it, and the scent of the sheets hit him. His bed smelled of detergent and his own musk. No Kate.

No part of his apartment smelled like Kate.

That morning he had woken up with Kate in his arms. She had been wrapped around him, holding on to him like she was afraid he would disappear. Her scent was everywhere. He had been submerged in her, and he never wanted to surface.

Curran touched the edge of the sheets and knew he would not be able to sleep in the bed without Kate. With time, he would overcome this weakness, but not tonight. She was too fresh in his mind, on his skin.

He let go. Heat enveloped him and he felt himself stretched. His body pulled and compressed at the same time. Then everything fell in place and Curran assumed his beast form.

He padded slowly around his apartment, letting instinct take over for a few moments. There were no threats, no one had breached his lair. The faint scent of his mate weak, several days old.

Curran walked back into the bedroom and lay on the rug on the floor. In this form he could hold on to her scent a little better. It would have to be enough.

The giant grey lion curled up and tried to fall asleep.

***

Curran slept badly.

He had tossed and rolled on the floor in his beast form and eventually had succumbed to sleep. When he woke up, he was human again, and his body ached from the hard floor. He had gone to sleep late and had woken up too early. Nowhere near enough sleep.

He would compensate with food. He needed to call Jim, to see if he’d heard anything from Kate.

Curran swung the door to his apartment open and almost collided with Jim. Speak of the devil. What was he doing here so early in the morning anyway?

Jim took several steps back. “My lord,” he inclined his head. His tone was heavy.

Fear settled on Curran’s shoulders like a winter mantle. “Where is Kate?” he growled.

Jim wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Please follow me. B, Jennifer and Doolittle are waiting in the conference room.”

If they came to tell him she was dead, they would not live to see the next hour, none of them. “Answer me,” Curran ground out.

“She’s alive,” Jim said. “I don’t know where she is.”

Curran strode past Jim to the guard station. “If Kate Daniels calls, pass it to me immediately.”

Curtis, the old werejackal, nodded. Curran turned and went into the conference room.

Three alphas and one doctor were waiting for him. Curran studied their faces, they looked worried, even B. He was not going to like what they had to say.

Curran sat at the head of the table, motioned for them to sit. “I’m all ears.”

“Yesterday, the Jewish temple at Unicorn was attacked by an undead mage,” Jim started.

Curran nodded. It was in Jim’s evening report.

“Kate was the one who fought him,” Jim continued. “After she killed him, she called me and asked for a pick-up. I sent Dali. Kate had briefed Dali on the matter of Erra and told her to relay the information to me.”

Curran nodded again. Still information that Jim had written in his report. And Kate had called him. She had left a message. She had been frantic, worried for him. He’d listened to the message five times like an idiot.

“Dali had taken Kate to her apartment,” Jim continued. “About two hours later, an unknown shapeshifter ripped open the roof to the southern safe house, dropped a heavily wounded Kate on the table, ordered us to take care of her, and disappeared.”

Curran leaned forward. “Run that by me again.”

“An unknown shapeshifter, animal form crocodile, ripped open the roof of our southern safe house,” Jim’s voice was dripping so much menace he needed to put rags under his chair. “This shapeshifter deposited Kate, then jumped through the hole in the roof and disappeared into the night. I’ve got a team looking for them, but at the time my priority was Kate.” Jim paused, waiting for ratification for his actions.

Curran wanted to shake him until all the information came out. He wanted to roar and rip the world apart. He inclined his head. He was sure his eyes were glowing, but he was damn if he was going to do anything about it.

“We evacuated the safe house to Caln Wolf’s satellite house. It was the closest. Doolittle treated Kate,” Jim finished.

Doolittle stirred. “Ms. Daniels had several lacerations, blunt force trauma, blood loss and a concussion. She also had previous wounds that have been re-opened.”

Curran closed his eyes for a second. That damn woman. One fight wasn’t enough, she had run into a second one. “Who did she fight?” he knew the answer but needed to hear it.

Jim didn’t sigh, but Curran could see it was a close thing. “Erra.”

“She kept saying ‘I almost had her. I could’ve taken her,’” Doolittle added, he looked Curran directly in the eye. “If Kate hadn’t been brought in when she had been, she would be dead.”

“Alright,” Curran’s voice was steady. “Doctor, is there anything else?”

Doolittle shook his head. “No, my lord.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Dismissed.”

Doolittle rose and left.

“You had an attack on our safe house,” Curran’s voice turned hard. “You had Kate secured. We have the identity of the Mary. We know for a fact that the Pack is the target. Why was I not notified yesterday? And why are you all here?” He leveled his glare at B. Her presence was still unexplained.

“I had dropped by the Wolf house by chance,” B said with a sweet smile. But Curran could see it was a little tight and did not reach her eyes. B was worried, very worried.

When she didn’t say anything else, Curran turned to look at Jennifer.

“After Kate was healed, she had insisted to return to her apartment,” Jennifer said. She wasn’t looking at Curran, but glaring at B. “I was going to provide her with an escort, but the Bouda Alpha couldn’t wait to throw her nonexistent weight around.”

B’s expression didn’t change at all. “The Wolf Alpha would know all about throwing nonexistent weight, after all, that’s all she ever does.”

“Enough,” Curran snarled. Both women clumped their mouths shut. “Let me guess, when your ego trip finally ended, Kate was gone.”

Jennifer and B both nodded, neither dared to look at him.

He was going to disembowel them and then string their innards around the Keep. “Where is she now?”

“We can’t find her,” Jim answered. He looked determined. “I sent people to her apartment, it’s gone.”

“What do you mean ‘gone’?”

“Someone trashed it. There’s nothing left. But there was no blood. We can reasonably assume Kate didn’t fight Erra again. My people found evidence from Kate’s fight outside of her apartment, but the inside was clean.”

Jim was going to say something else, but the phone next to Curran rang. He picked up immediately. “Yes?”

“Hey. It’s me,” Kate’s voice washed over him. Alive. She was alive.

“I’ve been waiting for you to call,” in more ways than one.

“How’s it going?” she sounded hesitant. After everything, did she not understand what she was to him?

“It’s been better.” Curran watched his alphas. Their reactions were very different. Jim was looking to the side, an illusion of privacy. B’s smile relaxed, she was planning something, and he wouldn’t like it. Jennifer was leaning slightly forward, she knew the least. He would prefer to keep it that way.

“Me too,” Kate said in his ear. “I’m at the Order. Been here since last night.” Jim straightened marginally. He hadn’t known that.

“That’s not what I heard.”

“Did you rip anyone to pieces?”

“Not yet,” Curran told Kate. “I’m thinking about it.” Jennifer jumped. She felt the most responsible, maybe he should teach the Wolf Alphas a lesson. B remained calm as a daisy, that was also suspicious.

“Andrea is wearing a hole in my carpet, because she’s worried you might be upset with her future mother-in-law. She is a little emotional about this issue,” Kate paused. “Can I tell her to stop pacing?”

“Is that what you wish?” That was B’s trump. Her son’s girl begging on her behalf.

“Yes. As a favor to me.”

“As you wish.” Curran heard Kate’s breath hitch on the other side. She had understood. It would work out. He would not sleep on the damn floor of his own damn bedroom again.

“Thank you,” Kate’s voice was soft, like a caress.

“You’re welcome. A favor: Would you let me pick you up at the Order today?”

“My shift started,” a tiny pause. “Twelve minutes ago. It ends at six. If it’s at all up to me, I will be here waiting for you. I promise.”

His. She was his. Finally. “Thank you,” he meant it. “I’m sorry about your place.”

“Me too.”

Curran placed the receiver back in its place. Three sets of eyes watched him.

“The matter of last night is closed,” Curran said calmly. “It appears that my Mate has saved your lives.”

Jennifer blinked. B’s smile became blinding. Jim nodded once.

Curran leaned back in his seat. “Enact the siege procedure and gather the Council. We need a strategy for Erra.”

The three alphas rose. Jennifer escaped first. Jim went out determinedly. B lingered.

“Yes?” Curran asked. He needed to get some food brought up, this promised to be a long day.

“I just wanted to congratulate you, dear,” B said sweetly.

Curran stood up. “Thank you. Now, please go and take care of our people.”

“Of course,” B patted his arm, like she was actually his aunt. “She’s a good woman. You’ve chosen well.”

Curran watched her, saying nothing.

“I remember you’ve asked for my honesty,” B told him. “I’m offering it. Mating would do you good.”

“Of course,” he answered, wishing for her to go.

B bowed. “My lord,” and left.

Chapter Text

Kate lounged on the couch in her and Curran’s living room. It was early March and still a little cold to sit outside. So, Kate had curled up with a blanket, a book she’d borrowed from Andrea and a hot cup of tea. She’d had a tiring week. She was determined to have at least one relaxing evening.

The only thing missing was her favorite psycho. But Curran was holed up in some security meeting with Jim.

Oh, well. At least the book was good.

