Eventide of the Bear (The Wild Hunt Legacy #3) (26 page)

“Emma?” Bree prompted, her blue eyes gentle.

“It’s not a person,” Emma said. “My last Gathering”—
her first and only Gathering—
“was a disaster. I haven’t been back since and…I’m scared.”

“Oh, I know how that can happen,” Bree muttered. She squeezed Emma’s fingers. “My first Gathering was so bad that Calum made Donal knock me out.”

“Seriously?” Her story simply cried out for a song.

Vicki half-grinned. “I don’t think I was terrified. But to learn I had to go through this shit every month—and fuck all night long? I was more than pissed off.”

Bree rolled her eyes at her friend. “Why am I not surprised?”

“You both had trouble?” Emma shook her head. Why had she assumed everything went perfectly for everyone else?

“Oh, definitely.” Bree smiled. “Do you want to tell us what happened?”

Never.
Emma shook her head. “I’d rather not talk about it. But, isn’t it silly? I knew the full moon was coming.” Ben and Ryder had even told her they were helping her get used to having males’ hands on her. “I’m just…scared.”

She stared at the orange fire, seeing the black eyes of a salamander resting in the coals. She’d already had this talk with herself. Had decided to stay.

No one here knew her, so being revealed wasn’t the problem. The question was… Would she put young males in danger if she showed up? Would she somehow incite them to fight? If only she knew what she’d done to incite Gary and Andre to fight. The fear that she’d inadvertently repeat her actions was crippling.

Unfortunately, the night was a blur. Her memories had been tattered by the overwhelming nature of uncontrolled lust and then the terrifying end.

But…she was older now. Maybe she could handle herself. Keep from doing…whatever she’d done. A tiny, hopeful song wafted into her mind. Calum said it was the young males who had trouble with their own control—she could try to stay away from them.

“You know, you live with two males,” Bree said. “I don’t know Ryder, but Ben is awfully nice.”

“He is,” Emma said. “Actually, Ryder is much nicer than I thought at first.”

“If they know you’re worried about the full moon rites, they’ll help, you know,” Vicki said. “You can start the Gathering by taking them to bed. Once the ice is broken, you’ll feel more comfortable. They’ll also help you find other males who will be good to you.”

Start with…
Vicki meant she should mate with Ben and Ryder? She could. Sex was what happened at a Gathering. They’d touch her, kiss her—and she’d be able to kiss and touch them back.
Oh. Yes.

The tavern seemed to have grown extremely warm, and she realized she was hugging herself.

Bree and Vicki were laughing.

“I’d say she’s on-board with the idea,” Vicki said.

Emma bit her lip before grinning ruefully. “I guess I am.” Needing time to cool down, she drained her beer and rose. “My turn to provide drinks. What can I get for you two?”

“Calum will know,” Vicki said. “And when you return, we’ll discuss what you’re going to wear. We’re talking sexy, sexy, sexy.”

Clothes?
Emma stared for a second, thinking about the conservative clothing she’d worn to her first Gathering. Obviously, there was more to learn than she’d thought. “Be right back.”

She made it halfway across the room when a massive male stepped in front of her.

“Li’l bear, you smell like Gathering night already,” Ben rumbled. He bent, sniffed her hair, and pulled her into his arms. “Fuck, you’re testing my restraint.”

Oh, by the Mother, he felt good. As her breasts flattened against his solid chest, she gripped his muscular biceps. They were harder than the boulders that scattered the mountainsides.

When she tipped her head back to tease him, he took her lips.

Startled, she tensed, then as his scent reached deep into her soul, her mouth softened.

His hand fisted in her hair, pulling her head back as his tongue took possession. He held her firmly…and took and took and took.

Everything inside her melted like a snowpack under a hot sun.

He lifted his head and chuckled, low and deep. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.”

Her eyes opened wide. “Really?”

Ben grinned.

