by Faith Gibson
“Aw, you like us, Lollipop?” Hayden asked, grinning.
“Hayden, I swear to Zeus…” Maveryck pulled away from Natalia to lunge for his youngest brother, but her hand on his wrist stopped him
“I like most of your family. You? Maybe you’ll grow on me,” Natalia threw back at Hayden. Maveryck returned his hand to Natalia’s hip, and she relaxed against him. “You have to understand. I was an only child. My mother died when I was six. My father pulled me out of school, so the only people I was around were my cousins, my tutor, and Marta, the housekeeper. She wasn’t any better, though. The only one who showed me any amount of decency was my tutor, but she was afraid of my father, so it wasn’t like she was stepping in as a mother figure. I know the way I was raised isn’t normal, but it’s all I knew. Being around your family is like something out of a movie to me. Anyway, back to my cousins. I say we take them all out at the same time, if possible.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Maveryck assured her. The sooner they took care of the threat to her, the sooner Maveryck could make sure she was always part of their family.
Chapter Twenty
Natalia
Maveryck was a Gryphon shifter. All the Hounds were Gryphons. Lucy was a Gryphon. Natalia would have thought she was losing her mind had Lucy not shown her the truth. When Lucy stripped out of her clothes and transformed into a lion, Natalia fell backwards onto her ass. Lucy was a beautiful tawny beige, and her paws were huge. When she shifted back, she stood unabashedly naked. Then she showed Natalia her eagle. She was larger than a normal eagle with gorgeous red and gold wings. When she was once again in human form, Lucy explained about the Gryphon as she put her clothes back on, but said there wasn’t room upstairs for her to fully shift without causing chaos in the room.
“I know Uncle Mav will eventually tell you, but I thought you should know what you’re getting into with the family. I want to know if you can handle what we all are, because if you can’t, you need to step away before the boys and my uncle fall any harder for you,” Lucy said.
Natalia appreciated how protective Lucy was of her family. Some things now made more sense. Like Kerrigan calling Rory a lioness. Major saying his grandmother roared like a lion. The term mate being tossed around. The way Maveryck rumbled deep in his chest when Hayden winked at her. Why Jenna wanted to know if Natalia was aware of what Maveryck was.
“And you trust me with this knowledge?”
“I do. Gryphons have the ability to alter someone’s mind so they forget what they know about our kind, but I don’t think that will be necessary. Uncle Mav was hurt badly when Jenna left. I don’t think he ever planned on falling in love again, but here you are.”
“We’ve known each other a handful of days.”
“Are you saying you don’t feel anything for him?”
“No, I’m saying it’s crazy how much I feel for him. And the twins. It’s too soon to say he’s in love with me.”
Lucy sat down on the edge of the bed. “Is it? Who has the right to tell someone how they feel? Or how much time it takes to know for certain the feelings are real? I felt the pull to Tamian immediately. Sutton and Rory knew immediately. War fell in love with Kerrigan from a photo. Is our love and commitment to one another dismissible because we didn’t wait months before we let our feelings be known?”
“No. It’s just so new. I thought I would never have a chance at a relationship because of my job. I refused to date because I would have to lie to my partner about my occupation. I might be a killer, but I’m not a liar. Now, here is this amazing man who knows what I am. He knows who I am. It’s too good to be true.”
“Let me ask you something else. Are you only interested in Mav because of the boys?”
“Of course not. Those boys are precious, but so is Maveryck. All three of them deserve the best in a partner – mate – and a stepmother. I don’t know if that’s me. I love those boys, and I want to be in their lives. But I know nothing about being a mother figure. I don’t know how to be a mate. I can’t cook. I’ve never been very social because I wasn’t allowed. The only thing I know how to do well is take someone out with a rifle or knives. Besides all that, I have a price on my head. I’ve already brought danger to their door. So maybe I should walk away and let them find someone more appropriate.”
