Jesska gasped. “Wait… I thought only the men could bind their women.”
“That’s true for Kaspar and Kade,” Haddi confirmed. “But Andrea is an Oracle. Not only will she bind her soul mate, she doesn’t have the restrictions you do.”
“Heat and Red Fang?” Dalton deduced.
Haddi nodded. “Já.”
“So will Dalton go through what Samantha did?” Kade asked. “The change.”
“Já,” Haddi confirmed.
Kade grinned. “This makes me happy.”
“What did she go through?” I asked.
Kade shook his head. “If Samantha wants to fill her brother in, she can.”
Dalton glared at Kade.
“Payback, brother,” Kade said.
“For what?” I demanded.
“I’ll fill you in later, sugar,” Dalton promised.
“I don’t know that I want to know.”
“So if Andi has powers, what’s her kryptonite?” Dalton asked. “Every super hero has to have one.”
I rolled my eyes. I was far from a super hero.
“We don’t succumb to the pitfalls of Cauld Ane or Kalt Einn. You can be affected by Red Fang… a bit like an allergy, but nothing as severe,” Haddi said. “And if you want to visit somewhere like Hawaii, you can.”
“Well, that sucks,” Jesska said. “I want to go to Hawaii.”
Kaspar chuckled. “Liar.”
“Well, I’d like the option to go to Hawaii if I wanted to.”
“Your mate won’t be able to, however,” Haddi warned. “Neither will your children.”
“So I won’t get Andi’s Oracle powers when she binds me?” Dalton asked.
“Rushing things a bit, don’t you think?” I warned.
Dalton grinned.
“No, you’ll not have her powers,” Haddi confirmed. “But you’ll probably have others.”
“Will we be able to communicate…?”
“Telepathically?” Haddi provided, and Dalton nodded. “Yes.”
“I’m sorry?” I squeaked. “You’ll be able to read my mind?”
“Yep,” Dalton said, and grinned.
“No. No way. I’m out.”
Dalton pulled me closer. “Too late now, sugar.”
Liberty and Skúli arrived, and Liberty squealed, “Frændi!” before throwing herself against Haddi.
The man pulled her on his lap and hugged her. “Halló litla,” he crooned.
“Are we riding, uncle?” she asked.
“Já, elskan. Of course we’re going to ride.”
She clapped her hands and jumped off his lap. “Now?”
“Libby,” Jesska said. “Let’s give Uncle Haddi time to relax, hm?”
She wrinkled her button nose. “Oh, sorry.”
“It’s okay, little one,” he assured.
“Let’s get you some lunch and then we’ll ride,” Jesska offered.
“Okay, Mama.”
Jesska led the kids out of the room and I settled myself against Dalton, taking the comfort his big body offered.
Once the kids had been fed, we headed out of the house and towards the only open lawn area. As we walked down to the stables, Jesska slowed me down, out of earshot of the group in from of us and looped her arm in mine.
“So, tell me what you saw,” she said.
I glanced at her. “I’m sorry?”
“When you arrived. When I hugged you.”
“What makes you think I saw something?”
“Because we can’t touch an Oracle without them knowing something. You might not see everything in a human’s life, but you will in the Kalt Einn’s. I know that much about the lore.”
I sighed. “You’re pregnant.”
“What?” she squeaked, and laid her hands over her belly. “Seriously?”
I nodded. “It’s very early.”
“It would have to be,” she confirmed. “I literally took a pregnancy test five weeks ago and it was negative. I got my period two weeks ago, so… oh… never mind.” Her cheeks pinkened.
I smiled. “I’m excited for you.”
“Me too.”
Dalton stopped ahead and turned to face us… waiting for me.
“I’m going to tell Kaz,” Jesska said. “If he’s the last to know, he’ll be annoyed.”
“Don’t blame him.”
Jesska rushed off and I took Dalton’s hand as we continued toward the stables. “Did you tell her?” he asked.
I nodded. “She asked me.”
“It’s weird how intuitive they are.”
I giggled. “Maybe a better word is disconcerting. But it’s nice to be among people who find it impossible to lie to one another.”
“There is that,” Dalton agreed. “You okay?”
I shrugged. “Not sure yet. I kind of want to just forget I’m “special” and be just Andi for another day.”
“Process time. Got it.”
“Thanks, honey.”
“Anytime, baby.”
He didn’t ask me anymore questions and I appreciated the time alone with my thoughts.
* * *
Dalton
Liberty pulled Andi over to the stall that held her pony, so I took the distraction time to pull Kaspar aside.
“Let me guess,” Kaspar said. “You want to know about the change.”
I nodded. “Level with me. On a scale from: shit, I didn’t wear flip flops in the gym shower and now have an uncomfortable rash, to the transformation of the Wolfman, how bad is it?”
“Were you Claude Rains or Lon Cheney, Jr. fan?”
“I was always partial to American Werewolf in London,” I admitted.
“Já,” Kaspar said. “It’s like that.”
“Shit,” I whispered.
