by Hart, Alana
The room felt too small with all of them standing around. Aria slipped over to stand in front of Gran, still cradled in Ben’s arms. She gently eased her hands under Faith’s sleeping frame, lifted the tot up slowly, and cuddled her close. She couldn’t help herself, and dropped a half dozen kisses on that angelic little head as she pivoted and eased herself over to the playpen. She reversed the process she’d used to pick Faith up without waking her, lowered her down slowly until the babe lay sleeping soundly in the bed.
Aria turned back toward the dining area, only to catch Ben’s bright gaze locked on every move she made. Gran and Delilah were nowhere in sight, but from the whispers coming from the kitchen she guessed they were debating that age old question: Tea or Coffee. She wondered for a moment how Ben had managed to carry Gran to the kitchen so soundlessly. Then the heat she saw flooding Ben’s gaze as he watched her erased all thoughts of Gran and tea and coffee from her mind.
He stood so broad in the walkway between the living room and dining room that there was no way to squeeze past him without coming into contact with some part of him. Instead of trying to slip by, Aria stopped half a foot from him, nose to chest. She looked up, crossed her arms and waited. The wry grin that twisted his lips didn’t earn him any points in her book. She shot a pointed glance diagonally toward the kitchen, loath to speak and wake Faith. His eyebrows drooped low, as if he was thinking. Aria tapped the toes of one foot lightning quick, tossed a glance back toward her baby girl. Still asleep, but not for long if Ben started talking in his growly voice mere feet away from her bed.
He must have caught the meaning in her glance, because his expression lightened, and for the first time since he’d burst into the shop to save them, a real smile played on his lips, killer dimples and all. Damn him, and damn those dimples too. Faith totally has his smile. With a solemn nod and a faint grin, Ben turned and headed to the kitchen.
Aria had no idea how to deal with this Ben. This grown up, responsible, sexy Ben. He looked like her geeky, engineer Ben, but bigger, brawnier and a hell of a lot sexier.
And more protective. This version of Ben didn’t seem like he’d abandon anyone, for any reason. Aria looked forward to finding out exactly what happened that fateful night. Her gaze was inevitably drawn to the curves of his butt, encased in tight, well-worn jeans. She wondered if the rest of him had filled out as well as the vision before her suggested.
A soft tsk drew her gaze away from his behind, and she felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment when her eyes met his. The dimpled grin and twinkling blue eyes peering back over his shoulder suggested he didn’t mind her ogling him in the least.
Damn, this day was shaping up to be more than its share of interesting for sure.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Aria settled gingerly onto the bench in the breakfast nook. The nook was the furthest they could get from the playpen in front of the fireplace. At least the furthest without leaving the house altogether. After the evening they’d had, Aria wasn’t willing to do that. But she didn’t want to disturb the sleeping babe, either. From the way the other three slunk through the kitchen to join her, she figured the last thing they wanted to deal with was an upset cub again.
“So, who wants to start explaining first.” Aria scooted down the bench, closer to the bay window so Ben could settle in beside her. She met his eyes , then glanced at Gran and Delilah in turn. Three averted gazes and shamed faces sent her stomach plummeting to her feet.
“Seriously? Nobody.” Aria stroked the satin-smooth tabletop gently, struggling to keep her voice low and even. She met everyone’s eyes in turn again, silently demanding answers, information, hell any damn thing they were willing to toss her way. “Fine, I’ll start.” Aria shrugged, then shifted a bit on the hardwood bench as she gathered her thoughts. There was probably a best way to go about confronting these people she loved, but damn it, answers overrode hurt feelings as far as Aria was concerned. “Delilah, why do you have a murderous magical door hidden in your shop? And why did it try to kill me and Faith?”
“I wouldn’t say the door was trying to ‘kill’ you.” Delilah’s reply was soft and slow. From the look on her face, the wheels were spinning. Finally, the witch was actually considering the situation.
Ben’s low rumbly growl sent chills down Aria’s arms. His sharp gaze bored into the witch, challenging that statement. “I can smell a lie, Del. And you’re skirting the line.” Silver swirled through the brilliant blue of his gaze. Delilah’s hasty nod and hands up, palm out gesture must have been enough to ease Ben’s mind, because the silver faded to blue and the growl cut off abruptly. “What’s the issue then? We need to know everything to keep Aria and Faith safe.”
