Karis

by Grace Brennan

  His words struck a chord within her, but she still hesitated. “Kelly just came to us not long ago. And she might have been an outsider, but she’s mated to Zane. She’s a princess now. They’ll listen to her eventually.”

  Staring at her, his gray eyes burning like he was willing her to feel his words, he slowly shook his head. “Yeah, eventually. But eventually is too long. They’ve already waited their whole lives. Don’t back down now. If you do, you show them that the men here still have all the power. Show them instead what they can have, if they master their fear, and find their boldness and inner strength. You’ve been blazing a trail in the village. Don’t let the fire of that trail die out, not when it’s so important.”

  God, he was amazing. And how blessed was she to have gotten a mate such as him? He truly was perfect for her.

  He’s our other half. Smart, kind, compassionate. Not afraid to let a woman rightfully take her place. Exactly what you needed, her tiger agreed.

  If it was physically possible for her to hug the crap out of her tiger, Arya would hold tight and never let go. Her animal chose perfectly when she picked Karis, and so had his tiger when he chose her.

  But the fear she felt in her gut didn’t let up, even knowing he was right. “I just can’t lose you, Karis. I can’t.”

  Stroking her cheek with his fingers, he nodded. “I know. I feel the same about you. But it won’t come to that. I won’t let it. I’ll take you away from here before I allow it.”

  Maybe it was too soon to say this, but she felt it so strongly, and it was so overwhelming, she was going with it. She didn’t think she could hold the words in, anyway. “Karis, I—well, I love you.”

  Freezing, he stared at her with wide eyes, and then he crushed her to him as he pressed his mouth to hers. There was no gentleness, no finesse. This was the kiss of a man who couldn’t help himself, who needed her as much as she needed him.

  Nipping her bottom lip, he pulled back, breathing heavily as he searched her gaze with eyes the lightened gray of his tiger. “Fuck, what those words did to me. I don’t deserve you, Arya, but I’m sure as hell going to try. I love you too, sweetheart. More than I ever imagined it was possible to love someone.”

  She and her tiger sighed in unison as her belly erupted in butterflies. She knew exactly what he meant about what her words did to him, because his were doing a number on her, too.

  “I don’t know where you got the idea that you don’t deserve me, but nothing can be further from the truth.”

  “Let’s just agree to disagree on that,” he replied, kissing her nose.

  Snuggling in, she tucked her head under his chin as he rubbed her back. So much had happened today. Learning to fight, getting down and dirty—literally from the dirt and grass on her hands and leggings—with Karis in the field, someone shooting at him, the panic, fear, the tears. And finally, getting what amounted to a Karis style pep talk, and declaring their love for each other.

  It had been one hell of an emotional roller coaster ride today.

  “I called your dad while you were in the shower. He and your mom will be here in about an hour or so. I’m going to sit down with your dad, tell him we’re mates.”

  She felt her eyes widen as her mouth popped open, joy and shock filling her in equal measures. It looked like the roller coaster wasn’t quite over yet.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Karis was just coming back downstairs after a quick shower when the doorbell rang. Fuck, Arya’s parents were here. He wanted to tell them, was anxious to tell them. Wanted to personally go to the door of every War Cat and deliver the news himself, as crazy as that sounded.

  But that didn’t mean he still wasn’t nervous as fuck to tell Mikhail. Nervous. Jesus, that word had never even been in his vocabulary, and he’d have laughed at anyone who suggested he’d ever feel this way. Laughed, and then decked the shit out of them.

  Inhaling deeply, he ran a hand through his damp hair and walked to the door. Opening it as he heard Arya start to come down the stairs, he greeted Mikhail and Caroline.

  Shaking Mikhail’s hand, he looked at Caroline and smiled. “Caroline, you look beautiful, as usual. You two come on in.”

  Arya kissed her parents’ cheeks, and then took her mom’s hand. “Hey Dad. Mom, come upstairs with me. I want to show you something.”

  Eyebrows raised, Caroline said, “Okay. Lead the way.”

