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.

you like to share

some clan mistake by her offer but instead he sat across from her and

into it, he said in a solemn tone, “In our culture, when a

a way of not being rude.

He was trying to be nice and she was throwing his attempts right back at him with a

apologize but he cut in brusquely before she could

been a loyal clan member since the day she was

put it that way, I sound like

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

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

“Once again you imply that I cannot keep you safe. I would protect you and our pups with

heart squeezed at the realization that he made no distinction between either pup, even knowing that one was not

at the same time but judging by the thunderous expression etched on the hard angles of his face…neither kisses nor tears were a

agrees that it’s not

Serra. Her advice

that in of itself is a red flag. Why are you so ready to defend Serra, yet toss me under the

tossing you under any

irritation, grumbling. “Here’s where going to public school might’ve done you a world of good. What I’m saying is, you need to start placing your faith in me, instead of constantly giving it to a woman from your past. Unless, that is, you really want her and not me. If that’s the case, I’m not going to stick around. Just give me the word and I’m gone. I can be

her feet in spite of

you can stop giving me that look because it doesn’t scare me or make me bite my tongue. I’m tired of everyone bossing me around or telling me how I should or shouldn’t feel, act or not act, 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 pain zinged up her spine, nearly

fell forward but Tieran caught her before she went crashing to the floor. “That h-hurts,” she managed to pant as Tieran hoisted her in his arms

does it hurt?” Tieran asked, laying her gently on the bed, worry replacing

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

of her top and began spreading

minutes of solid rubbing, Cassandra began to relax as the