“Look at me,” Cyanna ordered. Joslyn’s lashes fluttered up and her gray pools were nightglow. “Your wolf wants mine.”
“I want your eagle too,” she said softly. “We can’t mate, Joss,” Cyanna said, regret heavy in her tone.
“But you’re mine,” she said sadly. “I need my woman, not some man touching me, holding me. He’ll never mean to me what you do.” She closed her eyes, knowing she’d said too much for both of their sakes.
Cyanna gripped her hips and thrust up into her tight clasp. She growled and Joslyn hissed. “Damn, your pussy’s so good.” She groaned as Joslyn squeezed her inner muscles tight around her cock.
Joslyn stroked her arms. “My wolf won’t accept him .”
Cyanna kissed her. “Don’t. I don’t want to talk about that.” She thrust up.
“Oh, yeah.” Joslyn moaned. She put her hands on the back of the couch and rolled her hips.
Cyanna pinched her nipples as her lips pressed kisses along her Joslyn’s throat. “You feel so fucking good. I should take you bareback from now on.”
“God!” Joslyn threw her head back as she rode Cyanna faster. “Oh fuck, oh fuck.” She let out a low scream as she came.
Cyanna groaned out her release as she dug into Joslyn’s hips. “Damn girl. You’re the best I’ve had.”
Joslyn curved her arms around Cyanna’s neck and held her close. “I think I love you, Cy.”
“Baby, I feel the same way, but we can’t talk about it.”
“Can’t you just kill him, too?” she asked, tears misting her eyes.
“I want to, believe me, but this is about the alliance,” Cyanna said. “It’s not about feelings.”
Joslyn clung to her for a long time before she got to her feet. “That’s why I wanted last night. I want to do this all night.”
“Me too.” Cyanna stood and brushed Joslyn’s hair back. “You own my heart, Joss. We can never be alone after your ceremony.”
Joslyn nodded. “I know.” She went to the bathroom to clean up. When Joslyn returned, Cyanna was nowhere in sight. She sat down on the couch to wait for her, deciding there was no use attempting to run or dodge her fate. This was something every member of the pack knew could happen to them. They all knew the reason was important, even if it broke hearts.
“Hey.”
Joslyn looked up when Cyanna came back into the room. She gave her a faint smile.
“I wanted to give you something last night. Then, I didn’t know you wouldn’t be mine, but I still want you to have it.”
“What is it?”
Cyanna smiled and held out a small box. Joslyn She took the jeweler’s box and opened it. Staring back up at her from crushed velvet was a Pandora bracelet.
The centerpiece of red and pink beads was a silver heart and key. The other silver beads made her eyes mist again as she read “I love you” on the three of them. Joslyn threw her arms around Cyanna’s neck.
“You—you don’t like it?”
“You crazy woman, I love it.” She wiped at the silent tears coursing down her cheeks. “It’s so perfect.” She claimed a soft kiss before drawing back. “Put it on me?”
* * * *
Macon had chosen one of the private ballrooms for their brunch, and the long table that had been brought in was covered in white linen and laden with food. He turned when the last two arrivals joined the party. His daughter showed no emotion, which didn’t surprise him. She guessed Joslyn had talked to her and was pleased that the younger woman had no problems discussing important issues. Good communication was the key to a healthy relationship.
“Ladies, you’ve finally decided to join us. Both feeling well, I trust?”
“Yes, Dad.” Cyanna kissed his cheek and took the empty seat next to her mother while Joslyn took the one next to hers.
“Your man is running late?” Michael asked with a frown.
Macon smiled. “I think we can start,” he said, sitting down and giving his wife a smile. “I did a lot of thinking about who would make the perfect connection with Joslyn, and I realized there was only one answer. A sentinel.”
“So, he’s on duty instead of being here?” Tucker asked. “How could you select a man who’d show our daughter so little respect?”
“It’s really no more than what you’ve done,” Macon answered coolly. “However, I didn’t do that. The sentinel I selected is worthy of your daughter. Strong, dependable, willing to die for her as well as kill for her, this sentinel will nurture her, and take care of her heart. Will everyone please raise your glasses to the new couple?” He picked up his own glass of orange juice and looked around the table, seeing consternation in the faces of the Brownings as well as Michael. His own family was serenely waiting for the announcement. “Cyanna and Joslyn.”
“What?” Tucker Browning exclaimed.
“Son of a bitch,” Michael muttered. “I did not see that coming. You cannot do that.”
“To Cyan and Joslyn,” Marcus said, clinking glasses with his mate and his brothers.
“No.” Tucker got to his feet. “Let’s go. This is not happening.”
“It’s a joke, right?” Mrs. Browning cried. “It has to be!”
“You can withdraw Joslyn as the betrothed, but I’d like to remind you, Tucker and Michael, that if you do this, the alliance is null and void.” He held Michael’s stunned gaze for a long moment before turning to look at his daughter. Cyanna sat emotionless as she held Joslyn’s gaze.
He wondered if they were telepathically communicating. Wolves and eagles both had the ability to communicate that way in animal form. Once the mating bond was established, the wolf and the eagle could communicate mind-to-mind with their mates Even in human form.