Kate lost herself in the book. A high-seas adventure in a time when Tech ruled the world and the scariest thing around were pirates and storms. It was so far from her reality that it was soothing.

She’d read almost half the book, when the door to their apartment opened and Curran shouldered in. Kate lifted her eyes and admired him. He was such a handsome bastard, broad shouldered, muscular, but not too much, short blond hair, grey eyes that shone with golden lights for her. Curran radiated power and she wanted to get lost in him.

She put her book on the coffee table. “How was the meeting?”

“Long and tedious, but we got the new patrols sorted out,” Curran sounded tired. He came up to the sitting area and dropped a bunch of envelops on the coffee table. “Have you eaten?”

“No,” Kate got up and kissed him. “What’s that?” She indicated the envelopes.

“Wedding invitations,” Curran shrugged. “I’m starving. Did you get something from the kitchens already?”

Kate nodded and they went to their private kitchen.

They ate and Kate watched him. She knew better than to stand between Curran and his food. Kate waited for him to eat his fill before asking, “What do you mean ‘wedding invitations’?”

Curran drained a cup of water. “I’m invited to all Pack weddings.”

Kate put her elbows on the table, buried her face in her hands, and groaned. “Do we have to go?”

“Yes.”

Kate peeked at Curran through her fingers. He was making a face. Well, at least he didn’t want to go either. “Any minefields? Special instructions?”

Curran shrugged. “I show up, say something nice, eat their food, wait for the cake to be cut and leave.”

“Fine, I’ll ask Barabas.”

“Good idea. Also, I think you’re supposed to wear a dress.”

Kate glared at Curran. He raised his hands in surrender. “Talk to Barabas. Ask Nash too. Raphael always goes to these fancy events, she would know what you’re supposed to do better than me.”

“Fine,” Kate rose from her seat and started clearing the table. Curran stood to help her.

“How many of them have we got anyway?” Kate asked.

“I got five now,” Curran answered, pilling empty dishes onto the tray to send back to the Keep’s kitchens. “They’re all for April and May. We’ll probably get more for the summer.”

A thought struck. “You don’t need to officiate any, do you?”

Curran laughed. “No. They tried when the Pack was young. I said no, and when they insisted, I made them very uncomfortable. Nobody tried again.”

Kate chuckled. “It sounds ridiculous. Some eighteen-year-old marrying all those couples.”

The magic rolled over them. The lamp above the table snuffed out. After a moment, a feylantern came to life.

“Exactly.” Curran picked up the tray loaded with dishes and went to the door to their quarters. “What were you planning to do this evening?”

“I was in the middle of a riveting book,” Kate followed him, a sly smile on her lips.

“Do you think I might be able to persuade you to leave this utterly fascinating book for a few moments?”

“Hmm,” Kate pretended to consider. “How long are we talking about?”

Curran half turned and wiggled his impressive eyebrows. Kate laughed.

Someone knocked repeatedly on the door to their rooms.

Curran growled. He opened the door, holding the loaded tray in one hand.

Larisa stood on the other side of the door. “My lord, there’s yellow glowing goo climbing up the western wall.”

Kate sighed and reversed course to go grab her herb belt. “I’ll be right there.”

***

“Alright,” Kate said as she strode into their conference room. She was holding three hangers with three garments on them.

Curran had been going over some paperwork. His eyebrows rose a whole inch when he saw her. “What’s going on?”

“Apparently,” Kate said slowly. “When I went to the previous wedding wearing a store-bought dress, I had mortally offended all the Tailors and Dress Designers of the Pack. Every single one of them sent me a sample dress with the request to make them my official dresser. I now own twenty-three evening gowns. Also, this is not funny.”

Curran was laughing so hard he was struggling for breath. Kate put the dresses over the back of a near-by chair and crossed her arms.

It took Curran two whole minutes to calm down. He whipped tears from his eyes. “I’m done. Hit me.”

When asked so nicely.

Kate stepped up to him and punched him in the nose. Curran didn’t dodge, but before Kate could pull back, he grabbed her wrist, spun her around and pulled her into his lap. Kate elbowed him back and Curran grunted, but didn’t let go. He pressed her close with one arm, eliminating all space between them. Kate tried to wiggle free, but Curran’s lips touched her neck, and all the fight went out of her.

Curran kissed a fire trail from her neck to her shoulder. Kate’s head rolled back to rest on his shoulder, giving in.

“I concede the punch,” he mouthed into her skin. “Talk now, or later?”

Hmm? Oh, the dresses. Right.

Kate straightened. “Let go.”

Curran switched to the other side of her neck. “Are you sure?”

His hold on her midsection had slacked. Kate pulled his arms away and stood up. Curran growled, but let her go.

Kate lifted the three hangers. “The next wedding is Clan Rat. I’m not politically savvy, but I figured I’d wear a dress sent by one of Clan Rat’s dressmakers.”

Curran nodded, a small smile on his face.

“These are the choices,” Kate showed him the dresses one-by-one. “So, blue, green or silver?”

Curran’s eyes turned gold. “The silver is not from Caln Rat.”

Kate smiled. “No.”

“Not the silver,” Curran said decisively, leaning forward. “That dress is for me to take off you. Besides, even I know you’re not supposed to be more beautiful than the bride.” He looked like he was picturing removing the dress from her.

“Okay,” Kate put the silver dress to the side and winked at him. “For later, then.”

Curran rose from his chair.

Kate thrusted the two dresses at him like a shield. “Blue or green?”

“Green,” Curran plucked the two hangers from Kate’s hands. He draped them carefully over a chair, then turned and pounced on Kate. His mouth found hers. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, her fingers buried in his hair. Curran lifted Kate easily and backed her against the wall behind her. Kate wrapped her legs around Curran.

“My lord! My lady!” Barabas’ surprised voice sounded from the doorway.

Curran reached over and slammed the door shut into the lawyer’s face, not breaking the kiss even for a second.

***

The magic was down, and the afternoon was pleasant. Kate sat in the Pack jeep with the window open and enjoyed the breeze. Curran was driving.

They were going to wedding number two, at Clan Rat. In the previous week they have received five new wedding invitations. Curran had said it was expected, with the Pack being so large. Kate was not looking forward to being on display. The Petitions were more than enough, but at least there it was no more than twenty people to gawk at her at a time.

Kate looked over at Curran. He had worn dark jeans with a light polo shirt. He looked almost muted next to her green dress. Andrea had called her dress ‘cocktail’. Kate didn’t know what it meant, and only cared that the knee-length skirt opened enough for her to kick someone in the head. She had accessoriesed with Slayer’s sheath and her wrist guards full of needles. She was never going to be elegant, so she aimed for bad-ass. Curran didn’t need special clothes to look bad-ass. He emanated strength, power, and violence.

Usually, when he was driving, he concentrated on the road. He was careful and methodical. At that moment he looked tense, like he expected to be attacked.

“What are you thinking?” Kate asked.

Curran breathed out. “I checked the invitation before we left.”

Kate arched an eyebrow. “Something wrong with the invitation?”

“No,” Curran stalled. “The bride, she’s…”

There it was, he was nervous for her. Kate smiled. “Is the bride one of your ex-girlfriends?”

“No. The bride’s best friend is,” Curran huffed. “Sorry. Don’t be jealous.”

Kate laughed. “I’m not. You didn’t remember she existed until now.”

Curran nodded but didn’t say anything.

“Hey,” Kate touched his arm. “What’s bothering you?”

“Sarah, that’s her name. She’s persistent. She was the last to have lived in the Keep with me, and I asked her to leave three years ago. But she’s gotten into her head I’m her mate, and she made a point to come see me every time I broke up with someone.”

“Three years and she hasn’t moved on?” Kate shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong, I see the appeal, but three years is just desperate.”

Curran caught Kate’s hand on his shoulder and pulled it to him, kissing her fingers. “If I’d have noticed earlier, I would have arranged a buffer, so we wouldn’t have to deal with her.”

“Wouldn’t that have made us look worried, Your Furriness?” Kate teased, pulling her hand back, letting him drive.

Curran glanced at her. “You’re not worried?”

“I love you,” Kate said.

“I love you too,” Curran answered without hesitation.

“See, I have nothing to worry about,” Kate relaxed in her seat. “Tell me about her, about you.”

Curran sighed. “I made a point to pick a woman from each Clan. That way no one would scream that I was discriminating them, that I had a problem with this group or another. I would go to some Clan function, find a girl that seemed nice, talk to her for a bit. If we’d hit it off, I’d ask her out. It was Clan Rat’s turn. I met Sarah at another wedding. She was pleasant enough, read a lot of books about pre-Shift Tech, and had no interest in Clan politics.”

Kate watched Curran as he talked. He was watching the road, but somehow his eyes were still distant. His voice was full of sadness. She was sad for him too. Since he’d become Beast Lord, every single moment of his life had been calculated, even which woman he would take into his bed. Well, she had thrown a wrench into that.

