Kapitel 16: Chapter 16: A Peaceful Family Dinner?

Kyon POV

Lying on his back close to the ceiling, surrounded by the smell of paint, Kyon hoped the scaffolding held. He lay on a platform touching up a ceiling mural in Birdcliff. After all, his in-laws now had an artist in the family, so it made sense to use his talents. His mate Azandra approved–and he wanted to keep her happy.

Ransome Hemming lay beside him as his spotter. "This is strangely peaceful. Like when I helped you repaint the nursery here just before your pups were born."

Moving his brush in smooth, even strokes, Kyon said, "I hope I don't fall asleep doing this."

"I might."

Kyon growled. "And have Titania kick both our tails out of the house if we mess this up?"

Ransome grunted, the sweat beading on his fair skin. "Better to deal with her than face my family back in Graywolf City."

Feeling his blood boil, Kyon stopped painting because he didn't want to make sloppy strokes. "Have you heard from Jude?"

"No–but I know my family." Ransome sighed. "They've been sinking their claws into Bram. Nice boy, but angry with the world right now. We all tried to straighten him out right after Emer's death."

Kyon had a lump in his throat, remembering his own anger and sorrow after his parents' deaths. "Tulaska and Azandra would say he has to walk his own path," he said softly. "And Ravyn might have some wisdom of her own … to help Jude."

Ransome grinned triumphantly. "They hate rich people and they loathe Alphas–Jude was the exception until recently because they wanted to worm their way into his inner circle. I hear they're not too fond of witches or the Evenhide Pack. if Ravyn became Jude's mate, they'd completely explode."

It might drive Dane and Lilia insane if Kyon even suggested it, but Ravyn and Jude had a powerful energy when they were together. Azandra refused to say whether or not they were fated mates, which they both knew meant a big YES. He wasn't sure how he felt about it all.

"They won't be the only ones," he shared. "Let's just focus on painting this ceiling right."

* * * * *

Jude POV

Despite Ravyn's wonderful company at table and his son, daughter, and son-in-law enjoying themselves and sharing a meal, and the delicious dinner of wild boar with roasted potatoes and steamed orange long beans, Jude felt restless and on alert.

Savoring a bite of the juicy, tender meat, he watched Ravyn chatting with Mali and Eamon while the couple's two-year-old, Rhiannon, enchanted their guest.

"I can't believe this little one was born just after Dane's and Lilia's three," Ravyn said. "She's getting so big already!"

Bram made a silly face. "She's not too big for me to do this!"

Laughing, Rhiannon reached out her chubby little hands for her uncle across the table, and Ravyn smiled at Bram. "I think she wants you."

Could anyone possibly make more of an effort with his son after such a rocky welcome–and make it look so natural? No awkwardness. No stiffness. No resentment.

Bram was at Ravyn's side in a flash, picking up his niece and carrying her, making little growls that she responded to. Despite Bram skipping meetings and running around doing Goddess knows what with those Hemmings, he always made time for Rhiannon. Even more so now that he'd sent his new best friends packing.

Apparently, all they'd needed was Ravyn to make Bram behave. Did he even need to choose a Luna if Bram continued on this path?

Settling down in his seat, Bram held his niece close to him while Mali smiled at them, her face full of hope. Ravyn shot Jude a knowing look.

An unexpectedly scary woman. A formidable woman. A sexy, elegant woman in her formal lavender robe.

The sweet curves of her face, the glow of her skin, and her eyes like jewels captivated him, especially when she sat at the long copper beech wood table. It felt so natural with her here.

"... and the Mate Ball will be the highlight of the Moondance Festival," Mali was saying. "Maybe we'll even find YOU a fated mate, brother."

Bram shrugged and slurped down an orange long bean. "If the Moon Goddess wills. Father didn't need that to find Mother."

"But they met at a ball," Mali argued.

