by Claire Marta
He knew what males could be like. Up until they’d met Raven, he’d readily tumbled in and out of bed with females. There would be none of that. Not under their roof. Not on his watch.
They’d see that Willow stayed safe as she grew older.
“We’ll leave here as soon as they’ve finished packing.”
Tobias made a sound of agreement. “I’ll have everything ready.”
Ending the call, Killian swiped the screen of his phone, finding the app he was after. He took his time selecting a pet bed, puppy chow, dog bowls, toys, a harness, retractable leash, and grooming supplies. From observing Willow, he knew what colors she liked. What patterns and designs would make her mother happy. With one click, everything was ordered and would be at the Citadel in the next two hours. The beauty of the internet. You had everything at your fingertips and didn’t even have to leave your house. No expense was spared. If it made the girl happy, he would buy it just to see her smile.
“We’re ready,” Raven announced sometime later, hauling in four packed rucksacks. “Mrs. Myers has my spare key. I’m sorry. We’ll need to pick some things up on the way for Prince. Colin bought a puppy but didn’t bring anything it needs. Thinking only of himself as usual and leaving me to make do.”
Snapping the leash on the dog’s collar, Killian rescued one of the bags and rested it over his shoulder. “‘Tis already taken care of, so no need for ye to worry.”
Eyes widening, her beautiful face showed shock. “It is?”
“Aye. It should all be there by the time you're all settled in,” he promised.
Willow rushed into the room, cutting off any more conversation. Angus, the unicorn stuffie she’d gotten from Darcy, was poking out the top of the pink bag on her back.
Taking the leash from Killian, she hugged her puppy and planted a kiss on Prince’s head. “Ready! I can’t wait to see the dragon again and his cave in the garden! Can we play hide and seek?”
Raven’s expression turned wary. “We don’t want to bother anyone, sweetheart. I’ll make sure you have plenty to do.”
“She’s no bother all,” he quickly assured them both. “And don’t be thinking she can’t go exploring. Someone will have an eye on her at all times so she doesn’t get lost and we’ll keep her amused. You’re both more than welcome at the Citadel.”
With other clients she needed to visit, Raven insisted on taking her car. Killian offered to let her lead the way. Following her would let him keep an eye on things—not that he expected trouble but with a mobster ex-husband, it was always a possibility.
Willow chatted happily while they trooped outside, leading the puppy while her mother and he carried their bags to their car. Raven filled half the trunk. He filled the other and stood back so Raven could close it. “Thank you,” she said, turning toward him. “I…”
She froze mid-sentence, her attention snared by something across the road. Killian tracked her gaze to a man by a tree. Shoulder against the trunk, he was busy playing with his phone. Still, he gave off a disconcerting vibe. As if he was trying to play it natural but not completely pulling it off.
Sensing a potential threat, his first impulse was to do a partial shift and prepare to protect the females. A small, distressed cry had him tearing his attention from the man by the tree in time to grab Prince, who had gotten away from Willow and was headed for the street.
When he came back with the pup, Willow looked at him like he was a hero. Her mother, too, just a bit. Kneeling down, he kept hold of the dog in his arms while his wee mistress chastised him, scolding him for running off and warning him to never do it again.
Prince started wriggling, trying to break free. Killian had to wonder how well that was going to work in a car. “Willow, dear, if ye don’t mind, I’d like Prince to ride with me,” he suggested. “He’ll have a whole back seat to his self, and it’s one less distraction fer yer mother while she’s driving, eh?”
Killian was only half aware of her answer. Glancing to the spot where he’d seen the interloper, he found it now vacant. Everything inside him warned of danger. They needed to get to the Citadel as quickly as possible. How close could he stay behind them driving? Carrying his new charge under one arm, he placed the puppy in the rear seat of the SUV and slipped into the driver's seat.
Clicking speed dial, he put it on speakerphone.
