[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
take pleasure in helping to teach other people s little ones. I have stickers at my house
that I use with the little ones I teach. I ll bring them back and give them to you. When
the boys do something very good, place a sticker near their name on the chart I ll make
you. When they fill a row, they get a treat. Something they really enjoy be it a sweet,
extra play time, whatever. It should help to cut down on the number of escapees you
have at nap time.
Bless you, child, the woman said. You were sent by the bird gods, for sure.
She left and Kabril and Rayna looked at her. Rayna smiled past her at Aeson. Hear
that? She wants a house full. You better explain to her that the males determine how
65
Mandy M. Roth
many children are in a womb at a time not the female. I know I was surprised when I
learned.
Shelby stiffened. I m not having children with Aeson.
Aeson touched her shoulder. We can speak more of them later in private.
Aeson, she said, refusing to look at him. I can t have children. Daddy explained
it to me when I was young.
Rayna stepped closer. And what did your father say?
That my mother died while giving birth to Shelton and I. That I couldn t ever have
a child with a human male because of the risk that the child would develop traits of the
bird shifter and that I couldn t ever have a child with a bird shifter male because I was
more human than not and like my mother, my body wouldn t be able to handle the
stress.
Surely he did not mean you could not have children with your chosen mate,
Kabril said. Rayna was fully human when I mated with her. She carried the boys with
ease. As did Paige with Sachin s young ones.
Daddy mentioned true mates before. He said my mom wasn t his but that he d
somehow been blessed with Shelton and me. He kind of feared that like my mom, I d be
able to get pregnant from any male not just my chosen or whatever it is you call it.
And that my body would suffer because of it.
Rayna stared at Aeson. What does your gut tell you?
Kabril laughed. He hopes no children come of their union. See the way he looks at
the boys. I think he fears them.
Aeson pulled Shelby against him. My gut tells me when the time is right, we will
be gifted with new life and that Shelby will be safe, so will the babes.
She glanced back at him. You d have to claim me first and remember, you agreed
to give me time to think about it all?
Kabril coughed.
Aeson shook his head, staring at his brother.
She does not know? Kabril asked.
66
Master of the Hunt
Know what? Shelby asked.
Aeson sighed. Shelby, about the me claiming you.
She paused. Aeson, you didn t.
There was a pensive shimmer in the depths of his eyes. I did. In my defense, I
couldn t help myself.
She gasped. Aeson, you promised!
I know but you are hard to resist, my sweet sparrow.
She poked him in the chest. Don t you sweet sparrow me. You are so in trouble
right now.
He hung his head like a scolded child, reminding her of his nephews. Yes, wife.
She jolted at the word wife and he snickered. Shelby smacked his chest. You are
sleeping alone tonight and probably tomorrow night too.
His eyes widened and the smile faded from his face. But, Shelby&
Rayna laughed. Oh, Kabril, look. They remind me of us when I m mad at you.
How do you not kill him if he s anything like Aeson? Shelby demanded.
Rayna snorted. It s hard. Wish I could say it gets easier with time but they re a
stubborn lot. What do you say we go get ready for the feast this evening and leave these
two to think about how to behave?
The king blinked. I did not misbehave. It was my brother.
Oh, I m thinking you ve done something I just haven t learned about yet, Rayna
said.
I would never, Kabril said, a sly grin on his face.
So that wasn t you who was sparring with one hand tied behind your back earlier
today?
He gulped. N-no.
Aeson laughed.
Shelby pointed at him and he shut up.
Rayna looped her arm through Shelby s. Let s go.
Sounds like a plan.
67
Mandy M. Roth
68
Master of the Hunt
Chapter Ten
Aeson landed gently with Shelby on the balcony of her Earth home. He didn t like
the fact they were back, but he d promised her he d bring her home long enough to
gather what she wanted most. Several guards had come with them. They landed on the
balcony as well and Aeson twisted enough to face them. Check the dwelling first.
Assure it is safe.
With a nod, they headed into the home and a few minutes passed before they
returned. Prince, it is empty.
My thank you, he said, releasing Shelby enough to permit her to walk on her
own.
She snorted. Are you planning to be this overprotective the rest of our lives?
Yes, he responded evenly, taking her hand in his as he entered the home. He led
her in and ignored her tiny grumblings about his need to assert his manhood . She
would never understand that it was inborn in him the fierce need to assure his mate
was safe and protected, regardless.
He dipped his head and kissed her quickly, stopping her tantrum before it could
become full-blown. She smiled up at him shyly, and he thought about her lips wrapped
around his cock. Her brow quirked.
Stop thinking dirty thoughts.
I am& not? he said, clearing his throat.
She laughed and released him. My brother said he and Dad packed my bags and
put them on my bed. Can you bring them down?
Of course. You will remain here?
She nodded.
Aeson went up the stairs and stopped when he entered her bedroom. There were
bags upon the bed, but they were opened and everything was thrown about. Rhios was
a soldier and it was against his very nature to be so messy. Aeson s hackles rose.
Something was wrong. He spun and shouted, Shelby!
69
Mandy M. Roth
He ran, missing a number of the steps and hitting the wall in his clumsy haste to get
to his mate. He made it to the main level and spun. Where was she? He spotted his
guards on the balcony.
Where is my mate?
They twisted, looking at him. She commanded us here.
She did what? he asked, unable to believe what he was hearing.
