“You don’t sound all right. You sound like you’re in a lot of pain.”

Of all the times for her to be astute…

He looked at the new blood seeping through his shirt and grimaced. “Nah, I’m fine.” But, grateful this wasn’t on video, he mouthed the words, “Son of a bitch,” at the throbbing wound. “Are you okay?”

“Believe it or not, yes. Maman didn’t attack. In fact she told me to call you and warn you that Zack is after Wren. As we suspected, he lied to get Wren’s money.”

“I’ll let Vane know.”

“Okay… I miss you, baby.”

“Ditto.” Fang held the phone tight in his hand, wanting to keep her on the line, but not knowing what to say. He’d never really been one for chitchat. Snide comebacks were another matter, but actual conversation was beyond him.

“I’ll try and slip out in a little bit to see you.”

He smiled at the thought. “I’ll be here, waiting.”

“Okay. I love you.”

“Me too.”

She gave a short laugh. “‘I love you, Aimee.’ You know it wouldn’t kill you to say that, right?”

“I know.”

“All right then. On that note, I better go. See you later.”

Fang winced at the sound of her hanging up the phone. He closed his clamshell and wanted to cry from the pain inside him. But he wasn’t that kind of wolf. Tougher than steel, he refused to let anyone know just how much Aimee meant to him.

His heart heavy, he went downstairs to relay her message to Vane, who wasn’t thrilled by it. He left immediately to warn Wren while Fang stayed to watch over Bride.

“Is that blood?”

He glanced down at his shoulder. “A little. I’ll go clean it.”

“Sit.”

The sharp command of her tone made him raise a single eyebrow.

Bride smiled. “Sorry. I’m bossy, I know. My father’s a vet who works with Carson and I grew up in my dad’s clinic. Sit down and let me see what I can do.”

He did as ordered while she went to the bathroom to pull out a small medicine kit. He started to pull the shirt off, but the pain was such that he simply dissolved it.

Bride sucked her breath in as soon as she saw the nasty wound. “Did you get bitten?”

“Yeah. By one pissed-off bear.”

“Papa Bear?”

He nodded.

Bride pulled out a piece of gauze and soaked it in peroxide. “You’re probably lucky he didn’t aim lower.”

Fang didn’t speak as his gaze fell down to the mark on her hand. He looked at his own that was empty. “Is it hard for you living with animals?”

She pulled back. “I don’t consider any of you an animal, Fang.”

“We’re certainly not human.”

She took his chin in her hand and forced him to look up at her. “I was raised to respect all life-forms. Hairless, furred, finned, and feathered.”

“Yeah, but it has to be hard to live here without your kind around.”

“Hardly. You’re all my family. My kind fills this house.”

Fang pulled away as he considered her words. Most of all, he wondered if Aimee would ever really feel that way about him. Love was one thing, but she’d already chosen her family. Apparently his love wasn’t good enough.

And that made him sick. Besides, even if she did, he was still in service to Thorn and he had no soul. He had no real freedom.

What could he ever really offer her?

Aimee knocked lightly on her mother’s office door. At her welcome, she pushed the door open to see her mother at her computer.

Nicolette leaned back slightly in her chair. An impeccable pose that was sophisticated and authoritative. “Is there something you need?”

Fang.

But she bit her tongue as fear rushed through her. Her mother had been understanding earlier. Would that continue?

“I wanted to talk to you about Fang.”

A shield fell down over her mother’s face. “There is nothing to discuss.”

“You had me warn him.”

“As a favor and to right a wrong. You know, daughter, exactly why you and he can never speak again.”

Aimee tightened her grip on the doorknob behind her. “And if I can’t live without him?”

“You will do as we all do. Your duty. Feelings have nothing to do with our mating and this you know. Look at your brother Alain. Does he pine for his love? Non, he has his mate and he has taught himself to be happy.”

“I want to be happy, Maman.”

Nicolette pinned her with a cold stare. “Your duty will make you happy. Trust me, ma chérie. In time you will do as you should and Fang shall be forgotten.”

Aimee didn’t believe that for a minute, but she knew better than to argue. Her mother wasn’t about to budge on this.

“Very well, Maman.” She opened the door and left.

What am I going to do?

She wanted to thumb her nose at her family and be with him. But would it be worth it?

Flashing herself upstairs, she materialized in the nursery where Alain’s youngest cubs were napping in bear form. It was a sparse room that had a fake tree for them to climb on and the walls were painted with a cozy forest theme. The two of them curled together like giant balls of fluff on the thick green carpet, instead of on the bed in the corner. One cub was brown and one black. Beautiful and sweet, she adored her nephews.

Aimee lay down beside them so that she could lift Bryce’s paw and play with his claws while he slept. She remembered lying on her brothers in much the same fashion when she’d been a cub.

Pain ached in her breast as she remembered Bastien’s face. She missed her brothers more than anything. Time had done nothing to ease the pain or the sadness.

Which made her wonder if she’d ever be able to get over Fang. Or would he haunt her the same way?

Yet as she looked at Alain’s cubs, she had to think it was worth it. Had he not done his duty, he wouldn’t have such beautiful children.

If she went with Fang, she’d be sterile. A wolf and a bear would never be able to have children.

You could adopt.

That was certainly true. She loved Wren like family and Fang even more so. But an adopted child would never inherit her seat.

Maman would never forgive her for that.

“Why do I have to choose?” she breathed, choking on unspent tears. Why couldn’t she have found one single bear to mate with?

I’m so broken.

Sighing, she left her nephews and headed for her own room. But with every step she took, she felt sicker inside.

Eli Blakemore paused beside Cosette as she communed with her spirits. On her knees in the middle of the room, resting in the center of a black cloth with a pentagram and strange writing painted on it in blood, she held her hands up and spoke in gibberish while her eyes were rolled back in her head.

Honestly he hated this bullshit and the stench of her incense offended every olfactory sense he possessed. Most of all, he wanted to swipe his hand across the voodoo altar she had in front of her and send it all flying across the room.

But that would offend her. So he waited as she danced and sang and carried on.

It seemed like forever had passed before she finally settled down and opened her eyes.

“Well?” he asked.

“There is disharmony in their home. The daughter is promised to a wolf.”

He curled his lip in repugnance. In that one moment, his resolve against the Peltiers was set. How dare they be so unnatural. “That’s disgusting.”

“Not to them.”

“Trust me, it is. But…” He let his voice trail off as ideas rushed through his head.

“But what?”

He laughed at the simplicity of the plan that could ultimately ruin them. “The bearswan will be looking for a way to be with him.”

“And?”

He smiled wryly. “I think it’s time for you to brew one of your potions.”

Cosette laughed as she finally understood.

Pleased with himself, Eli folded his arms over his chest. Soon those parasites would be gone and if he played his cards right, he would also eliminate his greatest obstacle of all.