“I need someone in the air,” he told Tobias the second he picked up. “Raven is being watched, and I don’t like it one bit. She’s taking her car, and I’ll be behind her, but something feels off.”
It was a risk, being daylight. Usually, they kept their flights to the nighttime where the darkness could hide them.
“I’ll send Zana,” Tobias responded. “He’s the best at staying unseen and he’s used to venturing out in the day when needed. I’ll have the gates ready to open the second you arrive and I’m putting the others on full alert.”
The rest of their brothers knew that Raven was a fated mate, although she didn’t yet understand or accept it. Tobias had done the same for her as he had for Morgan and Casey, sharing their schedules, known habits, what they drove, where they lived. Zana knew exactly where to come and what to look for. Raven was as safe as they could possibly keep her without one of them riding along.
Killian was on edge the whole drive, alert for any signs of danger. As if sensing his concern, Prince remained curled up on the back seat, whining softly.
He’d never been so happy to see the main gates until they arrived without incident. Tobias was there as promised, waving them through. The only audience they had was a group of black ravens. They sat in the old gnarled tree, observing them with beady eyes. Killian glared up at them. He’d never much liked thieving birds, desecrating the dead on the battlefield, picking flesh from bone, greedy for any morsel they could steal.
It was time to fashion scarecrows and use other means to frighten them away.
Parking up in the garage, he quickly retrieved the puppy, which brightened up once it was out of the vehicle. Tobias and Zana were busy taking Raven’s bags from her trunk. Unbuckling her daughter, Raven helped her out of the car.
“Home at last.” Killian yielded the pup’s leash to his wee mistress.
Tilting her head, Raven smiled but said nothing.
“Who do we have here?” Zana questioned, crouching to pet Prince and reach the child’s level.
“This is Prince,” she announced proudly. “Killy said he’s going to help me train him to be a good boy.”
Killian’s heart swelled oddly at the nickname. Willow already had him smitten and wrapped around her little finger. It was a shame she would be an only child. “I’m sure everyone will be willing to help,” he told her. They were a true community, with everyone pitching in and seeing things got done.
Zana rose, hoisting a bag onto each shoulder. “Maybe we can teach him to dance or heel on command in a different language. There are many here to choose from.”
Raven laughed. “Let’s start with the basics and go from there.”
Tobias grabbed the other two bags before Killian had a chance. He and the Persian started for the house.
Raven caught her daughter’s hand and followed, headed for the main door. “Sweetheart, I need to check on Casey once you're settled.”
“I’ll watch her,” Killian offered, walking close behind them, ready to grab the puppy if he got it in his head to break free and chase after something. “The things for Prince will be arriving soon and Willow can help me open them. Gael might have some cookies in the kitchen, too. A reward for being a good helper, aye?”
Entering the building, Killian could see that news of the puppy had spread. The foyer was lined with men, curious and eager to see the first pet to be brought to the Citadel.
Willow stood, the center of attention, holding Prince’s leash while the others made his acquaintance.
Unlike the rest of their brothers, Gael eyed the canine with derision, his lips turned down and arms wrapped around his middle. �
��It does not come into my kitchen or the dining hall,” he clipped. “I will not have dog hair and germs spread everywhere. Oui?”
The girl gazed up at him. “He won’t, I promise, and he’ll stay out of your vegetables in the garden.”
“Look at that little face,” Aiden crooned, rubbing Prince’s muzzle with its baby beard. “Have you ever seen anything so adorable?”
The dog was embraced with mixed emotions that Killian found amusing. If Gael couldn’t handle a pet, how would he be with diapers and spit up and all the messes that came with children?
Once the fuss had died down, Killian, Zana, and Tobias showed them the way to the guest suite. It was on the fourth floor with their superior’s apartment and the two dungeons that they’d outfitted for play.
