Bronx sits on the ground next to the bed and puts his hand under my leg, gently swinging it back up so I will lie back down.“No need to get up, Baby. I just got done with my therapy session.” He takes my hand, kissing it softly then holding it on the side of his face. He looks deep into my eyes, as if he’s trying to find permission within himself for something. “Kas, I’ve just been thinking. I- I don’t know… I just need to talk, I guess. There’s stuff I don’t want to talk about in front of the Doc. I don’t want you to think I’m making excuses. I… I want you to understand where my mind has been the past couple years, cause I think that’s the only way you and I will really be able to move forward.”“Okay, what’s on your mind, Sweetheart?” I watch him as he works through his thoughts.Bronx seems to go through a gamut of emotions before he shakes his head, then lets my hand go so he can rub his face. He sighs heavily and looks at me, as if he’s ready to speak, but opens his mouth and cl
Bronx’s POV“Henri, thank you so much for doing this. Kas has training right now. She’ll stop to say hello after you’re settled into your suite.” I shake my friend’s hand when he arrives at the front steps of the packhouse. His mate, Sofia, and personal guard, Francis, stand with him. Sofia kisses my cheeks and hugs me. Francis gives a polite nod, but keeps his hands behind his back, still at attention.I’ve known Henri for years. I met him when I was in the military and consider him a mentor. He was an Alpha Regent for his pack in France before his son took over and they voted Henri into a position on the Elder Council. He was the one who recommended sending Kas to Lady Camille’s coven. He even married Kas and I. It’s only appropriate for him to perform the ceremony for us to officially become chosen mates.“How could I not?! You’re damn lucky the Council didn’t have you executed when they found out what you did to Kas. I can’t believe they didn’t strip you of your Regent status.” He
“Bronx, we need you at the front door.” Reggie comes through a mindlink. “Bro, now is not a good time.” I lean my head back against the wall and look at the door to Kas’s room. She’s been in there with Psyche for over an hour. “I’m waiting for Kas to get done in the hospital wing.” “Yeah well, looks like Elder Henri’s guard, Francis, is mated to a Goddess… and did you know the Healers can create a force field around themselves when they’re scared? Cause if you didn’t, now you do.” Shit. I grit my teeth and growl to myself. Why now? Why does everything have to turn to shit all at once? I take a slow breath to calm myself before I reply. “Which healer and is anyone hurt?” “No one has been hurt as far as I can tell. Lena is in like… a cocoon? Sort of? I assume she can get out if she wants, but how the Hell could I know for sure?” “Cocoon?” I stand up and walk toward the nurses’ station. “Like… a crystal cocoon? Send Marco a picture. Ask him if it’s what Kas looked like when she turne
“Kas, we can postpone the ceremony. Henri will understand. No one will be upset about it.” I wipe her tears away and kiss her cheek. “We can even go to Lune D’or when Lena goes to visit Francis and have Henri do the ceremony there if we want. Henri would be happy to do that. You know they love having us visit. Musu and Marco can go visit her parents with their twins. If we wait until Delilah has her pup, she and James can visit the Coven with their new little one and Xander. ”“No. Want to do it tomorrow like we planned.” She sniffs and shakes her head. “I don’t want to let Aphrodite think she’s beaten us.”“So you and the Doc really think she’s the reason you reacted like that earlier?” It still sounds farfetched, but does it really sound that crazy? It’s been three months since Kas agreed to be my chosen mate and Aphrodite has made our lives really uncomfortable.“Whether Psyche thinks so or not, I know it. When Klay cracked the whip, I heard that obnoxious buzzing sound, and I lost
Kas’s POV“Sorry I’m late. The door to my suite was stuck closed.” Henri announces as he comes into the Bronx’s office. He trips on his shoelace, but Milo catches him before he hits his head on the corner of the desk. Henri holds his hand to his heart. “Ah merde [Oh shit]! That has never happened to me before.”“Are you alright, Alpha?” Musu rushes to his other side.“Yes, my dear. Merci.” He shakes his head. “I-I don’t know what happened.”“Aphrodite, Sir.” Milo pats him on the back. “As much as I hate to say we should hurry with something like this… we, uh, should hurry.”I look around the Bronx’s office at our ranked members and closest friends. It disappointed the Menae when I asked them not to attend, but they understood my reasoning. If anything were to happen to them because Aphrodite throws another tantrum, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. As much as I wish Maya and Dre could be here with us, it’s just not safe. As a consolation, the Menae get to babysit all the childre
Bronx’s POV“Happy Birthday, Princess. How is Daddy’s sweet girl?” I pick Maya up and tuck her into my arm when I see her waddle out of the bedroom. Her long mousy brown hair is tangled on top of her head and the sleep is still thick in her eyes. “Where’s Mommy and Dre?”“Dey snuggle in big bed.” She leans her head against me and yawns with a growl. “Maya hungry, Daddy.”“Oh, well, good news. I got your eggs with sausage bits and toast and strawberry jam.” I kiss her cheek.“No, Daddy.” She scowls and points at the plate. “Maya want birfday cake.”“Birthday cake is later, Princess. You have to have breakfast first, so you’ll grow big and strong.” I pick the plate up and take her to the table. Instead of making her sit in her booster seat, I let her sit on my lap and help her with the tiny fork. “We’re going to celebrate with your friends. Katie will be there and Inez, Mandie, and Codi. Does that sound good?”“Can’t we let her have cake now AND later?” Saint whines. If it were up to hi
As soon as we leave the salon, I head straight to the fourth floor and make a beeline for Milo’s office before Kas can see me. You know, before she can see Maya.I knock on his office door and wait until I hear him answer back. I step inside and put Maya down.“Hey Bro. What’s up?” Milo looks up from his paperwork. “Maya! How’s my gir- Maya? What happened to your hair?”Maya runs behind his desk and climbs on his lap. She rubs her hands over the freshly buzzed sides of her head. “Maya got haircut like Uncle Milo! I pretty now.”“Well, you’re always pretty, Maya, but what do you mean ‘Like Uncle Milo’?” He rubs the back of his neck, trying to understand her. You can practically see the light bulb turn on. “Y-you mean when I was a teenager?”“Like da picture.” Maya pouts at him. “Miss Nanny showed me.”“Maya wanted a haircut for her birthday.” I help decipher. “We just came from seeing Annie in the salon. We couldn’t figure out what kind of haircut Maya wanted until she saw a picture of
“You ready to show Mommy your new haircut?” I set Maya down and smile at her.“Yeah. I show Dre too.” She hops on her toes. “He say Maya pretty. He like Uncle Milo haircut.”I pause before I open the door. The twins are deeply connected, but she says it like Dre already knows. “Maybe they are psychic?” Saint wonders out loud.“Maybe?” I hum. “It might be worth asking the Doc.”Maya rushes into the room. Only a few kids are there so far playing in the corner while Kas, Ashley, and Delilah finish setting up. Marybeth and Elisa are arranging platters of food. I stay close to the door in case I need to make a run for it. Maya runs up to Kas. She holds up her drawing, excited to share it. “MAMA!! Look at da picture! I maked it!”Kas looks down with a big grin, but when she sees Maya, her face drops. “M-Maya… your hair…”“Yeah, Mama. Maya pretty now. LOOK!” Maya holds the picture up. “I maked dis!”Ashley and Delilah stop what they’re doing. Ashley’s eyes grow wide and Delilah gasps at Ma