“We can’t afford this kind of game right now,” Michael said. “Neal’s pack leader contacted me this morning demanding a meeting about his murder last night.”
“How does he know Neal’s dead?” Marcus demanded.
“Because he met with four members of the Long Paw pack the night Joslyn was attacked,” Macon answered. “Dash and Trenton were able to ascertain that Neal wasn’t a lone jackal. His pack lives in the city. He works for his pack leader at a TV station. Sam Cane is a wealthy man, and has some pull in the shifter community.” His gaze went to Michael. “I got a call from him as well this morning.”
“What did he want?” Cyanna asked.
“Answers, and vengeance on the killer of his son,” Macon answered.
“A duel?” Marvin asked.
“Maybe, but I’m sure once he’s presented with the proof of his son’s transgressions against Cyanna’s mate, he’ll back down.”
“No.” Tucker shook his head and Macon knew the other man was fully aware of the implications of his withdrawing his daughter as the betrothed. His pack could be financially torn apart and the jackals might move against them in a war of attrition, much like last night’s battle had been.
Macon didn’t worry about his own pack. His daughter would hold her own against any man presented for the duel. Financially, she was sound, and shrewd. He’d cover her ass in any way he needed to. She was his only daughter, and he’d kill for the future alpha of his pack.
Tucker sat back down and Michael stared at Macon. “This will turn into a war.”
“It might,” Macon agreed. After all, Joslyn isn’t hers, so Cyanna will be seen as another suitor who killed the competition.”
“That will cause problems for you,” Marvin said. “You’ll have to provide someone to defend her honor.”
“I’ll take the blame,” Cyanna said evenly. “I’ll fight the duel.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Joslyn said quickly. “If I’m not betrothed, I’m free to see who I want. I’m free to mate with you.”
“Joslyn,” her mother chastised angrily.
Joslyn pushed back her chair. “It’s true, Mother.”
“Joss, don’t,” Cyanna said as she got to her feet.
“Why not?” She leaped to her feet and
moved around the table. “I love you, and you said you loved me. Since I’m free, why should I wait around for them to find me a man when I want you?”
“Joss.” Cyanna cupped her face. “Sweetheart. You know I love you, but I won’t wreck your life.”
“Then, I guess we’re betrothed after all, huh?” She gave Cyanna a tentative smile and held out her arm. “Isn’t this my betrothal present?”
Cyanna laughed. “I guess since you asked me so nicely, I better take you as my mate.”
Joslyn laughed to and rushed into her arms.
Macon gave his wife a smile. “I guess you have another daughter. One you can baby,” he murmured.
She returned his smile. “Capulet told me I’d have two granddaughters to baby in five months.”
He beamed. “I guess now we know. Maybe the other girls will be so lucky.”
“We need to talk,” Michael said as Tucker and his wife stormed out.
* * * *
“Cy, are you sure about this?” Joslyn asked two hours later as they sat on the front porch of Cyanna’s aerie. “We can’t just do this.”
“Dad thinks it’s important now that I’m claiming a mate, I should live here.” She squeezed Joslyn’s hand. “I’ll open a store here and let Rory run things in the city. She’s been dying to do that, anyway. I’ll manage the online site myself and keep designing.”
“You’re doing this because of the jackals.”
“They’re backing off, but that might not last,” she said. “I can’t have you away from pack with the possibility of that much aggression. I’d kill half the pack over you, but we can’t take risks. Plus, I’ll have more responsibility in the pack.”
Joslyn climbed off her chair and went to sprawl on her mate’s lap. “Well, I’ll follow you anywhere, Cy,” she murmured. “You have my heart.”
Cyanna cupped her face. “I’ve been falling for you since the day you walked into my office looking so wide-eyed and innocent. I want to devour that innocence, but I wasn’t ready for us then.”
Joslyn gasped. “Now?”
“Now, I can’t imagine not having you in my life, my precious Joss. When that jackal took you, I knew I was going to kill him. I knew you were mine, and I didn’t want to live without you.”
“I’ve loved you almost since the moment we met,” Joslyn confessed, her eyes misting. “I love you more now, Cy. I just didn’t want to say so earlier when I thought I was losing you.”
“I couldn’t have been given a better mate. You are my true love, Joss, and I wouldn’t have been able to back off for long.”
“Me either,” she said softly.
Cyanna claimed Joslyn’s lips softly and Joslyn curled her arms around Cyanna’s neck, content that she’d found her happily-ever-after, no matter what the future brought.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Serenity Snow is a voracious reader of romances, especially paranormal romances. She loves a happy ending, but she doesn’t have anything against a happy for now ending either. Serenity thinks fall is the perfect time of year for romance because the weather is still warm enough for walks in the park and pretty enough to create a romantic atmosphere for outdoor dining.
Serenity loves a good debate, has a quirky sense of humor and loves a good joke as long as it’s not on her. Possessing a creative mind, scrapbooking is something Serenity finds allows her creative spirit to soar as much as writing does.
For all titles by Serenity Snow, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/serenity-snow
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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