by Nalini Singh
Walking over to behind the chair, he played with her hair as she brought up the Internet on the transparent screen of his computer. Like Kaleb, she never used the interactive immersion feature built into the Internet—they already had one data network in their heads, didn’t need another.
As he watched, she typed in “baby gifts.” Pages upon pages of results followed. “Maybe we should just buy the one at the top,” Kaleb suggested. “It’s clearly highly ranked.” It looked to be some type of a plush creature. “Why is it purple and orange and pink?”
“Babies have strange tastes.” Sahara turned both hands palms up, her shoulders rising at the same time. “Sascha and Lucas’s child is incredibly attached to a plush toy wolf. According to Lucas, it’s unnatural for a leopard. But when she loses it and starts to cry, he finds it for her anyway.”
“That still doesn’t explain what we're looking at. How can it be good for a child to believe in orange and pink and purple creatures with three tails and seven eyes?”
“How do you know they don’t exist?” Sahara shot him a grin. “It’s about the imagination—but I don’t think that gift will do. It looks like the most recent popular toy. You need to give Rowan something more classic, something that will last.”
They spent the next two hours going through the listings, discarding most of the suggestions. Kaleb would’ve picked five or six items by then if not twenty. But as it was, he’d ’ported in another chair and now sat beside Sahara while she scowled at the computer screen. “You have to take this seriously, Kaleb.” She glared at him when he began to play with her hair again. “It’s important.”
“He’s an infant. We could give him a potato and he’d find it as interesting as he would that creature with seven eyes.”
Sahara held his gaze, the emotion in the midnight blue changing to something deeper and far more poignant. “You understand giving gifts that matter,” she said softly. Her fingers went to the charms that hung from the bracelet she wore almost every day. The only times she took it off and left it in their home was when she might be doing something that could cause damage to the bracelet.
“That’s different.” That charm bracelet was about Sahara and everything about Sahara was important to him.
“You saved a child’s life.” Sahara reached out to run her own fingers through his hair in a caressing stroke. “And because you did, that child grew up into a woman who fell in love and had a child with the man she loves. And now she’s honoring you by giving that child your name as part of his. It’s important.”
Kaleb still didn’t truly understand until Sahara dropped her shields and let him twine around her on the deepest level in an act of trust that always, always destroyed him…and he began to get a glimmer. Rowan’s life was now tied to his. For the rest of Kaleb’s own life, part of him would be monitoring Rowan’s health and status.
Because Rowan Kaleb Quinn was part of his family.
“How about this?” He brought up an image they’d scrawled past without really noticing several pages back—except that Kaleb’s brain noticed everything.
Sahara looked at what he’d chosen. And her lips curved. “See? You understand.”
~
Two days later, Kaleb teleported himself and Sahara to the location for which Zach had given him the visual. It brought them in right in front of Zach and Annie’s home. Surrounded by woods and with the scent of pine redolent in the air, the graceful house was clearly very much a home; neat flowerbeds by the front, a pebbled pathway, warm-hued curtains in the windows, and an outdoor furniture set that looked to have been lovingly handmade. “They really shouldn’t have given me such a close visual of their home.”
Shaking her head, Sahara slipped her arm through his. “Well, if you decide to indulge in any megalomaniacal urges, let me know so I can beat some sense into you.”
Sometimes, Kaleb wondered why Sahara wasn’t scared of him. The answer, of course, was that she knew every corner of his battered soul, knew better than anyone that he’d cut off his limbs before he put a bruise on her. “You have the gift?”
“Safe and sound.” Rising on her toes, she kissed his jaw. “I love you, Kaleb.”
He’d almost become used to those words and to the emotions that rippled down their mating bond. “Good,” he said. “I would definitely turn megalomaniacal if you stopped.”
Sahara laughed with unhidden delight.
That was when the door of the house opened and Zach walked out, Annie following with the baby in her arms. She wasn’t using her cane today, her balance appearing to have improved since the party.