“We went out a couple of times, but I’m always at the Keep, it was easier. She ended up moving into the guest room.”

Kate frowned. Being relegated to the Bimbo room was not a high prize in her opinion.

Curran glanced at her and smiled. “Sarah didn’t mind. Like I said, politics wasn’t her thing.”

“Neither is it mine,” Kate noted.

“You want me,” Curran said simply. “And I want you. Sarah… I knew I wasn’t in love, but it was comfortable, convenient.”

A convenient relationship. Kate grimaced.

“When she was there, I knew I could go to her room and for a few hours not think or talk about the Pack. We talked about the books we’ve read, about old songs we’ve heard,” he hesitated.

“You had sex,” Kate helped him.

Curran nodded. “I should have ended it after a couple of months, but I didn’t want to start looking for someone else again. As long as she was there in those rooms, other women from the Pack didn’t approach me, and the Council didn’t bug me about mating. I just wanted them to lay off me for a bit.”

“You used her.”

“Yes.” He wasn’t proud of it.

Kate heart was breaking for younger-him. How dog-tiered he must have been. Kate reached out to him again and ran her fingers through his short hair, scrapping his scalp with her fingernails. Curran leaned into her touch.

“What happened?” she prompted.

“I realized she was falling for me. I couldn’t play her like that. I asked her to leave.”

Kate blinked. “Just like that?”

Curran shrugged. “I would like to think I sat her down and explained things, but I honestly don’t remember.”

If this Sarah was still coming for him, three years after they broke up, the chances he had explained things were highly unlikely. “What happened after that?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said she was the last to live in the Keep. For three years your bimbo room stood empty?”

Curran smiled, showing the edge of his teeth. “Two. I met you a year ago. I used it for one-night stands a couple of times. I don’t know, maybe I was trying to prevent someone else falling in love with me.”

That was probably the problem. His ex-girlfriend saw that no one had taken her place, so she thought she still had a chance. And then came Kate. Oh boy. This wedding was going to be fun.

Her fingers kept scrapping at his scalp.  “How did that work out for you?”

“Hmm?”

She was distracting him. If he were to crash the car, Curran would be fine, but she wouldn’t be. Kate pulled her hand back, and Curran made a noise of protest. Kate smiled. “How is your plan of not letting anyone fall in love with you going?”

Curran flashed her a brilliant smile that made her stomach flutter. “I slipped up. Fell in love myself, then had my head kicked for my troubles.”

“Sounds like a smart woman.”

Curran laughed.

***

Weddings were boring.

Kate was sure that if she were to know the parties involved, she would have been more invested. But this wedding had almost a hundred guests, of which Kate knew five people. She couldn’t wait for the damn cake to be cut so they could go back to the Keep.

Kate took another sip of her water and her bladder immediately started to protest. Fine.

She leaned over to Curran, whispered “bathroom” in his ear, and got up.

Curran nodded vaguely in her direction. The father of the groom was regaling him with some story and Curran was pretending heroically to be interested.

Kate went around the head table and went for a side door. Jezebel, her faithful shadow, stood from another table and followed her out. At least it wasn’t one of Jim’s bodyguards.

It didn’t take her long to find the bathroom. Jezebel leaned against a wall and waited for her.

When Kate exited her stall, there was another woman in the bathroom. Jezebel was glaring at her.

Calmly, Kate walked to the sink and washed her hands, then she dried them on a small towel. The woman didn’t move, watching Kate the whole time. Finally, Kate turned to regard the other woman.

She appeared to be a little older than Kate, perhaps closer to Curran in age. She was wearing a baby-purple bridesmaid dress that complimented her well. Her black hair was gathered in a complicated braid on her head. Her green eyes were big. Her carefully painted lips were full. She didn’t look at Kate kindly.

Kate inclined her head to the side. “You must be Sarah.”

Sarah blinked in surprise. Hadn’t expected Curran to tell her, has she? To her credit, she recovered quickly. “I am.”

“Very well. Please wait,” Kate walked to the door and looked out to the corridor. She was in luck, some other guest was passing by. “Please get Seraphine for me,” Kate instructed and watched them scurry away.

Kate walked back into the bathroom and leaned against a sink.

Sarah’s big eyes narrowed “You will not avoid speaking to me.”

Kate lifted her hand. “Wait for Seraphine. I’m not going anywhere.”

Sarah pursed her lips and glared but didn’t speak.

After a long tense minute Seraphine finally arrived. She was about Kate’s age with dark brown skin and a nest of braids on her head. She was part of Kate and Curran’s guard and she was a wererat. Perfect.

“Jezebel, please go back to the hall. Seraphine will stay with us,” Kate instructed.

Jezebel straightened from the wall. “Yes, Consort,” and left. Seraphine took up Jezebel’s spot against the far wall.

Kate turned to Sarah. “Are you going to challenge me?”

Sarah recoiled. “You killed a render. I’m not suicidal.”

Kate nodded. “Very well. I would prefer not to lurk in the bathroom. This house has lovely gardens, join me for some fresh air?”

They walked side by side in silence. Seraphine maintained a couple of paces behind them, her presence unobtrusive, but not subtle. Kate has been Pack Alpha for several months, some lessons were finally sinking in.

“What did you want to talk to me about?” Kate asked, when they reached the gravel path in the garden.

“What do you have that I don’t?” At least she didn’t beat around the bush. Kate could see why Curran had found her appealing. “We were together for six months. No other woman has been with him as long as I. But you! He knew you barely a month and now you’re his mate,” bitterness dripped from her voice.

Curran had known her for more than six months when she became his mate, but Kate was not going to correct Sarah. Besides, the other woman wasn’t done.

“Is it because you can fight? When he was with me, he had said he was relieved that I couldn’t. Who is he lying to? Is he a two-faced –” she clamped both hands on her mouth before she finished the phrase.

Kate’s lips curled up. “A two-faced worm?” she asked, and Sarah looked at her with wide eyes. “I doubt it. I’m sure Curran was genuinely glad you don’t fight. The wellbeing of all his people is important to him. He would not want to see you hurt, not then and not now.”

They walked a minute in silence.

“Tell me about your time with him,” Kate asked her gently.

“Why?” Sarah bit out. She wanted to say something else, but clamped her mouth shut before she did.

“It would make you feel better,” Kate answered simply. “It is clear you’re loyal to him. You wouldn’t have broken his trust by talking about him. Telling me would not break his trust.”

Sarah studied her face for a few steps. Kate kept her features relaxed. She’d learned a lot of patience, dealing with the endless Petitions.

“The Beast Lord was kind,” Sarah said eventually. “He would accommodate me, listen to me. I’ve never felt as cared as when I was with him. He was funny and insightful. I’ve never felt so…”

“Safe,” Kate completed.

Sarah startled. “Yes,” she said eventually. “He made me feel safe.”

“What about him?” Kate prompted. “What did you give him?”

The other woman frowned.

“Any relationship goes both ways,” Kate clarified. “You told me what Curran gave you, but what did you give Curran? If he had only wanted a warm bed, you know that it wouldn’t be enough.”

Sarah stayed silence for a long moment. They kept strolling along the garden path, circling the mansion. Kate didn’t probe the other woman giving her the space she needed.

“I gave him respite,” Sarah told her. “I remember how tense and haggard he would be when he came to my rooms. When the Beast Lord left, he was more relaxed. The light was back in his eyes.”

“Is that something no other woman could have given him?”

Sarah shook her head. “Not like I. When I first moved to the Keep, the first week I went exploring. After about fifteen minutes he had chased me down. The way he had looked at me then…” Sarah smiled at the memory.

Funny little mouse , Kate remembered. But Curran had learned Kate was no mouse to play games.

“I made a point to disappear from my rooms at least once a week,” Sarah continued. “It had made him so happy.”

“Did it last?” Kate asked.

Sarah glanced at her, then looked down. “No. At some point he stopped chasing me. I stopped disappearing.”

“Did you ask him why he stopped?” Kate pushed a little further.

Sarah looked at her scandalous. “Of course not. He’s the Beast Lord.”

And there exactly lay the problem. “What did Curran tell you when he asked you to leave?” Kate asked. But Sarah wasn’t listening to her. She had tensed and was looking beyond Kate toward the house.

Kate glanced in the same direction. Curran was walking determinately toward them. Took him long enough, she was gone for almost half an hour at this point.

Kate stopped and crossed her arms. Sarah stopped beside her, her eyes firmly on the floor. Seraphine waited a few paces away and continued to munch on the bag of pretzels she always carried around.

Curran’s gait was unhurried. The headlights weren’t on full force, but the beginning of the glow was plain to see. Not all reason lost yet. Good. She could work with that.

When Curran was close enough, Kate stepped in his path and blocked Sarah with her own body. “We were just having a pleasant stroll through the gardens. Care to join us?”

