Favoriteobsession, p.11
FavoriteObsession, page 11
“Did you ever wonder why the goddess didn’t intercede to save her beloved child from Edmund?”
Her stomach rolled. Kade’s question matched the one she’d always asked herself. The only answer she could come up with sickened her. Her legs threatened to give out. She gripped the edge of the desk so she didn’t crumble onto the floor.
“No, no. Don’t say it Kade. It’s not true!” She hurried around the desk and gripped his biceps. “It can’t be true. My cats would’ve known.”
Golden eyes focused on her and the sympathy reflected in their depths tore a whimper from her throat. Kade offered no comfort this time. He held her gaze, the leader to his pride member, ready to deliver the hard facts. “The Council, both single-shifter members and royals, believe the golden goddess didn’t intercede because Edmund was meant to father your cubs.”
She turned her back on him and rubbed at her burning eyes. “I told you not to say it.”
His long and weary sigh cut through her and worsened the pain in her chest.
“I don’t agree and neither did my father. It’s why we’ve worked so hard to protect you.” He placed a warm, strong hand on her shoulder. It didn’t ease the chill seeping into her bones. “But I won’t any longer.”
She whipped around, the betrayal in his words opening up the wound she carried, the one that left her feeling dirty and unworthy.
He held a hand up. “A leader, a good one anyway, must think of his family first, individuals second, himself last. Do you understand? I can’t fight the Council’s order when I agree with it. You must take a mate and fulfill your destiny.” Kade tugged her close before she could storm away. “But I planned to mate you so you didn’t have to go to a stranger’s bed.”
Not because he wanted her. It hurt. It shouldn’t. She didn’t want Kade, but being on the receiving end of his pity cut at her already low self-esteem. She scrunched her nose, letting him see how much she disliked his words. “Thankfully, now you don’t have to. Aron has offered to fill the martyr’s shoes.”
Confusion crinkled Kade’s smooth brow. His eyes bled completely gold as his cats rose to offer assistance. Hers did the same whenever she didn’t understand something. Most of the time, their animals couldn’t help either, but they were bothered when their host was upset.
“Being your mate will not be a hardship for any male, myself included. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to a gorgeous female every day? You will give your mate fine cubs and endless hours of enjoyment.”
She snorted and threw her hands up in the air. “Wonderful. I’ll be an incubator and a sex toy.”
Kade’s frown deepened. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Isn’t it?” She challenged with a raised brow.
“You can’t expect love, Mira, at least not anytime soon. Most shifter matings don’t work that way. It’s always sex first, then love and only if you’re lucky.” Kade stepped closer. He ran a thumb over her lips. “I always left you satisfied, didn’t I?”
He had, but without the emotional connection the act had lost its appeal after a while. She’d often left him feeling more alone than before they’d fucked. “Yes but it’s not enough. I want to be important to my mate.”
His brows pinched. “You are important to me.”
She reached a hand between them and placed it over his heart. “Friendship isn’t enough, Kade. I want to be loved.”
He mapped her face with his fingertips. While she wanted to jerk away from him, she didn’t. The gentle strokes didn’t come off as sexual, merely another attempt to calm her. It didn’t work.
“Someday, I might love you, Mira. For you, I’d try. Will that be enough?”
She shook her head. The words wouldn’t come out.
Kade sifted his fingers through her hair. Cupping her head, he tipped it and stared into her eyes for a long moment. “I want to try. Do you understand? I care about you, more than I ever did for another female.”
She closed her eyes to hide her tears. “If you care about me, why won’t you let me be with Josh?”
“Because I can’t.” His hand fell away and harsh feline eyes focused on her. “You must take a mate. A royal one, not a single-shifter. I will not condone their heavy-handedness by allowing them to get what they want. They have no right to order your mating.”
“Why now? I understand your concern about the Council’s order and the prophecy, but a few more decades won’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. The odds of me conceiving in the span of a human lifetime are slim anyway. Can’t you push back? Give me a reprieve?”