“But you’re in good shape.” Kaspar clapped me on the back. “You’ll do fine.”
I rubbed my forehead. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Kaspar grinned. “So very, very much.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Kaspar and I were tight, but we’d had a rough beginning. In the end, we’d worked things out and formed a friendship that didn’t really work on paper, but it worked well in real life.
“You okay?” Andi asked as she joined me again, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“I’m good, sugar.” I smiled pulling her close. “You gonna ride?”
“Hell, no. Scared to death of horses.”
“Why are you scared of horses?”
“Do I need a reason?” she challenged. “They’re huge and could throw me off, then trample me.”
“Fair enough.”
Instead of riding, Andi and I walked the surprisingly large garden. For a home built into the side of a mountain, there was a generous amount of open space.
* * *
Andi
I was pulled out of a confusing dream by strong arms wrapping around my waist. “Dalt?”
“No. It’s your other man.”
I giggled and turned to face him. “What are you doing in here?”
“Bloodcurdling screams tend to make me come running.”
I wrinkled my nose. “It was bad, huh?”
“Yeah, sugar.”
“Did I wake the house?”
He chuckled. “We’re on the opposite side of the mountain, so, no.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry, honey.”
Dalton pulled me onto his chest. “Don’t be sorry, baby. I’m not complainin’.”
“You gonna sleep with me every night now?”
“Hell, yeah I am.”
I grinned up at him. “Works for me.”
“I’m your soul mate… of course it does.”
“You’re so sure about that, huh?”
“Not a doubt in my mind.” He kissed me gently. “I get that you need a little more time, Andi, and I’ll give it to you, but when you figure it out, you owe me.”
“Oh, really?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“What do I owe you?”<
br />
“Don’t know yet. But I plan to figure it out.”
“And when exactly will you inform me of this debt?”
“When I figure it out,” he retorted.
I snuggled closer. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m right.”
“Yeah, you probably are,” I admitted.
“When do I get to read the letter?”
I sighed. “It’s not a letter. It’s more of a list.”
“Oh, really?” He shifted and stretched out on his side. “What was on this list?”
I rolled and snagged the paper out of the nightstand drawer, handing it to Dalton. He grinned and flattened it with his free hand. “You really tried to burn this?”
“I did. I felt like it was a pipe dream.”
He grinned. “I was your pipe dream.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
“I wish you’d talked to me back then,” he said.
“Me too,” I admitted. “I could have avoided Jeremy all together.”
He stroked my cheek. “I don’t mean to make you feel bad, sugar.”
I blinked back tears. “I know. I just wish I’d listened to myself and not people like Erin.”
“Don’t cry, baby.” He leaned forward and kissed me gently. “We’re making it right now.”
“It’s just so much wasted time.”
“No, it’s not.”
“You don’t think?”
He shook his head. “I needed time to get my head outta my ass.”
“And it’s out now?” I challenged.
“You tell me.”
I grinned. “Close.”
“Nice,” he retorted, and went back to the list. “Dark hair, check. Blue eyes, check. No cheesy used car salesman… um, that’s a problem.”
“Used cars, honey.” I giggled. “You sell high class models, so you’re good.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“Plus, the dealerships were used as cover, right?”
Dalton nodded. “Yeah, but I got them as part of my separation from the FBI.”
“How does that work?”
“Very carefully.”
I grinned. “I bet.”
“You gonna marry me?”
“Before or after I bind you?”
“Whichever comes first.”
I laughed. “You don’t want to get to know me a little more?”
“I know you enough, Andi. And something I definitely know about bonding is that you are connected on a deep level forever, so I’m not worried about any of this being too fast.”
“Have you talked to Samantha about what happens?”
“I don’t have to.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Kaspar told me.”
“And?”
“You don’t want to know.”
I sat up slightly. “It’s that bad?”
“It’s pretty bad, sugar.”
I flopped back down. “Forget it, then.”
“Don’t you think that’s my decision?” he challenged.
“It’s our decision, really.”
“Which means we each get to weigh in here.”
“I guess.”
He reached over and slid my hair behind my shoulder. “You’re not going to make us wait because you’re afraid of hurting me, are you?”
“No?”
“I can take it.”
“I don’t want you to have to take it, though.”
“But it’s something that has to happen… and the pain’s temporary.”
I sighed. “How temporary?”
“A few hours.”
“That’s a long time.”
“Are you going to give birth?” he asked.
“Hopefully.”
“Are you going to go through pain during childbirth?”
“Only until they shove that epidural needle into my back.”
Dalton chuckled. “Fair enough.”
I squeezed his hand. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“More than sure, Andi. I love you.”
I blinked back tears. “I love you too.”
“Okay, so no more discussion. We do what we need to do and then you can nurse me while I’m writhing in agony.”
I smacked his chest. “I will burn this idea down to the ground if you writhe in agony. You’ll stay strong for your woman.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” he retorted. “For now, I think we should get out of this bed, or I’m gonna get you naked and you’ll have to bind me here and now.”