Curran’s thick eyebrows came together. He looked at Sarah, who cringed from him, then at Kate, who arched an eyebrow back, and finally at Seraphine, who was still munching her pretzels. “Are you okay?”

Overprotective Beast Lord in all his glory. “We’re just talking. Seraphine has been with us the whole time.” From the corner of her eye, Kate saw Seraphine do a little wave.

Curran didn’t say anything, but Kate could see his shoulders relax a little, and the glow in his eyes dimmed.

“C’mon,” Kate motioned, and started down the path. Curran kept pace with her. Sarah hesitated, but didn’t dare disobey. Kate made sure to walk between Curran and Sarah. They continued in silence.

Kate bumped against Curran’s side. “You need to apologize to her.”

Curran’s face became his signature unreadable Beast Lord mask. Sarah gasped beside her.

“Kate,” Curran ground through his teeth.

“Do you remember what I said to you when you first started courting me?” Kate ignored the warning in his tone.

“You said a lot of things,” Curran’s voice was hard. They talked with their fists more than with words in the beginning, but still.

“I told you I would not be girlfriend number twenty-seven, soon to be replaced with girlfriend number twenty-eight. I did not want to be her,” Kate gestured at Sarah.

Curran’s mouth clumped shut. Sarah didn’t dare lift her eyes from the gravel path.

“You hurt her. She deserves an apology. It’s the least you can do.”

Curran didn’t say anything.

Kate wasn’t going to let up. “Are you a coward?” Curran’s eyes sparkled in furious gold. “Or are you the man I know you are? You don’t run from responsibility and you don’t tolerate our people to be hurt in any way.”

Curran unhinged his jaw and looked at Sarah. “I’m sorry I hurt you. You deserve someone to take care of you, and that cannot be me.”

Sarah nodded her head, clearly lost for words.

Kate turned to look at her. “Did I answer your question?”

Sarah’s eyes widened. She thought for a moment. “Yes, Consort. Thank you.” It sounded like she meant it.

“Very well. Go back to the party, I’m sure your friends miss you by now.” An obvious dismissal.

“My lord. My lady,” Sarah inclined her head and made her escape.

“When have you become so wise?” Curran asked, his head tilted to the side.

Kate rolled her eyes. “I fake wise like a champ.” She leaned over and kissed him on the lips. “Maybe our escort can go back to the party too?” she murmured.

“Seraphine, dismissed,” Curran said, not taking his eyes off Kate.

***

Sarah sat at one of the tables, watching the dancefloor. She was toying with a napkin, to keep her hands occupied. Her conversation with the Consort gave her a lot to think about.

The chair beside her scrapped the floor, and a man sat in it. He was tall and broad, with short brown hair and kind eyes. Thomas, her alpha.

“How are you doing, Sarah?” Thomas asked.

She glanced at him, then lowered her eyes. “I’m well, Alpha. Thank you.”

Thomas watched her for a few moments. “I hope you’re not going to do anything foolish. Both Robert and I would hate to lose you.”

Sarah sighed. “I already have. I… I cornered the Consort in the bathroom.”

Thomas leaned forward. “Sarah,” he admonished.

She didn’t meet his eyes.

“What happened?” Thomas prompted.

“The Consort insisted that Seraphine accompany us. She wouldn’t let me speak before Seraphine arrived.”

Thomas’ eyebrows rose on his forehead. “Why do you think she did that?”

“Because Seraphine is Clan Rat. She wanted to reassure me.” The Consort had been kind and considerate. A better person than Sarah knew herself to be. She had gone to the Consort to find a weakness, instead she was presented with a mirror. It hurt.

Her alpha nodded. “What happened next?”

“We talked,” Sarah said simply. She glanced up then down again. “I would like to maintain my privacy.”

“Of course,” Thomas said. They both knew he would talk with Seraphine, and she would tell him everything.

The doors from the garden opened and the Beast Lord and Consort entered the hall. The Beast Lord had always been very private. It was rare to see him display any emotion, apart from anger, in public. That was why it was so surprising to see him and the Consort holding hands.

The Beast Lord led the Consort to the dance floor. He put his hands on her hips, she placed hers on his chest, and they started swaying to the music. Other couples resumed their dancing, giving the ruling couple a wide breath.

Sarah twisted the napkin in her hand into a tight cord. She looked determinately down. The Beast Lord had never looked at her the way he looked at his Consort.

Thomas reached over and covered Sarah’s hand with his own. “Well done.”

Sarah smiled. It was brittle. “It’s time I’ve let the Beast Lord go. The Consort, she’s… She’s earned my respect.”

Thomas looked at her kindly. “I’m glad. Both Robert and I have much hope for your future.”

Chapter Text

Kate came awake with a start. Her senses stretched out, ready for any danger.

Quiet.

She was on some sort of strange bed. Her clothes were gone. She was in a dark room, surrounded by silence.

No. Someone was breathing in the room with her. They were very close to her.

Slowly, not making any sound, Kate reached out with her hand and found the edge of the bed. Just as stealthily she moved her hand up and found the edge of some sort of cabinet. Surely, she could find some sort of weapon.

Vaguely Kate wondered at the ineptitude of whoever captured her.

Her hand closed of a hilt of a sword.

Kate didn’t pause to think. In one smooth motion, she unsheathed her sword and rolled over the person breathing beside her. Her blade came to rest at their neck.

Two glowing eyes opened and the man under her made a surprised exhale. But he made no other move and remained completely relaxed under her.

Kate blinked and recollection finally came back to her.

Well, wasn’t this awkward. She had almost decapitated her own... She didn’t dare finish that thought.

Nothing to it, she would have to roll with this.

Curran exhaled slowly through his nose. “Your move.”

Kate studied Curran’s expression. He wasn’t exactly focused on her face.

She was straddling Curran’s massive chest and she had a sword pressed to his throat. But more importantly, she was naked. And so was he.

He looked like a cat who caught the canary.

Kate was the canary and she couldn’t seem to bring herself to mind.

Muscle by muscle she relaxed. She moved the sword from his throat and leaned a little forward to put Slayer safely under her pillow. “Sorry,” she muttered.

Quick as lightning, Curran lifted his head and caught her breast in his mouth. “Why?” he mouthed against her skin.

Kate found herself stretching into his touch. “I almost slit your throat.”

Currans hands came up to grab at her hips. He pushed lightly and she moved lower on his chest, to his stomach and lower. Her own hands, free from the sword, rested on his chest.

Curran hadn’t let go of her breast and mouthed his way to the other side. “I don’t mind,” he said against her skin. His hands pushed at her until she came up against irrefutable evidence of exactly how much he didn’t mind.

“Is that so, Your Majesty?” she shuddered as he nipped on her nipple.

Curran licked at the tiny hurt and lifted his head. “I woke up to you on me. Naked, proud, and gorgeous. All of you for me, like a feast.” He lifted his molten-gold eyes to her. “’I don’t mind’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

Kate narrowed her eyes at him, just as her insides melted into mush. She was not ready to let him know how much he affected her. Besides, she didn’t like the feast comment.

She batted his insistent hands away from her hips and wiggled a little in place. Her butt brushed against his erection and Curran hissed, but otherwise he didn’t react. At the slightest push of her hands, he lay back on the bed. 

Their affair was so new and had been so scorching. They’ve made love at least a dozen times at this point, and he had explored her body thoroughly. But she hadn’t had the opportunity yet to return the favor.

Kate looked over her kingdom.

Hard muscles enclosed in soft skin. Experimentally, she run her fingers from his neck to his chest, down to his stomach. Curran’s muscles jumped in reaction, but he managed to keep himself still and prone.

Kate smiled. Maybe she was a little predatory too.

Bracing herself with her hands on his stomach, she lowered her head and brought her lips to Curran’s neck. He lifted his head up, giving her more access.

She liked this. Testing his self-control. Pushing him.

She nipped and licked from his neck to his shoulder and down his chest. Above her Curran groaned, but otherwise remained still.

Kate moved lower, until she found one of his nipples. Now it was her turn to put the little nub in her mouth. She let one of her canines nick at him, then sucked. Curran shuddered under her and closed his hands on her thighs. Kate was on fire, but she was damned if she was going to stop now.

She moved her mouth across his chest to his other nipple. This time she managed to drag a groan out of him. 

“Have you had enough?” she asked, as her tongue traced patterns on his tight stomach.

“No,” he growled. “Never. Anything. Everything.”

Kate smirked. It was so satisficing to render him incoherent. She slid lower on his body. His hands could no longer reach her thighs. They fell to the bed and he clenched at the sheets, obviously needing to hold on to something.

She deliberately rubbed her breasts against Curran’s cock, but otherwise ignored it. Instead, she went to explore his hip bone. As she tasted his skin, she looked up his body. He had thrown his head back. His chest was raising and falling as he struggled for breath. His knuckles were white, clutching the sheets.

A feast indeed.

Kate turned her head to contemplate Curran’s erection.

It was… impressive.