“Really, little bear. You’re gorgeous.” Ryder’s voice was a resonant baritone under the noise in the bar. When he moved closer, Ben turned her and steered her right into his littermate’s arms.

Ryder, shorter than Ben, still towered over her. His muscles were lean—ripped was the term—and he was far stronger than she was. When he gathered her to him, molding her against him, she felt wonderfully trapped. Powerless. Fragile.

Female.

He nibbled her lips, and when she opened her mouth under the silent pressure, he slid his tongue in. Like his voice, his kiss was smoother than Ben’s, darker, and he encouraged her to kiss him back, giving a hum of satisfaction as her tongue fenced with his.

When he released her, the brothers had her penned between them, each with a hand on her upper arm. And the scent of their desire—for her—was headier than the first fragrance of spring.

They wanted her.

The corners of Ben’s eyes creased with his smile, and he ran his finger down her cheek. “You’ve got us all het up, darlin’. Were you doing something now, or shall we take you home and to bed?”

Bed? Doing something?

She stared at him blankly. He was looking at the empties in her hands. Alcohol for her friends. “I…I have friends here.” The hum of desire almost drowned out the music from the jukebox.
Friends. Right.

“All right.” Ben let her go.

She took a step forward.

Ryder laughed, and with a steady hand, he steered her around the chair in her path before letting her go—with a pat on her butt.

“By the God, I love her ass,” he muttered to Ben.

“Mmmhmm,” was Ben’s gravely agreement.

Okay, maybe all their desire was merely anticipation of the full moon, but oh, she loved being wanted. She managed not to turn, not to hug them for making her feel absolutely sexy and beautiful, but she couldn’t help walking to the bar with a wide smile on her face.

And her ass swaying.

*

Not much later,
Ryder was deep in a discussion with Owen and Ben about the best way to secure isolated cabins against hellhounds when he noticed the time. “We’ll need to continue later. I have a cub to pick up.” Angie’s second daughter was in town and her children were Min’s age.

When Ryder had left, the cubs had been tumbling over each other like kittens in a basket.

“Nah, you stay put. I’ll get the cub.” Ben rose.

Ryder frowned. “You usually stay longer.”

When Owen asked, “Are you all right? You look like hell,” Ryder realized the lethal-looking cahir did have a heart.

“Just tired.” Ben grimaced. “Donal said my energy will be used for healing for another week. I fucking hate it when he’s right.”

“No shit,” Owen muttered in sympathy, despite his grin.

“I’ll put the cub to bed.” Ben hesitated and glanced over where Emma was laughing with the Cosantir’s female and Breanne.

Reading his littermate’s concern, Ryder said, “Don’t worry about the little bear. I’ll walk her home.”

“Females,” Owen muttered in disgust.

Ignoring the cahir, Ben smiled at Ryder. “Might be a fun Gathering this month.”

“Yeah.” Anticipation curled in Ryder’s gut, and he hardened. He’d never kissed any female as sweet as the little bear. Even better, he’d get to share her with his brother. Nothing felt as right as pleasuring a female with his brother beside him. “It might at that.”

Ben lifted his chin to Owen and left.

Leaning back in his chair, Ryder studied the brusque cahir for a second. “Been wondering. Do you have an aversion to Emma or bards, or…”

“Bards are all right.” Owen took a drink as if he had a bad taste in his mouth. “I don’t like females.”

Ryder nodded. “I had the same opinion. My experience with one shrewish cat was so bad I figured all females were untrustworthy.”

“My friend,” Owen said, “They are. Don’t get taken in.”

Ryder almost grinned. And he’d thought
he
had problems. “You need to get to know the bard. She—”

“Ryder. I found you.” The female’s voice was one he knew too well. All silky seduction. The razor’s edge that’d leave a male scarred was well hidden…for the moment.

Gut knotting, Ryder turned. As always, her scent was masked by the expensive human perfume she wore. “Genevieve.”