  Mikhail watched them, his brow furrowed with confusion, and Karis gestured for him to go to the living room. “Let’s have a seat. Do you want a drink?”

  “No, I’m fine. What’s going on, Karis?”

  Taking a deep breath, he released it slowly, trying to calm his racing heart. He’d told Arya earlier that he wanted to tell her dad privately before they told her mom. He figured her dad would want some privacy when he decked Karis. He knew it was coming.

  But it was all worth it for the look on her face and the joy in her eyes when he let her know he was telling them. He’d kill to keep that look on her face. He loved Mikhail like a father, and he hated to disappoint him, but Arya was more important to him than anything or anyone else. As it should be.

  Sitting down across from Mikhail, he looked at him seriously. “There’s no way to ease into this, so I’m just going to say it. Arya’s my mate.”

  Mikhail’s eyes narrowed and Karis braced himself for his explosion. But long moments passed, and he still didn’t react. Then finally, a slow smile turned Mikhail’s lips up until he was grinning.

  “It’s about damn time you told me. Congrats, son.”

  Stunned, Karis stared at him, trying to make his brain work. “What?”

  Dark blue eyes twinkling, Mikhail chuckled. “You going deaf in your old age, boy?”

  He couldn’t seem to make his mouth do anything other than open and close silently. He imagined he looked like a fish gasping for breath, but what the fuck was going on?

  “That was a joke, Karis,” Mikhail said with a sigh as his chuckle died down. “I’m just happy you finally said something. I was starting to think you intended to hide it forever.”

  He cleared his throat as he shook his head, bewildered and stunned in equal measure. “You knew?”

  Mikhail nodded. “I figured it out at the challenges when she was fighting Shiloh. You were too shaken up, too overprotective. Not in a friend way, but in a way that was more personal. I thought for sure you’d come clean when you came over for dinner, but other than try to hold my daughter’s hand in secret, you did and said nothing.”

  “You might have known a few minutes before I did, then. My tiger didn’t tell me until Kian announced her second place ranking. Later that night, I went to see Arya, and she told me she’d known for a few days before that. She just hadn’t told me because she thought I’d run.”

  Mikhail nodded thoughtfully, studying him intently. “I guess I can see why she’d think that. Why didn’t you tell us, Karis? I know my daughter, well enough to know she’d tell us as soon as possible. I can only think you’re the reason she didn’t.”

  Shaking his head, he dropped his eyes to his hands, rubbing them together. Exhaling, he looked back up, meeting his eyes. “I thought you’d be pissed. I fully expected you to beat the shit out of me tonight. And I thought you’d be disappointed in me. I didn’t want to see anger or disappointment in your eyes, Mikhail. I think too highly of you for that.”

  “Why the hell would I be pissed or disappointed?”

  He frowned, unable to understand Mikhail’s bewilderment. “Because we’re friends. Because I’m twelve years older than Arya. I thought you’d take me for a perverted old man, lusting after your too-young daughter.”

  “Karis,” he said, shaking his head. “You’re not too much older than her, let alone a perverted old man. I’m guessing that’s how you viewed yourself, though, isn’t it?”

  He rubbed a hand over his forehead. “I noticed how beautiful she was about a year or so ago. I mean, I always knew she was, on an abstract level, but that’s wh
en I became attracted to her. I avoided the hell out of her after that.”

  “So that’s why you two stopped being friends, and why you stopped coming to dinner,” Mikhail interjected.

  He nodded. “Yeah. But then she came to training that day, wearing pants and distracting my warriors. And the attraction was almost overwhelming. Then you asked me to train her, and it became almost impossible to ignore.”

  Mikhail chuckled. “I’d hoped that would happen. I’m glad it wasn’t long after that when your tiger claimed her as your mate. Because if I know you, and I like to think I do, you were making yourself miserable, still fighting it.”

  Eyebrows high, he stared at his friend, unable to believe what he was hearing. “You… wanted this to happen? Even though I’m—”

  “You’ve got to get over this age hang up, Karis. I don’t think it bothers anyone but you.”