“Let me tell you what makes an appropriate mate and a good mother. Love. Unconditional love. If you can give that to the three of them, you’ll be perfect for them. Relationships aren’t easy; just ask Tamian. He was somewhat of a loner when we met. He has a sister who he’s close with, but she has her own mate. He has other family, but they’re nothing like the Lazlos. You’ve already seen them when they all get together. Not only are Mav and the twins a package deal, but so is the rest of the family. And the Hounds. If you can handle that, you’re golden. Besides, the Hounds bring their own danger to the door by doing what they do. If you allow yourself to love Maveryck, you’ll have a group of badass bikers watching your back. There’s a lot more to being Gryphons, but I’ll let Maveryck fill you in if you decide to give him a chance. Right now, we need to get downstairs, because I guarantee both Mav and Tamian are going nuts wondering what we’re doing.”
It was hard for Natalia to pay attention once she was downstairs with Maveryck and the others. She kept wondering what they all looked like in their various shifter forms.
Maveryck and his family listened as Natalia talked about her own family. About how she was ready to take her cousins down. These were men – shifters – who basically did the same thing, only they went after bigger targets. “If your family mostly hunts down the Ministry, why do you take contracts too?”
Ryker, who was more relaxed than before, answered, “For the money. Going after the cult, finding safe places for those we rescue, takes money. The mercenary work we do funds that. We take down the evil while helping the victims ease back into life outside the sheltered existence they’d been forced to live. Since Kerrigan has been on the inside of a cult, she is now working with Sutton and Rory by helping with the victims.”
Everything Ryker said made sense, and Natalia was impressed with the Hounds. She wanted that – a purpose. Sure, she eliminated bad men with her rifle, but the paycheck sat in her bank doing nothing more than buying more weapons and clothes. “I want to help,” she blurted.
“We wouldn’t think to leave you out of taking down your cousins,” Mav said, misunderstanding.
“No. I know that. I meant with the Ministry. I want to help your family there. Not like Kerrigan does, because I’m not good with people. I want Lucy to wipe out my family’s accounts and transfer it to wherever your parents need it. If that’s possible without the government finding out.”
“Why?” Ryker asked. “You could take the money and go anywhere. Do anything.”
“Because it’s the right thing to do. I can’t atone for my past sins by going on a permanent vacation. I wouldn’t want to anyway, because I’d be bored after a week. But apart from putting some money aside for the twins, I don’t need it. You know the kind of bank I bring in working for Nexus. That’s more than enough for a single person.” Except Natalia didn’t want to be single. She wanted a life with Maveryck.
“I can absolutely make that happen,” Lucy said. “Let’s discuss this over dinner.”
When all the men headed toward the dining room, Natalia grabbed Mav’s hand. “Can we call and check on the boys?”
Maveryck cupped her face and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. He might have meant it to be sweet, but his touch had her body tingling in all the right places. Or wrong places, considering where they were and who was in the next room. Mav pulled out his phone, smiling like she had offered him the world. “I’ll send War a text and have him call on video chat.”
“Everything okay?” Lucy asked.
“Yeah, Luce. We re gonna talk to the boys right quick. Y’all go ahead and start without us.”
Natalia cocked her head to the side. “What?” Mav asked.
“Twangy?”
“I was going to say southern.”
“With the exception of Kyllian and Hayden, the rest of us were born in Texas. Does my twang bother you?” Maveryck hadn’t lost his southern accent in all the years he’d lived in New York.
“No. I think it’s sexy.” Natalia ran her fingers through his beard.
“I think you’re sexy,” he whispered.
Mav’s phone made a funny chirping noise, and he tapped a button. When he held the phone out in front of them, two happy faces shone from the screen.
“Daddo!” Major yelled.
“Tolly,” Marshall added, somewhat quieter.
“Hey, buddies. We’re at your cousin Lucy’s. We’re gonna be here for a while, but we wanted to call and say hi.”
“Kerry let us make pasghetti,” Major said.
