Eventide of the Bear by Cherise Sinclair
Ryder grimaced. “She has a fondness for strong perfumes. Covers up lack of desire and lies.”
“Damn, that’s sneaky.” Owen’s brows drew together. “If the matter came before the Cosantir, he might not compel her to speak the truth—not the way he would a male. No matter that we’re in the twenty-first century, the Daonain still have a whopping double standard. Bet she counts on that.” He shook his head. “Don’t let that female win.”
“Owen, she already has.”
“Fuck.” The cat turned away, glowering. “Females. If they’re not clingy sluts, they’re manipulative liars. Can’t think of one I’d trust to have at my back.”
And Ben accused Ryder of being cynical. “Ah, that might be a little harsh. The bard is one to run the trails with.”
“Sure she is.” The tone and pitying look indicated the cahir thought Ryder was well on the way to toothless and senile. “You and Ben planning to claim her?”
The unexpected question speared him, fracturing his sternum, shattering his heart. “We…wanted to. I waited too long. Took me a while to get over what happened before, and how easily I’d been led by my dick. You know, after I’d lived with Genevieve for a while, I realized I didn’t even like her.”
“Yep. What I’m saying.”
“Not all females are bad, cahir.” Ryder shook his head. “Being with Emma is as comfortable as being with Ben. Having her around is…right. The more we’re together, the better we all fit.”
Owen shrugged and drank his beer. “But…you changed your mind about claiming the bard?”
“Yeah.” Because fitting together wasn’t going to help. Depression settled back on Ryder’s shoulders. “I can’t take the chance Genevieve will get her hands on Minette. When I get back, I’m packing up. The cub and I will go somewhere too far for Genevieve to find us.”
“You’d run from a fight?”
“Can’t fight a female.” Ryder scowled. “I fucking hate this. The kitten was finally happy. Relaxing. I even heard her humming with Emma yesterday.”
“Ben cares for the cub and for you,” Owen said slowly. “Littermates belong together.”
“I know.” Leaving Ben again would destroy part of his heart. Leaving Emma? That’d wipe out the other half.
But a male protected the cubs first. Always.
Ryder studied the lean cahir. If Owen felt that strongly about brothers being together, where was his? Gawain lived in Pine Knoll, not here. And although Gawain’d been at the full moon, he’d disappeared soon after.
“You know, Ben, Alec, and I are a team. We’ve all saved each other’s asses in fights.” Owen’s gaze was on the mountain range. “But last time was… That hellhound had me down, was going for my throat. Ben was gushing blood and still threw himself on that fucking demon-dog. If Alec hadn’t been right there to stab the creature…” He looked at Ryder. “I owe your brother.”
Knowing Ben’d been so close to death dried Ryder’s mouth, but… “He wouldn’t see it like that.”
“I know. Don’t give a fuck how he sees it.”
Ryder snorted. The cat was one opinionated shifter. He finished off the beer, leaving the dregs in the bottom, and rose. “I need to get moving.” Need to pack. Need to say goodbye. Need to rip our barely formed family apart again.
“Right. Appreciate the help.” Owen swirled the beer in his bottle. “Good luck fighting off the bitch from…from where again?”
“Farway. But I won’t be fighting. Not anymore.” After pulling off the clothes Owen had lent him, Ryder shifted, feeling the Mother’s love ease his heart. As the wildness of his cat nature surged to the forefront, he sniffed the air, letting his worries drift away. Part of the glory of being an animal was the ability to live in the now. Worries about the future faded into the background.
With a leap, he cleared the porch railing and started down the trail to home. And Minette and Ben.
And Emma.
He hadn’t realized how very much he’d hoped to lifemate her, to share her with his brother, to love her for a lifetime—not until the dreams were crumbling like leaves in the winter’s first frost.
Nevertheless, for one last night, he could wrap himself in the warmth of being with his littermate and the female they loved.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
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AS EMMA REACHED the last verse of the lullaby, she couldn’t keep from nuzzling Minette’s soft brown hair. Since Ryder was late returning from his trip to Owen’s, Emma had put the cubling to bed.
