Page 58 of Anger

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Mac stared at Lamia in horror. They were both in their monster form and lounging down by the lake with some of the other water shifters.

“You’re telling me that Alainen basically forced himself on you?” Mac demanded, his temper rising.

“No. I accepted his sexual advances. But the bond that attacked you was imposed on me without permission,” Lamia replied calmly. She seemed unsure how to handle this information. It had been startling at the time, but the importance of it had been lost due to Mac’s battle. Now, they were confronting it, and she appeared more than puzzled. Mac saw that and tried to be patient.

“Baby, it’s still a huge violation of you. Alainen forced something on you that you didn’t want.” Mac turned to Lilith. “Can one person have a soul mate, but they aren’t their soul mate’s soul mate? Damn, that’s convoluted.”

“Mac, we only have three soul mates to compare. We have no knowledge of them before Emmaline came along, and it’s been a real learning curve. We’re unsure of what this all means. And the big question we’ve unanswered is, why now?” Lilith responded.

“Because the Saviours are ready to make a move,” he replied, and Lilith frowned. Mac’s brain worked furiously.

“You said Vampire and Poseidon are stronger because of their mates. Lamia, do you feel the same?” Mac asked, beginning to work it out.

“Yes, I do, actually,” Lamia answered after a few moments’ consideration. “And I feel unbalanced, like the power hasn’t settled yet.”

“The Saviours are ready for war. We’re gathering intel from across the globe on where Hunter settlements are. We have an army at our back and five Shifters. Now we’ve contacted you and located your village. And this is a village, let’s not argue. Things are moving towards one point,” Mac said.

“A battle,” Loch Ness breathed.

“Yes. Three mates found within a year? We’re heading for something, and I’d agree it is possibly a war. One between Hunters and Saviours. And children being born. And by the way, love… I think I might have knocked you up too,” Mac announced with a shrug.

Lamia reared back and blinked.

“Oh my!” Lilith muttered, her eyes checking Lamia. “It’s… um… oh boy.”

“What!” Lamia screeched.

“Snakes lay clutches,” Lilith murmured.

“What? I’ve a nest of eggs inside me?” Lamia cried, horrified.

“No. But I am picking up five heartbeats,” Lilith announced.

Mac’s jaw dropped open before his chest puffed out. “Five babies? Go, me!”

“Four kids, one of the heartbeats is Lamia’s,” Lilith said.

“Four!” Lamia screeched. “Jase can’t cope with triplets, and I am having quads?”

“We’ll be fine,” Mac said blasé.

“Jase’s children shifted to Merpeople and uber Merforms on birth. Tentacles and everything!” Lamia cried.

“Oh, ours won’t have them… um, Lilith, our kids won’t have them?” Mac asked.

“No. You’re not a merman. But they will quite likely change into Lamias. After all, Callidora does,” Lilith continued.

Loch Ness snickered at the look on Lamia’s face. Scylla winced and shook her head.

“No babies for me!” she declared.

“Yes, wait till your mate knocks you up!” Lamia hissed.

“Not happening,” Scylla said far too confidently.

“Yeah, who’s opening a book on that?” Mac asked.

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