things.”
“The Order,” he began in a calm voice, “specifically one Order member, Dillon, tried to handle things and failed. I care about the Purebloods held hostage not only because they are Eternal Breed but because one of them carries my blood.”
The world around him fell into utter silence. The Order members sat up straighter, all of their eyes on him as they waited for him to reveal more. For one moment it felt like old times to Cruen. He was all-powerful. Their leader. He captured their attention and respect, then used it to further his cause.
Perhaps he would have that again someday.
Feeyan didn’t seem to possess it.
For now, though, he needed access, a valid reason, and a ride into the Rain Forest community.
His gaze connected only with Feeyan. “The Pureblood veana in swell happens to be my daughter.” Through his emotional pain and physical exhaustion, he lifted his chin and smiled. “I will make sure she and the paven held captive are returned.”
• • •
Petra dove under the water and swam downriver a few yards. The sun was sinking, staining the sky a beautiful ripe mango color. Sasha and Valentin had arrived at the cabin a little while ago for their evening shift. Confident almost to the point of cocky, they’d told Petra all was handled and she didn’t need to return until morning.
For breakfast, they’d added with sneers in Synjon’s direction. A dig that Syn completely ignored.
Right before she’d walked out the door, she’d pulled Sasha aside and warned him that arrogance was a dangerous mind-set to be in with someone as experienced and cunning as Synjon Wise. But Sasha had only reminded her that he and Val had already bested the cunning Brit, and on the paven ’s home turf no less. Containing him would be far less complicated.
They were tying Syn up as she closed the door and headed for her parents’ home.
A loud roar met her ears as she broke the surface of the water. Shifting from bear to male on the bank, Brodan gave her a grin, then dove in beside her. They’d seen each other naked for years. It was just part of the shifter way. But there was something different about it now, and Petra wasn’t sure why. Without making a big deal about it, she floated back a few inches, keeping space between them.
“Where’s blood boy?”
His hair wet, and his eyes flashing in the dying rays of the sun, Brodan looked incredibly handsome.
“Back at the house.”
“You tie him up?”
She shook her head. “Sasha and Val took care of it.”
Brodan’s sharp eyes narrowed. “I hate that you need him.”
“Me too,” she said, though the words weren’t as quick to leave her tongue as they should’ve been. “But it won’t be much longer.”
He splashed water on his face. “It should’ve been me.”
His words stilled her. “What do you mean?”
“I should’ve been the one to help you.”
“Brodan—”
“I know. I know. I get the biological connection.” He took a deep breath and blew it out. “I just wish . . . shit . . .”
“What?”
His eyes came up and locked on hers. “I just wish it could’ve been me.”
Her insides tightened. It wasn’t a surprise to hear, and in fact she’d thought the same thing a million times over the past few months. Brodan would be an incredible father. Loyal and loving. Fun and generous with his time and attention.
“Hey,” he said, dropping his chin, giving her a soft look.
“What?”
“I didn’t say that to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“I know. And I’m not.” She gave him a small smile. “You’ll be an incredible father. And mate.”
“To some lucky shifter female?” he said with a grin. “Is that where you’re going, Pets? Because if you are, I’m not sure I’m ready to hear it.”
She shook her head. “No, that’s not where I was going.”
His brows lifted. “Interesting.” His eyes warmed. “So, have you decided what you’re going to do after the baby is born? Where
“The Order,” he began in a calm voice, “specifically one Order member, Dillon, tried to handle things and failed. I care about the Purebloods held hostage not only because they are Eternal Breed but because one of them carries my blood.”
The world around him fell into utter silence. The Order members sat up straighter, all of their eyes on him as they waited for him to reveal more. For one moment it felt like old times to Cruen. He was all-powerful. Their leader. He captured their attention and respect, then used it to further his cause.
Perhaps he would have that again someday.
Feeyan didn’t seem to possess it.
For now, though, he needed access, a valid reason, and a ride into the Rain Forest community.
His gaze connected only with Feeyan. “The Pureblood veana in swell happens to be my daughter.” Through his emotional pain and physical exhaustion, he lifted his chin and smiled. “I will make sure she and the paven held captive are returned.”
• • •
Petra dove under the water and swam downriver a few yards. The sun was sinking, staining the sky a beautiful ripe mango color. Sasha and Valentin had arrived at the cabin a little while ago for their evening shift. Confident almost to the point of cocky, they’d told Petra all was handled and she didn’t need to return until morning.
For breakfast, they’d added with sneers in Synjon’s direction. A dig that Syn completely ignored.
Right before she’d walked out the door, she’d pulled Sasha aside and warned him that arrogance was a dangerous mind-set to be in with someone as experienced and cunning as Synjon Wise. But Sasha had only reminded her that he and Val had already bested the cunning Brit, and on the paven ’s home turf no less. Containing him would be far less complicated.
They were tying Syn up as she closed the door and headed for her parents’ home.
A loud roar met her ears as she broke the surface of the water. Shifting from bear to male on the bank, Brodan gave her a grin, then dove in beside her. They’d seen each other naked for years. It was just part of the shifter way. But there was something different about it now, and Petra wasn’t sure why. Without making a big deal about it, she floated back a few inches, keeping space between them.
“Where’s blood boy?”
His hair wet, and his eyes flashing in the dying rays of the sun, Brodan looked incredibly handsome.
“Back at the house.”
“You tie him up?”
She shook her head. “Sasha and Val took care of it.”
Brodan’s sharp eyes narrowed. “I hate that you need him.”
“Me too,” she said, though the words weren’t as quick to leave her tongue as they should’ve been. “But it won’t be much longer.”
He splashed water on his face. “It should’ve been me.”
His words stilled her. “What do you mean?”
“I should’ve been the one to help you.”
“Brodan—”
“I know. I know. I get the biological connection.” He took a deep breath and blew it out. “I just wish . . . shit . . .”
“What?”
His eyes came up and locked on hers. “I just wish it could’ve been me.”
Her insides tightened. It wasn’t a surprise to hear, and in fact she’d thought the same thing a million times over the past few months. Brodan would be an incredible father. Loyal and loving. Fun and generous with his time and attention.
“Hey,” he said, dropping his chin, giving her a soft look.
“What?”
“I didn’t say that to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“I know. And I’m not.” She gave him a small smile. “You’ll be an incredible father. And mate.”
“To some lucky shifter female?” he said with a grin. “Is that where you’re going, Pets? Because if you are, I’m not sure I’m ready to hear it.”
She shook her head. “No, that’s not where I was going.”
His brows lifted. “Interesting.” His eyes warmed. “So, have you decided what you’re going to do after the baby is born? Where
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