Zach’s handshake was firm and welcoming. “It’s good to have you here. Welcome to you both.”
“Thank you,” Kaleb replied, while Sahara smiled.
“We thought we could sit outside,” Annie said, “since the sun’s out.”
Kaleb nodded—he’d much rather be outside. It felt less confining, even though he knew the feeling was nonsensical: he was a teleporter, wasn’t confined by anything. Not anymore. Once, he’d been a child trapped by psychic chains, but he hadn’t been a child for a long time.
It was after they sat down that Sahara handed over Rowan’s gift. “We spent forever choosing it,” she admitted. “We hope you like it. And that Rowan does, too, when he’s old enough.”
Zach had taken Rowan by now, so it was Annie who accepted the small envelope and opened it to retrieve a thin electronic card.
“You have to put it into an organizer,” Sahara said.
Kaleb teleported in a spare he had at home so that Annie didn’t have to get up. She blinked before her shoulders began to shake. “Well, that’s definitely handy.” She slipped the card into the organizer’s slot.
Stars filled the screen, a galaxy that slowly disappeared as the program zoomed in and in. Until in the center was a single pulsing star. Below it were the words: Rowan’s Star.
Annie gasped. “Oh, this is wonderful.” Her eyes glowed as she turned the screen toward her mate. “Our baby has a star named after him.”
“He’s going to get all the girls.” Zach’s grin betrayed his own pleasure.
Rowan yawned at that instant, raising his fist before settling down.
Catching Kaleb’s gaze, Zach held out the infant. “Would you like to hold him?”
Kaleb knew the socially approved response was to say yes. It was what people did with things like babies and kittens and cubs. But while he had accepted a certain responsibility for Rowan Kaleb Quinn, he felt no compulsion to hold that small life in his hands.
Annie laughed. “You’re looking at him like he’s alien,” she said, no insult in her tone.
“Here.” Sahara held out her own arms. “I was hoping to get a chance to hold him.”
As Kaleb watched, she snuggled the child to her breast, her gaze on the baby’s sleeping face. “He’s beautiful,” she said to Annie and Zach, her fascination with the tiny being in her arms clear.
Kaleb found himself reaching for her mind. Does it matter?
Sahara’s telepathic voice wrapped around him like a soft vine that didn’t attempt to strangle, just to caress. No, she said, it doesn’t matter. I know that if this child was in danger, you’d do what it took to protect him. Wouldn’t you?
Yes. He didn’t have to think about that. In his darkest hours, he’d thought of destroying the entire PsyNet, but even then, he’d spared the children. Because he’d been a child once and he’d been innocent. Sahara had been innocent. A child didn’t have a choice. The sins of their fathers were not theirs.
That was what Sahara told him often. Because his own father had been a monster.
Then, Sahara said, that’s all that matters. She looked up then, her gaze holding his in a cage without walls, one he never wanted to escape. You don’t have to hold babies and you don’t have to understand why it is that so many people want to, you just have to be you. A man who will step in front of danger without hesitation to protect this child. That’s enough. That’s yo
u. And that’s who I love.
Copyright © 2017 by Nalini Singh
Pancakes
Timeline: A shorter version of this story was originally a scene in Texture of Intimacy and features SnowDancer healer Lara and her Psy mate Walker.
Pancakes
By Nalini Singh
Lara rose to an empty space in the bed beside her and the smell of something delicious wafting in the air. “Mmm.” Pulling on a pair of loose yoga pants and a T-shirt, she sighed at her crazy morning curls and decided since Walker had already seen the wild mess more than once, she might as well just run with it.
Walking out, she found she was the last one up, the children digging into pancakes. Her mate was at the stove, wearing only those sexy pajama bottoms she liked to tease him about, tied with a string tie low on his hips. The lean muscles of his body made her mouth water—especially when her own body twinged in happy memory of the way he’d played with her this morning.
She tousled Toby’s hair and smiled at Marlee, then wrapped her arms around Walker from behind. “You should be wearing an apron—what if you get a burn on your chest, hmm?”
