by Susan Arden
“Thanks for everything,,.” Shay replied after signing the forms, and handing the copies to Drake.
When the nurse left them alone, Drake pulled her into his arms. “All set,” he said. “Don’t look so nervous. The pediatrician said the kids are fine.”
“Oh, I’m not nervous about going home. This is the first time I’ve summoned a genie before.”
“And he’ll assist you through this. That’s his job,” he assured her.
“If you say so.” Shay nodded and rubbed the solid gold cuff encircling her wrist. “Mr. Jinni, can you hear me?”
He held back from chuckling. “That was good. But he goes by just Jinni. No mister.”
The lamplights flickered and the Jinni appeared inside the hospital room and bowed before Shay. The genie rose and lifted his mate’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Such a precious beauty. The pleasure to serve you is mine, Lady Herensuge. How may I be of assistance?”
“Laying it on thick?” Drake snorted.
“I try,” the Jinni returned, and smiled broadly down at Shay. “Feeling better, my Lady?”
“Much. Thank you for your help.” She lifted up onto her toes and pressed a kiss to the genie’s cheek.
“You’re making the old scallywag blush under his copper burnished hide,” Drake said. Damn him, but the genie’s face actually turned brighter red.
Shay flashed a warning to him, then smiled at the genie. “I know this is short notice, but by any chance do you do marriage ceremonies?”
“One of my specialties. Are we talking colossal or cozy?”
“Talking in the moment. As in right now?” Shay gazed at him, making his heart hammer against his ribs. “Marry me?” she asked in the softest voice that rippled through him.
He nodded, his mouth having gone dry, and his brain short-circuited. “Uh … ”
“Well?” the Jinni arched a brow. “Obviously, my Lady just got one over on Lord Herensuge, and he needs a moment.”
The genie’s pointed commentary got him back on track and he nodded, throwing his arm possessively over Shay’s shoulders. “We’ve got a roomful of witnesses. Let’s do it.”
“Here,” the Jinni said, and snapped his fingers. “Sign the license, then take your places over there. The light is better. Noah, get your crew ready to take some pictures. Come on. I can’t do everything.”
While everyone in the small room moved toward the window, Drake captured her hands. “We can wait and you can have a fairy tale wedding. Grand enough for the front page of the Denver news.”
“Nope. I’m not into fairy tales, just the happy endings.”
He laughed, piloting her toward the window, and he nodded to the genie. “Please begin.”
After reciting the traditional wedding vows, the Hood Jinni announced, “You may now kiss the bride.”
Drake turned to Shay, hauling her closer within his arms, and kissed her deeply. Lifting his head, he uttered one word, “Wife.”
“Husband,” she returned. “May we please go home?”
“Ask away. The Jinni is waiting.”
Shay turned and faced the genie. “Jinni, we’d like to go home now.”
Drake cleared his throat, reminding her to be specific.
“Oh. The condo on 14th Street,” she said, smiling widely.
Drake held out Hunter to Noah, and he picked up his little princess. Evan had two baby bags strapped across his shoulders and Grant stood there shrugging. “What can I get?”
“Keep your eyes open,” Drake replied, lowering his voice.
Shay looked up at him and he felt the tender touch of her telepathic linking. Is there a reason?
We’ll talk when we get home.
He nodded and with their daughter in his arm, he curled the other around Shay’s shoulders.
The genie looked to Shay. “Ready, Lady Herensuge?”
“Very much.”
He held onto his wife and daughter and glanced over at Noah, who was making funny faces at his son. In the next instant they were all standing in the middle of the spacious living room overlooking the river.
“Oh Drake,” Shay commented. “This place is gorgeous.”
“Provisional, pending your vote of approval.”
“I vote yes.” She held up her hand for a high five. “Where’s the Jinni?”
“The Jinni delivers on his promise then that’s that … unless you need him.”
“But I didn’t get to thank him,” she said. “He’ll think me terribly rude.”
“The guys will let him know,” he replied. “Won’t you all?”
