by Unknown
“Obviously Matias didn’t teach you respect for your elders.” She sniffed but her eyes settled into blue again. “I had to see them, Rafael. I wanted to know if our blood runs true. You will see for yourself. They have much of your shifter clan in them. Much of the cat. But there is one, Rafael, one who shows great promise. I will let you see for yourself as time passes.” She laughed and moved toward him. “Did you think I came here to take one of them? Drag one of them down to hell with me?”
“Why wouldn’t I? Maybe you’ve finally discovered some maternal feeling in that withered breast of yours.” Rafe knew it was a low blow. Withered she was not. She was stunning, forever in her prime. Her golden hair was shining and her lips were the kind men dreamed of kissing. She had a figure that would make a centerfold jealous. She showed it off in a snug blue dress the color of her eyes. He could analyze her without lust but most men would be hard just glancing at her. Seduction was her talent and he was sure she used sex to drag men to hell with her so she could steal their souls.
His father had been an easy mark. As she’d said, he was weak. Just like his grandfather had been about women. It was why it had taken Rafe so long to commit to one woman for life. He’d seen too much of what happened when a man is led by his cock.
She was suddenly right in front of him and paralyzed him with a touch to his cheek. “My boy. You lash out because I hurt you so. Yet you are grateful, aren’t you, that I didn’t take you with me to train you in demon ways? You could have been a great demon. Lucifer has mocked me for giving you up. For letting you be a mere shifter instead of what should have been your destiny. I have been punished for letting you slip through our fingers. Did you know that?”
Rafe couldn’t move away from her hand, warm on his face, but he could speak. “No, I didn’t know that. Why abandon me? I, I wanted parents. A real home.”
She slapped him then, so hard his head snapped back. “Stupid boy. I gave you loving grandparents, a real home. Not my fault the other children didn’t understand what you were and love you as you deserved. What do you think your life would have been like with Emiliano and me? In Hell half the year? He will never speak of it because I wiped his memory each time we left there, but it is torture, pain, humiliation. You would have seen it, remembered it and learned from it. Because that is what demons do to grow to their full potential.” She kissed the spot where she’d hit him.
“Oh, hold onto your anger and your hurt, I don’t care. I have no human feelings. But remember this as you raise your children: I am letting you keep them. Lucifer would like nothing better than for me to claim the one who shows promise now. But I am going to go down there and lie my pretty ass off. It is good that he still finds me beautiful and charming. He will choose to believe me when I say the child is not worth it. The powers weak and not worth the fight it would cause with you and the friends you have made here on Earth.” She whirled away, her blue skirt swishing around her legs.
“You would do that? For me?” Rafe couldn’t believe it could be that easy.
“Everything I’ve done has been for you, dear boy. Believe me or not. Of course it won’t be easy. For me.” She waved a hand and vanished. Before Rafe could react, she shimmered into sight again. “And by the way? If you want to know who was behind Shiloh’s attack on your grandfather? Think. Who hated Matias more than anyone else? Who is there now, happy to be rid of him and eager to be the power behind the throne? Eh?” And, having sown the seeds of Rafe’s misery to her satisfaction, she smiled and disappeared again.
Rafe staggered, then sat on the ground and went over the conversation in his mind a half dozen times. When he came up with the answer to his mother’s last riddle, he bowed his head to his knees. Grandmother. Surely not. But who else? She had her son back and control of the clan through him. And she’d rid herself of a faithless husband.
When he heard the crunch of leaves behind him, Rafe turned, thinking maybe Lily had come back to laugh at him. Of course she wanted one of the babies after all. How could she give up a chance to have a demon child a second time? He sagged in relief when he saw Lacy, holding a tire iron and looking scared half to death.
“Really? You going to hit a demon with that?” Rafe got up and took it out of her shaking hands. “Lily would have used some kind of power that would have ended up with you wearing it through your large intestine.”
“God, Rafe, do you have to be so graphic?” She sagged against him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“Just telling it like it is.” He breathed in her clean fragrance then dropped a kiss on top of head. He looked around and inhaled again. No sign or scent of demon. So Lily had really left.
“Where is she? Do I need to call my mother to tell her to get out the crosses and holy water?” Lacy pulled her cell out of her pocket.
“No, Lily’s gone and won’t be back. Pretty sure of that anyway.” Rafe started walking back toward the car. “And hold the holy water. It gives me the willies.” He kept his arm around her until she was in the car. “Let’s go pick up our children. Didn’t you tell me Ian patted your mother’s butt? You think there could be something going on there?”
“Between Ian and my mom?” Lacy looked at him like he was crazy. “I don’t know. Wait a minute. Lily’s just gone? You talked her out of doing anything with the babies? She’s no threat now?”
“That’s right. She’s off to talk to Lucifer. She’s claiming the kids are off limits to demons and will stay that way.” Rafe decided that was all Lacy needed to know for now. “I meant to ask her about that photo she showed your mom. That was quite a trick.”
“I guess demons can fake anything. But that’s great news, Rafe. And you’re okay with letting the clan go?” She climbed back into the SUV.