I giggled. “I should probably learn what I need to do first, huh? Otherwise, you could turn into a frog.”
“I’d still be a really sexy frog.”
“I’m not letting a frog lick me… even if it’s you.”
“Don’t knock it ’til you try it.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Frogs’ tongues are long.”
“Gross.” I groaned and rolled out of bed.
“I could turn into a toad and you’ll get high if you lick me.”
“Ohmigod, cease and desist with the sexy amphibian talk,” I ordered, and walked into the bathroom.
“Speaking of sexy amphibian time… have you ever thought about how Kermit and Miss Piggy—”
“Silencio!” I called out.
I heard him laugh and forced back my own as I brushed my teeth.
Andi
TWO DAYS LATER, after another long meeting with Haddi, I walked into the great room and fell onto the sofa next to where Dalton was sitting.
“Rough meeting?” he asked, setting his iPad aside as I settled my head on his lap.
“I’m never going to remember all of this stuff.”
He stroked my hair. “Yes, you will.”
I dragged my hands down my face. “I have to say the bonding words in Icelandic. I don’t speak Icelandic. I have tried and tried, but I sound like I’m trying to clear my throat every time.”
“It doesn’t need to be perfect.”
“I want it to be perfect.”
Dalton leaned over me and kissed me gently. “It will be because it’ll be us.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybe about it.”
“Where is everyone?” I asked, looking around the room.
“Kade’s meeting the plane… Samantha and the kids should be here in about an hour. Skúli and Libby are with the nanny… not sure where Jess and Kaz are.”
Samantha had decided she’d been away from Kade for too long, and since their father was perfectly fine, Kade sent the plane to collect her. I still wasn’t used to the thought of someone sending their plane as easily as one would send a car. It was like Air-Uber.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked.
“More than sure.” Dalton cupped my cheek. “Aren’t you?”
I sighed. “Yeah, I am. I just want to give you an out.”
“I don’t want an out.”
I fisted my hand in his shirt. “Because you’ve got it if you want—”
“Andi?” he interrupted.
“Yes?”
“Silencio,” he whispered, and leaned down to kiss me.
I smiled against his lips and sat up to get closer. “Okay, so we’re good.”
He pulled me squarely onto his lap. “We’re so very, very good.”
Slipping my head to his shoulder, I kissed his neck. “What happens after we’re bound?”
“What do you mean?”
“Where will we live?”
“Where do you want to live?” Dalton asked, stroking my hip.
“Not Savannah.”
“No?”
I shook my head. “I want to go somewhere exotic.”
“Like?”
“Scotland, maybe?”
Dalton grinned. “I can make that happen.”
“I’d be open to Portland, too.”
“Portland? Why?”
I shrugged. “I love the rain.”
“We
ll, you’d have your fill there.”
“That’s what I’m told.”
“Why don’t we take some time off and visit a few places? Call it our honeymoon.”
I looped my arms around his neck. “I love that idea.”
He kissed me again. “Good.”
“Unca!”
I craned my neck and saw a pint-sized Liam making a run for us. I shifted off Dalton’s lap just as his nephew flew onto it. “Hey, buddy! How was your flight?”
“Bumpy,” Liam said.
“Are you forgetting something?” Dalton prodded.
“Oh, sorry. Hi, Auntie Andi.”
I smiled. “Hi, honey.”
“Hi guys,” Samantha said.
“Hey,” we greeted in unison.
Samantha waved her son over. “Liam, let’s go find Jess.”
“And Libby?” Liam asked as he climbed off Dalton’s lap.
“Libby’s with the nanny,” Dalton said.
“You know you could take a nap with your brother until she gets home?” Samantha suggested.
“I’m no’ tired, mum. But thank you for the offer.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. He was such an old soul.
Samantha rolled her eyes and held her hand out. “Well, let’s go find you something to eat, then.”
“Chocolate?” he asked hopefully.
“I don’t care how cute you are, little man, chocolate is off the table this close to dinner.”
“Could we negotiate?”
At this point, I couldn’t hold my laughter in and covered my mouth with my hands.
Samantha shook her head, also appearing to be biting back laughter. “Nope, we’re not going to negotiate.”
“Mum, just listen.”
“Right now, you either need to become a lawyer or get one. I do not negotiate with tiny terrorists.”
Liam dropped his head back with a groan. “You win this time, majesty.”
“I win all the time,” she said. “And I think I need to limit your time with Uncle Max. He’s obviously influencing you and your quips.”
“Uncle Max is the bomb, Mummy. He said so himself.”
“Next time he says that, I’d like you to say, ‘The nineties called, and they want their expression back.’”
“I don’t know what that means.” Liam wrinkled his nose. “Is it appropriate for me to say?”
I had buried my head into Dalton’s shoulder in an effort not to guffaw, only raising my head when I felt I could control my mirth. But then Liam turned his cheeky smile toward me and I lost it. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life.
Written on my Heart (The Oracles Book 1) Page 13