Nothing was as heartwarming as a sleepy, trusting kitten. Minette’s eyes were drooping, her breathing slowing, and small humming notes escaped her. The song must still be playing in her head.
Emma whispered the last few words and watched the little girl slide completely into sleep. Her cheeks and nose were pink from the sun, her hair glossy with health, her body now sturdy. She didn’t flinch or watch Emma, Ben, or Ryder warily. Trust had been long in coming, and the gift was a prize Emma cherished more than she could express.
Minette still had far to travel before she would extend that trust to others, but Emma didn’t doubt the time would come. However, with her vicious mother in town, the child’s recovery might be delayed.
That nasty female needed a good lesson.
Be rude? With an effort, she pushed her anxiety aside. Yes, her mother had required politeness—if not silence—but every cub eventually grew up, and every season came to an end. It was time to shed her mother’s control like last winter’s fur.
She’d had enough of being a frightened bunny. Like all shifters, she had an inner predator.
Now that she knew what Genevieve looked like, their next meeting would be less one-sided. However, fighting with Minette’s mother wouldn’t help the cub. In fact, she hadn’t thought of anything she could do to help Ryder and Minette defeat Genevieve.
Prayer seemed far too little. Nonetheless… “Mother of All, please watch over this cub and keep her safe.”
She kissed Minette’s rounded cheek. “Happy dreams, kitten.” Emma started to rise, stopped…and eased her braid from the tiny fist. The cubling had been playing, teasing the end tuft over her chin.
As she left the room, she heard noise from across the hall. Had Ryder returned?
Emma stopped in the doorway. “Welcome back. I…” Her voice trailed off.
He was filling a suitcase on the bed. Every dresser drawer was open.
“You’re leaving?” Her voice had emerged loud and shocked. She said more quietly, “Why?” The thought of him disappearing from her life rocked the floor beneath her. She curled her fingers around the doorframe.
His expression was grim, but his black eyes softened. “Minette and I can’t—” At the sound of footsteps on the stairs, he winced. “The Griz has good ears.”
Despite his size, Ben could move cahir-fast, and the thumps sounded as if he was taking the stairs three at a time. As he appeared in the door, his sharp gaze took in the signs of packing. His face tightened. “By Herne’s horns and hooves, what do you think you’re fucking doing?”
“You know what I’m doing, bro.”
“You asked to live here. Said you’d stay.” The anger didn’t cover the pain in Ben’s voice.
Emma felt tears sting her eyes. Both males hurt—and somehow that made her heart ache.
Ryder was leaving.
Emma’s grip tightened on the doorframe until her fingers hurt. She firmed her voice. “Maybe Ben understands what’s going on, but I don’t. Why would you leave?”
Ryder opened another drawer. “From the reactions I got at the construction site and in town, everyone’s convinced I’m violent. That I shouldn’t have custody of Minette.” His baritone was edged enough to cut flesh.
“People believe that?” Emma stared at him in disbelief. “They couldn’t, not all of them. People know you, have worked with you. How could they possibly believe her?”
He stilled. “You don’t have any doubt that she’s lying?”
Gratitude in his eyes, he cleared his throat. “Thank you, little bear.”
“We can weather this, bro.” Ben crossed his arms over his chest. “If we simply ignore the shrew and not give in to her demands, she’ll move on to richer hunting grounds.”
Emma nodded, hope rising in her heart.
Ryder shook his head. “That’s what I’d planned. But she’s too clever. I heard a couple of females saying I should be banished for stealing a cub and hurting the cub’s mother.”
“By the God!” Ben’s fist slammed into the wall powerfully enough to rattle the windows. “I’ll show her what hurt is.”
Ryder gave him a wry smile. “You can’t hit her, any more than I can.”
“Hell.” Ben’s shoulders slumped. “True. No matter how well deserved.”
They really were two of a kind. Tough—and protective. And this was going to break Ben’s heart. Emma curled her fingers around his, and he held on.