Rafe stuck the tire iron into the back of the car then got into the driver’s seat. “I let the clan go centuries ago, Lace. This was a reminder that it was best for me to move on. My father needs to step up and take his rightful place there. He may have some trouble getting people to follow him after being away so long, but that’s his problem. My grandmother will make sure everyone falls in line. Lily says she and Emiliano are done and I believe her. So that will help. Emiliano without demon baggage will be easier for the clan to stomach. If Lily had my father under some kind of spell all these years, she must have removed it. She claims she didn’t, but who knows?”
“Well then.” Lacy sat back, finally looking relaxed. “So you and your mother cleared the air.”
“You could say that. She explained some things I always wondered about. I needed to hear what she had to say. I will never call her Mother and we won’t invite her for Christmas dinner, but I feel better about my history than I have for a long time.” Rafe realized that was true. Huh. They had cleared the air. Too bad it had taken so long. When he thought about a life spent in Hell, he shuddered. Yes, being left with the clan had been the best thing for sure. Grandmother and Grandfather had loved him and done what they could for him. Looking back, he could see that now.
By the time he and Lacy got to the were-cat enclave, Sheila had three baby car seats on her porch and a ton of baby stuff ready to go. Lacy jumped out of the SUV and hugged her mother, filling her in on the news.
“You sure I won’t have to be looking over my shoulder for years to come in case a demon wants one of these children?” Sheila had announced that it was feeding time and they’d just finished giving the three babies a bottle. Now she stood over the bassinets she’d set up in her spare bedroom. She’d decorated the space in green, her compromise color as she called it, and announced that she’d be happy to babysit when Rafe and Lacy went on their honeymoon. Rafe took the hint.
“She’s gone, she swore it. I think we’d better set a wedding date, babe. Your mother is ready to marry you off.” He was playing with son number one’s toes, checking his eyes surreptitiously. Lucas did look like him, dark eyes and dark fuzz on his head.
“How about Valentine’s Day?” Lacy held their daughter, patting
her lightly on the back until she burped. “I think that would be romantic.”
“Sounds good to me. Will that give you time to get everything together, Sheila?” Rafe asked his soon to be mother-in-law the question since he knew she was the one who wanted to throw a cat-style shindig at the enclave. Son number two, Gabriel, blinked up at him sleepily when Rafe rubbed his tummy. Golden eyes, same dark fuzz. No sign of red eyes. Rafe wanted to sigh in relief.
“Sure. We can do it. Lacy’s been planning her dream wedding since she was a little girl, haven’t you, sweetheart?” Sheila laughed when Lacy flushed.
“Mom! You’re embarrassing me.” Lacy handed their daughter, who’d decided to fuss, to Rafe. “See if you have the magic touch. I don’t know what she wants. She’s been fed and changed.”
Rafe handled her gingerly, while she wailed her displeasure. “Do you have a dream wedding, Lacy?”
“Maybe. Every little girl does.” She leaned over to kiss Rafe’s cheek. “I found my handsome prince. Hopefully this little one will someday too. Though I bet Daddy will probably decide the man’s not good enough and want to tear apart any guy who tries to get to his baby girl.”
“You got that right. Only good things and happy endings for Daddy’s girl.” Rafe kissed his baby’s cheek and got a sock in the nose for it. She was all Lacy with her red hair and pale skin, though it was pink with anger right now as she continued to scream. “I wish she could tell me what’s wrong with her. Come on, Daniela, tell Daddy your troubles.” Luckily the boys ignored their angry sister and were falling asleep with full tummies.
“Probably a gas bubble. Put her over your shoulder and pat her back, Rafe, while we start loading the car.” Sheila grabbed a diaper bag while Lacy picked up an enormous box of disposable diapers and they left the room.
Sheila hadn’t gotten near him since they’d arrived. He knew it was because she was waiting for him to sprout horns or something. Rafe didn’t blame her for being leery. Lily terrorizing her had sealed the deal as far as in-law relations were concerned. It would be a long time before she trusted him again.
Lacy had tried to calm her mother, even suggesting Sheila visit Ian for a tranquilizer. The fact that her were-cat mother seemed open to the idea had made Lacy roll her eyes. Seems there might be a romantic possibility between the doctor and Mama Cat after all. Who could have predicted that?
Rafe jiggled the baby then held her out from him. “Look at me, Daniela. Seriously, why are you screaming?” She puckered her rosebud mouth, blew a bubble then blinked.
“Oh, shit.” Lacy would have his hide for cursing in front of the babies but he couldn’t help it. Because there was no mistaking the flash of red he’d seen for just a moment in his little princess’s bright blue eyes.
Books by Gerry Bartlett
Real Vampires Have Curves
Real Vampires Live Large
Real Vampires Get Lucky
Real Vampires Don’t Diet
Real Vampires Hate Their Thighs
Real Vampires Have More to Love
Real Vampires Don’t Wear Size Six
Real Vampires Hate Skinny Jeans
Real Vampires Know Hips Happen
Real Vampires Know Size Matters
Real Vampires Take A Bite Out of Christmas(Novella)
Real Vampires Say Read My Hips
The nationally best-selling author of the Real Vampires series, Gerry Bartlett is a native Texan who lives halfway between Houston and Galveston. She freely admits to a shopping addiction which is why she has an antiques business on the historic Strand on Galveston Island. She used to be a gourmet cook but has decided it’s more fun to indulge in gourmet eating instead. You can visit Gerry on Facebook, Twitter or at her website where she has advice for aspiring writers at http://gerrybartlett.com.