She growled when we followed her into the cooking area and said very clearly
stop following me, go look busy on the balcony or something . [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl freetocraft.keep.pl
take pleasure in helping to teach other people s little ones. I have stickers at my house
that I use with the little ones I teach. I ll bring them back and give them to you. When
the boys do something very good, place a sticker near their name on the chart I ll make
you. When they fill a row, they get a treat. Something they really enjoy be it a sweet,
extra play time, whatever. It should help to cut down on the number of escapees you
have at nap time.
Bless you, child, the woman said. You were sent by the bird gods, for sure.
She left and Kabril and Rayna looked at her. Rayna smiled past her at Aeson. Hear
that? She wants a house full. You better explain to her that the males determine how
65
Mandy M. Roth
many children are in a womb at a time not the female. I know I was surprised when I
learned.
Shelby stiffened. I m not having children with Aeson.
Aeson touched her shoulder. We can speak more of them later in private.
Aeson, she said, refusing to look at him. I can t have children. Daddy explained
it to me when I was young.
Rayna stepped closer. And what did your father say?
That my mother died while giving birth to Shelton and I. That I couldn t ever have
a child with a human male because of the risk that the child would develop traits of the
bird shifter and that I couldn t ever have a child with a bird shifter male because I was
more human than not and like my mother, my body wouldn t be able to handle the
stress.
Surely he did not mean you could not have children with your chosen mate,
Kabril said. Rayna was fully human when I mated with her. She carried the boys with
ease. As did Paige with Sachin s young ones.
Daddy mentioned true mates before. He said my mom wasn t his but that he d
somehow been blessed with Shelton and me. He kind of feared that like my mom, I d be
able to get pregnant from any male not just my chosen or whatever it is you call it.
And that my body would suffer because of it.
Rayna stared at Aeson. What does your gut tell you?
Kabril laughed. He hopes no children come of their union. See the way he looks at
the boys. I think he fears them.
Aeson pulled Shelby against him. My gut tells me when the time is right, we will
be gifted with new life and that Shelby will be safe, so will the babes.
She glanced back at him. You d have to claim me first and remember, you agreed
to give me time to think about it all?
Kabril coughed.
Aeson shook his head, staring at his brother.
She does not know? Kabril asked.
66
Master of the Hunt
Know what? Shelby asked.
Aeson sighed. Shelby, about the me claiming you.
She paused. Aeson, you didn t.
There was a pensive shimmer in the depths of his eyes. I did. In my defense, I
couldn t help myself.
She gasped. Aeson, you promised!
I know but you are hard to resist, my sweet sparrow.
She poked him in the chest. Don t you sweet sparrow me. You are so in trouble
right now.
He hung his head like a scolded child, reminding her of his nephews. Yes, wife.
She jolted at the word wife and he snickered. Shelby smacked his chest. You are
sleeping alone tonight and probably tomorrow night too.
His eyes widened and the smile faded from his face. But, Shelby&
Rayna laughed. Oh, Kabril, look. They remind me of us when I m mad at you.
How do you not kill him if he s anything like Aeson? Shelby demanded.
Rayna snorted. It s hard. Wish I could say it gets easier with time but they re a
stubborn lot. What do you say we go get ready for the feast this evening and leave these
two to think about how to behave?
The king blinked. I did not misbehave. It was my brother.
Oh, I m thinking you ve done something I just haven t learned about yet, Rayna
said.
I would never, Kabril said, a sly grin on his face.
So that wasn t you who was sparring with one hand tied behind your back earlier
today?
He gulped. N-no.
Aeson laughed.
Shelby pointed at him and he shut up.
Rayna looped her arm through Shelby s. Let s go.
Sounds like a plan.
67
Mandy M. Roth
68
Master of the Hunt
Chapter Ten
Aeson landed gently with Shelby on the balcony of her Earth home. He didn t like
the fact they were back, but he d promised her he d bring her home long enough to
gather what she wanted most. Several guards had come with them. They landed on the
balcony as well and Aeson twisted enough to face them. Check the dwelling first.
Assure it is safe.
With a nod, they headed into the home and a few minutes passed before they
returned. Prince, it is empty.
My thank you, he said, releasing Shelby enough to permit her to walk on her
own.
She snorted. Are you planning to be this overprotective the rest of our lives?
Yes, he responded evenly, taking her hand in his as he entered the home. He led
her in and ignored her tiny grumblings about his need to assert his manhood . She
would never understand that it was inborn in him the fierce need to assure his mate
was safe and protected, regardless.
He dipped his head and kissed her quickly, stopping her tantrum before it could
become full-blown. She smiled up at him shyly, and he thought about her lips wrapped
around his cock. Her brow quirked.
Stop thinking dirty thoughts.
I am& not? he said, clearing his throat.
She laughed and released him. My brother said he and Dad packed my bags and
put them on my bed. Can you bring them down?
Of course. You will remain here?
She nodded.
Aeson went up the stairs and stopped when he entered her bedroom. There were
bags upon the bed, but they were opened and everything was thrown about. Rhios was
a soldier and it was against his very nature to be so messy. Aeson s hackles rose.
Something was wrong. He spun and shouted, Shelby!
69
Mandy M. Roth
He ran, missing a number of the steps and hitting the wall in his clumsy haste to get
to his mate. He made it to the main level and spun. Where was she? He spotted his
guards on the balcony.
Where is my mate?
They twisted, looking at him. She commanded us here.
She did what? he asked, unable to believe what he was hearing.
She growled when we followed her into the cooking area and said very clearly
stop following me, go look busy on the balcony or something . [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]