Page 105 of Pain

“What’d he say?” Omaera asked, continuing to scratch Ryden’s ears. “I’m slowly learning to understand bear, and I can’t read his thoughts very well. Didhe say something about grand bugs?”

Zandren snorted. “He’s asking when he’s going to get grandcubs.”

Omaera’s eyes widened. “Oh. Uh …”

Ryden chuckled again, made a noise, and Zandren laughed.

“This really isn’t fair,” Omaera said. “What’d he say now?”

Zandren shook a finger at his father, playfully chastising him. “You’re a cheeky old man.” He turned to Omaera. “He said that he spotted a cave back there a little ways, and is happy to have his lieutenants stand guard if we’d like to start trying for grandcubs now.”

Pink filled Omaera’s cheeks. “I think we need to take care of a few pressing matters first. Like treason, and that there seem to be a number of people out for my throne. Then we can discuss grandcubs.”

Ryden made a noise of disagreement, but a stern look from Zandren had the older grizzly nodding and backing down.

“We should get going,” Drak said from where he stood, far away from the bears.

Ryden and his lieutenants growled at him again before the Shifter King licked Omaera’s hand one more time, and the three of them ambled off into the trees until we could no longer see them.

“All right,” Zandren said, climbing into the front seat behind the steering wheel. “I’m hungry. Let’s go.”

“When are we going to call Howar and let him know the change of plans?” Omaera asked as we bumped down the narrow country road in the dark.

“Tomorrow morning,” Drak said. Howar will have taken the jet. Anysa has her own as well and will have likely done the same. They’ll be in Colorado within hours, which will give us time to come back out here and get ready.”

Omaera was in the front seat with Zandren, but spun around to face Drak and me in the back. “Drak, I think you should reach out to Raver. Feel him out, and see if he’s coming and if you can maybe sus out his true allegiance.”

Drak’s expression was stoney, even in the dark cab of the rental SUV. After a moment though, he nodded, then brought up his phone and fired off a text to Raver.

A hand landed on my knee and I glanced up at my mate. “You okay, Sparky?”

She was specifically referring to my mood regarding Zandren and Ryden.

I nodded and placed my hand over hers. “Yeah. I am. History doesn’t have to repeat itself. I just have to keep reminding myself of that. I won’t be the kind of dad I had, to my kids.”

Her eyes widened. “More talk of kids.”

Zandren chuckled. “Can you blame us, Little One? We’ve been waiting for a mate and family for centuries.”

“I’m only twenty-two,” she protested.

“Just think of how many cubs—”

“And mages,” I interrupted.

Zandren grunted, but eventually nodded. “Just think of how many cubs and little mages we can have in our lifetimes if we start trying now.”

Omaera gulped dramatically. “Like I told that big old bear back there, one thing at a time. First, we kill my uncle and deal with the treasonous Vampire King. Thenwe can discuss making little princes and princesses.”

I met Zandren’s gaze in the rearview mirror, and the corners of his eyes creased. His big hand fell to Omaera’s thigh. “I can’t wait to see your belly all swollen with a little cub in there.”

“Okay, enough,” she said, spinning around to face forward again. “Let’s talk food. I’m thinking barbecue. I saw a grill, or tavern, or something, near the last junction. Let’s go there.”

“I’d sooner just dine between your legs,” I said, earning a chuckle from the bear.

“Gah!” Omaera slammed her hand down on the dash. “No more. We need to focus.” She spun around again. “Drak. Did Raver reply?”

The vampire’s nod was stiff and slight. “He did.”

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