Twisting to look over his shoulder, her mate smiled slow and gorgeous. “Then I’ll get my personal healer to kiss and make it better.”
Lara rose on tiptoe, stole a kiss before letting him concentrate on the pancakes. Pouring coffee from the fresh pot, she sat down at the table, talking about nothing in particular with the children, her wolf utterly content.
Chocolate sauce around her mouth, Marlee ate the last bite on her plate. “Can I have another pancake please?”
“On its way,” Walker said with a gentleness she’d only heard him use with the youngest in the pack. “Toby, you, too?”
“Can I have five more?”
Lara’s lips twitched. Poor Toby. He’d hit the “hollow leg” phase of growth, was showing distinct signs of having inherited his height from the maternal side of his family—meaning he’d hit six feet plus like Walker and Judd. Right now though, he was all bones and tangled limbs. And stomach.
“Marlee.”
Marlee scrambled off her chair at her father’s call, taking her plate to the counter to receive the fresh pancake. “Thanks, Daddy.”
It was crystal clear to Lara that whatever hurts Marlee had survived in the Net, whatever scars she bore, about one thing she was dead certain—her father’s love for her. Toby was the same. Regardless of the fact that Lara had never heard Walker use so much as a pet name, much less an endearment for either child.
Lara understood exactly how they felt—Walker’s love was a steady, enduring flame, surrounding them all. No matter the storm, that flame would never flicker. “Want me to help syrup it up for you?” she asked Marlee, after the girl had made her selection from the toppings available.
“Yes, please.” A cheeky smile that told Lara the boys would have their hands full when Marlee grew up.
She squeezed maple syrup over the pancakes while Marlee helped herself to some of the strawberries Lara had cut up, and Toby’s stomach growled. Laughing, Lara reached over and tapped his nose. “Did you eat the fruit I left out for you last night?”
“Yes. And the box of crackers.” He jumped up the instant Walker moved to lift out the first large pancake, had half of it in his mouth before the chocolate sauce hit it.
Licking up a bit of maple syrup that had gotten onto her finger, Lara glanced at Marlee. “We should invite Ben if he’s up.”
Marlee’s face turned mutinous. “No.”
Blinking, Lara glanced at Walker, raised an eyebrow. He shook his head, his gaze intent. Next, she looked at Toby—who stopped inhaling his food long enough to say, “They had a fight.”
“Toby!”
Toby shrugged. “Sorry Marlee-Barley, it’s not like it’s a secret you and Ben aren’t speaking to each other.”
Still glaring at her cousin, Marlee took a bite of her pancake. And refused to say another word on the topic to anyone, no matter how gently Lara asked. Deciding to let it go for now, since Marlee clearly felt antagonized, she glanced at Walker as he put more pancakes on Toby’s plate, sent him a message with her eyes, received a slight nod in return. They’d wait until Marlee was ready to talk.
A few minutes later, her mate put two pancakes on her plate. “Banana and walnut, as ordered.”
Blowing him a kiss, she doused the pancakes in syrup, added some strawberries, and stood to top up everyone’s drinks as Walker sat down with his toast. She tempted him into trying a bite of her pancake, but he wasn’t impressed.
“It tastes like chocolate syrup.”
“Your palate is obviously unrefined.”
Marlee giggled, Toby grinned, and it was a wonderful weekend morning with her family.
Copyright © 2013 by Nalini Singh
Wolf School
Author’s Note: This scene was originally written as part of Play of Passion, but I think it works quite well as a fun short story. I hope you enjoy!
Wolf School
By Nalini Singh
A few hours after her discussion with Hawke, Indigo glanced around the clearing and felt her heart warm with pride. The young soldiers lounging in a rough semi-circle, their legs stretched out and backs against the trees, were all strong, smart and honorable. She’d be happy to have any of them at her side in a fight.
