THE AWAKENING

The next few days passed with uncomfortable strain as Serra’s hatred and resentment settled on Cassandra’s shoulders like a heavy blanket and Tieran hadn’t visited since Serra had arrived, which only served to intensify her insecurity about having the woman in the house.

Cassandra rubbed her distended belly and muttered, “I’m living in a daytime soap opera.” In a normal world, there’s no way in hell Cassandra would’ve been living under the same roof as Tieran’s former love but then in a normal world she wouldn’t be carrying mystical twins who were growing like extraterrestrial weeds soaked in Miracle-Grow either.

Her back twinged and she groaned as she rolled to her side to ease the pressure. Iona had rubbed some kind of salve on her back that had helped but she couldn’t reach the spot on her back and Iona was gone for the day. And she sure as hell wasn’t going to ask Tieran to rub it on her.

Though, she thought unhappily, she missed his touch so badly she was nearly shaking with need.

As if summoned by her unspoken thoughts, Tieran appeared in her doorway.

The sight of him always took her breath away — damn the man — but who wouldn’t be struck dumb by a tall, muscular man who looked cut from marble with eyes that blazed with unrestrained hunger?

She took comfort in the fact that he was suffering from their sexual drought as much as she but the moment she was tempted to simply forget all that crap between them and just open her arms to him, she remembered they were not living in a fairytale and he was not Prince Charming.

More like Prince Not So Charming, she wanted to grumble.

“I’ve brought you breakfast,” Tieran said, walking in with a tray laden with lots of protein. Her nose twitched at thick slabs of pepper bacon and she actually smiled a little. “Ah, the first sign of happiness in days. I must remember to always bring bacon if I hope to coax a smile from your lips.”

“It would help,” she admitted with a small sniff. If only she wasn’t constantly ruled by the needs of her body.

First, it was the Phase, then the Breeding Time, and now…mystical pregnancy. Was she ever going to catch a break? What was next? She shuddered to even speculate.

She accepted the tray and immediately tore into the bacon. He watched with open approval at her ravenous appetite and she became self-conscious.

“Please don’t watch me eat. It’s weird,” she said, wiping her mouth and reaching for the orange juice. “It’s not like I don’t feel like a science project already.”

He chuckled and the sound warmed her heart, even if she was still mad at him. Why did he have to be so damn handsome?

Maybe if he looked like a three-humped beast she’d have an easier time forgetting about how badly she wanted to hump his brains out.

share with me?” she

gaze darkened and she wondered if she’d made some clan mistake by her offer but instead

into it, he said in a solemn tone, “In our culture, when a man and woman share their meal, it is a symbol

culture, it’s a way of not being rude. I’m not ready to pick out towels or anything. I’m still

of disappointment pinched at her conscience. He was trying to be nice and she was throwing his attempts right back at him with a little zing for

to apologize but he cut in brusquely before she

would have me turn out a woman who has been a loyal clan member since the day she was born, after she

that way, I sound like a

it?” he countered stiffly. “Is there something I’m missing? Perhaps leaving out a key

back. I won’t live in a house where I feel threatened. Nor will I subject my babies

imply that I cannot keep you safe. I would protect

between either pup, even

cry and she wanted to kiss him at the same time but judging by the thunderous expression etched on the hard angles

it’s not a good

never liked Serra. Her advice

is clouded when it comes to Serra and that in of itself is a red flag. Why are you so

am not tossing you under

woman from your past. Unless, that is, you really want her and not me. If that’s the case, I’m not going

struggled to her feet in spite of his thunderous

be or not be, simply because I was lucky enough to get caught up in this mystical mayhem that’s currently tossing me around from one calamity to the next and really pissing me off!” she shouted at the finish, too angry to notice that the persistent pain in her back hadn’t subsided until a sharp wrenching

pant as Tieran hoisted her in his arms as if she weighed nothing when in fact, she could probably accordion the spine of an elephant if

asked, laying her gently on the bed, worry replacing his

side and gesturing wildly. “Iona left a cream…it’s on the

time in grabbing the pot of cream and scooping a healthy dollop, then raised the hem of her top and began spreading the cream across her lower back, rubbing the pain

her muscles. After five minutes of solid rubbing, Cassandra began to