Del nodded once, then shook her head vigorously before nodding once more. Her wide eyes and pursed lips suggested she was seriously conflicted.
“I know, Ben.” Del’s voice was soft. “But there are some confidences I cannot break. Surely you, of all people understand that.” Her sharp gaze begged for understanding. .
Aria certainly sympathized. But confidences surely weren’t worth losing a life over. “Del, either you’re going to tell me what I need to know, or I’m going back there to find out for myself.” Aria half rose from the bench and pushed gently against Ben’s bulky shoulder. He leaned into her hand, eyes flashing silver and mouth frowning.
“You know that’s not an option,” Ben’s voice rumbled. Aria’s stomach did flips; nervous, flirty, flips. Fuck that.
“Ben, the day you walked out on me and Faith is the day you gave up the right to have any say in my life.” She refused to feel bad despite his wide eyes and shocked look. He shifted in his seat, raising her hopes that he would let her leave without clambering over top of him. Her hopes were firmly dashed when his look shifted, firmed up, and he settled deeper onto the bench.
“Do you have to have this conversation now?” Gran’s voice was tight with tension. Her eyes darted between Aria and Ben, looking for something. From the disappointed slump of her shoulders, whatever she was seeking was nowhere in sight.
“No. What I need to be doing right now is destroying that damn door and every fucking thing behind it before it hurts my baby.” Aria’s whisper was low and raspy, almost a growl. Damn, I sound like Faith. She didn’t know if she should be worried or scared by that thought.
“Aria, you can’t-”
Del cut Gran off mid-sentence. “You could try, but you’d fail.”
“It’s a fucking soul-stealing door, and you keep it in your damn shop. What demons have you been dealing with, witch?” Anger and determination over-rode Aria’s good sense for the moment and she did clamber over the table, dropping lightly to the floor. Or she would have, if Ben hadn’t snagged her in mid jump. She oomphed when arm’s solid as iron wrapped round her waist, then shuddered with fury when she landed with a thud in his lap.
“You will listen to Delilah.” Ben’s growl was filled with command, and promises unspoken. Aria twisted in his arms, barely resisting the urge to smack him.
“Fuck you, Benjamin Torben.” Aria ignored the silver swirling through his eyes. His to-die-for blue eyes, so much like Faith’s.
“More than happy to, mate. Later, though. Listen.” That last word was more growl than word as silver consumed the blue once more.
Mate?
Aria didn’t dare move, or question him in this state. If he was anything like Faith, he’d change in a heartbeat and the last thing she wanted to face right now was a full sized pissed off bear. Aria sighed in relief when those silver eyes broke away from her gaze and lasered on to the witch. “Explain. Because if you don’t, I will destroy your precious door.”
Aria squirmed once, trying to sneak out of Ben’s arms while he was distracted. From the hard length pressed against her backside, her movements hadn’t gone unnoticed. Damn.
Delilah shrugged once, palms out as if to placate Ben. Apparently witches were only scared of shifters on the verge, and humans were not worth noting on the danger scal
e. Aria humphed to herself, and decided in the moment that she would find a way to be as dangerous as necessary, human or not.
“That door was put there because of a deal Aunt Birdie made.”
Aria shrugged. She barely remembered Delilah’s aunt. Tall, round woman in a flowing gown. Mess of curls and a smile. And a faint scent of jasmine and vanilla. That could double as the description for half the women in town, at least minus the robes.
“Deal?” Ben’s growl hinted at violence to come.
Del nodded once, short and sharp.
“What does the door have to do with Faith?” Aria tried once more to wiggle her way out of Ben’s grasp, to no avail.
“Faith’s a bear shifter?” Aria nodded, ignoring the quick flicker Del’s gaze made to Ben’s face before returning to hers earnestly once more.
“Bears are Scions of Callista. When the gods fell, so did she. So did her son. Thus were bear shifters born.” Delilah’s voice was monotone, almost like she was reciting a prayer or mantra.