“My darling, we need to talk.” Her gaze swept over Owen, obviously noting the cahir mark over his cheekbone. She gave him a predictably flirtatious sweep of her artificially lengthened eyelashes. “I’m sorry, cahir, but I have to talk with my male.

Not gracing her comment with an answer, Owen turned to Ryder. “Want me to stay, or want me to dump her ass outside?”

The cahir
really
hated females, didn’t he? As tempting as it would be to sic Owen on her, Genevieve was Minette’s mother. Unfortunately. He’d try talking first.

“How dare you speak about me with such disrespect.” Her voice had sharpened.

Owen ignored her.

A glance at her heightening color and flashing eyes suggested their talk had better happen outside the tavern. Ryder tossed some bills on the table and rose. “Thank you, but I think it’s best if she and I go for a walk. Sorry to cut our talk short.”

“No problem. I’m due at my sister’s house soon anyway,” Owen said.

Ryder motioned to Genevieve. “We’ll take this outside.” Not waiting for her answer, he walked across the tavern and into the chill night air.

Left without a target, she followed. She wasn’t yelling at him yet, which meant she wanted something.

He doubted that
something
was her child.

“Ryder, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I can’t believe I finally found you.” She put her hand on his arm, turning at an angle to showcase her curves. “I’m so happy you finally spent time with the cub we created together. Isn’t she wonderful?”

What the
fuck
did she want? As if he didn’t know. How had he ever been so lust-struck as to fall for her act? Disgust with himself made his gut twist. “Get to the point, Genevieve.”

“Oh, Ryder, how can you be so cruel?” Her hazel eyes filled with tears, desolation in her expression.

Damn, she was good. And he wasn’t even tempted. “We’re done here.” He tried to shake her hand off his arm.

Her grip tightened. “You don’t understand. We share a child—a beautiful little cub—who needs her mother. I know that you and Ben are rattling around in his big house like two acorns in a squirrel hollow. You need a mate.”

Disquiet ran an icy hand up Ryder’s spine. Genevieve had seen Ben’s house. “You stay away from Minette. Far, far away.”

She recoiled as if he’d slapped her, and her tears spilled over. “I miss you, my darling. I want to be with you—and
my
child. We can be together.” A faint smile tilted her lips. “I know you remember how very good together we were.”

“Oh, you’re a fairly good fuck. Considering you’ve probably practiced with every male in the Pacific Northwest, you should be.” He peeled her hand off his arm. “I don’t like you. Don’t want to be anywhere near you. And you’re not going to get anywhere near Minette after the way you abused her. So crawl back into whatever slimy hole you emerged from.”

Anger narrowed her eyes. “You think you’re going to mate with that enormous, ugly female? You think she’s prettier than me?

Enormous female? Did she mean Emma? His laugh burst out. “If you mean the beautiful blonde, yeah, mating with her is exactly what I intend.” Soft and sweet, inside and outside. Generous and real. Oh, yeah, he definitely intended.

“No one takes what’s mine.” Her face twisted—and there was the real Genevieve. “You are mine—and so is Minette. I’ll be damned if I let you get away with this.”

He shook his head, disgusted with her, with her selfishness, her self-centeredness, her petty tantrums. “Right. Go away, Genevieve.”

The tavern door creaked as few of the wolf pack emerged. He recognized the snippy one named Candice.

“You’ll be sorry you screwed with me,” Genevieve gritted out and burst into loud weeping.

The shifters stopped to look.

“I want my baby back.” Genevieve clutched his arm, pulling at him.

“Stop it.” He shook her off. “You know you—”

“How could you steal my cub from me?” Her voice cracked as she backed away from him. “You’re evil. A
monster.
” Sobbing as if her heart was breaking, she staggered to her car and got in.

“You’re the monster,” he gritted out. Should have yelled the words, he thought, as he saw the way the stunned group of shifters watched her drive away.

Oh. Shit.
This felt far too familiar.

‡