Natalia smiled, but she was a little jealous that the pretty redhead was able to help the boys with something Natalia couldn’t do. She wasn’t mother material. But hadn’t Lucy said being a good mom only took love? That she had in spades, so why did she feel so inadequate? What if Lucy was wrong? Natalia wanted the best for the twins, and she really doubted that was her.
“Tolly, I saved you some,” Marshall said.
“Thank you.” Natalia blinked so she wouldn’t cry. This little man owned her completely. They both did, which made needing to walk away so hard.
“We need to go now, but we’ll be home later. Be good for Uncle War.”
“’Kay, Daddo. Bye, Lolly.” Major ran off, but Marshall pressed his little lips to the screen, making a smacking sound. Natalia caught a sob behind her hand. She turned her back as Mav talked to his twin. Strong arms surrounded her from behind. “What’s wrong, Princess?”
How did she tell him she loved his boys and wanted to be everything Jenna hadn’t been?
When she didn’t respond, Mav tightened his hold. “I get it.” Mav set his chin against the top of her head. “I’ve only had them a few days, but they’re already so deep inside my heart I’m afraid I’m gonna wake up and find out it’s all just a dream. And I know you just met us, but I want you in our lives, Princess. Is that something you might want too?”
“I want what’s best for the three of you.”
“And you don’t think that’s you? Because it’s so new?” Natalia merely nodded as best she could under his chin. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him the real reason. Yes, this was all new. Brand new. But she was lacking, and it would only be a matter of time before he figured that out.
“In our family, we just kind of know when it’s right.”
Natalia turned so she could look up at him. “But what about Jenna? Didn’t you think it was right with her?”
Mav blew out a breath, looking at the ceiling. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but Jenna was supposed to be a one-night stand. She ended up staying the weekend. Same thing happened the next few weekends, and before I knew it, all her things had migrated to my house. I loved her in time. I thought we would get married. I actually had a ring, but before I could ask, she left. I think I was more pissed off than brokenhearted. I gave her three years, and I didn’t understand how she could just walk away. I didn’t go after her, though. I think if she had really been the one I was destined to be with, I would have tried harder to get her back. Hell, Princess, I didn’t try at all.” Maveryck caressed her face again. “I think…” He swallowed hard. “I know if you left me, I’d follow you to Hell to get you back.”
She didn’t understand what he saw in her. She knew what it was about Maveryck that drew her to him, but something so one-sided would never work. He might think he had feelings for her now, but he thought he loved Jenna too. He was going to marry her. If he spent three years with the woman who wasn’t right for him, how long would it take for him to figure that out about Natalia? But Jenna was the one to walk away. Not Maveryck.
Maveryck bent over and grabbed her ass, lifting her into his arms. Natalia wrapped her legs around his waist, holding onto his shoulders. When she went to protest, Maveryck cut her off with his lips. His tongue sought out hers. Maveryck kissed her deeply, moaning into her mouth, setting a smoldering fire ablaze in her core.
“Take that shit upstairs,” Hayden called from the dining room.
Maveryck panted against her lips. “Damn, woman. You make me forget myself.” He set her feet on the floor and adjusted himself behind his jeans. “Let’s go eat and figure out a plan for taking out your cousins.” Lacing their fingers together, Mav led her into the dining room. Hayden and Kyllian were smirking, but the others did their best to ignore what they’d heard.
Lucy offered Natalia some wine while asking Mav if he wanted his usual. She should have been embarrassed, but she wasn’t. When Hayden winked at her, Natalia smirked back at the man. He threw his head back and laughed. “She’s a keeper, Mayhem.”
Maveryck took a long pull of the beer Lucy handed him. “Damn straight she is.”
While they ate, Maveryck, who was familiar with her family’s home, suggested going in a day before they hit her cousins to do recon. He asked her questions about entry points he might not be aware of. Then she asked the question she’d wondered ever since he’d taken out her father. “How did you get in last time?” Mav opened his mouth then closed it, looking around the table.
Natalia poked him in the side. “Well? This is no time for secrets.”
Lucy sighed. “This is where I tell you she knows the truth.”
