Eve Langlais (26 page)

“Dammit! I can’t believe he lied to me.” Hunter’s face grew tight with anger and anguish. How awful it must be to know his own father, someone he trusted, had lied to him and hurt him. Gee, kind of like her own mother. The two should get together.

But Suzie wasn’t about to let him off the hook that easily. Hunter was a grown man who knew his father well enough to know how ruthless he could be. And even in the short time they’d known each other, he should have known her better than that.

Still annoyed and showing it in her tone, she said, “I can’t believe you thought that load of crock was the truth. Did you really think I’d let you make love to me if I thought you were some kind of monster that frightened me? Did I ever look away from you in disgust or push you away any of the three times we made love?”

Hunter hung his head as if in shame and sat back down in his chair. “I understand why you were so pissed now this morning. I had no idea. When I came back, still hurting from my injuries, and my father told me what had happened, it never occurred to me it wasn’t the truth. I mean, he’s my father. Why the hell would be lie to me?”

“Because he didn’t want you getting hooked up with a mundane slut with two evil kids.”

“He didn’t say that?” said Hunter, brows arched in astonishment.

“Not those exact words, but yeah. He didn’t think I was good enough for you or the family. So he made an executive decision to take care of the problem. He figured if I was gone, you’d come to your senses and marry the girl he had picked out for you.”

“What? I told him years ago, I’d marry when I was damn good and ready and that the choice would be mine. After all, I’m the one who has to live with that decision the rest of my life. I’m sorry,” Hunter said, shaking his head. “I should have known he was lying. I knew his hatred of the mundanes ran deep, but I never thought he’d do something evil like this. And I certainly had no idea of his plans. Can you ever forgive me?”

“You, I forgive. Him, no. But what happened to you? Why did it take so long for you to come back?

I thought you didn’t care about me anymore.”

“First off,” he said, sliding off his chair to his knees beside her. “I never stopped caring for you.

Hell, this might seem like a crummy time to say it, but I love you.”

Suzie felt tears pricking her eyes. He loved her? “But why did you leave me for so long?” she said in a lost little girl voice, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. “I was so afraid and lonely.”

“After I flew off with the Dragon, it was hours before he finally landed and we fought. He’s dead, by the way. He won’t be coming back to hurt you or the children. But he hurt me, bad. I thought I was a goner, but some woodsmen came by and took me to their hut in the woods. They treated me best they could. Still, it was almost a week before I was coherent enough to tell them who I was. Then, it was almost another week before help arrived. When I did finally get home, I was still sick. The wounds had gotten infected. My mother spent days healing me. When I finally recovered, my father gave me his version of events. I spent a week moping around, depressed and cursing you. Then Nat asked me why the hell didn’t I come back and confront you. Lay the demons to rest, so to speak.”

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“Oh my God. I never realized,” gasped Suzie, still crying. “I’ve seen the way your mother can heal. I guess it never occurred to me it might be a rare talent in your world. All this time I’ve been sitting here thinking you didn’t care. Or that your father had managed to convince you to marry some proper little lady.”

“Never!” he said vehemently, his eyes earnest. “The only person I want to marry and spend my life with is you and the twins.”

Sweet words, but, “Your father will never agree.”

“To hell with my father!”

Suzie felt like dancing, even as the tears kept rolling down her cheeks—damn hormones! He loved her. He hadn’t left her or abandoned her. It was a scheme by his father to separate them. Talk about a Romeo and Juliette story. Except here they had a chance at a happy ending now that the truth had come out.

Speaking of which, Suzie knew it was time to tell him her news. He deserved to know. She only hoped it didn’t scare him off. Sure, he’d talked about starting a family, but that had been just talk. She being pregnant that was a whole different kettle of fish. She opened her mouth to tell him, bracing herself mentally for his reaction, when she heard voices out front.

“It can’t be,” muttered Hunter, getting up and trying to peer through the archway to his front bay window.

“Is that your dad I hear?” asked Suzie as the voices got louder. Oh yeah, she’d recognize that harsh tone anywhere. And the softer one, could it be Beverly?
What’s going on?

