Page 88 of Primal Bonds

“Do you think Fane could help me?”

He raised a brow. “Your dad?”

“Yeah. Fane.” She repeated it a little louder. “I have some questions—like what kind of fae am I? And why the hell didn’t I know?”

Jace slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Maybe he’s trying to protect you. If you’re mostly human, you don’t want to be in the fae world. You’d be at the bottom of the food chain, powerless against the stronger fae. And those pricks eat their young.”

Her mouth twisted. “Or maybe he doesn’t want to admit he has a mixed-blood daughter.”

He tightened his grip but didn’t say anything. She winced inwardly, recalling his niece Merry was in a similar situation.

She blew out a breath and set Fane from her mind, because when had he ever come when she needed him? Meanwhile, it was a gorgeous day and a hot-as-hell guy had his arm around her. If she was only going to have these few days with him, then she was going to squeeze every last bit of enjoyment from it.

Jace’s neighbors were seated on their marble stoops, chatting to friends and enjoying the morning sun. The houses were small, each on a tiny piece of land, but they were neat and well-kept. Everyone they passed called out a friendly hello to the two fada. Jace and his den mates were clearly well-liked.

A tiny girl in a pink dress with her hair in tight cornrows pelted down the sidewalk, her mother a few yards behind. “Up, Mister Jace.” She raised her arms imperiously.

“Chantelle.” He released Evie and swung her into his arms. “How’s my girl?”

“I los a toof.” She pointed to the space where one of her front teeth used to be. “Mama says the toof fairy is gonna bring me a dollar.”

Jace smiled at her mother. “Morning, Kari.”

“Morning,” she returned and then shook her head at her daughter. “Chantelle, don’t bother Mister Jace. He’s got visitors today.” She gave Evie an apologetic smile.

“Oh, I don’t mind,” Evie said.

“Good,” said Jace, “because me and Miss Chantelle are old friends, aren’t we?” He dropped a kiss on her small rosebud of a mouth.

Chantelle pursed her lips and kissed him back. “See, Mama. He likes it.”

“Hmm,” he said with a wink at Kari. “Which little girl I know likes to fly?”

“Me, Mister Jace!” shouted Chantelle. Jace chuckled and tossed her gently into the air. The child erupted in helpless giggles as he caught her with large, sure hands. “Again, Mister Jace! Please.”

He tossed her up and down a few more times before shifting her to his hip with the ease of a man used to kids. And right then, a piece of Evie’s heart broke off and landed at his feet. He was just so damn adorable, this tough, inked shifter with a tiny girl in a pink dress clinging to him.

Evie gulped and looked away. Jace pulled her close with his free arm and introduced Kyler and her to Kari, before handing Chantelle back to her mom so they could continue on their way.

Evie slid an arm around Jace’s waist while the other two walked ahead. He slanted her a sheepish look. “Those are my tenants. Chantelle’s dad isn’t in the picture, so I help out where I can.”

Evie pressed a kiss to his jaw. “You’re my hero.”

“It’s nothing.”

“No,” she said. “It’s something. Trust me, I know.”

He squeezed her shoulders. “I’d like to pound some sense into your dad.”

She shook her head. “It wouldn’t do any good. Some men just aren’t meant to be fathers.”

“I can’t understand it. Cubs are so fucking precious.”

“That’s what I think.” Their eyes met and she looked away, afraid of what he would see in her face.

He’s not for you.

Suha had warned Evie away from him in the nicest possible way, pulling her aside to murmur, “Promise me you won’t hurt him.”

---