“No.” Kade yanked her against him, one hand in her hair and one at her lower back. “The goddess visited me the day you licked Josh’s wounds. She showed me a vision of the future.”
When he only stared at her, she prompted, “Involving me?”
He nodded. “And Josh. Why do you think I’ve worked so hard to keep the two of you apart?”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Tell me.”
“He dies.”
She swallowed hard. “He’s human. He’s going to die anyway.”
“Yes, but—”
Raised, booming male voices sounded in the hall and stopped his words. The door flew open. Aron’s angry gaze settled on Kade. A deep growl rumbled his chest a moment before he lunged at them. Rafe followed behind and shoved Aron away before he made contact. They rolled across the floor, snarling and snapping at each other. Josh ran in next. He hopped over the fighting males and moved directly toward her. Kade jumped in his path and held him back with a firm hand splayed on his chest.
“Enough!” Kade shouted.
Although everyone stilled, none of the males looked happy about it. Aron seethed, Rafe glared at his twin and Josh lifted his lip in a silent snarl.
Kade looked past Josh. “What’s going on?”
Aron pointed at her. “She has disgraced me with her whorish acts! I will not allow my mate-to-be to suck another male’s cock!”
Mira barely had time to process his words before Josh launched himself at Aron. Kade yanked him back with a hand gripping his waistband while Rafe kept Aron pinned to the wall with his claws dug into Aron’s shoulders. Growls filled the room. Both Aron and Josh strained to break free. The tension skyrocketed.
“Mind your tongue, cousin.” Kade leveled a hard look on Josh before facing Aron. The warning was clear, don’t start anything. “That is no way to address the female you want to mate.”
“Correction,” Josh stepped between her and the rest of the room and widened his stance, “That is no way to address any female, especially the one I hope to marry if she’ll have me.”
Kade gaped at Josh. “You still want her?”
“Yes, more than I have ever wanted a woman.”
Kade glanced her way. Sadness flitted across his features for a moment before he blanked his reaction. Silence stretched as he held her gaze. Her heart pounded hard while her cats paced the confines of her soul.
Eyes still locked to hers, Kade addressed Josh. “I won’t allow it. You’ve wasted your time coming here.”
Kade jerked his head toward Rafe and snarled. Their fluid facial expressions betrayed their telepathic argument. All royals could communicate along a general path when in close proximity to one another, but they rarely used it. The intimate form of communication often disturbed their animals.
She watched their silent battle and her hope fizzled. Defeat settled over Rafe’s face. He cursed and pushed away from Aron.
Kade picked up the phone and dialed. After a moment, he said to the person on the line, “Tell Zach and Jazz to come up. We’re having this damn meeting now.”
He slammed the phone down. Her heart sank.
Aron smirked and sauntered toward her. Fear and disgust tightened her chest as she followed his approach. She held her ground, unwilling to retreat and risk triggering his instincts to chase her. She might’ve been promised to him, but he’d broken the vow. No way did she want him to suddenly decide to set his sights on her. However, with the hard line of arousal straining his pants, she feared he already had. Either that or he was damn horny.
Josh stepped between her and Aron. “The Council’s order gives me the right to be with Mira. I will not allow you to dismiss me if she wants me.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Do you, Mira? Do you want to be with me even if it’s only for a little while?”
“Yes.” The word was out before she could think better of it.
He grinned at her and her heart melted. “Then you and I are tying the knot, baby. The sooner, the better.”
Kade spun around and fixed Josh with a murderous glare. She tensed, ready to jump to his side. Her pride leader’s booming voice stopped her.
“You are not now, nor will you ever be her destiny. I should never have allowed this infatuation to continue.”
Josh stepped closer, fists clenched at his sides. “I will not allow you to force her to be with another man. She wants me, not any of you.”
“She hasn’t given her other suitors a chance to earn her attentions. This is the reason why courting shifter females has become commonplace—to avoid the fights between hopeful suitors as the number of available potential breeding partners have declined.”