“Sounds like my mom, too. Come on,” he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her up. “Let’s go find out what’s going on. I have a few things I’d like to say to the commander.”

As did she, thought Suzie. She only hoped the yelling didn’t wake up the kids.

* * * *

Hunter held Suzie’s hand firmly in his as he walked to the front door of his house. No way was he ever letting her go again. He felt like such as ass for believing his father’s ridiculous lie. He should have the word gullible printed across his forehead. But when he’d come back so weak and half delirious, he’d felt such a blow when she hadn’t been there to greet him. And he still had a hard time believing his father had the nerve to drug Suzie and the twins and cart them off with no one being aware of it. How had he hidden it from his mother? She usually knew everything that was going on, and Hunter knew she’d never have allowed it. Or had his mother been part of the plan? Did she also harbor a hidden dislike of Suzie? Well, they were here now, and by the higher powers, he was determined to get some straight answers.

Hunter flung open the door and stared dumbstruck at his parents on his front lawn yelling at each other. Hunter had never, ever, ever seen his mother yell at his father. She’d always been the soft-spoken one, the mediator, and here she bristled, standing toe to toe with the commander, her petite frame looking somehow tall and menacing. Enough that his father cringed before her.

Leaning against the Magical Emporium van in the driveway was Bob, an amused grin on his face as he avidly watched the yelling match.

Hunter decided to ignore his brawling parents for a second, and still holding Suzie’s hand, walked over to Bob.

“What the hell are my parents doing here?”

Bob grinned wider. “Well, first, the commander came through the portal. Said you’d come back here without authorization and he was coming to take you back. Seemed real pissed about it. Then next thing you know, your mother shows up, and she starts yelling at him. Your mother is one tough lady, Hunter.

I’ve never seen anybody stand up to the commander like she is.” Bob’s face shone with admiration. “She 103

told him she was coming along with him because this was his fault and, by the higher powers, he was going to fix it. He kept telling her to stay out of it, that he had things under control and it was for the better. They fought the whole way over and, well, as you can see, they’re still going at it.”

Hunter groaned and rubbed his face. Good news, sounded like his mom wasn’t part of the commander’s plan. Bad news, he had to get in the middle of this spat and referee.
Exactly how does one go
about telling their parents to stop acting like children?

More voices joined the fray as Nat came out on Suzie’s front porch, a crying twin on each hip.

“What the hell is going on? All this screaming woke the twins up. Mother? Father? What are they doing here?” Nat asked while bouncing the kids on her hips.

“Oh no,” exclaimed Suzie, letting go of his hand and hurrying across the lawns to see the twins.

Hunter rolled his eyes heavenward, praying quickly for patience, then followed her.

The kids quieted as soon as they saw their mother and reached out arms to her. Suzie wasn’t as strong as Nat, though, and staggered under their combined weight. Hunter came up behind her though and helped her hold them, sliding his arms around the twins so they could hug Suzie.

The kids beamed through their tears when they saw him.

“Hunta! You back,” said Jessica, holding out her arms to him. Hunter, with a smile, scooped her up and hugged her tight. He’d missed her sweet little smiles.

“Of course I am, little angel. How could I ever leave my favorite girl?”

Jessica giggled in his arms. Jared, holding on to Suzie, though, scowled at him. “You made my mommy thad.”

“I’m sorry about that, Jared. I never meant to hurt her. I have apologized, though, and I promise to do my best to never make her sad again.”

That seemed to make Jared happy for he stopped scowling and snuggled in Suzie’s arms.

But Hunter remained angry. How dare they wake the kids with their argument and scare them? Time to put a stop to it.

“Hey, baby girl, can you go to Nat for a minute? I’m gonna make my mother and father stop yelling.

Is that okay?”

Jessica nodded and allowed Nat to take her from Hunter’s arms.

Nat looked at him and mouthed, “What the hell is going on?”

“The commander did something bad to Suzie and the twins, and I think Mother found out.”

Nat’s face went slack jawed with surprise, and she turned questioning eyes to Suzie who just shrugged.

Hunter strode across the lawn till he stood a couple of feet away from his mud-slinging parents.

“Enough,” Hunter bellowed, his tone eerily like his father’s on the training fields back home.