“That’s just legend and speculation, Del.” Ben’s voice was more nerdy engineer than bear. The voice Aria remembered, and loved. Aria wiggled again, but those arms caging her in were strong as ever. Fucking bear. Fucking man.
“Did you ever ask your dad about the legends?” Gran’s question was soft, almost hesitant. Her tone caught Aria’s attention but fast. Gran never spoke like that to anyone. She always had the answers, always had confidence in herself and the world around her. Never hesitated. Until now. Aria twisted to get a look at Ben’s face. The shifter swirl was gone, and pure blue eyes highlighted by a half grin and a dimple stole her breath away for a second.
I refuse to let this happen. He left. There are no second chances after that. But the shivers of desire racing up her spine assured her that her body disagreed with her. Her body was willing to give him all the chances he wanted.
“No. Dad’s not much on talking. Hell, he’s more bear than man most days.”
“Which bear? Which man? Do I know him? Has he registered with the Espen Clan?” Ben shook his head more and more vigorously with each question Gran asked.
“Pops isn’t much on new world ways.” Ben’s voice was chill, distant.
His arms relaxed, and Aria seized the moment, slipping out of his grasp to stand at the end of the table. She almost ran, but Ben’s sharp glance stopped her.
So much pain. He hid so very much pain in that moment, that some of it leaked out, trickled down his cheeks. Fuck. She couldn’t leave. Couldn’t do to him the very thing he’d done to her and to Faith. Damn her loyal heart anyways. She wanted to kiss his tears away, but wouldn’t let him win. She was no one’s but her own.
Delilah’s eyes grew wide, her mouth fell open in an ‘O’. “He’s not-”
Gran’s sharp nod and slicing motion cut Delilah off mid-sentence.
“Not what?” Aria slammed clenched fists lightly on the table, hands trembling with the struggle to keep from pounding harder. Can’t wake Faith. That sole thought kept her from hitting and screaming and throwing every damn thing in sight. “I’m so fucking tired of secrets I’m ready to go through that fucking door to get some answers. Which sucks balls since some people-” Aria stabbed a finger at Gran and Del and Ben in turn, then continued, “really should fucking know better by now.” She threw her hands in the air and stalked out the back door to the patio overlooking the garden.
Time to end this shit. No more fucking secrets. Aria’s angry thoughts ran circles as she struggled to calm herself with deep breaths.
In.
Out.
In.
Tomorrow, she would get answers, one way or another. No matter who tried to stop her.
CHAPTER NINE
Ben growled low in his throat, grabbed for Aria and missed. She hadn’t even noticed his attempt as she stormed out the back door. Fuck. Protect her, bear demanded. Ben half rose to follow that command when Tori’s soft touch on his shoulder stopped him. Their eyes met, held for a minute. Victoria’s gaze was full of confidence, mixed with worry and love. He’d missed her. And Espen. He should have been here sooner for Aria. And Faith.
“It’s not your fault, Ben.” Gran’s voice was soft, like her hands. “You didn’t choose this.” She shrugged, and her gaze dropped to his hands, flat and tense on the table top. “Sit, Benjamin Torben.”
Mystified at the calming effect she had on his bear, Ben sat. And waited. From the look on Tori’s face, she had something important to get off her chest. The calm confidence she radiated almost had bear convinced Aria would be safe, but he glanced toward the slightly cracked door, and sniffed. Just to check.
Gran’s smirk suggested she knew very well what he and bear were up too. “It’s warded Ben. Best wards in the world.”
“Wait, warded how?” Del interrupted. Her sharp green eyes scanned the cabin, taking in every line of decorative carving and every piece of artwork. “I don’t sense any magic…” she trailed off.
“Guardian wards.” Victoria’s explanation was sharp. “The mister did them, poured his love and strength into every stroke of the chisel.”
Guardian wards? Delilah’s round eyes and mouth suggested she was either mystified or impressed with that explanation. “Aria’s half guardian?” Del asked. The hitched response convinced Ben Del was more awed than scared.
