Page 30 of Retribution

Did I want something? Yes. To not be fucking teased by the two hot men making my blood boil. “I believe you promised to show us how unpleasant you could be.”

He nodded once. “I did.”

Then he proceeded to show us just what sort of euphoric monster lurked under his wolf’s skin.

Chapter 14

LIBERTY

“He’s going to hate it,”Rolland said, but even so, he still helped me hang the garland. “How are you even keeping this from him? He’s going to notice.”

Normally he would. “Lenin glamoured our yard. Plus, he hasn’t left that shed all day.”

“He’s not a people person,” Rolland warned.

“It’s just a few.” Okay, maybe like a hundred or so of our closest friends and rescued paranormal. Who knew you could gather people so fast?

Rolland snorted. “Someone needs to get you a calculator.”

“Have you always been so mean, or does that come with time?” I asked.

“When you are time, it’s all you have.” He shrugged.

“A little more to the left.” I directed as I stood back and watched, rubbing my stomach where the baby had kicked.

“Don’t you have mates to do this for you?” he grumbled.

“Ah, but by being an ancient best friend to the birthday boy, you have to help by proxy.”

He rolled his eyes. “I hate it here.”

“Don’t we all.” He stuck his tongue out at me but continued to hang the garland in the exact place I instructed.

I had Sterling working on ordering food, Maggie and Michelle on the phone tree calling people to invite them, Justice and Horo assembling favors and blowing up balloons, Lenin making me tea, and Oak teaching Lacy how to climb a tree. I watched the two, fascinated with how adorable they were together.

“He’s a protector.” Rolland broke the silence. “He is drawn to her because she’s fate’s child.”

“Fate’s child?”

“Ellis never told you?” He paused, “Or your ogre?”

“If I had been told I wouldn’t be questioning it, now would I?”

“Pregnancy has made you so touchy.” He tsked.

“You barely knew me before pregnancy. How would you even know?” I sighed.

“I don’t. I just like seeing your nostrils flare with annoyance.” He smirked. “Every twenty years, the fates put a child on this earth in an attempt to stop the witch. They never make it to eighteen. You were the first.”

I stood in silence, not sure what to say, until Lenin, with his tea tray, spoke, “You were never supposed to know.”

“And why was that?” I growled, sounding almost like my shifter, then instantly felt sorry for it because I knew if Lenin didn’t tell me, it was for a good reason.

“It was unimportant information.”

“Deemed by who?” I questioned.

“Ellis and I.”

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