Death Bringer

“Sorry I’m late. Happy birthday, big sis. I didn’t get you anything. I didn’t see the point. Haven’t you gone nuts yet?”

“I think I might start right now.” Ella glared at her sister as she insinuated herself into the nonexistent space beside Vadim on the couch and cuddled up to him. “As I’ve been trying to say for the past few minutes, I’d like to thank you for the presents and the birthday wishes.”

“You’re welcome, Ella,” her parents said dutifully.

Dave muttered something uncomplimentary and took another swallow of his beer. Vadim inched away from Madison’s questing hands and kept his gaze fixed firmly on Ella.

“I never thought I’d live past my twenty-seventh birthday, but it seems I was mistaken.”

“They found a cure?” her father asked.

“Well, not exactly.” She took a deep breath. “I changed my mind and took the Otherworld Community Outreach Services mate offered to me.”

The silence was deafening.

“You took a mate? You mean you have a man?” Darlene gripped her hands together until her fingers were as white as her face. “Where is he?”

Ella pointed at Vadim. “Right there. Why else do you think I’d bring him?”

“Nice.”

“Can it, Morosov. Can’t you see I’m nervous as hell? ”

“What exactly does it mean?” Her dad sat forward. “I know you mentioned it as an option years ago, but you seemed so set against it. What changed your mind?”

Madison waved a hand in front of her father’s face. “Duh, Dad, have you looked at Vadim? He’s hot. He’s also, like, way out of her league. How could she say no?” She poked Vadim in the side. “The real question here is, why the hell did you saddle yourself with my sister?”

“He didn’t. He was matched with me by the Otherworld mating service.”

“Like an arranged marriage?”

“I suppose so.”

“Like, is that even legal in this country?” Madison demanded. “Look at the poor guy. He’s still in a state of shock.”

“Morosov, help me out here!”

“I thought you told me to shut up and let you handle it.”

“Morosov...”

He stood up, gently setting a clinging Madison aside, and took Ella’s hand. “I’m delighted to have been selected as a mate for your daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Walsh.”

Ella couldn’t decide who looked more stunned, her mother or her father. “This is a good thing, right? I’m not going nuts anymore.”

“But it’s so unexpected!” Darlene glanced at her husband. “Why didn’t you say something to us before?”

“I thought it was better said in person. I didn’t want you to be shocked.”

“Well, I am shocked!” Darlene pressed her hand to her bosom. “How could you do that to me?”

An all-too-familiar sense of anger rose in Ella’s gut. “Mom, this isn’t about you. Aren’t you pleased?”

“Of course I’m pleased! I just wish you’d mentioned it before we bought you all these presents.”

“The presents are great. It’s still my birthday, isn’t it?”

Vadim’s calm voice slid over hers. “I was hoping to take you all out to dinner this evening to celebrate Ella’s big day. Would that be acceptable?”

“That would be lovely,” Ella’s dad answered. “It will give us a chance to get to know you better, as well.”

“Dad...”

Vadim kissed her cheek. “It’s all right. I expect your parents have a lot of questions for me.”

“I have one.” Madison waved her hand in the air. “How long do you have to stick with my sister?”

He smiled down into Ella’s eyes. “For all eternity.”

“Oh, please... you don’t have to lay it on so thick.”

“You poor dude. But I suppose in her line of work, she might not last that long.”

“Thanks. By the way, I don’t think you can date your sister’s grieving ex. That would be icky.” Ella made a face at her sister. Why did she feel like a teenager again?

“I’m not being mean. I’m just stating the facts.” Madison flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Empaths don’t last very long, do they?”

“Only if they don’t take a mate.”

“It’s not fair,” Madison whined. “How come she ends up with him?”

Dave came across and shook Vadim’s hand. “Welcome to the family. I’m glad someone will take care of my baby sister for a change.”

“Oh, for goodness sake, Dave, can’t you say anything nice?” Darlene faked a laugh. “Poor Vadim will think he’s joining a family of freaks! Are you thinking of getting married?”

“God, no.” Ella turned to Julie, who had started to cry. “It’s okay.”

“I know, it’s wonderful. Isn’t it, Scott?” Her husband hugged her close.

“And you don’t have to worry about naming your poor baby after me either.” Ella winked at Scott, who winked back. He was a man of few words at the best of times. Stuck with his mother and his wife in the same room, he barely uttered a word.

Madison patted the couch next to her. “So, Vadim, tell us all about your family. Do you have any brothers or gorgeous male cousins?”

“Both my siblings are dead.” He remained standing by Ella. “But I still have quite a large family.”

“Ooh, are they local? Can you introduce me to some hot dudes?”

“Madison!” Darlene thundered. “You are hardly old enough to be dating anyone!” She turned to smile at Vadim. “Are your family from around here? We’d love to meet them.”

She felt Vadim hesitate and replied for him. “No, they’re not. He’s Russian, remember?”

“Oh, that’s true, I don’t suppose that nasty government over there lets people out much.” She waved at her husband. “Shall we have a drink to celebrate Vadim joining our family?”

“How about my survival, Mom? Isn’t that worth celebrating too?”

Darlene patted her hand “But you wouldn’t have survived if Vadim here hadn’t agreed to ‘mate’ with you, whatever that means.”

“It means Ella and I are bonded physically, emotionally and psychically for life.”

She glanced up at him while he was speaking. There wasn’t a hint of mockery in his voice or his expression. When he said it like that, it sounded so...permanent.

“It is.”

“Shut up!”

“You might as well get married, then!” Darlene laughed. “Although I don’t envy you having to deal with all that Otherworld stuff.” She hesitated. “You do know about that, don’t you?”

“Oh, he knows. Probably more than I do.”

Darlene continued to ignore Ella and grill Vadim, while her father passed out glasses of champagne. “And you’re okay with her being like that?”

“I’m fine with it. I wouldn’t have volunteered to be an OCOS mate if I hadn’t been.”

Darlene patted his cheek. “You’re obviously a saint.”

Ella made a gagging sound. “Hardly that.”

Darlene grabbed her elbow and steered her into the kitchen. “You should be grateful he took you on, Ella. Now that you have him hooked, try not to lose him too quickly, okay?”

Ella took the bag of peanuts her mom handed her and dumped them in a bowl. Several bounced out onto the floor. “Didn’t you hear what he said? We’re in this together for life.”

“Men say these things, dear, but do they really mean them?” Darlene pointed her bread knife at Ella. “Let’s