She wasn’t very experienced, and she wasn’t sure she could handle him. Apprehension chased her arousal away.

“Kate,” Curran had lifted his head when she stopped working his skin. “Don’t.”

That settled it. He wasn’t going to get away with telling her what to do or not to do.

She tilted her head and took him into her mouth. Just a little, just the head.

A full body shudder run through Curran.

Heartened by his response, Kate took a little more of him in her mouth and pressed her tongue against him. She braced herself on one arm and brought the other to play with his sac. She hadn’t had a chance to explore that part of him yet.

Curran’s hand came to rest on her head. He didn’t push, just held her.

Tentatively, she started to move on him, pressing her tongue to lick at him, rolling his balls in her fingers. Curran trembled under her.

She tried to take more of him in and immediately Curran’s hand tightened on her head. He hauled her bodily off him and up. Before she even had time to protest, he crushed his mouth over hers and squeezed her to him.

His kiss was all consuming. She was helpless against his kisses. Her hands came almost of their own accord to clutch at his hair. His hands pressed against her just as forcefully.

“Don’t you want?” she asked, breathless, when they managed to separate for an inch.

“Not now,” he breathed against her skin. “I need,” he broke off, as his other hand pressed against her back and his hips lifted up against her.

Kate’s lips quirked. “I liked feasting on you. You ruined my fun,” she said against his ear.

Curran had moved both his hands to his hips, and he was pushing insistently. “I’m too much… Don’t want to… Can’t hurt you...”

She had done this. She had brought him to this place where he was almost incoherent with need. She didn’t think there was anything sexier in existence.

She lifted her hips, positioned herself and slid down on him.

They paused at the end, both groaning. Both breathing hard, eyes locked.

Kate braced her hands on his stomach. Curran curled his fingers against her hips. Then they moved.

He felt so good inside her. He filled her completely, touched her everywhere. The friction was almost unbearable. Pleasure curled around her stomach and spread in ever growing circles to her body. Before long she was consumed and was flying apart around him. She was probably screaming.

Curran held on to her, until the waves of pleasure subsided enough for her to take a shuddered breath. Then he started to move again, pushing into her in powerful strokes. Kate tried to help, clenching at him from inside, moving against him, grinding their hips together.

When Curran’s release finally came, he almost dislodged them from the bed.

Afterwards, she collapsed against his chest. Kate closed her eyes and listened to the beat of his heart under her ear. Curran’s fingers run lightly through her hair.

Kate’s thoughts floated on clouds of happiness. She had awoken in such a panic, and now she was sated and happy. How did this happen?

Only when Curran’s chest shook under head from laughter, did Kate realize she had said it aloud.

She lifted her head up to look at him. His eyes had small golden lights floating. He was very happy too. And wasn’t that a strange thought.

“Now that I think of it,” Curran said. “I remember you said something about it not being safe to sleep near you.”

Kate grimaced. “I probably need to train out of that now.”

Curran shook his head. His fingers didn’t stop their trail through her hair. “It keeps you safe, and I can handle you. Besides,” he grinned, a flash of white teeth. “We reached a satisfying conclusion.”

Kate rolled her eyes and put her head back on his chest. “How long did it take you to think of that one?”

“I’m renown for quick thinking on the battlefield.”

“More like notorious,” Kate snorted. Her hand rested on Curran’s chest beside her. Absentmindedly she started to draw imaginary circles on his skin.

Curran sighed, as if wounded, but it sounded too content.

“I’m serious,” she said. “How did we happen? Why me?” She closed her eyes and listened to the steady beat o his heart.

Curran’s warm breath caressed the top of her head. “It was not love at first sight, most defiantly.”

Kate snorted and opened her eyes.

“The first time I thought of you sexually was after we fought that bitch navigator in Unicorn Lane.”

“Olath,” Kate supplied.

“Yes. I remember floating in the tank afterwards and thinking: ‘she genuinely tried to help my people, she should be rewarded for that. I will sleep with her. She’s pretty enough.’”

Kate lifted her head to look at his face. “That’s disgusting.”

Curran’s lips quirked and he shrugged a shoulder. His eyes were still dancing.

Kate shook her head. “Continue your story, Your Arrogance.”

“You said no, I let it go,” Curran’s gaze turned to the side as he remembered. Kate loved to watch his face when he was this unguarded. “Then I kissed you before we fought the stalker.” His eyes returned to her, full of heat. “It was a good kiss.”

Kate’s lips curled into a smile on their own. “It was.” Thoughts of that kiss had hunted her for months, until he had kissed her again, and she had a new kiss to drool about.

“But you still wouldn’t see me. I dealt with it. Until…” He trailed off.

“Until?” Kate prompted him. His expression was tight, almost pained.

“Until you almost died in your apartment,” his golden eyes locked on her. “That was the breaking point for me.”

Kate lifted her hand to place it on his cheek. Curran turned his face and kissed her palm. He breathed in her scent for a moment, then turned back to her. “What about you?”

“Me?” she smiled.

Curran nodded. “Go on. Tell me when you succumbed to me?”

Kate huffed a laugh. “You wish.” She bit her lip a moment. “I was terrified of you,” finally she admitted. “Any kind of relationship was completely out of the realm of possibility.”

“What changed your mind?” he prompted.

“You traded the necklace for Julie’s life,” she said simply. “It made me realized that under the arrogance and the posturing and the violence you had a heart somewhere.”

Curran laughed. “Trust you to claw it to the surface for me.” He let his head rest against his pillow. He closed his eyes. “God, I was so jealous of that teleporting idiot.”

“Bran?” a pang of pain run through Kate as she remembered him, but it had nothing to do with Curran. “Why? He was like a kid who never grew up.”

“But you went to him and not to me. You mourned him and would have nothing to do with me.”

Kate lifted herself from Curran’s chest, pulled herself until she was level with him. “You have nothing to be jealous about.” She kissed him.

Curran’s arms wound around her, holding her tight.

After a long moment, they broke apart. “Are you hungry?” Curran asked.

Kate considered him, frowning. “Not really. Are you?”

In a smooth motion Curran rolled them, so she was on her back and he on top. He moved quickly and smoothly down her body. “Ravenous.”

Chapter Text

A simple job in the city, that’s all that it was supposed to be. Go in, get the guy, get out. How it became such a clusterfuck, Jim didn’t know, but here he was four hours later finally finishing clean up.

Jim stood to his full height and surveyed the room. No one would be able to tell four shifters died here, not even shifters.

Jim picked up the last trash bag and went out of the room. He could hear the rest of the team working in the other rooms, on the other floors. There were more rooms to clean up, floors to sweep, neighbors to appease, dispose of or deceive. He went down the four flights of stairs and dumped his bag into the back of a pack jeep. Three other similar bags were already in the trunk, while nearby other jeeps had other bags in theirs.

Complete clusterfuck.

There was a lot more to do. Jim turned, intending to find Wendelin. But he didn’t need to go far. Wendelin left the building with another man. He was shorter than Jim, but broader. Short blond hair, light skin, powerful walk. The Beast Lord. Shit.

Jim lowered his eyes, widened his stance, put his hands behind his back, and waited. He didn’t have to wait for long, Wendelin and the Beast Lord went right to him.

“Sharpshire,” his boss snapped. “You’re done. Take this jeep and head back to the Keep. Doolittle wants tissue samples from the bags. Make sure to deliver them.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” People expected Wendelin to be hard and uptight, but Jim liked working with her. Her orders were clear and straight, and you always knew where you stood with her. If you screw up, you knew it.

“I’ll hitch a ride with you,” the Beast Lord added, and Jim fought not to show a response. “Get the jeep going, I’ll be right there.”

Jim gave a curt nod and turned to the car indicated. He had clawed his way into his clan beta position only recently. He had yet to work with the Beast Lord himself. No screwing this up.

Fortunately, the tech was up. Getting the car running didn’t take long and Jim sat in the driver’s seat trying to review everything he knew about the Beast Lord.

Despite being a lion, the Beast Lord didn’t belong to Clan Cat. He was above them all. Jim had seen him perhaps three or four times since the Clan formation, maybe more. But Jim wasn’t paying attention until he started climbing the hierarchy ladder. The Beast Lord was a little younger, but he has claimed and held his position for more than ten years. Jim considered him a scary motherfucker and no matter his personal aspirations, The Beast Lord was someone to be wary of.

The passenger door opened, and The Lord of the Free People got in.

Jim kept his eyes straight forward. His hands at ten and two on the wheel. “My lord,” he said, in his most level voice.

The Beast Lord nodded, and they were off.

The silence stretched in the car. It would take them more than an hour to get to the Keep. God, it’s going to be difficult.

“Let’s try something,” The Beast Lord said suddenly.

“My Lord?”

“We’re just two guys on a job,” The Beast Lord continued. “The Beast Lord is waiting for us at the Keep. Right now, we’re just two guys on a job.”

