Page 128 of My Pleasure

Currently Nicol was wrapped around Hunter’s neck and Keran sat in Kiera’s lap.

“Dad, will grandma and grandpa be okay?” Nicol asked, in a timorous voice.

“You bet. They’re strong bears, your stinky uncle can’t keep them down,” he said, trying to keep his voice light.

Hunter shielded both kids from the body, cooling behind them.

Kiera held up her hand to Hunter. “I saved us.” For the first time in her life, she was able to use magic, and it saved their lives. The relief she felt was bone deep. She wasn’t a waste after all. True confidence filled the recesses of her heart. “I can keep us safe.” She smiled at her mate. “I’m not useless.”

He took her hand and held it tight. “You never were, my love. You never were,” he whispered.

*****

Hunter heard his cousins arrive. When he felt Nicol being lifted from his arms, he didn’t let go until he saw it was Connor. He would only hand the kids over to his family. He tried to concentrate, but his mind felt like it was on a two second delay and filled with cotton.

“Is he okay?” Kiera asked, clinging to his hand.

“He’ll be fine when Graham gets here,” Aiden said, in a low voice.

“Kiera, we’re taking the kids to the Nu estate,” Meryn said, holding Keran’s hand. “Nugget said he’d walk back with me.” At her side, Anne now held Nicol on her hip. Connor and Eoin flanked them on either side. Ryuu, Nigel, Neil and Pip waited just behind them.

“We’ll be there soon,” she promised.

Hunter felt his bear clawing at him with nowhere to go. His family had been hurt and he had done nothing.

“Where’s my mother and father,” a familiar voice demanded.

“Later,” Aiden said. “Your brother needs you more.”

He felt Kiera’s hand leave his as he was manhandled to face someone. When his eyes focused, he saw his older brother looking down at him. “Come with me, little brother.”

Graham lifted him and half carried, half drug him past their father’s garden, to the field behind the house. “Need help getting started?” he asked.

Hunter blinked.

“You do,” Graham said, nodding. Then he reared back and punched him across the jaw.

Hunter’s bear became laser focused on the pain as he opened his mouth and roared. He felt his body expand as he swung. Graham easily blocked him, and the second punch landed in his breadbasket.

Hunter felt the air leave his body. As he gasped, he looked up at his brother. “I let them get hurt!”

Graham shook his head. “Wrong answer.” Then kicked him in the chest.

Laying on the ground looking up at the night sky, he tried to remember how to breathe. “I failed!” he screamed.

He felt hands pick him up. “Wrong.” He turned to see his younger brother Ewan standing behind him. He pushed Hunter back toward Graham. His older brother’s fist flew and connected with his chin in an upper cut he would have admired if it weren’t connecting with him.

Once again, he was flat on his back looking up and breathing hard. Graham and Ewan looked down at him. Hunter swallowed hard. “That bastard almost took them from me.”

Graham nodded approvingly. “Good start. What else?”

“It happened without me knowing. I had no way to fight back!”

Graham’s eyes took on a bright sheen. “There it is.”

Hunter sat up. “Does my mate hate me?” Ewan thumped him on the back of the head.

Hunter scowled up at his younger brother. Graham reached down and Hunter flinched. Laughing, he messed up his hair. “Impotent rage is dangerous for shifters. It’s a dark, slippery road that eats at you. That rage will turn into guilt. That guilt will create barriers between you and your mate. And then your enemy wins again.”