  “It doesn’t bother me much at all anymore,” he replied absently, mind racing. “But you wanted me to be attracted to her?”

  “Well, the ultimate hope was for you to be mates, but yeah. Attraction is an important part of that.” Exhaling at Karis’ dumbfounded expression, Mikhail leaned forward in his seat. “I’ve known you for years, Kare. You’re a good man. Honorable, honest, with a good heart. Why wouldn’t I want you with my daughter? You think I’d rather it be one of these young cubs with more pride than sense, who’d treat my daughter like shit? I knew, if you were mates, you’d let her be who she wants to be. I knew you’d love her like she deserves. And despite the fact that I’m not quite old enough to be your father—although I’m close, so don’t pretend you and I are closer in age than you and her, because we’re not—I’ve always considered you a son. And now, by being mated to my daughter, you truly are my son. I have absolutely nothing to be upset about, and everything in the world to rejoice over.”

  Fuck, he couldn’t breathe. It felt like a thousand-pound weight had been removed from his shoulders. Mikhail wasn’t pissed. He was happy. Karis almost couldn’t wrap his mind around it.

  Told you it would be fine, his tiger said smugly.

  And he couldn’t even say anything back to that. His tiger had every right to be smug.

  “Karis? You okay, son?”

  Son. Fuck, he was not going to choke up over that. He was the damn head warrior. Head warriors didn’t fucking get choked up.

  Clearing his throat, he nodded. “Yeah, just trying to digest that. I was so sure you’d be pissed and disappointed. It feels like a lot to take in.”

  “What made you decide to come clean? I was sure it would take you longer to fess up.”

  “Arya. I knew she wanted to let everyone know. She was okay with keeping it a secret for now, but I didn’t want to let it go so long it would hurt her. And then after the incident by the lake, she was so upset, I wanted to do something to cheer her up. This was the best way I could think to do it.”

  “How’d you manage to talk her into waiting to begin with?”

  “I told her I wanted us to have time to get to know each other again, to enjoy it, before we let the world in. Which wasn’t a lie,” he said, trying not to sound defensive. “I really did want that, because I spent so much time pushing her away in the last year. It was just a small part of why, compared to the biggest reason. But now I feel as she does. I want everyone to know. I want to shout it from the rooftops.”

  Mikhail nodded. “I know just how you feel. I wanted to do the same when I mated Caroline. That’s the way it should be. So, tell me about what happened at the lake today. Leave nothing out.”

  Well, he was sure as shit leaving some stuff out. No way was he telling Mikhail what he and Arya were up to just before he was shot at. Her father might be happy for them, but something told him he really would deck him then.

  Taking a deep breath, he dug in, leaving nothing out. The more people who knew, who could help in the search for the shooter, the better.

  Arya paced back and forth in her room, listening hard. But try as she might, she couldn’t hear anything that was going on downstairs. If her mom wasn’t there, she’d sneak to the top of the stairs and shamelessly eavesdrop, but she was stuck in the master bedroom, waiting on Karis to come get them.

  She didn’t think for a minute that her dad would be upset by her and Karis mating. But she kind of wanted to hear the shock in Karis’ voice when he found that out for himself. Her lips curled just thinking about it. Oh, to be a fly in that room.

  “Arya, honey, what’s the matter with you? All the pacing is making me dizzy.”

  “Sorry, Mama,” she said, sitting in the armchair next to her mom’s, situated by the windows in the large master bedroom.

  “So what did you want to show me?” Caroline asked, puzzled.

  Uh-oh. She hadn’t thought that far ahead when she asked her mom to come up here. She wanted to tell her what was really going on, but she thought it was best to wait until Karis and her dad were done. He hadn’t specifically asked her not to say anything, but it never hurt to be careful, and she knew him telling her dad before anyone else was important to him.

  “Did you hear about what happened at the lake today?”

  Caroline frowned, face darkening. “Yes. And I’ll kill the bastard who touches a hair on your or Karis’ head.”