Jim thought this over. Just two guys? He risked a side-ways glance to the Beast Lord. He was reclining in the seat. His head back against the headrest, his eyes closed. He looked… tired? Jim frowned and concentrated on the road. What would two regular guys talk about?

“What did you think about the match between the Rats and Nimble?” Jim said eventually.

From the corner of his eye Jim saw the Beast Lord lift his head. “The baseball match?”

Jim nodded. He knew the werelion had been there, though he might not have been actively watching. The Beast Lord had to preside over all intra-clan proceedings, even seemingly friendly baseball matches.

“It was alright,” the Beast Lord said eventually. “I’ve seen better, and I’ve defiantly seen worse.”

“The Rats blew it with their rotations,” Jim nodded. “They put too much on Elvin’s shoulders. They expected him to save the whole match, no matter the shit they did before he was on.”

The other man sat up in his seat. “There was strategy in putting Elvin last,” he countered. “It kept Nimble uncertain and on the defensive.”

“They still won. They had Cohen and James and knew how to use them.”

They ended up spending all the way to the Keep discussing the different Clan baseball teams.

After Jim parked the jeep in the Keep courtyard, the Beast Lord opened his door and got out. He stood at the open door for a second, slapped the top of the car and said, “Thanks for the ride.”

“Sharpshire,” Jim said. He was still sitting at the wheel.

The Beast Lord had turned to walk away but glanced back when he heard Jim’s voice. “What?” He didn’t sound angry or offended, just confused.

“Name’s Sharpshire,” Jim repeated.

A smile bloomed on the Beast Lord’s face. “Lennart.” He nodded and walked away.

***

After giving the Beast Lord a ride Jim knew that the smart thing to do was to keep his nose down. He got on with his duties, didn’t brag and concentrated on his own shit. The one time he crossed paths with the Beast Lord, he had inclined his head respectfully, murmured “My Lord,” and moved on.

About a month later, his Alpha sent him into the city to check up on clan member. Nobody had heard from them in a while. Then again, they were cats, what did anyone expect? A military parade and a round of woofs like the Wolf clan?

Jim kept his eye-rolling to himself and got on with his work. He got into the pack jeep and started chanting. Fifteen minutes and he’ll be off.

About half-way through his chant the other door to the jeep opened and a blond head looked in. “Going into the city?” The Beast lord asked.

Not missing a beat in the chanting, Jim nodded and motioned the other man in.

The enchanted engine finally came to life and they rolled out of the Keep. Jim said a silent thanks that the cabin was soundproofed, otherwise they would have been deaf from the noise. He looked over the other man. He looked composed and closed off. Jim stared on the road in front of him. It would only be the two of them in the car for the next hour…

“Where do you need to go?” Jim asked.

“Just the city is fine,” The Beast Lord answered emotionlessly.

Jim grinned. “Got a girl in the city, Lennart?”

The Beast Lord sat up straight and turned burning eyes onto Jim.

Jim fought not to cower, or in fact react at all. “Got a long ride ahead of us. We’re just two guys passing the time.”

The werelion beside him stared at him for a long minute. Jim concentrated on breathing and on avoiding the potholes on the road.

“Sharpeshire,” The Beast Lord said eventually.

Jim nodded. “That’s me.”

Lennart sat back in his seat and relaxed. “I’m going to check up with Wendelin.”

Jim nodded. “Fair enough.” That wolf was paranoid about their safehouses. “I’d put on the radio, but the magic’s up.”

“The radio’s shit anyway,” Lennart shrugged beside him. “All the music is either doom and gloom or just plain noise.”

Jim snorted. “The youngsters these days,” he imitated his grand-mother. “They do not understand good from the bad.”

“Damn straight,” Lennart laughed. “I’ll take the Doors over every single new-age Magik shit any day.”

“That’s not exactly the music I grew up on, but I see what you mean.”

***

“Sharpshire,” his Alpha’s voice was sharp and commanding. “Go take the Beast Lord into the city.”

“Doesn’t he have flunkies of his own?” Jim snapped back. He was Beta of Clan Cat, not a chauffeur.

“Yes, he does, and that’s you,” the Alpha glared.

Jim glared right back. He liked Lennart, but he was damn if he was going to let anyone know about it.

“Now, Sharpshire.”

Jim resisted barring his teeth. It wasn’t time yet. Maybe a year from now. But that damn cat is going down. Slowly, not losing his glare for a second, he got to his feet and left the room.

Jim went up two flights of stairs and knocked on the security door to the Beast Lord’s apartment.

“Yeah?” Curtis, the werejackal, opened the door.

“Snowball sent me. His Majesty needs a ride?”

Curtis snorted and opened the door wider. “Coffee? His Majesty is in a meeting with Orhan, John and Aunt B. Might till take a while.”

Clan Wolf, Jackal and Bouda. A while was an understatement.

Jim shook his head. “I hate this shit,” he muttered.

Curtis nodded his head in sympathy. “When are you taking him out?” He poured black liquid out of a pot on the table.

Jim took the cup once it was full and made a long pull of tar. He was stalling and they both knew it.

Curtis snorted. “Keep your secrets, Cat. But everyone, including ‘Snowball’ knows what’s coming.”

Jim smiled, careful not to show any teeth.

“Any good gigs at the Mercenary Guild lately?” Curtis changed the subject.

They spent twenty minutes discussing the Mercenary Guild current roster, before a door down the hall opened and the Alphas headed out.

The Beast Lord was last. He nodded at Curtis and clapped Jim on the shoulder. “C’mon, Sharpshire. We have business in the city.”

Jim kept his mouth shut all the way through the Keep and up until the turn out of the Keep. “What’s up?”

“I swear I’m going to wring B’s neck one day.”

Jim arched an eyebrow.

“What does that expression supposed to mean?”

“I was just contemplating if the Beast Lord position is going to vacate itself much sooner than I was planning.”

Lennart laughed.

***

“I don’t see much of you in the Keep,” Lennart said apropos nothing.

“I’ve got shit to do,” Jim answered bluntly.

They were leaving the Keep for Atlanta. It was raining cats and dogs and Lennart was driving. Jim was not sure how he felt about having the Beast Lord drive him anywhere, but he hadn’t protested either. If he thought about it, The Beast Lord did hitch a ride with him rather often. He’d ask his opinion, overlooking Snowball in the process too. Jim would like to say it was good political planning on his part, but he genuinely liked Lennart’s company.

Lennart snorted. “What do you actually do again?”

“I work three jobs, you can barely keep up with one.” Since when did he feel comfortable talking back to the Beast Lord?

“That short for cash, Sharpshire?”

“Hardly.”

“Aiming high, then.”

Jim looked at him askance. “What’s with the twenty questions?”

The werelion sighed. “Look, I may not have a fancy degree or keep three jobs straight, but I’m where I’m at for ten years now. I know the signs.”

“I’m not using you to climb the social ladder. I’ve got my claws for that.”

“So what are you after?” he asked it matter of fact. And at that moment Jim realized that every person in the Beast Lord’s life wanted something from him. That must suck.

Jim shrugged. “I had a rough night. It’s nice that someone else is driving.”

Lennart turned his grey eyes to Jim. Jim felt like he was being pierced by a spear. After a moment, he lowered his eyes.

Lennart drove in silence for a while. He spoke again when they could see a little of the city lights coming closer. “I need to pick a Bouda girl to date.”

Jim stirred in his seat. “What? Why?” Was the man insane?

Lennart huffed a breath. “Clan Bouda is next on the rotation.”

Jim blinked a moment trying to follow this line of conversation and failing miserably. “What are you talking about?”

“I need to date a girl from each clan. Otherwise they scream favoritism. I’ve been putting off the Boudas, but I can’t any much longer.”

“Tough to be you,” Jim said, relaxing in his seat. “All the girls in all the clans throwing themselves at you. No wonder you only have so little time.”

Lennart laughed. “I wouldn’t complain, if it weren’t for the crazy…”

Jim shuddered. After a moment of silent he said, “You’re going to city anyway. Go find a nice human girl. Put off the inevitable for another week or two.”

Lennart tapped the wheel to a tune in his own head. “Yeah, probably right. If only Wendelin didn’t send me with a tail that would chase everyone off.”

“I’ll wingman you,” Jim said unthinking.

Lennart arched an eyebrow. “I thought you had shit to do.”

Damn. He did. Jim frowned. “I’ve got Wendelin today, and I need to check up on the Mercenary Guild. And the weather is miserable.”

Both men looked through the windshield at the pouring rain.

“Some other time,” Jim said diplomatically.

Lennart nodded. “But don’t think I won’t take you up on it. I need to get laid.”

“Sure,” Jim said and closed his eyes. He hadn’t planned on it, but it was nice having the Beast Lord as his friend.

Chapter Text

Dali sat at the kitchen table in her house. Jim sat across from her. They stared at each other, the notebook a battlefield between them.

“No,” Dali said. It was probably the millionth time.

