3013: FATED (23 page)

Her hand flew to her face, but she couldn’t feel any difference, even though she knew everything had changed. They’d claimed her. Her heart soared, and her thoughts reeled and bounced around the inside of her head. Could they even do that?

“What have you done?” she demanded, already looking around the room for a mirror or anything that would show her reflection.

“We claimed what was ours,” Dane said, grinning now.

“And it looks damn good on you.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because you’re ours, and we want the world to know it.” Vance got to his feet and offered her his hand. “Mirror is over the sink. This way.”

Dane stood too, scooping Annie into his arms on the way up. “Doesn’t she look pretty, sweet pea?”

Annie nodded. “You drawed pretty picture on Ciara’s face. You draw on me next?”

Dane groaned. “Uh. Sure. With something that washes off easily. No drawing on yourself, though, okay?”

Annie sighed heavily. “Okay, Daddy. But is pretty!”

Ciara couldn’t help but laugh at Annie’s commentary as Vance led her to the mirror. One look at her new reflection, and she had to agree with her newly acquired daughter. It was a lovely design. The letters were dainty, but her bonded’s initials were still easy to see. Her bonded. That’s what they were. Her mad, wonderful, incredible men had bound themselves to her forever.

“You aren’t going to get in trouble for this, are you?” she asked as she traced the design with her fingertips.

“It was pointed out to me by someone in authority that there is nothing in the laws stating we have to claim a fertile woman. So, no. We’re not going to be in trouble. And if anyone says anything, we’ll point them in Regent Travers’ direction. They can argue the point with him.”

“I knew I liked him.” Ciara turned and opened her arms. Within seconds, she had her family surrounding her, and she hugged them hard, tears of joy flowing down her face as she kissed each of them in turn.

“Does this mean you like it?” Dane asked. “If you do, I’m totally taking credit. If not…Vance did it.”

“I love it. And I love all of you. Annie, sweet pea, would you like me to stay with you always?”

Annie squealed and bounced in her father’s arms. “You be my mommy?”

Ciara’s heart soared as she kissed Annie’s cheek, covering her sweet face in tear flavored kisses. “Yes, baby. I’ll be your mommy.”

As she held on tight to her bonded and their daughter, Ciara’s heart overflowed with amazement and joy. This was more than she’d ever dreamed of, more than she’d ever dared to hope for. She didn’t know what the future would bring, but whatever it might be, she had a feeling fate would see to it they faced it together.

***

EPILOGUE

Ciara pushed back from her desk and sighed. She wanted to keep studying, but her brain wasn’t cooperating. She had too much on her mind. Since the day of the earthquake her life had changed in so many ways, all of it good. Still, there were times she missed her old life. At least back then, her days had been quiet.

Quiet wasn’t part of her vocabulary any more.

Her days were different now, fuller and far busier. There was school, and Annie, and she was working with Alayna as a liaison between the Alliance and the residents of the badlands. She made frequent visits to the new hydroponics farms that were being built near Fort Saken by the former residents of Black Springs. She brought Vance with her so that the people there could be seen by a proper doctor. At first it had been hard to step back and let someone else take care of the people she considered hers, but it was for the best. For everyone.

She didn’t have to worry about Will Aster ever bothering her again, either. He’d been found guilty on all charges and was already serving the beginning of what would be a lengthy sentence. He was out of her life forever.

She rose from her chair and stretched before taking a slow walk around her room. She hadn’t made many changes since she’d moved in to this bedroom. The desk was new, but she’d picked one that was made from the same honey-colored wood as the other furniture. It sat in one well-lit corner, usually half buried in notes and data files that were part of her assigned reading. She’d been back in the paramedic course for more than a month now, and if she could keep up her pace, she’d be done in another year or so. Her time as a medic in the badlands had given her experience and training that made parts of the course a whole lot easier than it had been the first time she’d attempted it, and she’d even been given credit for some of the practical elements.