  “Mom!” she exclaimed, laughing. “Where are all these curses coming from?”

  Her mom grinned, shrugging her shoulders. “I used to have quite the mouth on me before your father mated me and brought me here. He never cared if I cursed at home or not, but I thought it was best to stop altogether. I didn’t want to slip up and do it in public. You know that wouldn’t have gone over well. And then there was you to think about. I didn’t want to set that kind of example for you, especially in Durga Valley. Now that women can do as they like, though, I don’t feel the need to censor myself any longer.”

  “I can’t imagine you cursing. You seem like the perfect, serene housewife to me.”

  Throwing her head back, Caroline laughed loudly. “I’m far from it. Maybe I come off like that now, after years of practice, but I was a hellion when I met your father. And poor Mikhail. I had no housekeeping skills whatsoever, and he ate burnt dinners for months before I got the hang of cooking.”

  “But you’re so good at it! And you love it so much,” she said, unable to imagine her mom being bad at it. She was a genius in the kitchen, and her food was heavenly.

  “It took a lot of practice to get as good as I am. And I do enjoy it now, but I hated it in the beginning.” Caroline shrugged again as she looked at Arya. “That’s why I never bugged you about learning. I wanted you to find things you enjoyed doing, whether they were technically tribe approved activities or not. I just made sure we taught you that you couldn’t be free and open about some of those pursuits.”

  “My mind is blown right now.” She laughed as she said the words before sobering. “I’ve always appreciated that you guys didn’t stifle me or try to force me into a box.”

  Her mom exhaled as she shook her head. “I came to Durga Valley by my own choice. Because I love your father, and this is his home. I always hated the way it was run, and all the damn rules, but still, I chose to come here, and to stay, because I wanted to be with Mikhail. But you weren’t given a choice. You didn’t ask to be born in this tribe. I felt bad enough as it was for that, because by that virtue alone, your life was limited. I wasn’t going to become one of those other mothers who forced their daughters to be who they weren’t. And as nervous as I’ve been about you embracing the changes so thoroughly, I really am incredibly proud of you. I know I said that before, but I want you to really understand that.”

  “Oh, Mama,” she said, feeling the sting of yet more tears. Getting up, she crossed over to her mom and put her arm around her shoulders, squeezing tightly as she kissed her cheek. “I know. And thank you. You raised me right, and I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too. And I will maim whoever is messing with you and Karis. A gun of all things!
”

  Arya nodded, quickly filling her mom in on Chad finding the gun, and Trevor bringing it over and saying they had no more clues. “So we’re still in the dark about who it was.”

  “He’ll be caught. And don’t worry. Karis won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Something in Caroline’s voice made her study her closely. “Mom…?”

  “Oh, I can’t hold it in anymore. Your father and I know you’re mated, Arya. And I bet that’s why you brought me up here when you never actually had anything to show me. Karis’ telling your dad right now, isn’t he?”

  “How’d you…?” she trailed off, unable to finish the question, stunned that her parents already knew.

  Her mom waved a hand. “Oh, please. It was obvious at dinner. And Mikhail told me how Karis acted when you were fighting Shiloh. Only a mate, or a parent, reacts that strongly.”

  “I thought maybe Dad suspected, but I wasn’t sure. That’s gonna throw Karis for a loop,” she replied, unable to help her laugh. “He was convinced you guys would be upset.”

  “Why in the world would we be upset?”

  “Because of our age difference.”

  “Well, that’s just silly.”

  Arya laughed again. “Exactly what I said.”

  “Ladies!” Her dad’s voice floated up the stairs. “Would you both get down here? Arya and Karis have something to tell us, Caroline.”

  She grinned at her mom, excited to be around her parents with Karis and not hiding what they were to each other anymore.

  Roller coaster day or not, and despite the shooting, this was turning out to be a banner day.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Karis glanced over at Arya as they walked through town the next morning, holding hands. There were a lot of double takes happening as people saw them, a lot of whispering and pointing, but he couldn’t care less, and he didn’t think she did either.