“I’m the Beast Lord, my word is law,” Jim growled at her. That was a new one, too bad she’d witnessed Kate manage Curran, and the other thing… Oh, right: she wasn’t an idiot.

“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty,” Dali mocked her mate. “I hadn’t realized I’ve upset your precious feelings. Since you cannot bare to be here anymore, you should leave AND LOOK FOR A NEW MATE.”

Jim rubbed his eyes with the pads of his fingers. “This is ridiculous.”

“What is ridiculous is you expecting me to live in Curran’s bachelor pad. Why you agree to live in it in the first place if beyond me.”

“We’ll renovate.”

“When? And for that matter, on what money? Picking a contractor is going to turn into a committee. I can just see it now – a four-hour long Pack Council discussion about the merits of renovations when the Pack needs to pay I-don’t-know-who-and-don’t-care-what.”

“Dali,” Jim sighed. “We can’t live in your house and run the pack.”

“I’m keeping the house, Jim,” Dali really didn’t know how to say it differently.

“Of course, you’re keeping the house. Where will we live when we retire in twenty years?” OK, she wasn’t actually expecting that one. “And I thought you’d use it as your office or something.”

Dali gapped at her Jim. “Oh.” She was really eloquent sometimes.

Jim placed his hand on top of hers on the table. “But we can’t live here. I need to be at the Keep every day for most of the day.”

Dali looked at Jim’s hand covering hers. “This house will be my day job, like Kate had a day job?”

Jim nodded, and Dali deflated. “Fine. But we have to renovate. That whole apartment smells of Curran, Kate and… stuff.” Dali blushed.

Jim’s lips twitched. “We’ll get a list of contractors by the end of the week. Do you have something specific in mind?”

Dali’s eyes lit up. “Can I do it all? Oh!” she squealed. “I’ll get my mom to help!”

Jim frowned. “Your mother is human, she can’t be in the Keep.”

Dali rolled her eyes at her mate. “I’ll take care of it.” Idiot, she thought silently. Although being mated had finally taught her that something one just doesn’t say, even to one’s mate. Out loud she continued, “Just make a list of must haves, and I’ll take it from there.”

“Fine,” Jim pulled the notebook with the List closer to him.

That List was how they were surviving the transition period. Curran and Kate have abdicated just before Christmas, but officially stepped down on January first. They had been still living in the Keep until last weekend, because their new house hadn’t been ready before that. Now they were gone it was all on Jim and Dali, and Dali still felt she was playing catch-up. Jim was handling thing better, but he had been part of Pack politics much longer than Dali. The List had been Jim’s idea. He said it would make things more manageable for her. He’d been right, but Dali had a suspicion that Jim’s list was at least twice as long as hers.

“What else have we got on there?” she asked on a sigh.

“There’s a Conclave meeting in a couple of days. Petitions on Wednesday,” Jim said, while writing in their decision about the apartment.

“What’s the Conclave?” Dali asked.

Jim stopped writing and looked up.

“What?” Dali narrowed her eyes at his expression. “What does the look mean?”

***

Trisha Brown was a werebear and the Pack head lawyer. She was tall with dark skin, black hair, brown eyes and a big white smile. It was deceiving, she was a complete shark. Dali was getting lessons from her twice a week on Pack law. Apparently, there was much more of it than she had previously known, or cared, but she was Beast Bloody Lady and had to know the whole damn thing.

They were sitting in a small conference room on the third floor, not far from Jim’s office.

“The Conclave,” Trisha told Dali. “is the monthly meeting between the Pack and the People. It had been established two years ago following the Red Point Stalker.” Trisha paused. “Do you know about the Red Point Stalker?”

Dali blinked at her through her glasses. “Is it important to know about it for this Conclave?”

“No. Long story short, for a while the Pack though the People were killing shapeshifters and the People thought the Pack was killing vampires.” And Trish was back in lecture mode. “In reality a third party was involved. After everything was cleared up, it was decided that meeting every once-in-a-while and talk about what bothers the two fractions could be productive. Since then the Conclave has evolved to a type of emergency meeting for the supernatural community of Atlanta.”

Dali balked. “The supernatural community of Atlanta? That’s basically everyone.” And she had never been invited!

Trisha nodded. “The ruling body. The biggest Conclave had the Pack, the People, the druids, the magic collage, the witches, the Mercenary Guild, the Norse Heritage, Native representatives and a number of other small factions. Generally, the Pack and the People go every time, and the rest as needed.”

“Wait, wait,” Dali raised her hand. “That thing in December with Kate and Curran and all the magic, that was a Conclave, wasn’t it?” Oh, she had been invited, she just never bothered to show before Jim.

Trisha nodded. “The People called an emergency Concave and demanded the full Pack Council attend. For usual meetings only three Clan representatives are required, including the Beast Lord or the Consort.”

“OK, I got you this far,” Dali cut in. She knew that if she let Trisha go on, she would talk for an hour about the gazzilion sub-chapter obligations for the Alphas. It was like a pet hobby for the woman. “This upcoming Conclave. What is that about?”

Trish nodded, not minding being cut-off. “The main issue is the change in leadership. There are still some open points regarding the almost war that we had in December.”

Dali nodded. “Basically, we’re going to talk about what in all the hells happened in December.”

Trish considered it for a moment. “Pretty much.”

***

“Trish said that the Conclave requires three Pack representatives,” Dali whispered to Jim as the went up the stairs at Bernard’s. They were wearing evening wear and her Jim looked possibly yummy. He’d also placed her hand at his elbow. Dali pressed against his side shamelessly.

It was like they were on a date!

“Usually,” Jim leaned over to speak into her ear. Dali shivered in pleasure. “Ghastek call the Keep and asked for a more personal meeting this time.”

Dali frowned. “Does he know about Curran and Kate?”

Jim shook his head. He was still leaning over to her, but his eyes were scanning the entrance to the restaurant and everyone in sight.

“Would I need to roar?”

A corner of Jim’s mouth lifted a little. “I really hope it won’t be necessary.”

“Okay.” Dali looked everywhere as well.

Bernard’s was less a restaurant and more an open house for the rich and affluent. Men in suits, women in evening dresses and glittering jewels, silent waiters practically gliding between patrons. For a moment Dali thought she and Jim would be turned away, but the head waiter saw them, bowed low and gestured for them to follow. They were led into a side room with a sign for ‘private party’ on the door and a conference table inside. It looked like it could seat more than people, but only four places were set.

Ghastek and Rowena were already seated on one side of the table. Dali knew who they were because it was part of Trish’s tutoring packet. Dali had had to memorize the name and face of all the prominent leaders in Atlanta. Boring.

Jim guided Dali to the two empty seats across from them. The two Masters of the Dead regarded them with unreadable expressions.

A long silence stretched between the four of them. Dali held on to Jim’s hand under the table, but she had sat through several Pack Council meetings as the Alpha pair. She knew her game face was on.

“So it’s true then,” Ghastek broke the silence first.

Jim didn’t respond except by arching an eyebrow.

“We were informed by Upper Management,” he said the last two words like he wanted to say Uncontrolled Vampire instead. “That Kate was no longer part of the Pack. I’m surprised that the Beast Lord went with her.”

“I am the Beast Lord,” Jim’s voice was like hardened steel.

Ghastek inclined his head. “Apologies. All hail and all that…”

Dali narrowed her eyes at him. “I turn into a white tiger. He’s a jaguar. I’d watch my tone if I were you.” Jim squeezed her fingers under the table.

Ghatek straitened in his seat. “I’m the most accomplished Master of the Dead in the city.”

Rowena put a hand on his shoulder, and Ghastek closed his mouth with a snap. “Both our fractions are in a transition period at the moment. It would be counterproductive for us to enter into a disagreement.”

Dali couldn’t help herself, she snorted. A ghost of a smile played on Rowena’s lips. Both men glared daggers at each other.

Dali squeezed Jim’s fingers. From the corner of her eye she saw his eyes narrow minutely, but he exhaled and seem to relax a tiny fraction.

“The Pack greets the People in peaceful discourse,” Jim said, accepting Rowena’s amendment.

“The People greet the Pack,” Ghastek conceded, although he seemed very unhappy. Dali didn’t know him enough to decide if he was angry or just generally a sour looser. “In the face of recent events in Atlanta, we would like to start with notifying you of organizational changes within the People.”

Neither Jim nor Dali said anything. It stood to reason that since Kate Claimed Atlanta, some organizational changes would be needed among the People.

“I now lead the Atlanta chapter of the People,” Ghastek said evenly.

Oh boy.

Chapter Text

Anna was waiting for Kate at the nearest lay point to her house in North Carolina. Like Kate, she had a small house in the countryside. Dangerous, but Greg came up there twice a year to reinforce the wards, despite being divorced for years now.

The lay line spat Kate and her car onto the broken road. Kate stared at the other woman.

She was short, just shy of five feet with long black hair and kind eyes. Her honey dark skin glowed in the light of the setting sun. Despite how tired she felt, a smile blossomed on Kate’s lips.

