Page 23 of Cleo

“Then perhaps you should get in it, but not quite yet.” My sisters closed in around me, and I glanced at them. “Wouldn’t you like to meet your other daughters? The ones you abandoned?”

“These are no children of mine. Only you carry the gift. Only your mother was capable of bringing a child with my full genetics into life.”

My jaw dropped at the implication. Had there been even more pregnancies of children like me? Ones the mothers had not survived? Ava’s and Minx’s mothers had not died in childbirth, and Kiki had been abandoned by hers, but I instinctively knew they did not have my gift.

“Yes, it killed the others,” he said, picking up on my thoughts without me speaking them. “And the infants, including my son unfortunately died in utero. So, let’s go while we are still all being cordial.”

“You really are a jerk,” Ava said. “I’m Ava, and I am so grateful to my mother andrealfather, the man who reared me, who never left my side in the hospital after I broke my leg falling off my bike when I was too young to shift and heal. Who hugged me and kissed me and told me I was smart and loved.”

“And my parents were amazing as well,” Minx cut in. “I’m Minx, and isn’t it sad you don’t know your children at all? Except of course the one you held hostage.”

“And my mom,” Kiki said. “I may never know her but she left me in a safe place when she couldn’t take care of me. And now I have true family.”

“You aren’t going to tell me your name?” Father inquired.

“I don’t think so. You don’t care, so why?”

“If this charming meet and greet is over, Cleo and I will be on our way.”

I stared him down, delighted when he looked away first. “If you think that, you are far more stupid than I ever gave youcredit for. Why would I go back to my gilded cage when I have everything I never dared to dream of now?”

“You belong to me.”

“I do not.”

I felt all the mates join us, all animals close to the surface.

“Did she tell you she’s a multi-shifter? Unique and dangerous? When she was young, she almost killed six of my guards when her lion burst out all on its own. Things like that were too frequent. She needs to be under lock and key where no one can be harmed.”

“Her lioness is quite charming,” Jude spoke up. “She rolled over on her back while we tickled her belly.”

“I haven’t had an animal out of my control since just after puberty.” I had worried, briefly, that nerves could bring it on, but I remembered now that it only happened when my animals surged forth to defend me from Father’s cruelty. My mates were safe since they weren’t cruel, and my animals all adored them. “But thanks for your concern.”

My sisters, bless them, said not a word through all of this part of the discussion, just glared at our bio dad with fierce hatred. Explanations would be required. Later.

“She’s mine to deal with.” He reached for my arm, and I learned just how close to out of my control my lioness could come. But she backed down at my command, and I managed even to quell her snarl and not give my father…give Rohan a chance to claim I was dangerous again. I took a step back, coming up against my mates.

“She is ours,” Pax, the quieter one, spoke for all of them. “Mated and marked, and you will not touch her.”

I pulled the hoodie collar aside to show the markings.

“What?” Rohan’s hand dropped to his side. “You can’t have. I would have known. We are connected…and there can be no more like you. I can’t…I was injured. You must return and bearheirs with the male of my choosing. Sever this unauthorized mating.”

“They are my true mates. I think Fate is in charge of these things. Not you.” I felt deep within me and recognized something. Or lack thereof. “Maybe we were connected once. Like when I knew you were nearby searching for me, but I never even had a clue you were back in the area. I’m gonna say we are not joined in any way. Maybe once, when I still wanted you to love me, when I thought you maybe cared for me as more than a possession. But now?” I searched again. “Sorry, you killed it. Now get out of my school.”

I let the lioness free, and my clothing shredded as she burst out. She’d always been my protector, whether I understood it or not. And now…she lashed out at my father who was too caught off guard to fight back. Or maybe he based his flight on the fact that it wasn’t just me. Not just some little girl facing him and all his guards. I shifted back, and Pax shed his hoodie and put it over my head. It fell to my knees as the other had. “Sorry if you think it’s not fair that I have all my family, real and chosen, backing me up, but this time, it’s not just one little girl against a grown male who claims to be the sole original shifter and his squadron of guards. Go and never come near me again. You don’t deserve children, and I am glad you can’t have more. If and when I choose to have a family with my mates, keep away from them too, or a lion will be the least I unleash upon you.”

My lion snarled, and I held her in, but the point was made.

“You’ll regret this.” Rohan backed toward the door and I hit the buzzer so it opened again.

“No, I won’t. But I am sure you already do. Goodbye, Rohan. I hope you regret every day of your life that you rejected not only me but my magnificent sisters. We could have loved you and been your daughters, and now you will live alone. Probably a very very long time.”

My eyes stung with tears but they were not of regret or sadness. I turned away, done with him, and into the embrace of everyone I loved and who loved me. I’d be a very ungrateful girl not to feel joy and gratitude at where Fate had brought me.

Epilogue

The rooftop of the school was where most outdoor activities happened. Sports and shifting class and defense and weapons… But also, it gave the most incredible view of the city. And my sisters and I stood there together, taking in the view. Rohan had left just over an hour before, and I was still processing everything that happened.

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