“So, that’s why.” Ryder’s eyes held the same grief as Ben’s. “Minette and I need to be gone before people call on Calum to render a Cosantir’s Judgment.” His voice faltered. “I’m sorry, bro. I wouldn’t leave you for anything less.”
The same devastation shone in Ben’s gaze before his jaw hardened to the granite of the mountains.
Ryder pulled in a slow breath, crossed the room, and took Emma’s hand between both of his. “Little bear, I wanted…more…for us. For us all. But, can you find it in your heart to stay with Ben? He’s going to need you.”
Tears filled her eyes, turning his face blurry. He was leaving. Her heart already ached from the hole his absence would create. “Ryder,” she whispered. “There has to be something we can do.” Her fingers trembled in his warm hand.
“I can’t risk it. No shifter can go against a Cosantir. Minette and I have to be away before he can speak.”
“But—”
Ben set his hand over both of theirs. “He’s right. He stole a cub from her mother. There’s no telling how a Cosantir’s Judgment might go.” His eyes turned steely blue. “But littermates belong together. If you leave, I leave.”
Ryder took a step back. “You can’t do that. You have friends, a business, a home.”
Emma stared at the males she loved. Both of them? Gone? I only just found them.
“I didn’t realize how empty my life was until you and Minette and Emma arrived,” Ben said simply, echoing her own feelings. “Let’s move so far away the shrew won’t find us until Minette is an old lady.”
Ryder didn’t seem able to speak, and Emma remembered her first sight of him. She’d never have guessed then that his hard, cold face held a heart with so much warmth. How could she stand to lose him?
Ben put an arm around her and tugged on her braid. “Do me a favor and compose a nasty song about Genevieve.”
She swallowed back her tears and forced a smile. “I will do that.” She’d make a fine story. An evil, scheming mother. An innocent little cubling. Two intrepid males. Maybe even a nice female bear?
“Good.” The corner of Ryder’s mouth lifted slightly. “Fuck, I’ll miss you, little bear.” Leaning forward, he kissed her, unhappiness in his scent.
A song of mourning whispered in her mind.
He touched her cheek and stepped back. “Minette and I have to leave now, unfortunately. Do you want to think about this some more, bro? Meet us somewhere?”
“Nope. We stay together. I have business matters to hand off to others, but the Cosantir is out of town until Tuesday. Let’s try to get out of here Saturday night.” Ben rubbed his shoulder against the doorframe. “Sunday is dark of the moon. We don’t want to be on the road then.”
On the road when hellhounds were out? No way. Emma suppressed a shudder. She absolutely wanted to be in an impenetrable house on that night…and she needed to find a new place to live, didn’t she?
“I’d consider it a personal favor if you’d stay here, Emma,” Ben said as if reading her mind. “Until you find somewhere you’d rather be. The house would be lonely if we all leave at once.”
She nodded, trying to imagine the house empty of male voices…and the patter of Minette’s little feet. It was good, good that the others would be together and safe, but her heart kept crying at the loss.
“Saturday, then.” Ryder’s bed, covered in clothing and bags, received a rueful look. “Who wants to offer me a bed?”
“Mine is big enough for all of us.” Ben pulled Emma against his solid body and anchored her to his side with a steely arm—and oh, she needed the comforting hold right then.
“But not until you take a shower, bro,” Ben added. “You still have sawdust in your hair.”
SAWDUST? SHOWER? RYDER turned. At Ben’s nod toward Emma, he caught on. Two hunters. One adorable little prey.
By the God, how could they leave her behind? His heart already ached as if some creature had clawed it open.
He ran his hand through hair and nodded. “Yeah, I’m a mess. So are you, Griz.” Picking up the bait, he ran with it despite the effort it took to keep his tone light. “And Emma looks as if she was mud wrestling with the cub. Is your shower big enough for three?”
“As a matter of fact, yeah. C’mere, li’l muddy.” With a smooth move, Ben scooped Emma off her feet. When she gave an unbearlike squeak, he laughed, but Ryder could see the grief in his eyes.