Kate pulled the window of her car down. “Hello, Anna.”

“Kate,” Anna’s voice is smooth and sweet as always. “Happy you made it.”

“You didn’t have to wait for me,” Kate deflected, almost shy. She didn’t know how to relate to Anna, an older woman, not exactly a mother figure, but defiantly more a friend. Kate felt awkward.

“Don’t be silly,” Anna shook her head. “You needed to get away for a while. I’m happy to have you, always.”

“Thank you.” The awkwardness didn’t ease. They were still right in front of the lay point and not moving. Anna was standing. Kate was still sitting in her car. Come to think of it… Kate’s brow furrowed. “How did you get here? Where is your car?”

Anna laughed. “Such a city girl. Here we gave up on cars a long time ago.” She gestured to her right and Kate saw a brown pony grazing in the grass.

Kate nodded. “I can do ponies. When in Rome, or something. That’s how the saying goes, right?”

Anna’s eyes were still crinkled with the remnants of her laughter. “Something like that. Come on, let’s get us home. Before your car dies on us.”

Kate nodded and started the engine. “Thank God the tech is up,” she muttered, but Anna didn’t hear her, she was already gone to get her pony.

***

Anna’s house was pre-Shift, but it was completely renovated to assure its occupant’s safety. Sometimes Kate tried to imagine Greg living there with Anna but couldn’t quite picture it. The Knight Diviner was too large, too overwhelming, too overbearing to be contained in the three-bedroom cottage. A cottage that had most of the windows removed, replaced by framed landscapes or, in one of the bedrooms, an actual seascape mural. The only nod to its original structure was the grand back-porch, overlooking fields of wild corn.

Kate and Anna sat on that porch, sipping iced tea, and eating a fresh apple pie. The silence stretched between them.

They met for the first time when Kate was fourteen and Greg just became her guardian. It was an uncomfortable time to meet a person. She’d just lost her father and was thrusted in front of her new guardian’s ex-wife. What was she supposed to do with that? On top of it all, the woman didn’t seem to like Kate either. Kate did what any teenager in her place would have done. She kept her nose down and sat in a corner, re-reading the Almanac of Mystic Creatures.

The coldness between them didn’t last. Maybe Anna was petty and when she saw that Greg and Kate weren’t getting along, she took it upon herself to be better than him. Maybe Anna took pity in Kate teenage self. Maybe Greg had put her up to it– ‘here, deal with the girl things so I wouldn’t have to.’. Maybe she was lonely or just a kind soul. Whatever the reason, she made an effort and Kate responded. She didn’t have female friends, or any friends for that matter. Anna taught Kate about the things she needed to know. She helped Kate when she didn’t have anyone else to turn to, because asking Greg was truly mortifying. And above all, if Greg said that Kate could trust Anna, she did. No attachments, no friends, but trust.

Kate shifted in her seat. Why did she let Anna talk her into visiting? She could be missing on a gig back home. She sure as hell needed the money.

“We should go out,” Anna said, apropos nothing.

Kate blinked and turned to look at the other woman. “Why?”

“You’re brooding,” Anna’s dark eyes burrowed into Kate, like she was trying to see into her skull. Maybe she could. What a scary thought. “The point of getting you away was to shake you a little. Spending so much time with Greg can’t be good for you.”

Kate didn’t bother smiling. “I spend as little time as I can with Greg. He’s the one bugging me.”

“Well, he can’t bug you here. Let’s go out. It will do you good.”

Kate arched an eyebrow. “Did you see my so-called wellness in a vision, Anna?”

The older woman scoffed. “You wish. Call it mature knowledge and life experience.”

Kate huffed. “Fine.”

Anna nodded and stared over the cornfield. “Finish up your tea. One shouldn’t travel in the dark.”

***

The closest town was called Newtown, very original. In the spirit of the Shift, they actually erected a wall around it. Kate regarded it skeptically.

Anna followed Kate’s gaze to the wall and grined. “It’s a containment measure not a preventive one.”

Kate’s eyes grew wide. “They want to keep thing inside? Are they trying to kill their own people?”

Anna shook her head. “Most people live outside the walls. Inside is the business district. If anything is stupid enough to spawn there, it would be dead within a few hours.”

“What if it spawns outside the walls?” Kate countered. “Then all the magical people are stuck inside and everyone else is left unprotected.”

Anna shrugged. “No system is perfect. So far it works.”

Kate continued to shake her head. “Maybe for a small town. But if you take a big city, like Atlanta, it would never work.”

“I’m very happy it is not Atlanta,” Anna said with a smile.

Kate had no answer to that. She didn’t like Atlanta either.

Newtown had exactly two bars. They were stationed on opposite sides of the main street and were both packed. Kate would have chosen one at random, but Anna went to the New Newtown Pub with a purpose. Kate rolled her eyes but followed.

Inside it looked just as expected. Hardwood floors stained dark with spilled drinks, low light due to flickering feylanterns, a couple of pool tables, a long bar with stools and a handful of tables. Every table was occupied, but Anna went directly to the bar and two empty stools appeared as if by magic. Kate caught the bartended giving Anna a smile and a wink. Anna’s back was turned to Kate, so she couldn’t see her expression, but all of a sudden, she could guess.

Kate stared at her sneakers and wishes for the millionth time she hadn’t come.

Anna sat on one of the stools, and Kate had no choice but take the other.

“Two beers, John,” Anna said to the bartended pleasantly, and he nodded.

Kate worried one paper coaster. The pub was humming around them. There was no difference between sitting on Anna’s porch and sitting in the pub. She and Anna had nothing to say to each other.

John, the bartended, placed two beers on the bar, eyes lingering on Anna. She repaid him with a smile. Kate wanted to go back to her house in the Savannah. She took her beer and turned to survey the room. Anna did the same and Kate wondered why she bothered.

“I actually had a reason to bring you here,” Anna said, taking a gulp of beer.

No shit, Kate thought, but disguised it with taking a pull from her own bottle.

“You’re too alone,” Anna continued.

Was she aware of what Kate was thinking, or had good guess? Not for the first time Kate wondered if Anna could read minds.

“Neither Greg nor I can help you with this.”

Kate barely managed not to flinch. “Did he talk to you?”

Anna didn’t answer for a long moment. “No. But I can guess what he would have said. Kate…” she broke off and sighed. “He’s not wrong, but it’s not as bad as you think.”

Kate looked over the bar full of people, seeing nothing.

“You won’t let anyone touch you, but I think that’s because you need it too much,” Anna continued. “Maybe you should try, maybe you’d like it.”

Kate forced herself to laugh. It came out a little broken. “Are you actually trying to talk me into a one-night stand?”

Anna drank from her beer, then smiled a little. “I am, aren’t I?”

The two women sat in silence for a long moment.

Anna finished her beer first and turned to place the empty bottle on the bar. Again, Kate caught Anna’s gaze linger over the bartender. If she spent the night with someone else, she wouldn’t be going back to Anna’s. And it was too dangerous to travel after dark.

She really shouldn’t have come to visit Anna.

Kate surveyed the room one more time and placed her half-finished beer back on the counter, not bothering to look where it landed.

“Didn’t like it as much as expected, did you?” Work boots, dark jeans, dark shirt and a jacket, no visible weapons, but some concealed, nimble fingers, probably has some sort of magic. He had dark wavy hair, cut a bit too long and vivid green eyes. He was leaning towards Kate just a little, but she would probably be taller than him when she stood. Kate’s assessment was second nature and almost instantaneous.

But most of all, she wouldn’t stay where she wasn’t wanted.

She put on what she hoped was a pleasant enough smile. “It was heavier than I thought it would be.”

The man smiled, displaying even white teeth. “Let me get you something better.”

***

Kate returned to Anna’s house in the morning. Unsurprisingly, Anna was not yet home, but the wards let Kate through without any problem. She put her borrowed pony in its stable and started packing immediately.

She was almost done with loading all her things into her car when Anna rode up.

The shorted woman dismounted and approached with a smile. “You’re leaving already?”

Kate shrugged. “The magic crushed half an hour ago, I figured I go as long as my car’s still going.”

“Of course,” Anna patted her pony’s flank. She gave Kate a side-glance. “How was your night?”

Kate stiffened, then forced herself to relax. “It was okay.”

Anna frowned. “Just okay?”

“I feel used and my skin is crawling,” Kate snapped. She really hadn’t intended to say as much. She really needed to get away.

Anna just nodded. “Okay. Chuk it up to a failed experiment. At least now you know that isn’t a solution for you.”

Kate nodded tightly. She closed the trunk of her car and turned to look at the older woman. Anna was not her enemy and maybe she was really only trying to help. “I had an alright time. But I really should be going.”

Anna nodded. Perhaps she understood. “Call me when you get home, so I know you’re safe.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

Kate got into her car and drove away. Anna stayed on the road to her house until her figure was obscured by a turn in the road.