“What truth? Lucy, did you—?”
“Yes, I did. You can be pissed later. I needed to know if she was all-in. If she couldn’t handle knowing, I would have zapped her memory.”
Maveryck turned toward Natalia. “And you’re okay with it?”
Natalia smiled up at him. “Why wouldn’t I be? Sure, it was unbelievable until she shifted. The proof was right there in front of me. I can’t wait to see your lion. But if I’m right, I’ve already seen your eagle.”
“When? The only time I’ve shifted around you was… Wait. You saw me leaving your father’s house?”
“I thought it was odd for an eagle to be carrying a bag. So, I followed you into the woods.”
Hayden laughed. “You’re slipping, Mayhem.” Maveryck threw a roll at his brother who caught it before it could hit him in the face. Hayden stuffed it in his mouth, tearing off a chunk and chewing around his smile.
Tamian, who had sat quietly through the meal, told Lucy, “I’ll clean up. Why don’t you call Julian and see if he can’t get satellite images of the estate? Make sure Mikael hasn’t made any changes.”
“Who’s Julian?” Natalia asked.
“One of my Clan,” Tamian responded.
“You’re a Gryphon too?”
“No. I’m a Gargoyle. We only became aware of the Gryphons when Lucy and I mated. The Gryphons, however, have known about our kind for a while, but they kept our secret.”
“What other kinds of shifters are there?”
“That, we don’t know. We could be the only two species, and then again, there could be any number we haven’t found out about. Gryphons have been around as long as the Goyles, and if Lucy hadn’t been my fated mate, they would probably still be a secret.”
“Is it rude to ask what you turn into? I know about the Gryphons, although I’ve yet to see one. Lucy only showed me her lion and eagle.”
“Considering you are family, it’s not rude. Gargoyles don’t have an animal, per se. When we shift, we remain in our human body, but we have wings, claws, and fangs.” Tamian held out his hand, and sharp claws extended from his fingertips. Lucy held out her hand and did the same, showing the difference.
“Rory really could claw my eyes out,” Natalia whispered.
“If you don’t harm any of her family, you don’t need to worry about our mother,” Ryker said. “Now, enough show and tell. Go call Julian, Little Dove. The sooner we get the intel, the sooner Maveryck and Natalia will
be safe.”
Lucy left the room, and Natalia and the others helped Tamian clear the table. She was still trying to wrap her head around the knowledge there were shifters in the world. She could have walked past any one of them and never known it.
Kyllian offered to help with the dishes, so the others retreated into the game room. Maveryck pulled Natalia off to the side. “Are you mad I didn’t tell you?”
“No. We met two days ago, and that was a fluke. We are supposed to be taking each other out, not… whatever it is we’re doing.” Natalia shrugged.
“I should have known,” he started. “When I passed you on the sidewalk that day, I should have known who you were.”
“How?”
“By your smell. It was the same one I caught in your bedroom when I went after Anatoly. You smell like wildflowers. I caught a whiff of that delicious aroma, and it was all I could do not to turn around and follow you. But I couldn’t. I had to get out of town.”
“You were in my bedroom? Wait. How did you get up there without killing all the guards? I never saw you on the ground.”
“You already said you saw my eagle. That’s how. I shifted in the woods, stored my clothes in the bag I was carrying, then shifted back on the roof. I lowered myself down to your window. Afterwards, I left the same way.”
“I can’t wait to see your lion,” Natalia whispered.
Maveryck smiled. “Hang on.” He left the room, and less than a minute later, a large lion was stalking toward her. Natalia dropped to her knees and held out her hand. She had never seen a more stunning creature in her life. When Maveryck stopped right in front of her, he lowered his massive head, and Natalia dug her fingers into his thick mane. Two days ago, she was lonely. Alone. Drifting with the exception of her job. Now? She was falling in love with a man who was also an animal. A man with two darling little boys and a loud, loving family.
This couldn’t be real. This could not be her life. But Tamian had said she was family. Could he be right?
