Page 38 of Unforeseen Mate
“If it’s only ‘kind of weird,’ I think we’re ahead of the game. I know you had to make a momentous decision. I know you have been put in what must seem like some kind of masquerade ball that they play in the circles of the Underworld. You are dealing with things that would make most people lose their minds. Regardless of what happens, I will always admire the courage it took to choose life.”
“If you’ll recall, for one thing I was on some pretty potent drugs, and you admitted you wouldn’t have let me go, so I didn’t have much of a choice.”
“But you didn’t know that. You know it now because I wanted to be honest with you and wanted you to understand that while having a fated mate might seem like a silly notion, for my people it is the greatest of gifts.”
“I don’t think your pack would agree.”
“Give them time. When they realize you were always meant to be with us and that you add strength and tenacity to our kind, they will accept you without reservation.”
“Didn’t I overhear someone say it is forbidden for a hellhound to take a human as his mate?”
Hayden nodded. “It’s that old holdover from the Hades and Persephone story. The fact is that Persephone grew to love Hades, who proved to be a far more faithful spouse than any of the rest of the gods. Hades respected and loved her. I thinkthe taboo to be with someone from the Underworld, like a hellhound, came from other females realizing Persephone had far more freedom and choices than they did.”
“Does your brother really want to make the female hellhounds chattel and breeders?” she asked, appalled.
“He does, but regardless of what others may think, it will never happen. Female hellhounds have been warriors for as long as anyone can remember. And if Tanner is ever put in any kind of position of power, Caye will return to the Underworld to challenge him. He will lose.”
“What are you doing?”
Tapping on the keyboard of his phone, he said, “Texting Colby Reynolds. He’s the alpha of the lynx-shifters at Windsong and is the head of the intelligence network of the Resistance.”
“Do you think Nora will be there?”
“My guess is yes, but if you aren’t ready to see her, I will ensure that doesn’t happen. Let’s head out.”
“I’m going to need something more than your shirt to wear.”
“I might have neglected to mention that when we use the shimmer—which renders us invisible and allows us to walk between the worlds - it also renders us naked. Colby is aware of that and will have clothes waiting at the rendezvous point.”
“What about when I had clothes on, and you looked at me and I felt them kind of sizzle and fade into nothing?”
“What can I tell you? Hellhounds give new meaning to the term ‘undressing the object of one’s desire with his eyes.’”
Fallon laughed and they headed out, walking between the worlds until they reached the rendezvous, where they were given warm robes to slip into until they boarded the helicopter. Once they were airborne and headed to Mystic River and Colby’s estate, Windsong, they were offered their choice in clothing. Hayden picked jeans, boots and a fishermen’s knit sweater.Fallon picked leggings, mukluk boots and a chunky knit V-neck sweater.
“Everything was in my size—even the boots,” Fallon said with a bit of wonder.
“The lynx-shifter is nothing if not thorough.”
The chopper landed right outside the main entrance to the house and they were helped from the helicopter as snow was beginning to fall, which was expected to last for several days. The doors were flung open and the woman the world had only just learned was the Ghost flew down the stairs, throwing her arms around Fallon.
“I’m so sorry. I never expected us to become friends. I put you in danger. Can you ever forgive…”
Nora stopped, really looked at Fallon, immediately noticing the almost healed wound of the claiming bite. She whirled on Hayden, throwing a punch he wasn’t expecting and landed it squarely in the middle of his face.
“You sonofabitch,” Nora growled. “What the hell have you done?”
CHAPTER 16
HAYDEN
Hayden staggered back a step, reaching up to make sure his face was still intact. He hadn’t expected Nora to be at Windsong, and he sure as hell hadn’t expected her to punch him. But even more surprising than that had been Fallon’s reaction to her friend attacking him and snatching Fallon away from him.
When Nora did so, it prompted a low, menacing growl from Fallon, which seemed to shock everyonebutHayden, who found it amusing and endearing.
“I’m fine, Fallon,” he said. “Nora can sense you are no longer wholly human and is concerned for you.”
“I can see that,” Fallon said, jerking her arm away from Nora. “But she doesn’t know anything about it.”