Of course, it also helped that she had her own personal physician to study with. Every night after Annie had gone to sleep, the three of them would gather in the living room to share the details of their day, and she’d talk to Vance about what she was learning. It was one of the best parts of her day.

On the shelf above her desk was the ledger she’d saved from the wreckage of her clinic. The last name she’d written in it had been Annie’s. It stood as a reminder that she didn’t have to be a medic or live in the badlands in order to make a difference.

Coming to that understanding had also helped her let go of her anger at her parents. In the past, she’d pretended she hadn’t cared what they’d done to her. She’d buried the pain and tried to move past it, but the hurt was still there. Her feelings had influenced her choices whether she’d admitted to them or not. She’d hidden herself away in Black Springs in part because she hadn’t believed in herself. She’d tried to define her worth by how much good she could do in the world. She hadn’t walked away from her past. She’d carried it with her wherever she’d gone.

She didn’t want to carry that dark weight any more. It was time to forgive and let go. Old ways of thinking died hard and some days it was easier than others, but she was getting there. She’d finally come to understand that she was good enough. That she deserved to be happy.

A knock sounded on her door, and she knew it would be Dane, coming to check on her. It was part of their daily routine. She’d study until her brain hurt, and somehow he always knew when to appear at her door.

“Come on in,” she called.

He opened the door and leaned up against the doorjamb, arms crossed over his chest and a smile playing across his lips. She could see the top of his bonding tattoo showing along the side of his neck, the black lines that made up the initials of all their names vanishing beneath the collar of his shirt. She’d spent hours tracing each and every line on Dane and Vance’s body since their bonding ceremony and had every intention of doing so every night for the rest of their lives.

“Damn, you’re dressed. I keep hoping one day, I’ll open the door, and you’ll be studying naked,” Dane drawled.

“And one day, I will be. Just not today. You’ll have to try your luck again tomorrow.”

“I live in hope. You hungry? Dinner’s nearly ready, and afterward, Alayna and her bonded are going to drop by.”

“They haven’t had much time to be social lately. It would be nice to catch up. But first, dinner. I’m starving.”

He held out his hand to her, and she walked over and took it. In all the amazing ways her life had changed since she’d arrived in Fort Saken, the one she still marveled at was the fact she didn’t have to face life alone any longer. Good days or bad, no matter what, she was surrounded by people who loved her.

Later, they sat in the living room talking, Alayna curled up between her men, and Ciara snuggled in between hers. Annie was on the floor between them, all her attention on the drawing she was working on. It wouldn’t keep her occupied for long, but for now, Annie was quiet.

As Ciara looked around her, she couldn’t help but smile. This was the life she’d been born to have. It had just taken her a while to find the right path. The one that led her to Fort Saken, her bonded, and her family. The one that led her home.

***

THE END

Susan lives out on the Canadian west coast surrounded by open water, dear family, and good friends. She’s jumped out of perfectly good airplanes on purpose and accidently swum with sharks on the Great Barrier Reef.

She’s worked for local law enforcement, been a freelance wordsmith and bakes what she claims are the world’s best double-chocolate & caramel brownies. She’s passionately in love with the written word (and a few of her more hunky creations.) Writing is her joy, her escape from reality and the only way she knows of to quiet the nagging harridan of a muse the universe assigned to her.

Susan loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her at
[email protected]

For all titles by Susan Hayes, please visit

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3013: THE SERIES

http://3013theseries.blogspot.com

The 3013 Series

Books in the 3013 Series: (in order published)

3013: MATED – Laurie Roma

3013: RENEGADE – Susan Hayes

3013: CLAIMED – Laurie Roma

3013: STOWAWAY – Susan Hayes

3013: SALVATION – Laurie Roma

3013: MENDED – Kali Argent

3013: TARGETED – Susan Hayes

3013: CHAOS – Laurie Roma

3013: ALTERED – Kali Argent

3013: FATED – Susan Hayes