Kereny had hatched a plan of her own for the archwarlock, one so crazy that Munro had wanted to implement it immediately. . . .
But maybe their luck would hold, and everything would remain quiet until after the babes were born. Hell, stranger things had happened in the Lore. He told Will, “In the meantime, I’ll feel better once we get this surgery behind us.”
Kereny was confident in their c-section plan. And as she grew more comfortable with her pregnancy, this time, and her new species, she struck him as not only powerful, but bloody dazzling. She was blooming.
Munro? Not so much. His dread was serrated, dipping and peaking, but it always had the bite of a blade.
That fear was a breath away from resentment. Did he want his sons? Aye, of course. But he needed her.
Though Kereny had been training rigorously to control her beast, the threat of the fork in the road loomed. He knew one thing for certain: his fate was tied to hers. If she became lost to her beast, so too would Munro to his. Where your mate goes, you follow. . . .
“What’s on your mind?” Will must’ve read his pensive expression.
Might as well get this over with. “If anything should happen to me and Kereny—”
“Wheesht, Munro. No talking like that.”
“It must be said. I would expect you to raise the twins as their father.”
As Will accepted the import of all Munro was trusting to him, he had to clear his throat. “Me, then? No’ Lachlain or Garreth?”
“You. You and Chloe are the godsparents.” Before, the idea of Will raising two babes would have struck Munro as ludicrous. Now he knew Will could do anything he set his mind to.
Because he’d done the impossible—total control of his volatile beast.
Will swallowed. “Aye. You’ve my word on it. Chlo and I would raise some good, braw lads.” He caught Munro’s gaze. “But it canna come to that.”
“No’ planning on it. Yet that’s the thing with bairns, you have to anticipate things you never did before,” he said, glad they’d gotten this conversation behind them. Lightening his tone, he asked, “So when do you and Chloe plan to spawn?”
“She says a century or so. I’m thinking she’ll fold sooner. After all, who can resist Hotter?” He slapped Munro on the back.
“Hotter?” Munro rolled his eyes. “My arse.”
Once they’d finished the second crib, they unboxed the car seats and headed to Kereny’s new SUV. She loved driving the back roads of the settlement and was eager to take to the highways once the warlock threat had ended.
Outside, the night was warm. Katydids sang in the light breeze. The moon was waxing, would be full again in four nights. He scowled up at it. “Here’s hoping I can control my beast this month.”
For each of the past full moons, he’d attempted to without success. His beast had been gentler with Kereny, but Munro couldn’t imagine the creature taking her this late in the pregnancy.
Munro had already been struggling not to fall upon her constantly, to give her room to breathe. But the more he had of her, the more he wanted. The pleasure was decadent.
She’d been delighted with their full-moon interludes in the woods, though her own beast had fought against her cuff more on those nights.
Will followed his gaze to the sky. “Chloe and I can stick around here, just in case.” They’d planned on running the woods of Conall that night. Will still hadn’t unleashed his beast since Munro’s capture and escape.
“No’ a chance. You two go enjoy the night.”
With that settled, they tinkered with the car seats, locating the anchors to strap down the bases. Job complete, Will said, “Going to go wake up my mate.” He waggled his brows. “The hard way.”
Munro had to laugh. “Off you go.”
After cleaning up the mountain of packaging, he slipped upstairs to his own mate.
A ray of moonlight shone through the window to bathe Kereny’s sleeping form. She turned toward the light, sighing at the comforting warmth. Silver illuminated her beautiful features and transformed body.
He sat beside her in their bed, stroking her long hair, but she slumbered on. Cocking his head, he listened for the bairns, sensing their heartbeats. When he placed his hand on her rounded belly, his Instinct declared —Future.—
Had his da felt this way when he’d sensed his own lads? Had Dùghlas and Ailis MacRieve shared a kiss and a hope for the days to come?
He wondered if they were looking down upon Munro and Will, cheering them on. Was Tàmhas pulling for his own da to do well? Munro missed his family, but he couldn’t grieve them, because they lived on.
His parents had sacrificed for their children—the best way to honor them was to live a good life. He would do the past proud by creating a new future. He murmured to the laddies, “Ach, you wee fuckers. What a time we’ll have of it.”
His voice must have awakened them; movement fluttered beneath his hand. Munro grinned like a madman in the dark.
Then came a tiny hand pressing against her skin. As if they recognized him.
Munro’s heart swelled until it throttled his lungs.
No breath. All feeling.
Hand shaking on her belly, he whispered, “Lads, be gentle with my treasured mate till I can bear some of this. I believe in her and the two of you. As your mam once told me, we can do this together. Aye, then? Everyone together.”
A tear slipped down Ren’s cheek, even as her lips curved. We believe in you too.
SIXTY-FIVE
“You wish we were out running,” Ren told Munro.
“Nay, lass, I’m happy right where I am.” They sat on the den’s couch together. He’d taken her aching feet into his lap, massaging them.
It was late on the night of the full moon, but Glenrial still buzzed. They had the windows open to the laughter, music, and howls, those sounds filling her with peace. I’m very happy with my monster life.
After months of practice, Munro had finally mastered his beast under the light. The incentive was there. After reading that intercourse might bring on labor, he’d said, “No’ on your bloody life! No’ when we’re days from the finish line. Does no’ matter that my beast is clawing me, and my cock feels like a crowbar.” Her eloquent mate.
Ren’s own beast had prowled for freedom as well, just as it did each full moon and with each training session. She glanced at her cuff. Somehow her temporary solution had lasted all this time.
She looked forward to the day when her future didn’t depend on an accessory. But the beast forever pawed at her control, and she forever swiped back. Though she’d managed to go a little longer without her cuff, she could tell her lack of progress concerned Munro.