“Let’s go, bro.” Ben led the way upstairs to his room and set Emma on her feet in his master bedroom.
Pausing to lock the door, Ryder watched as his brother pulled the bard’s sweater up and off.
Her eyes widened. “Ben, this isn’t… Ryder, we shouldn’t…” When she anxiously looked at Ryder for help, he actually found a smile.
She was theirs—and they were going to share. To please their female as littermates should. No matter how far they’d travel from her, she belonged to them, and them to her. Perhaps someday, he and Ben could return and claim their mate.
For now… “Yes, little bear. We should.” The rightness of the moment filled Ryder, moving him forward. She was all pale, smooth skin covering luscious curves. He ran his finger down her arm. “I want to touch all of that silky skin.”
“Aye. You have too many clothes on, sweet honey bear,” Ben agreed and undid the back hooks of her bra.
Ryder slid the garment off and filled his palms with her full breasts.
Her pupils dilated.
Ben reached around to unzip her jeans and knelt to tug them down to her ankles. Since she was barefoot, Ryder gripped her waist and lifted her up so Ben could slide everything right off.
“By the God, you’re beautiful, Emma,” Ryder said. A confused flush lit her face and saddened him. She still didn’t believe she was lovely. He’d only been working on her insecurity for a few days. And now, he wouldn’t see her achieve complete confidence. Wouldn’t be the one to help her become more secure.
“Yes, you are so very beautiful.” Ben stood. Brushing Emma’s hair to one side, he kissed the curve of her neck and put his arms around her so he could fondle her breasts. “Mmmhmm, I do love these.”
Her laugh was husky with arousal and sadness. “You’re male. Of course you do.”
Stripping down, Ryder tossed his clothes in a heap on the floor. The cool air felt like a shock against his overheated skin.
She stared at his erect cock. “Um…I thought we were showering.”
Fuck, she was sweet.
“Oh, darlin’, you know we’re going to do more than that.” Ben turned her head far enough to ravage her mouth. “A lot more,” he whispered. His eyes revealed his sadness, even as he smiled down at her before pushing her gently into Ryder’s arms.
As Ben undressed, Ryder pulled Emma closer, storing up memories of how her smooth skin felt against his. How her female form padded her muscles to make enchanting curves for his hard hands to caress. Her brea
He looked up. Ben had disappeared. The shower turned on.
All right then. He lifted Emma and cradled her close to his chest. As always, her expression held wonder, as if being carried made her feel special. If only he could stay, he’d carry her everywhere if that’s what she needed to feel as beautiful as she really was.
The warmly hued Mediterranean master bath had granite tile flooring and brownish-gold marble countertops. Smoky glass surrounded a shower easily capable of holding three people. An equally massive soaking tub stood in front of the arching tower windows. “Obviously built by a comfort-loving bear.”
“Damn straight.” Ben lowered the overhead lights to a seductive dimness.
When Ben held open the door to the rectangular shower area, Ryder carried Emma in. Water fell in a steady stream from three overhead rainfall devices. Hand-held showers hung neatly on the left and right walls.
As Ryder set Emma on her feet, Ben entered the shower, closed the door—and pushed her under one of the downpours.
Her hair was drenched immediately. Rather than screaming, she laughed. “You’re an evil bear.”
“Aye,” Ben agreed.
Ryder shook his head. Fuck, was anything finer than the way she enjoyed life? How could his love for her keep growing? He could swear the feeling had started the size of a pea and now felt more the size of a mountain—and the ache at the thought of losing her had grown to that size as well. If only they could stay.
Understanding in his gaze, Ben nodded to a container on the wall. “Shampoo.”
“Right.” While Ryder lathered Emma’s long hair, Ben started washing the dirt from her body, making chiding noises when he found scrapes and scratches. “Gonna have to talk with those cubs, tell them to play a little less rough.”
“DON’T YOU DARE,” Emma managed to say, “or I’ll wallop you.” Her last words sounded strangled as the scent of the males’ desire surrounded her, pulling her into a whirlpool of need. They both chuckled—and caressed her with firm, callused hands.