The guest suite had been designed and furnished with comfort in mind. The rooms were spacious and airy, with a kitchenette, three bedrooms, and two full bathrooms. The décor was a mix of mid-century modern and contemporary design. In the living room opposite the couch, a large high definition TV offered hundreds of channels, including movies and children's shows. A game system that played DVDs gave them even more options.
Raven took the largest bedroom with the ensuite, located farthest from the entrance door. Willow and Prince would be in the first bedroom, across the hall from the bathroom.
Zana followed Willow to her room, carrying her two bags. Tobias led the way to the master suite, carrying her mother’s rucksacks. Killian and Raven followed.
The midwife had an air of nervousness around her. It made Killian wonder if it was because she had agreed to stay with them or if she was upset over the man who had been watching them. Later, when they had time, he would assure her again she was safe.
She and her daughter both were.
“I’d like to check on Casey if that’s okay?” the midwife asked, taking a rucksack from Tobias and setting it at foot of the bed.
“I’ll escort you,” Tobias told her politely, leaving the other bag by the closet door.
They could hear Willow chatting away to Zana and Prince down the hall. She was talking so fast, Killian was surprised she hadn’t passed out, barely drawing in a breath.
“Are you sure you're okay to watch her?” Raven questioned hesitantly.
“Aye.” Killian nodded. “By the sounds of it, Zana will be with us and helping out with Prince. Put yer mind at rest and go see yer patient. If Cayden’s not with her, he’s sure to be around, checking up on her, too, no doubt.”
Reassured, Raven breathed a bit easier, releasing some of her tension and relaxing her shoulders fractionally. Watching her trail after Tobias, Killian turned his attention to the others.
He found Zana on the floor, the pup on his chest lathering his face with slobber as he laughed. Willow was clapping her hands and giggling in glee.
“No more, princess!” the Persian begged, doing his best to hold the beast back. “Have mercy! Call him off!”
The child bounced up and down on her toes. “Get him, Prince!”
Killian could only watch and laugh. There was new life in the Citadel, just not what they’d been expecting, and he thanked God for it.
Chapter Ten
“Please, make yourselves at home while you are here,” Tobias told Raven while they walked down to the third floor. “If there’s anything Gael needs to stock, let us know. Cereals, favorite snacks—whatever you and your daughter like to eat.”
“We don’t want to be any bother,” Raven assured him.
“You’re not,” he countered with a half-smile. “We only wish to make sure you are both happy and comfortable. And safe,” he added meaningfully. “We will be happy to watch over Willow whenever it’s needed. We know your situation.”
The demands of her job and the threat of her ex.
Mrs. Myers was capable of meeting the first but she’d be no match for Colin and his goons if things escalated. Willow would be protected at the Citadel, where the supernatural men welcomed her presence and adored her dog.
Or most of them did, anyway.
Raven felt a little more of the tension she’d been carrying ease. She’d been plagued by it since she’d recognized the man skulking outside her house as one of Colin’s goons.
Colin knew her daughter was her one true weakness. She had no doubt in her mind that he’d use her to get what he wanted. He certainly had no qualms about using a puppy to try to steal her daughter. When that failed, he’d given Prince to her anyway. What was he thinking? He never bought Willow presents. Every birthday she’d had, he’d conveniently forgotten. Her ex-husband was after something. It made her even more certain that he was behind the text messages.
“Are you alright?”
Tobias’s softly spoken question jolted her from her thoughts. Distracted by her fears, she’d missed half of his conversation.
Unable to tell him the truth, she slipped into professional mode and focused on why she was here. “I’m concerned over Casey’s condition,” she told him. “We’re dealing with factors outside the norm.”
That was an understatement. Four-strand DNA. Hybrid babies. Fathers with wings… “I just want to make sure the rest of her pregnancy goes smoothly.”
A gentle hand caught her elbow, halting her steps outside Casey’s apartment. “I have the utmost faith in you, Raven. You were meant to be here with us. Fate has brought you to our door for a reason.”
