“Paighton and Jaison,” Leo said. “One of the greatest honors I have as prime is the right to bless births and bonding. I would be pleased if you would let us bless your union.”
“I don’t understand. I thought that was what we did?” Paighton asked her mate.
Jaison cupped her cheek. “This is more an acceptance of the prime and his queen.”
“Oh then, yes, please.”
“Though this is usually a private affair between the couple and the prime and his queen, for tonight we would like to alter tradition.” Leo lifted a hand and gestured for someone to come to him. When she looked over her shoulder, all those who lived on the island came out and surrounded them. “Jaison, take both of Paighton’s hands in yours.”
He did and his face blurred through the tears pooling within them. “Did you plan this?”
“I thought you deserved a wedding with a family who loves you.”
She nodded because she couldn’t speak over the knot in her throat.
Leo placed his hands over theirs, wrapping a ribbon around their wrists and through their fingers. “Jaison and Paighton, the great fates have blessed each of you with the other. A part of you was missing and tonight, that part was found.”
Leonidas starting speaking in a language she couldn’t understand. But slowly, she realized he spoke an ancient language, one she’d been led to believe no one could speak anymore. The words fumbled into her brain, bouncing around until finally they formed and she understood.
“Jaison, we welcome your mate into our pride as one of ours. We shall protect her in your stead. With our blessing, we call her Karatosis.”
A cheer rang out, and she was surrounded by hugs. “Welcome to the family,” Kalista said, kissing her on both cheeks. “There is a blessing reception at the garrison for all the newly bonded couples. Please take Jaison, celebrate, dance, and break some plates.”
Giddy, she could think of nothing better than dancing the night away. “Will you be coming?”
“We might come if we’ve the time.” Leonidas kissed his mate’s temple.
She leaned into him and finally Paighton understood. The constant need to touch, be touched, and affirm the connection. As the thought crossed her mind, Jaison rubbed his knuckles over her bare forearm. “Leonidas and Kalista have a great many bondings to bless tonight, but also two births.”
“Two babies were born this morning,” Kalista said and though she seemed genuinely happy, there was an edge of sadness.
“Mabyn?”
“No, she hasn’t started laboring yet,” Kalista answered.
“Come, my love, the first of the new parents are arriving.” Leonidas indicated with a nod the young couple holding an infant in the distance.
“That is our cue to leave,” Jaison said, following the crowd.
“Can we stay and watch?” Paighton couldn’t imagine how sweet a blessing must be.
“No. This ceremony is private. Only for the parents, the child, the prime and queen.” He placed a hand on her lower back, encouraging her forward movement. “You will get to see this when we have children. Kalista thought you would like something akin to a wedding.”
“Did they have this when they bonded?”
“No. There is no one else to bless their wedding. Just as there is no one else to bless any children they have.”
“That’s sort of sad.”
“It is part of being our leaders.”
The celebration raged into the night. For the first time, she danced without caring what she looked like. Naya, who’d also bonded that evening, taught her a few moves and they were enough to keep her from stumbling. But, ultimately, being in Jaison’s arms was all she needed. As the sun came through the windows, Jaison lifted her and carried her back to the villa. “I can walk,” she said with a yawn.
“And I can carry my mate when the need allows,” he assured, and who was she to complain? Leo was right. They were meant for each other. Jaison had taught her how to enjoy life, read for pleasure, and not take things so seriously. And she gave him the part he had been wanting, a need to guard what was important to him, a mate of his own. A guardian with no one to guard has no purpose. And she gave him that. There was something magical about knowing she was Jaison’s reason for everything.
As he entered their room, he laid her on the bed. “How are you feeling?”
She removed her shirt to glance at the raw bite mark. “A bit sore, but I think you could kiss it and make it all better.”
“All I ever want is to make your life better.” He crawled up the bed and kissed her. Not the demanding frenzied kiss of the past. This embrace was gentle and slow. She knew they had the rest of their lives, and he could take his time making love to her.
Under the sun of Leo in the morning air, he did just that. He showed her with his body how much she meant to him, and she spoke the words he needed. Together as one.
Tegan Rees is a high powered public defender. She fights for those who can’t fight for themselves. Her people have been around for ions, and as the moon moves into Libra she is reminded yet again she remains without a viable mate.
Archer is an immortal bounty hunter or slayer sent to bring the shifters to ground. To his people shifters no longer have a place in the world. With Libra rising he must stop his hunt for Virgo and commence into Libra. But Libras shifters have always been elusive as they hide behind the scales. But Archer is different he and a handful of other foniás only hunt the shifters who have done harm to humans.
Can both Archer and Tegan overcome prejudices long engrained in their people? Can Archer save his mate from his own people and hers when he discovers her hidden Raven?
When Kalista’s father suffers a stroke just hours before making an important payment on a loan she rushes to Greece to make amends before the billionaire tycoon swoops in to take the family business. Convinced if she gives him the check in person all will be fine and she can return to help her father on his long road to recovery. She did not anticipate Leonidas Karatasos.
This is not the first time Mr. Vidal has missed a payment but it would be last Leonida would let no one take advantage of him or his family but when he steps off the boat on his family’s island he never predicted his mate would be waiting for him check in hand. Kalista Vidal is everything he wanted and nothing he expected.
Five years ago Oakley was banished from the snow leopard leap. When even his mate turned her back on him he left without a backward glance. Now living in the mountains of Wyoming he provides help to those who need it not only those of his kind the Sagittarius shifters but to other zodiac signs as well.
Nova’s life had been blessed and easy. She lived in the sanctuary city of her people, her mate came to her early and she was adored. Or so she thought. When her mate is framed she is too young and naïve. Too late she realizes her folly, now with a new prime at the head of the family she is tasked with bring Oakley back. But will he have any place in his life for those who betrayed him?
A storm is brewing can she get through to him or is it too late?
About the Author
Award winning author Dominique Eastwick currently calls North Carolina home with her husband, two children, one lazy lab and one lazy Norwegian Elk Hound. Dominique spent much of her early life moving from state to state as a Navy Brat, because of that traveling is one of her favorite past times. When not writing you can find Dominique with her second love…her camera.
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Other Books by Dominique Eastwick
My books
House of Lords
The Duke and the Virgin
The Marquis and the Mistress
The Earl and his Virgin Countess
The Viscount and the Heiress
The Wiccan Haus
Shifting Hearts
Siren’s Serenade
Healing His Soul’s Mate
Breaking the Mating Bond
Falling Dragons. (Healing Harvest Anthology)
The Sherman Series
Hunting JC
Tony’s Haven 2012 — ASPEN GOLD winner for best Erotic Romance
Kissing the Bridesmaid (A Sherman Cousin Short Story)
Killing Lucas
Kissing the Tycoon (A Sherman Cousin Short Story)
Spencer’s Chance
Taming Trent
Cookie Club Romance
Hot Burning Love
1 Night Stand Series
Strawberry Kisses
Billionaires in Love
The Billionaire Trap
Black Hills Wolves
Infiltrating her Pack
The Virgin’s Infiltrator
Shifters of Yellowstone
Bear with me
Bearing the Hunger
Alpha’s Second Chance
Heirs to the Duke
For Love and Romance
Zodiac Shifters
Her Billionaire Lion
Shot through the Heart
Through the Blizzard (Christmas Kisses box set)
Sweet Christmas Kisses
Kismet and Cocoa
Coming Soon
Kissing the FBI Agent (A Sherman Cousin Short Story)
Loving Sage
Prowling for His Mate Page 11