“Absolutely,” Evan said. “Where should I put these?”
“Down that hall. Last door.” Drake pointed in the direction of the master suite then he turned his attention on Shay. “We’ll need to get furniture. So far there’s this stuff which is from the staging company and the Jinni helped with the bedroom furniture, but the rest of the place needs your touch. If you want to we can hire a designer.”
“Okay,” Noah interrupted, coming up to them with their crying son. “This little man has got lots to say.”
Shay sat down on the sofa, and held out her arms. “Please, I’ll take Hunter.”
His focus latched onto his wife and her fingers at the buttons of her top. She was about to nurse their son. Not a sight he was willing to share with anybody. “You guys, I’m going to ask you to take your leave. Thanks for all, but it’s scram time.”
“Later,” Grant said, fist bumping him, and touching Shay on the shoulder. “Mrs. O and kids, glad to see you in your new digs. Call when you’re ready for visitors.”
“Stay cool,” Evan said, leaning down and hugging Shay. “I’ll bring Fiona. She loves kids.”
Noah held open his arms to Drake. “Bro,” he said. “Glad you found Shay and had the sense to not let her get away.”
“Thanks for everything,” Shay said, reaching up to Noah for a hug as well.
Drake walked them out to the terrace overlooking the city. “Funds are deposited in your accounts. Go enjoy. I’ll be in touch when the next job comes up.”
“You still in the game?” Noah asked, clearly surprised.
“After that fucker Pestrolii escaped … I’m not about to sit around and wait for the SOB to reappear. When I call you guys, be ready to saddle up. We’ll track his ass.”
“Sound the alarm and we’ll be back.”
He mock saluted them and waved, watching them shift and take to the clear skies in a V-formation. As he turned around, he paused, galvanized from taking in the sight of Shay holding their son up to her breast while Paloma lay sleeping on her legs. The sight solidified his vow, he’d find that Fae for them. With a deep breath, he banished all thoughts on retribution from his mind, and walked back inside, shutting the doors against the cool wind. “How are you feeling?”
“Time for some water.” She smiled sweetly up at him, cradling their children.
“I’ll get you a glass,” he murmured, striding past her but stopped, planting a kiss on her neck. He reached over her and stroked his fingers down her arm, sucking in a groan at seeing her erect nipple, pink and glistening from nursing. Clenching his jaw, he reminded himself to get a flippin’ grip. Shay is a mother now, not at my beck and call as my sex kitten.
“See something you like?” she asked, holding onto his hand. “And I am too your sex kitten.”
“Sorry,” he said sheepishly, meeting her gaze, and swallowed. “You’re even more beautiful now.”
“I’ll feed Paloma, and then we can lie down for a nap.”
“Baby, I don’t want to act like a possessive dick,” he ventured. Damn, if he straightened, she’d notice the hard-on in his pants.
“I have needs, too. It’s been a week since I gave birth. Don’t you want me?”
“Hell yeah, but it’s too soon—”
“It’s not too soon for my mouth,” she whispered. “Now kiss me and prove to me you’re still under my spell.”
“Kitten, I’ll alw
ays be under your volition.”
• • •
Nothing compared with being a mother—except being the wife and lover to one over the top dragon. A dragon who had refused to do more than kiss her, groaning and hard, but he stopped. Didn’t take their lust a step further. Her silly husband. What was going through his hard head?
Easy telepathically to find out.
Shay is a mother now, not at my beck and call as my sex kitten.
So that’s what Drake thought over and over or some variation. She almost laughed, except gosh darn it—it had been a week. Besides a few bruises and scrapes which were mostly gone and giving birth—not a miracle considering how many babies were born every single second of every single day—she was on her drapardess … leogon … leopardess-dragon game. She wasn’t exactly a leopardess and wasn’t precisely a dragon. A mix of the two. Drake’s dragon magick infused her and slightly altered her DNA, allowing her to carry their twins. Would she remain in this altered state? None of the doctors at the hospital knew for certain. The shifter specialists called in had never heard of such a thing as a dragon mating with a leopardess. Oh well. First time for everything.