Instant silence.

“I hope you’re both proud of yourselves. You managed to wake and frighten two small children, not to mention make an absolute spectacle of yourselves.” He turned to his mother. “You know, Mother, I expect this kind of behavior from the commander, but you?” Hunter let his anger and disgust show in his tone and look. “Come on. It’s obviously time for a family meeting, and I don’t think the front lawn, in front of the neighbors, is the best place to do it.”

Hunter turned on his heel and started walking. Tempted to look back to see if they were following, he restrained himself. It wouldn’t do to show weakness and ruin his speech. That was the first time he’d ever spoken to his parents like that, and he felt a little nervous about it. Although, really, what could the commander do? Send him to his room?

Hunter walked right up to Suzie and Nat holding the kids, and motioned for them to go into the house.

“I think I should put the kids back to bed,” said Suzie.

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“Good idea,” said Hunter. “I’ll make sure my parents behave. ‘Night guys.” Hunter leaned in to give Jessica a big kiss, which made her giggle, and a manly pat on the back to Jared who finally smiled back at him.

“I’ll help,” said Nat. She followed Suzie upstairs while Hunter stayed in the front hall, waiting for his parents.

Through the door came Hunter’s parents. Subdued for the moment, however, Hunter could see his mother still bristled, and his father had a sullen look on his face. Hunter shook his head at them. How many years of repressed anger had his mother been holding in to lose it like that? And his father must have been feeling pretty guilty to take it without completely blowing his stack.

Hunter motioned them to the couch and stood staring at them, arms crossed. When his father would have opened his mouth to speak, Hunter shook his head. Oh no, this discussion would wait till Suzie and Nat came back. They both had a right to hear what was coming.

The women came back down and flanked Hunter, facing his parents.

“Now,” said Hunter. “First, some ground rules before we start this family meeting.”

His father just couldn’t keep his mouth shut. “She’s not family,” he said pointing at Suzie.

“She will be, and this affects her, which brings me to rule number one. No mistreating Suzie. Start insulting her, and this conversation is over.” His mother and Nat nodded while his father just sat there glowering.

“Rule number two, no yelling. There are two small, frightened children upstairs. So keep it down.

Try and act like adults. And finally, rule number three, I want the truth, the absolute truth. You start lying, and this conversation ends.”

“Why do you keep directing these rules at me?” said the commander belligerently.

“Because you’re the reason we’re having this meeting, Father,” said Hunter, putting a hard emphasis on the “father” part.

“I am not going to just sit here and be accused.” Hunter’s father made to stand up, but Beverly put a hand on his arm.

“Sit down,” she said firmly, blue eyes flashing. “It’s time you listened for once. I, for one, would like to know what’s going on. And not just your version, too.”

“Thank you, Mother. Now, first off, Father.” Hunter, again, emphasized the “father.” “You told me some tale about how Suzie demanded to leave because she couldn’t handle me being who I was. Said she was scared of me. Thing is, I didn’t quite believe it, and even though you advised me against it, I came back to talk to her, to understand, because the Suzie I know would never have said or done that. Do you want to guess what she told me?”

Beverly turned and gave her husband a hard look. “Yes, Adrian. Tell us.”

The commander squirmed on the couch like a little boy with his hand caught in the cookie jar.

“Well, I might have embellished the facts a bit.”

Suzie laughed harshly. “How do you embellish the fact that you drugged me and the kids and shipped us back without a say-so in the matter?”

“Adrian, you didn’t!” exclaimed Beverly.

Nat just gasped.

The commander colored under their scrutiny and squirmed even more. “Okay, so I drugged them. It was still the right thing to do. They didn’t belong in the Realm. And I had higher aspirations for Hunter than some chit with baggage.”

“How dare you call my children baggage!” said Suzie in a low hiss.

Hunter put his hand on her arm to restrain her, although he felt just as incensed. But he still wanted some answers so he choked back his anger and, instead, enveloped himself in an icy calm. He wanted to make things very clear to his father. “First off, Suzie is not some chit. She’s a wonderful woman whom I have come to love. And her children are a joy, not a burden, and I would be proud if they decided to 105