“Father,” the Wolf said. “Why are you here?”
“You've had her a good while, Son,” Father said. “It's time to bring her home.”
Home. I was home. Home was the Wolf's heart. Home was his kisses and his hands on my skin. Home was his sex in mine.
“No,” the Wolf said calmly.
“People are dying,” Father said softly. “They need her. They need you. You said you'd bargain with her. Did you? Did you come to an... oh, Gods, Little Frami, please stop doing that.”
I looked up at the words. I knew this Father. I had laid between him and a woman with soft eyes. They held me while I cried... over the Wolf. My hand withdrew. I wrapped both of my arms around the Wolf's waist instead. Then I laid my head on his shoulders and stared at the Father Wolf.
“Thank you,” Father said in relief. “Son, try to remember. There is more than this. This is good; I'm happy you have this. But there is more. There is family.”
The Wolf made a satisfied sound and smiled.
“We have family here,” I said proudly. “I carry his son.”
Father's face broke into sunshine. His smile made the scars on his cheek disappear. He was beautiful; so like my Wolf.
“I...” Father swallowed roughly. “I'm so happy, VeúlfR. Congratulations, Vervain.” He turned and shouted, “We will have another prince!”
Cheering came from far away; outside the bedroom where the Wolf and me loved each other. But there was also shocked exclamations, and Father's eyes shifted angrily toward them.
“He has waited too long for this,” Father growled to someone.
“We know, Fenrir,” the calm voice said again. “We're happy for him. Just startled again. She's only been gone five days.”
“It only takes five seconds.” Father settled back into his happiness and looked at the Wolf. “You got what you wanted, Son. Now, bring her back to us. Look at her; you've taken her into her beasts. Is this truly what you want?”
The Wolf turned and looked at me. His hand caressed my face, and he smiled softly. I smiled back at him. I never wanted to see him sad.
“Yes,” my Wolf said. “She is what I'll always want.”
“But there is so much more to our little frami than this,” Father said. “She is strong and brave. She's wise and loving. You are robbing her of her humanity to satisfy needs that have gone unfulfilled. I understand, but this is enough, VeúlfR. Enough!” The last word cracked through the room.
The Wolf sighed deeply; his shoulders settling. “Get out; I will bring her back.”
“No,” I whispered.
Father nodded and shut the door.
The Wolf turned to me.
“No!” I shouted and clung to him. “Don't leave me. You promised to stay.”
“I'm not leaving; I will never leave. I love you, Mate,” he vowed. “I love you beyond myself. Beyond this body and its desires. And I love more than your body and desires. We must leave now and live like gods again. Our son will need his family; all of them.”
“Our son,” I whispered as the joy of those words whipped through me again.
“Look at me, Mate.” The Wolf held my face in his hands and stared into my eyes, but it wasn't just me he spoke to when he said, “Release her.”
Something whimpered inside me.
“Release her!” He snarled.
I roared; pushing him away.
“Is this what you want, Dragon?” He used Father's words against us. “You want her here with me forever? Don't you have somewhere else you'd like to be?”
The dragon settled.
“I thought so,” the Wolf looked smug and sad at the same time. “Release her. It's time to go home.”
My beasts withdrew suddenly, and I gasped as I fell forward. My body was alive in ways it had never been before; my muscles tight and lean. I felt strong and sexy and... guilty. Not for what I'd done with the Wolf but for what this might have done to my other lovers. I had languished here in pleasure while they had doubtless worried for me. Had I helped one to hurt the rest?
“Oh, no,” I whispered and lifted my head. “How long have we been here?”
“Try to breathe deeply,” the Wolf said. “You've been controlled by your animal nature for awhile. It will take time to adjust.”
“How long?” I asked again.
I wasn't mad at him for what he did. I was mad at myself for forcing him to it. Mad that if Katila hadn't done what he'd done, I might never have discovered Trevor's secret pain. I would give Trevor anything he wanted to make up for it. I would stay in that animal state for months if he wished it. It wouldn't be a hardship. But not now. As Fenrir had said; it was time to go home. Oh, sweet gingersnaps; I'd stroked Trevor's cock in front of Fenrir. Wait; what had he said about people dying?
“Five days,” the Wolf said.
I shook off the remnants of desire and beast-brain and slid off the bed. The Wolf watched me warily. I found my clothes in a pile off to the side of the bed. They had been there since the moment I'd removed them. I slipped them on; feeling a little silly for dressing in leather and boots. But it was far better than sauntering downstairs naked or in a sheet. I think I'd given everyone enough of a show.
Everyone. Oh, wow. Azrael and Odin were here. And I think I might have heard Kirill. Was anyone else with them? Toby and Re? That was not the way I would have liked to have announced my pregnancy.
Pregnancy. Damn; the hits just kept coming. It was like pulling myself out of a wild dream only to discover that