Josh worked his jaw, the look on his face contemplative. She could almost see the wheels turning in his head. Finally, he nodded. “So be it.”
“Good, I’m glad—”
“I’ll court her too.” Josh shrugged. “Dating is popular for a reason. It builds the anticipation.”
Kade took an aggressive step forward. “No.”
The door opened, stopping the argument. Jazz entered and moved to her mate’s side. Mira didn’t return Jazz’s sympathetic grin. Her attention zeroed in on a scowling Zach. He leaned against the farthest wall, gaze locked onto the floor. At least there was one suitor she didn’t have to worry about fixating on her. His love had already been given. Pity for him, he didn’t know to whom.
“Now that everyone’s here, we can get this over with. Jazz, will you act as our witness?” Kade waited until she nodded. “Good. Then in accordance with shifter law as adapted to align with human mandate, I officially announce Mira’s suitors as Aron, Zach and myself. Between now and sundown three weeks from now—”
“Don’t forget me,” Josh cut in. “I officially request—”
“Don’t say it, human.” Kade glared at him. “I’m warning you.”
Mira gave a low, threatening growl. “Stop this!” Every male turned and looked at her. She wanted to cower under their intense scrutiny but couldn’t. There was too much at stake. “Doesn’t anyone care what I want?”
Kade snarled. “No, Mira, in this I do not. You will pick a mate from your real suitors.”
“My real suitors?” She closed the distance between them. “You mean Aron because you know Zach wants no part of this ridiculous game.”
“That includes me, Mira. You will choose between me, Aron or Zach. No others.”
“No!”
Kade walked toward the window. “Enough, Mira. We will continue this discussion in private. This meeting is over.”
Josh’s piercing blue eyes caught her attention. She glanced at him. He tilted his head in the direction of the door, an indication she should leave. She studied him for some clue as to what he was up to, but another jerk of his head forced her to obey. She spun on her heel and walked out of the testosterone-filled room with her head held high. No use showing how defeated she felt. Pretenses were everything.
Chapter Eleven
Josh followed Mira’s retreating back with his eyes. Once the door slammed closed, he cleared his throat. Everyone looked his way except Jazz and Zach who stood off to the side whispering to each other. Rafe smirked, Aron scowled and Kade watched him with open speculation, eyes narrowed and lips downturned.
“Am I a member of your extended family?”
“Yes.” Kade crossed his arms over his chest. “You are a member of my pride and as such, must follow my rules. I clearly—”
Josh raised his hands in a mock gesture of supplication. “You’re absolutely right. I’ve learned my lesson.”
Kade peered at him with narrowed eyes. “You concede?”
“Absolutely.” Josh nodded. “Rules are made for a reason.” To be broken. Or remade. Either worked.
Kade sighed. “Good, I’m glad you understand.”
“I should’ve come to you first with my request but better late than never.” Josh waited until Kade’s scowl returned before he continued. “As a member of the Alexander pride, I officially request your permission to pursue Mira.”
Kade ran his fingers through his short hair, holding his head for a moment. He dropped them and leveled his best ‘don’t argue with me’ look on him. “Dammit, Josh. I cannot allow her to be with you in any way, not as a lover or wife. You need to stay away from her.”
Josh took several deep breaths to calm his growing frustration. “You keep saying that. Tell me why.”
Kade ambled toward the window. With his hands linked behind his back, he studied the darkened landscape. “The day Mira made you her beloved human, the goddess bestowed onto me a vision of your death. I will do anything I can to prevent it from happening.”
The announcement hit Josh as hard as a physical blow. He stared at Kade’s back, unable to respond.
“If you’re going to tell him that much, you must share the rest of the vision.” Rafe turned to him when Kade didn’t respond. “Kade was shown three flashes of the future. The first of Mira standing over you with bloody claws, the second of Devin giving you blood and finally, Jazz crying. That’s it.”
Kade glanced over his shoulder. “I knew Mira would’ve been terrified by the vision. I meant to protect her from it and save your life at the same time. That is why I kept you apart.”