“Tactics,” she said after they’d settled in. “I know most of you want to dis—” Pausing, she cocked her head and frowned, hearing something unexpected on the breeze. It sounded like a child—and this area was off-limits to children unless they were with an adult.
Glancing at Tai, she nodded at him to begin the discussion while she went to check out the noise. The young male did so with a confidence that made it clear he was almost ready to be promoted to full soldier status. Making a mental note to discuss the situation with Riley, she thought about which of the others might be near to “graduation.” Charlie was right on the edge, but the girl had a temper problem. Then again, so had Jem once upon a time—channeled right, that temper could become strength.
The wicked temptation of Drew’s scent whispered over her before she saw him crouching beside a small wolf pup, the boy’s fur soft, his scent innocent. Ben, she realized at once. Though Drew had to have scented her, he didn’t look in her direction, so she stood with her shoulder against a tree and watched, trying to figure what in the world they were doing.
Ben angled his head upward, drew in a breath and then made a sharp whistling noise.
The look of embarrassment on his face threatened to make Indigo smile but she caught it. Yes, he was a baby male, but he was still a male. Pride was something that seemed to come hardwired in the Y chromosome.
“That’s better,” Drew said, one hand on the pup’s back, “but you need to bring the sound from lower down.” Lifting his own head, he took in a deep breath and let it out.
The haunting music of a wolf’s howl echoed over the trees.
It wasn’t as strong as the sound that came from the wolf’s throat, but it was powerful enough. Several packmates responded from far and wide and it made the hairs on Indigo’s neck rise, her wolf immediately ready to join in the joyful singing. But understanding that this was a lesson, it agreed with her silence.
“See?” Drew said, eyes locked with Ben’s. “Bring it from your heart. Be your wolf.”
Ben took another deep breath, held it, then raised his head.
The howl that came out was cut off summarily as the pup stopped with a yip, having apparently startled himself. Drew began to laugh even as packmates responded again, a concerned question in their tones this time. As she watched, Drew replied, telling them all was well.
Ben wiggled out from under Drew’s hand at that moment and ran over to Indigo, his body bursting with pride and excitement. She bent down to stroke back his ears. “Well done, Ben.”
Butting up under her hand, he lifted his head and showed her his throat. It was a gesture of active submission, a sign that he want
ed to play. Leaning down, she touched noses with him in open affection. “I have to go work, but we’ll play later, okay?”
Drew picked the pup up as she rose to her feet. “Don’t let him fool you—he’s already got a play date with Marlee.”
As Ben hid his face against Drew’s chest, Indigo began to smile. That was when Drew streaked out a hand, pulled her close and kissed her with such heated thoroughness that steam came out her ears. “Hello, Lieutenant,” he said afterward.
Copyright © 2010 by Nalini Singh
New Year's Kisses
Timeline and Note: This short story features the younger adults (novice soldiers, university students, apprentices etc) in both the DarkRiver leopard pack and the SnowDancer wolf pack. It stands on its own so feel free to read it even if you haven’t tried the Psy-Changeling series. For those of you who like to read in series order, this short fits in prior to the start of Shield of Winter. Enjoy!
New Year’s Kisses
By Nalini Singh
Riordan took Noelle’s hand in his. Slender fingers curving around his, she turned to smile at him. The swing on which they were both sitting moved a little as she shifted position to face him. God, she was beautiful. Her eyes were the same vivid aqua as her twin sister, as well as her oldest brother, her hair a sleek waterfall of black, her skin a coppery gold that was warm no matter that they sat in the winter chill.
All that though, he might’ve resisted. But then she’d smiled at him and boom, it had been a punch right to the heart. He hadn’t cared that they’d been in a bar filled with angry leopards and wolves; he’d just wanted to talk to the girl with the smile that made him feel like he was basking in the sun.
“Careful,” she whispered, her dimples appearing with her smile. “When you look at me that way, you make me believe I’m the most beautiful girl in the world.”
Lifting their clasped hands to his mouth, he kissed her knuckles. “You are.”