Speaking of which … time to take other matters into her own hands and with his fingers on her arm, she did. Hunter stopped nursing and instead of covering up her bare breast, she gave Drake an eyeful. He nuzzled her neck, his breath hot on her skin, and then he stopped. “See something you like?” she whispered. No brainer. One bare boob and she got her husband’s full attention. Better get this ball rolling or Mr. O’Connor would put her on a pedestal. A very lonely and sexless pedestal. Not gonna happen.
Even when she told him she most definitely was his sex kitten, she got the vibe something was running amok. “Okay, mind telling me what’s got you going? And don’t try and pull the wool over my eyes, cowboy.”
“Hey, I only want to keep you safe,” he said.
“Babe, I appreciate that,” she replied, handing him Hunter. She undid the other side to her nursing bra, and lifted Paloma to her breast. Oh sweet relief to feel her milk let down. Thankfully, her daughter was a little tyrant when it came to nursing. Shay crossed her legs, and snuggled her daughter close to her chest. “But seriously, I’m not about to shatter. Unless it’s from frustration. C’mere.”
She patted the cushion next to her, tracking Drake with her gaze as he walked around the sofa. God knew how she adored him. Her husband and father to her children. But dammit, his head was as hard as a flipping rock. “Baby, I don’t want to hurt you. Not after all you’ve been through,” he said, worry creasing his brow.
“You couldn’t if you wanted to,” she began.
“Shay, I’m just a little on edge after the accident and everything.”
“I guess the time has come to talk about it. I’m so sorry for everything that happened. I didn’t want anyone to die.”
“That wasn’t your fault. A bunch of greedy people who got together. They got what they deserved.”
“Not Morgan. She was spoiled, but she didn’t deserve to be killed by her own brother. Or Dimitri. I can’t believe Duncan killed his family and all the guards and house staff.”
“But not Pestrolii,” he said.
“Not Pestrolii,” she echoed. “I’ve been thinking on him. We might not need to worry about him, am I right?”
“He wasn’t there. He escaped and he’s around. Maybe biding his time.”
“You sure he wasn’t killed? Duncan said he had mineral bullets. If he shot him, his physical form would have dissolved into thin air as a gypsy Fae.”
“How do you know that jackwad son of Necrodemas had mineral bullets?”
“He told me,” she answered. “Yeah, I know. I was too trusting, but why would he lie? He was bragging about it. If there were a set of motorcycle leathers lying around and a black leather jacket, it might mean that gypsy was sent back to the Dark Court.”
“I’ll get ahold of the accident report. I don’t know if the authorities will let me waltz into the house now that it’s cordoned off as a crime scene.”
“Oh if I know you, you’ll work your magick at getting past a little yellow tape.”
He laughed, taking hold of her hand, and squeezing her fingers.
A knock on the door and their gazes snapped together. “Who could that be?” she asked.
“Your brother has been on me about when you and the kids were coming home. Hey, a lot of people are lined up, waiting to come over.” He rose as she adjusted her bra and re-buttoned her shirt. When the door opened and her brother accompanied by her father and mother walked inside she stared, dumbfounded.
“Welcome home and surprise, Sis,” Shawn said. “I brought a welcome home, house warming gift.”
“You two are a sight for sore eyes.” She glanced from Mom to Dad. Smiling, they strode toward her, holding several wrapped packages.
“Welcome back, honey,” Dad said.
“And ditto to you. Dad, my God, I can’t believe it.” Shay scooted off the edge of the sofa and stood up with Paloma. “You’re better?”
“All better,” her mom replied, setting down the baby gifts. “It was like a veil lifted for both of us.”
Shawn accompanied their folks and stood by the edge of the sofa. “Sherry explained that it sounded as if black magick was in play. A good chance whatever spell had been placed on Mom and Dad had gotten broken.”
“But how?” she asked, hugging Paloma to her.
