Page 17 of For Toron's Pride (Toron's Pride 1)

Dread stirred in Toron’s gut, but he remained silent.

“She was pregnant when she left you.”

“You’re saying—”

“I’m saying you have a son. His name is Simeon, and he’s four years old.”

Emotions battled within Toron, thoughts raged for attention, all of which kept him from forming words. He remained where he was, glad for the desk, so he could have something to grip rather than crush his best friend’s windpipe.

After some time, he settled down enough to speak. “I asked you to report monthly regarding her.”

“You never wanted details.”

Toron sneered. “That’s your excuse?”

“You didn’t want to know about her life, her career, or even whether she was involved. You told me to assure you she was safe and had a roof over her head, food to eat. Nothing more, you said.”

Toron pushed off the desk and took measured steps toward his friend. “And it never occurred to you to forget my instructions and just tell me? Not once?”

“I—”

“Sienna! What are you doing here?” came Stella’s voice from somewhere outside his office door.

“Where is he, Stella?”

Toron started at the worry

in her tone, and he changed directions to wrench the door open. The impact of seeing her robbed him of mobility. Her beauty, defined by that defiant light in her eyes, did him in.

“Sienna.”

He spoke her name on a constricted breath, annoyed at his weakness.

She swept past him holding a tiny bundle in her arms. An oversized coat covered the figure, allowing small sneaker covered feet to peek from the bottom. “Toron, I know this will be a surprise, and I’ll explain everything, but please help him. He—” She broke off, her eyes going wide. “Hawke, what are you doing here?”

Hawke stiffened. “You made good time. I intended to be gone. I’m sorry for deceiving you, Sienna.”

“Deceiving me how? What’s going on?” She gasped. “You know Toron. You knew him all along, you bastard.”

Toron closed the space between the two of them and grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him. He did so just because he wanted to touch her. “What’s wrong, Sienna?”

Her gaze flitted from Hawke to him and back again, and he noted the wheels turning, her coming to false conclusions. “You knew about Simeon, and you didn’t give a damn.”

Toron took a step closer to her, and the tirade faltered.

She jerked her chin out of his hold to retreat a pace. Before she could tear into him afresh, a small whimper cut her off. Simeon cried out.

“Toron, help him, please. I don’t know what to do.”

Something turned inside Toron. He didn’t like to see her this upset. He smelled her terror and sensed her pain as if it was his own. Sienna removed the coat, and a small blond head popped into view. He recognized what happened right away.

“Give him to me.” He held out his hands, and Sienna didn’t hesitate a moment. She trusted he knew how to take care of their son, and that was enough for now. Toron hefted the boy to his chest and rocked him a little.

“Everything will be okay, Simeon. You feel my power, don’t you?”

Toron opened himself to his son, first for comfort, and then he would guide him to change back. Simeon was too young for the change, but Toron knew because he was mixed with both natural and regular lion shifter blood, his body was off the normal cycle. He and his son synchronized with ease, and Toron felt Simeon’s heartbeat as if it were his own. He reached out mentally and touched the small boy’s mind, sending calm and peace. Simeon stopped fidgeting, and where he’d been tugging at his ear, he curled his hand into his chest and fell asleep in Toron’s arms.

So small. Toron stared at Simeon in wonder.

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