Josh latched on to the fact that the vision didn’t actually show him dead, just bleeding. “I’m not afraid of death, Kade. Heaven awaits me but keeping me from Mira will damn me to hell.”
Kade sighed and grabbed on to the wide window casing. “I grant your request to court Mira, but I plan to tell her about the goddess’s vision.”
Josh nodded. Best he’d likely get. “So be it.”
* * * * *
Mira stared at Kade’s retreating back. After he’d dropped his bombshell, she’d been unable to form any words. Why would she kill Josh? Unless…unless she actually thought to mate him.
She dropped her head into her hands and groaned. She wanted Josh. Craved him. Her cats were convinced he was their one. She wrapped her arms tightly around her chest. Each day, her certainty of Josh being hers grew. But was it real? Or desperation? It was the latter that worried her the most and the outcome she needed to avoid at all costs. It would tempt her to break the rules, guaranteeing the vision would become reality.
It wasn’t often their creators spoke to them. When they did, their words became unbreakable divine law. Visions they could bestow freely, wishes were theirs to grant on a whim but verbal commands altered the fabric of their world. The edict surrounding a royal’s ability to bind their human mate to them set the rules.
If she thought to challenge them, she’d lose everything. No. She couldn’t allow the goddess’s vision to come to pass.
On shaky legs, she walked to the spot on Rafe and Jazz’s property where she’d added her scent to Josh’s wounds and set them both on this painful journey. She sat on the wooden swing, weariness making her limbs heavy, and watched the gentle flow of the small stream.
Water lapped at the rocks. A few fish meandered in the calm current. Peace settled over her. Her decision, though hurtful, was the only one she could come up with. She had to get over her obsession with Josh. The only way to do that was to move on. Replace him.
Mira pulled her phone out and dialed. “Hi, Aron.”
“Mira? Hey sweetness, what’s up?”
She took a deep breath to settle the sick feeling churning her belly. It didn’t help. She hated what she was about to do, yet it was best this way, like ripping off a Band-Aid. “Are you serious about courting me?”
“I wouldn’t have come out of seclusion and traveled half-way across the world if I wasn’t.”
“Then meet me at the Black Widow tomorrow night at nine. I want to go dancing for our first date.”
Silence filled the line. Finally, Aron said, “I don’t know if that’s wise, Mira. Josh is working.”
Tears slipped from her eyes. She didn’t bother wiping them away.
“And? If you haven’t noticed, there isn’t much to do here. It’s oldies night at the bar. I went there a few weeks ago. It was fun.” She plastered a smile on her face hoping it would make her shaky voice stronger. “Besides, Josh knows you’re courting me. He’s going to have to get used to seeing us together.”
“Didn’t Kade visit you? He approved of Josh’s request to court you too.”
The tears fell faster. She gave up on the fake grin and coughed into her hand to clear the lump in her throat.
“Yeah, he did. He also told me not to neglect my other suitors.” She scrubbed at her cheeks. The wetness irritated her skin. “So, do you want to go out or not?”
Aron sighed. “Yeah, sweetheart. I’ll meet you there.”
“Great. Looking forward to it.”
Mira ended the call, dropped the phone and gave in to her crying fit.
* * * * *
Josh was dreaming. It had to be a dream. If it wasn’t, he’d slipped into some fucked-up alternate dimension. Because he was a cat.
He padded across the hardwood floor and peered at his image in the mirrored wall above his bar. A lion’s tawny face stared back at him, complete with a big, shaggy black mane. The scar on his cheek even showed on the animal’s face. He turned slightly to examine his flank. The jagged white line of another old wound showed too. Hell, he could even see his tattoos through the fur. On his shoulder, his inked tiger bared its fangs and the cross with his nephew’s name, John, stood out as a permanent memorial on his front leg.
Everything looked different through his eyes. The darkened room appeared brighter. All the variations of gray stood out sharper while the vibrant colors in the posters and beer signs he knew should be there, weren’t. They looked washed out as if somebody had thrown a bottle of bleach on them.