Gran shook her head once. Slowly. “Human. All too human, all things considered.” Her shoulders slumped for a moment before she straightened slowly. Ben had the impression she was visibly marshalling her thoughts, and her courage for this conversation. Hell, if it took Victoria Fox this much effort to even begin, maybe he didn’t want to be part of this conversation either. He half-rose once more, but her sharp, swirly-green gaze stopped him in his tracks. This wasn’t Victoria Fox asking, this was her fox. Leader of Espen clan, and mother vixen to the whole damn town. Demanding his, and his bear’s compliance. Fuck. Ben sat. Bear rumbled in his chest, arguing to be gone, but they both knew this time they couldn’t run.
“Aria’s human. Her mom’s human, I have no fucking clue who or what her dad was.” Victoria’s voice was cold and measured. Bear snuffed his disagreement. Something in that statement struck him as wrong. Not untruth, but a not-knowing.
“And Faith?” Delilah’s question was soft and insistent. “Obviously not human. But something more?”
“More? She’s shifter. Bear, just like me.” Ben said, monotone. He fought to contain the anger he felt rising inside. Anger at himself, at his bear, at the whole fucking world for playing him so dirty. Fucking bear shifter, and no one saw fit to tell him. Hell, he’d have kept his damn dick in his pants forever, if he’d known. Too hard to compromise with his bear, much less live the life he’d dreamed.
“No. Not just like you, Ben.” Victoria’s reply was firm but gentle. “She’s different. And I know you know it.”
Ben shook under her intense, green-filled gaze. Bear roared challenge to the alpha fox that faced them. But neither could deny the pure truth ringing in every word she spoke. He slumped under her gaze, hating himself for the lie he’d been telling, to himself, and his bear. No wonder they couldn’t agree on shit. Bear gurgled in the back of Ben’s mind, content, for the moment.
“Shit.” Ben gripped the edge of the table, knuckles white. The wood gave beneath his hands until Tori rapped him across the knuckles with her spoon. He grew hot when he realized he’d left fingerprints in the damn wood. “Sorry.” He ground out the whispered apology, trying desperately to ignore the amused chuckles bear was sending his way.
Finally, Ben nodded once in answer to Tori’s demand. Yes, Faith was different. But fuck it all if he had any idea why. And the one man- no, bear - who would know, had no inclination to help Ben ‘compromise’ with his bear. Stupid parents, can’t outgrow ‘em, can’t live without ‘em, no matter how old you get.
“She’s a throwback, Ben.” Victoria said each word slowly and clearly, reached out and chucked him under the chin with one finger. Forced him a
nd bear to meet her green-swirled eyes. “A throwback.”
Ben heard. He saw the fear in her gaze, the intensity. Shit, she thought that term meant something to him? His dad hadn’t even had the nerve to stick around to see if he was a shifter. Fucker left him to find out himself, the hard way, and then laughed at his struggle to understand, and to contain his bear. Ben shrugged, and dropped his gaze again. He could feel his bear rising at their shared memories, shared emotions from the years spent trying to find common ground. He couldn’t let Tori Fox see how on edge he and Bear were.
“Do you know what that means, Ben?” Her follow-up question was soft, deceptively soft and gentle. But Ben knew better. So did bear. Bear roared challenge once more at the sly alpha facing them across the table. Challenge, defiance, and claim all in one.
Mine.
My Mate.
My Cub.
Ben felt his claws break free, and fought to push his bear down once more. His jaw clenched so tight he thought his teeth were going to break. He stiffened, threw himself against the backrest, and raised his eyes to the ceiling, and started counting.
One.
Breathe in.
Two.
Breathe out.
Before he could take the third breath, Victoria Fox slapped him. Her palm stung his cheek, the pain sharp and bright against the roaring anger his bear stirred up inside his chest.
“Contain. Your. Beast. NOW.” Her voice was low, but every word dripped with command. Alpha. Clan leader. Fuck, even though they weren’t officially Espen Clan, his bear acknowledged Tori’s fox and her right to command them. For now. Bear settled grudgingly into the back of Ben’s mind.
“You back, Ben?” Delilah hesitated on the word back, as if she wasn’t sure that was the right word. It was, and it wasn’t. But it was close enough. His human side in full control for the moment, Ben nodded once. Short and slow, but he nodded none the less. At least Tori can help leash the beast if necessary. The thought was cold comfort considering the trouble that one word hinted at. Throwback. Fuck that. His cub was perfect, magnificent.
