Page 29 of Shifted Existence

“We both know that is never going to happen. If it was up to him, I would have been on bedrest from the time I was late until our child has been born. I will tell you what I tell him, repeatedly, I will do nothing to endanger my child and Melea will be here to ensure that I’m well taken care of, won’t you, Melea?”

“That I will. I have arranged for others to look after the pack’s meals. I can do the planning from up here, but I should be able to stay with her when Talon can’t be.”

“You’re very fond of my mate,” said Talon.

“She is easy to be fond of,” replied Melea, which caused Dani to laugh.

“You two have not seen Bailey in full warrior princess mode.”

“I would think when she tried to blow me up twice and flung herself from the tree armed with two knives trying to kill me, I gained the depth of knowledge I needed to understand,” he said laughing.

“That’s my Bailey,” said Dani, proudly. “She cares for you, Talon. She doesn’t want to, but she does. You can tell by the way she settled when she knew you were here. But she is also eminently practical. You need to deal with the Council. They are going to try and use her against you. Don’t let them. And when she awakens, share with her your concerns. She is smart and will appreciate being included in whatever you decide.”

“You must have missed her,” said Talon sympathetically.

Dani nodded. “I did. She was always the bravest and smartest of us all. I know she is unhappy, but I really do believe she can be happy with us.”

Talon took her hand in his. “As you have been?”

“Yes. And I was every bit as angry and resentful as she is. If you recall, I also vacillated between believing I should be those things and wanting what was offered to me. Have patience with your mate, Alpha. I promise you she will be worth it and the pack stronger for her addition.”

“If she repeats your pattern, she will find herself dealt with in a similar fashion. I recall more than once you were seated at Blitz’s feet after a trip over his knee.”

“There’s nothing that says that you as alpha need to do the same.”

“As I remember it, it was most effective.”

“No, what helped the most was knotting and tying my naughty mate on a frequent and regular basis,” said Blitz as he came through the door, drawing Dani into his embrace for a quick kiss. “The natives are getting restless. Artemis is seeing to getting them food and drinks, but I think your presence is needed. Dani and Melea can let us know if anything seems amiss.”

“All right,” Talon said with a sigh before kissing Bailey’s parted lips. “Travel easy, beloved. I am near.” He turned to the others. “I will leave a man outside the yurt to stand as guard and ready messenger, and will have food and drink sent up. Blitz and I will join you when we can.”

Talon and Blitz headed out of the yurt and towards the visiting guest area, which included a meeting room that was comfortably appointed with a round table. They could hear Bardulf pontificating as they approached the yurt.

Talon beckoned to one of his warriors. “See that there is someone outside my dwelling at all times. If whoever there is asked to carry a message to me, he is only allowed to do so after someone else has come to take his place.”

The young warrior nodded and jogged towards Talon’s home.

“You think they’ll try something?” asked Blitz.

“I don’t know that they won’t, and that’s enough for me to be cautious.”

They entered the tent.

“The fact is,” droned Bardulf, “that his female…”

“My fated mate,” corrected Talon as he entered, blocking the sun from entering through the doorway and reminding them all that he was alpha, they were his guests, and this was his village and his territory.

“Fine,” acknowledged Bardulf, “his fated mate has created havoc…”

“She destroyed our portal, no one else’s. My people can either use the main one as Hemming and Lansky did, or we will open a new one. Either way, it affects no one outside my pack.”

“She used forbidden weapons to blow up the side of a mountain, causing inestimable damage.”

Talon chuckled. “I’m not sure where your spies get their information, but I can assure you there were no weapons involved, merely explosives that were used to open mines, destroy tree stumps, and the like. It was a useless piece of land that those in power in the Conquered Realm have little use for. What other charges would you like to level at my mate?”

“She tried to kill you three separate times,” snarled Bardulf.

“You have bad information. She destroyed her home when she made her escape; she blew up the portal, again to aid in her escape. I would posit that she has only tried to kill me once. And if you and your warriors hunted fairly, you would know ferals are highly prized by true warriors and are not easily brought to heel.”

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