by C. E. Black
“Where are they?”
“I haven’t been able to get a hole of either of them yet. Renee suggested there might be some problems at home.”
A low growl rumbled deep in my throat. This was the perfect example as to why I didn’t want to find a new mate. Noel’s father had always belonged to my clan. His mother, on the other hand, was a panther-shifter. Our entire clan had been more than relieved when their son had begun to favor his dragon-half. We needed the numbers. But while Noel had taken after his father in the physical sense, he’d inherited his mother’s wild streak.
“Are they charging him?”
“He’s still a minor, so they’re releasing him with a warning this time. But Keaton? He almost crashed into a plane. Hundreds of people could have died.”
Christ. I pinched the bridge of my nose and swallowed a mouthful of flame. “Fine. I’ll handle this.”
I was about to hang up when I heard Jasper call out to me. “How’s it going on the dating site?”
You’ve got to be kidding me. I leaned my head against the cushioned computer chair and rolled my eyes. Lately, my clan seemed incapable of thinking about anything else. As though they believed I’d find a new mate within a matter of days.
“I’ll take that heavy sigh as a good,” Jasper teased. “Okay, so don’t get mad at me, but Renee and I signed you up for one of the cruises.”
I snapped up in my chair. “You did what?”
“Oh, don’t be such a grump. You need a getaway. The past five years haven’t been easy for you. What harm is a vacation?”
“I’m more worried about the harm it’s going to cost you,” I growled.
“Come on, boss. Think about it. It’s already paid for. I’ll email you the information so that you can look it over and fill everything out. You wouldn’t believe the selection they have! We chose the Caribbean for you. It’s perfect for an old single bat like you.”
Perfect wasn’t the word for it. “Jasper.”
“Just hear me out. A week away won’t hurt the clan, but it’ll give you a break. You’ve been nonstop since Ella’s death, understandably. We all think it’s time you take a breath and start living again.”
Fury inflamed deep in the pit of my stomach. My skin warmed and embers shot past my lips. This was so far beyond acceptable. “Too bad. You’re going to call the company and ask for a refund—”
“It’s too late,” Jasper breezed on, oblivious to the rage broiling inside. “I chose one with a close date. They hadn’t filled all the cabins, so we were able secure two rooms. One for you and one for Jinx. They even gave me half-off for hers.”
My nostrils flared with smoke. “You dragged Jinx into this?”
“You couldn’t very well leave her home. It’s during spring break.”
Holy flames, I was going to flay him alive.
“Before you start spitting fire—”
“We’re way beyond that—”
“Just give us the benefit of the doubt. You know Renee and I would never do anything to endanger the clan or you. You need this. And since the cruise is through Meet Your Alpha, it’s all shifters. I just sent you the information. They need yours and Jinx’s passport information. Everything else has been handled for you.”
I drew a deep breath, my gullet warming with the flames that threatened to erupt past my lips. Jasper was lucky he’d chosen to deliver this news over the phone. Or perhaps it’d been deliberate, a means of maintaining a safe distance. “I can’t even begin to tell you how far you’ve overstepped yourself.”
“We knew you’d be angry, but we’re only doing what’s best for you.”
Except, no one had asked them to butt their noses into my dating life. And certainly not to include Jinx in this asinine scheme.
“Think about Jinx. She could use some time away.”
“Jinx will be in school until June. And then she’s going to summer camp.”
Jasper’s silence weighed on the line. “You were planning on making her stay there over spring break?”
“Those were the arrangements I’d made with the academy.
Jasper grunted under his breath. I knew his objections without him speaking them. The entire clan thought I was harming Jinx by sending her away for school. They believed she belonged here with me.
I disagreed.
“Have you…checked on her recently?” Jasper asked. “To see how she’s doing?”
“She’s fine,” I growled. “If something was wrong, her teachers would call.”
“Keaton…” A thump carried over the line, as though he’d struck something. “Don’t you like…ever call her? She must be lonely.”
Bitter laughter slipped past my lips. “She’s in a school with four hundred other shifter children. She has friends there. I highly doubt she’s lonely.”
“We worry about her. That prep school is so far away. And she can’t just come home if she’s unhappy.”
Meddling little pains. “Jinx is fine. And neither of us are in need of a vacation.”
“It’s her first year actually living there, though. What if she hates it?”
“Jasper,” I snapped, annoyance rekindling the embers. “She’s fine.”
Silence crept over the line until, finally, Jasper sighed. “All right. Well, I’ll let you go. You need to see to Noel. And don’t forget to check your email. Even if you don’t take Jinx, you need to go. It’s completely paid for. So, if you don’t, you’re wasting Renee’s and my money. Not to mention throwing a gift back in our faces.”
He disconnected the call.
I stared up at the ceiling and swallowed the flames creeping up my throat. Jasper and Renee meant well. The entire clan did. But their good intentions only annoyed the hell out of me. Jinx was perfectly fine in her school. The Brookview Academy had been built with shifters in mind, providing the children with a top-notch education while growing up among their own kind. I received Jinx’s quarterly report cards, which showed me her grade average. Straight A’s in everything except history. Nothing that warranted my concern.
This vacation was entirely unnecessary, but unfortunately, I didn’t see a way out.
I groaned and rose from my chair. Noel awaited me at the police station. I had to take care of that before anything else. I stalked across the living room floor, the sound of my footsteps echoing through the empty house. Once upon a time, the silence had bothered me. Especially after we’d lost Ella.
Eventually, the reticence had grown unbearable, and Jinx had slipped into an impenetrable depression. We’d both lost someone devastatingly important to us. Her mother and my soul mate. Few bounced back from that.
But I’d done my best. Kept her busy with afterschool programs and sports, hired nannies and babysitters. Then this year, she’d been old enough to enroll in the boarding program at Brookview. I’d leapt at the opportunity. Anything to stop her from wallowing in the memories of her dead mother. Out of sight, out of mind. Keep her active and blissfully unaware. The clan missed her, but it was for the best. And she had a cell phone if she needed to text me. Not that she ever did. But I took that to mean all was well.
Grabbing my leather jacket, I slipped it over my shoulders and headed out into the brisk air. I hopped into the Jeep and breathed a little fire into my hands, blasting away the chill. The Jeep had heating, but my system worked faster, so long as I didn’t burn my interior.
Once toasty warm, I started the engine and backed down the driveway. The fifteen minute drive would give me plenty of time to ponder this damn cruise fiasco.
* * *
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About C.E. Black
Maggie Award winning author C.E. Black self-published her first book in 2011 and has since published several novels, novellas, and short stories in the Paranormal Romance genre. Though steamy romance, hunky heroes, and feisty heroines are C.E.’s specialty, she enjoys surprising her readers with action-filled plots and exciting twists that make for a fast-paced read.
If you enjoy heart pounding romance with a preternatural twist, stop by her website and sign up for her newsletter so you never miss an update.
Connect Online:
https://www.ceblack.org
About Gwen Knight
Gwen started writing at a young age when the monsters became interesting rather than scary. From werewolves and vampires to elves and magical realms, she enjoys writing in all genres, so long as a little love can be sprinkled in. Gwen lives in Alberta with her husband, cat, and collie who loves to play in the snow.
A hybrid author, Gwen publishes both traditionally and independently. If books centered on alpha werewolves, vampires, and necromancers (oh, my) bring you hours of pleasure, check out her books page, and sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive releases, updates, and giveaways.
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