Her father responded, “Based on what was found in Necrodemas’ house, it was him. When he died, as keeper of the spell, the effects were reversed. It’s the only explanation any of the shifter and preternatural doctors agree upon. And heck. We’re just happy to be well again.”
Until today Drake had never told her all the details of the deaths and she’d not asked. And what the crap did Dimitri have in his home that made her brother blanch in just speaking about it.
“And you’re sure this isn’t going flip-flop back?” She glanced between her parents.
“Shannon, we don’t know. This has been an awful experience this last year. We’re thankful things worked out for you. A husband and two healthy children,” Richard said. “Can you forgive us that we put you in a position of being a political pawn?”
“Dad, it wasn’t you. It was that spell Dimitri had placed on you and Mom. It’s over.”
“We’re so fortunate you were strong enough to follow your heart,” Mom said.
“My destiny.” She reached out to Drake, capturing his hand. “It led me right to this one and I’m not letting go anytime soon.”
Another knock sounded at the door. “Ah, that’s gotta be Mrs. Wells. If you’d like some help while you’re settling in, she’d love to be of service,” Dad said.
“I might take you up on that … for a day or so.” She watched as her father walked across the living room, with the same bounce in his step that he’d had ever since she could remember—aside from the last week when he’d basically been catatonic. Shay turned to her mother. “How is Dad?”
“Much, much better. I promise, whatever we both had is gone. Like some horrible flu, and I hope it never returns.” Mom smiled, holding out her hand for Paloma. Shay watched her daughter curl her tiny fingers around Mom’s index finger and chuckled.
“Would you like to hold Paloma?” Shay asked.
“I thought you’d never ask.” Her mother nodded and squeezed her arm. “I’m so excited to meet my grandchildren. Both your father and I have been since you gave birth. You were so lucky to get into the best hospital in the country.”
“We had some help.”
“Looks like that husband of yours is a pretty helpful guy,” Mom said, her eyes shining bright.
“Roger that. He’s amazing.” Shay caught Drake’s amused stare. Smiling, she whispered to their daughter, “Paloma, meet your grandmother. Mom, here’s your first granddaughter.”
Shawn stood by and grinned down at them. “How about a photograph?”
Drake c
ame up beside her brother, and she bet he was asking about the accident report as her handsome husband tilted his head and spoke in a low voice. Her brother’s eyes glowed, something that happened when his emotional state fired up. He shook his head, and Drake met her gaze.
Shawn said a whole inventory of the house was completed for an estate sale. He didn’t remember seeing black motorcycle leathers or boots on the list, but he’ll double check. Bullet hole riddled clothing would have gotten tagged as evidence.
CHAPTER 25
Two weeks later.
There was still no evidence that conclusively supported or denied that the gypsy had bitten the Dark Fae dust. And Drake for one wasn’t going to wait around for that motherfucker to materialize and wreak havoc on his world. Shay and he had gone slow and easy in decorating the condo and he didn’t think that she’d miss this place terribly. What they needed was a spot where humans didn’t overrun a city while simultaneously treating shifters like second-class citizens.
Harmony came to mind.
Shay climbed onto the bed next to him, wearing a silky short nightgown, and he couldn’t help but reach out to her, rubbing his palm over the curve of her waist, down her hip until he had one of her firm ass cheeks in his hand. “Woman,” he groaned as his cock stiffened.
“Babies are down for the count,” she whispered. “And Mrs. Wells is here for the night. She thought it was best after we wrestled with the window treatments in the nursery and finally got the curtains all hung.”
“There are such things as handymen,” he murmured, bending his head down to capture her pillow-soft lips.
“Big talk,” she moaned. “Not many workers are willing to submit to a background check that includes drug and Fae testing. The wallpaper hanger almost quit. Twice. He was sweating bullets as you watched him like a hawk, grumbling under your breath.”
He flipped her over onto her back and moved his body over hers. “If a worker is innocent, then he has nothing to worry about. Does he?”
“Oh I beg to differ. No one wants to tangle with a dragon.”
“Except you,” he murmured. “Crazy girl.”