Raven blinked up at him, absorbing his expression of pure certainty. Oddly, it did feel like she belonged. She had sensed it at the party. A feeling of being home. She didn’t sleep around but she’d given herself freely to Killian and Cayden, drawn to both of them like a bee to nectar. Both men evoked passionate emotions from her she didn’t fully understand and also found herself fearing, knowing she couldn’t be a part of this. She wasn’t right for them. She could never give them what they desired.
“I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she has a successful birth.” Dropping her gaze, she sighed. Maybe that’s all she was meant for, to midwife the next generation. From what she gathered, all of them were looking for life partners to bond with and bed. To mate and procreate—that was their mission. Their purpose.
Their chance for redemption.
She supposed that made her an instrument of Divine Will, too. Funny, when Colin had deemed her useless, without worth because she couldn’t give him an heir to his father’s empire.
She’d been less than nothing to him. Here, she was valued for her skills, not shamed for her deficiencies. They wanted her here—especially Killian and Cayden, who were less interested in the certificates on her wall and more interested in her. The Irish stonemason and Scottish medic found her attractive. They desired her as a woman and deemed her enough to handle the two of them. Remembering their tryst the night of the birthday party, she felt the familiar tingle of growing arousal until she was aching with need. Not ideal when she was headed to consult with Cayden. The medic in him would see it. The man in him would know.
Her only saving grace was that Killian wouldn’t be there, and thank God for it. The way that she was feeling, she’d have a hard time resisting their advances.
But Cayden wasn’t with Casey. Morgan was. The two women were on the bed, Casey in it and Morgan on it, watching a movie together. Glancing at the screen, Raven recognized Alfred Hitchcock’s classic, The Birds. Casey was spellbound. Morgan was cringing with her eyes half-shut, obviously humoring her friend.
The pair reminded Raven of her and her cousin Darcy. They took turns owing each other favors for doing something the other one wanted.
“You don’t like thrillers?” Raven asked Morgan.
The psychology major shuddered. “I have nightmares,” she confessed. “And those ravens that are always hanging around outside give me the creeps. I wish they’d go away but damn if there aren’t more of them than ever. Tobias is going to have Malik and Iosefa make scarecrows to plant around the property. Hopefully, they’ll scare them off. It won’t be too soon for m
e!”
Raven looked at Casey, relieved to see her color was good. “How are you feeling? Has the spotting stopped? Is it the same or worse?”
Casey blew out softly. “It’s stopped for now. I hate being laid up. I have things to do. A business to run. Christ on a cracker. Morgan, remind me to call Dennis. I need to have him… um… take care of some things….”
Whatever it was, it was something she didn’t want to discuss with Raven present. She needed to talk to Cayden anyway. Get his medical opinion after listening to what their patient had said. “Do you know where I can find Cayden?”
The Citadel was huge. She could search for days and miss someone unless it was by accident or they wanted to be found.
“He went downstairs to talk to Gael,” Casey said glumly. “My ankles were puffy. Looks like a low sodium diet for momma. No pickles,” she groused. “No more dills for dessert. No more bread-and-butter pickle and peanut butter sandwiches. No more sausage. Either kind,” she added meaningfully.
“No sex,” Raven agreed. “But an occasional orgasm to take the edge off shouldn’t hurt.”
Both women brightened. Morgan seemed as relieved to hear it as Casey. Perhaps she was thinking ahead. Being pregnant with twins, she faced the same potential problems.
“Just keep an eye on how your body handles it, okay? You have my number. I’m going to find Cayden. Call if you need me before I return. Willow and I are staying in the guest suite.”
“For now,” Casey quipped, exchanging another look with her best friend. Surely they didn’t know about the other night…
Men talked.
No wonder everyone here treated her like the next fated mate. Raven could feel her blood pressure rising. Cayden and Killian must have told the others that they’d had sex with her. Damn them. She’d only come here because of Colin. The gossip mill might force her to leave just as quickly.
She marched downstairs, prepared to do battle.