“It’ll ease my mind knowing you’ve got it.” I wrapped her fingers over it and tucked it in the pocket of her flowery summer dress.
“Fine.” Aaliyah’s gaze coasted to Mia then back to us, her eyes turning to slits of warning.Shut the fuck up in front of the kid.
We were all down with protocol. A few times we had slip-ups with curse words, arguing, or shouting, mainly from Slade, but otherwise we had it under control. It took a bit of work to wipe away the sailor tongue.
“See you, Bossy Boots.” Slade bent forward and hooked an arm around Mia’s back, lifting her up for a kiss on the cheek and a cuddle. “Be good for your granny, okay?”
“I don’t want to go,” Mia sulked into his neck, fingers clawing into his cut.
Ditto. I didn’t want to leave her here with her grandma for the afternoon, even if she was with Aaliyah, locked behind tall gates, inside a secure mansion, armed to the teeth with security, and Castor remaining on guard.
Amanda Heller still hadn’t forgiven the Jackals for killing her husband and we were off limits. That didn’t mean we’d let our mate go unprotected when she visited family while we conducted vengeful business.
Slade bounced Mia to calm her. He stroked her semi-wet hair, all matted from drying in her helmet. On the way down to Aaliyah’s mother’s place, we stopped off atWet ‘N Wildto spend a day on the water slides. We hoped it would tire Mia out for her grandma, and she wouldn’t be whiny. Seemed the kid had endless energy, like damn Slade.
Aaliyah stroked the back of her daughter’s head. “Honey, it’s just for a few days. We’ve got to do some construction projects at the new house, and it’s not safe to bring you with us.”
Our excuse, at least. Sexy times ahoy once our business was complete. Female shifters had no way to avoid a heat, and as her mates, we couldn’t escape the feral need to rut. It wasn’t safe for Mia to be around when we submitted to our animal sides.
Last time, we contained Aaliyah’s first heat, avoiding her when she was down in the club’s basement cell. Part dictate from Slade because of her betrayal, and also because we smelled that sweet nectar and didn’t want to be lured into her honey trap. Things were very different now, and we were taking full advantage of her second heat.
This one came suddenly, a bit like a female’s first few periods where they sprang up unexpectedly and didn’t regulate into a steady monthly event. Shifter heats were sparse at four a year, and Aaliyah’s second hit her six months after her first, hence why we couldn’t plan ahead and had to arrange this long sleepover at the last minute.
“Why can’t I stay at Mike and Sally’s?” Mia grizzled.
Rusty’s kids. Mia never stayed at their place for longer than a night when her separation anxiety got too much, and she wanted to come home. Faced with three nights away from her mom scared the shit out of the poor thing, and she was about to kick up a fit.
Slade ceased the bouncing, whispering into her ear that he’d give her rewards if she was good. Only a devil would do that. Better to coax her with a reward like an extra hour before bedtime than give her sweets when she had to monitor her blood sugars.
“Honey, you know you can’t. They’ve gone camping and fishing,” Aaliyah soothed, rubbing her child’s back. “But when they’re back, you can stay the night, or they can come and sleep over with us.”
Memory hit of when I calmed Dylan after his mother passed out and left him lying in his piss and shit for hours. Of how he got a rash and skin infection from Amanda’s lack of care.
Fuck. Mia was a world away from that environment, but it didn’t stop the tears or tantrums when it came to withdrawing from us temporarily. Regret took hold of my lungs.
Wanting to give my baby girl comfort and something to get her through the next few days without too much distress, I threw my leg off the bike and went to the kid. “Come here, darlin’.”
She slid into my arms and crushed her body to me as hard as she could. “Don’t leave me, please.”
Her pleas snapped my heart in two, and the loud crack went down the bond. The same plea Dylan gave me when he didn’t want me to leave for work. Every nerve in my body fought against leaving her. I made a mistake four years ago, one I could never rectify, driving too fast on wet roads, swiping in and out of traffic, getting clipped by a car, and coming off my police motorcycle. For that, I never got to say goodbye to my little man, and I never forgave myself. Cold darkness consumed me at parting with my baby girl, and I squeezed Mia so tightly she whimpered.
Aaliyah might have erased Mia’s haunted memories, but she couldn’t do much to stop the desperate need to be by her mother’s side at all times.
“It’s just for a few days, darlin’.” I brushed my hand along her back and one along her silken raven locks. “We’ll call you every night, and if you miss us, you send us a message and we’ll Facetime you. Okay?” My voice came out a harsh croak.
A workaround. Kids loved that shit. Loved to know they had a semblance of control. To know they weren’t alone in this world and their parents would guide them safely wherever they were.
“Okay,” she grumbled then pecked me on the cheek, her icy anxiety slithering under my skin.
Resolute but not happy with the decision, she squirmed to get down. For a few seconds, I didn’t let her go, needing to hold onto her for a bit longer. To hold onto him. Both of them reduced the suffocation on my chest.
“Zethan?” Aaliyah’s touch prompted me to release my embrace.
Dashing away tears, she ran over to Alaric, throwing herself at his leg. He made her feel safe and protected and corrected her when she was out of line. I gave her stability and comfort. Castor, knowledge and wisdom. Slade, the frivolity of being a kid mixed with the authority she needed in her life.
Alaric crouched down beside her, taking her into his arms. “If you’re feeling scared, make your fortress and stay in there until you feel safe.” She nodded furiously, acknowledging each word. “What else do you do?”
She lightly scratched at her chin, reciting what he told her, “Ask Horus to protect me when you’re not there.”
