Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Conall stood with his arms crossed over his broad chest, his legs slightly splayed as he squinted against the morning sunlight. He’d just caught Thea sending a little fae magic into the soil to help her vegetables flourish.
It was now a well-guarded pack secret that Thea MacLennan was the first hybrid fae werewolf in existence. After she’d unleashed the golden light five years ago that helped her and her fae siblings close the gate to Faerie, the fae magic her werewolf side had suppressed had started to trickle out.
Thea stood, brushing soil off her hands. “Where are the kids?”
“With their cousins.” Conall stepped toward her, a heated look in his eyes.
Two years after they’d had Niamh Caledonia, they had their son Brodie. Then six months ago, Thea had given birth to their second daughter, Mhairi. With their sacrifice in battle, Mhairi and Brodie Ferguson had left behind grown children of their own who were moved by Thea and Conall’s decision to name their children after their late parents. The pack had also lost Kenneth Portpatrick, Fiona Scott, and Paul Macbeth. It had been a hard hit. But together they grieved, and every year they held a large dinner and ceilidh to celebrate the lives of their fallen pack members.
“I know that look.” Thea rested her hands on her hips. “Every time I see that look in your eyes, I end up pregnant.”
“If that were true, then we’d have thousands of pups running around at our feet.” He grinned cockily, the scar that scored down the left side of his face, from the tip of his eyebrow to the corner of his mouth, lifting slightly with his smile.
Her mate didn’t look a day older than when they’d first met. Back when he was hunting her and she was trying to evade him.
When her fae powers began to return, Thea feared it meant she was destined for immortality after all. The thought of living forever had always terrified her. Even more now knowing her mate, while long-lived, wasn’t immortal. However, Niamh, with her extra fae abilities that truly made her the most powerful being on Earth, had assured Thea she could sense her cells aging.
Sure enough, after Mhairi was born, Thea found her first gray hair.
Immortals’ hair did not gray.
Time would tell for their children Nee, Brodie, and Mhairi. They were hybrids too. Two months ago, five-year-old Nee revived a dying bird cupped between her hands. Thea had felt the familiar energy emitting from her daughter when it happened and knew she’d inherited Thea’s faeness.
Conall reached for his wife, sliding his arms around her waist to pull her against his body. Beyond him, Loch Torridon glimmered in the sunlight. Their vegetable patch was on the hill behind their large house. Thea had been so lost in her “cheating,” she hadn’t heard Conall drive off or drive home.
Without the kids.
He caressed her cheek as she melted into him.
“Where is my Thea today? You seem lost in your thoughts. If it’s too soon, you know it doesnae bother me to wait.”
She raised an eyebrow.
Conall laughed huskily. “I miss you, but believe it or not, it’s not sexy if you’re not into it.”
Giggling, Thea pressed her forehead to his strong chest. “It’s not that. I’m just … thoughtful today.” She tipped her head back to meet his striking, loving gaze. “But I miss you too.” Smoothing her palms over his pecs and down his thick biceps, her voice lowered with need. “How long do Callie and James have the kids?”
Conall’s sister and her mate had welcomed their own children two years ago. Twin sisters, Roisin and Isla. They had their hands full as it was. Looking after five children under five wasn’t an easy task.
“They have help. So, we have three hours.”
Thea bit her lip even as a rush of arousal thrummed through her. “I started taking the pill again.”
“I know.” Conall cocked his head to the side in confusion. “Is that a problem?”
“You know?”
“Of course I know. I notice everything about you.”
Love suffused her at the gruff romantic words. “So, you’re okay if we’re done with kids? For now, at least.”
“Of course.” He tipped her chin, searching her face. “I want whatever you want. We have three beautiful bairns, and if that’s all we have, I’m happy.”
“I just want some time with you and our kids without adding anymore babies into the mix.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” Conall bent his head to brush his mouth over hers. Her lips still tingled at his touch. Her excitement for her mate had never faded. “I love you, Thea MacLennan.”
“I love you too.”
Without another word, Conall swept her up into his arms and strode toward the house.
She laughed. “Eager, are we?”
“We went from rabid hormonal pregnancy sex seven months ago to nothing. Did I mention I miss you?”