"Purely by chance." Bram bounced his niece on his knee. "He happened to be in the Brokenridge Pack territory. He didn't know he'd find Mother at that ball–"

"You do realize you've just destroyed your entire argument," Mali needled him.

"Leave him alone, he's got a point," Eamon laughed. "The Moon Goddess didn't need a formal occasion to make a match. All she had to do was whisper in Jude's ear. What do you think, Jude?"

"Hmmm? Oh, I don't agree," Jude said, only half listening.

Instantly, he felt the chill coming from Bram. "You're using a professional witch to find you a mate. Clearly you don't trust the Goddess despite having raised us to do the same."

The remark burned worse than fire.

Jude bared his teeth. "BRAM. The Goddess led me to Ravyn, who will help me find my mate."

"And do you respect the Moon Goddess?" Bram said with that hard look in his eyes.

Rhiannon started to cry, sensitive to loud voices, and Mali ran over to sweep her away, a disappointed look on her face. "Shhh, no one's mad at you."

Ravyn cleared her throat. "Tell me more about this Moondance Festival. I do honor the Moon Goddess, of course."

Bram grabbed his plate, then stalked off to the kitchen. "MOTHER believed in the Moon Goddess," he said over his shoulder.

Ravyn sat quietly, her delicate features haunted.

Mali leaned in toward Jude and whispered, "You know he didn't mean to act like a brat."

Jude sighed and got up to apologize to his son.

* * * * *

Ravyn POV

It had been a long day, and the turmoil at dinner left a bad taste in her mouth. She hoped Bram and Jude made up. The future Alpha shut himself up in his bedroom and refused to talk to her, and she couldn't force him.

Standing in the corridor where the royal apartments were located, she stared at Bram's wooden door painted with a moonlit meadow. Kyon would appreciate the art. She wished for her boys. Dane would pound on the door while Jiro snuck in and Patch and Dirge tried to make Bram laugh … She hoped his goddess would set him straight.

"Are you going to stare at the door all night?" Jude asked from behind her. "You could teleport in, or use magic."

"I could, but he'd only resent me." She turned to see his face drooping in sorrow, and her heart squeezed with tenderness.

Jude reached out and took her hand. "Come. He'll be even more of a brat if he thinks we're spying on him."

Bram's howl could be heard down the hall. "I CAN HEAR YOU!"

Jude turned and fled with her. They raced down the corridor to a heavy wooden door that Jude yanked open. She hurried inside and found herself in the Alpha's bedroom.

It was filled with lots of High Elf-made furniture, including a chest of drawers that looked like the twin to the one in Ravyn's room. A fire burned in a fireplace, and a fur rug made from a bison-ox lay on the floor. Books on history and music, Jude's interests, sat on the bedside table. And everywhere, Ravyn saw reminders of Emer.

She tried not to think about how gorgeous Jude looked, or about the big bed with its silver-white bedspread … or that she was alone with him. No sandstorm, no Crestas, no one else intruding on them.

"This is lovely," she said, just to have something to say.

Jude brightened. "I'm proud to say that I did help pick out some of these pieces–like that one." He nodded at the chest of drawers, carved with flowers, leaves, and birds.

"Emer must have inspired your taste," she said playfully.

"Mmmm. You should have seen some of my parents' furniture when my father was the Alpha." He shuddered. "Too stuffy, too intimidating, and I was afraid to even touch them as a boy, much less a man."

Ravyn laughed softly. "Children have to have their own style."

A gloomy shadow flitted across his handsome face, making it look noble and tragic. "I suppose so."

Feeling his sadness, she walked over and put her arm around him. "Bram will come around."

Impulsively, he pulled her into his embrace and for a moment the heat from his body made her breathless.

"Thank the Moon Goddess for you," he whispered.

Feeling his heart beating and his skin pressed against hers, she didn't trust herself to speak. Instead, she reached up and caressed his face.

For a moment, he stood still, letting her touch him.

"Ravyn." Her name sounded like a sacred vow on his lips, combined with seduction.

Her heart swelled like their favorite operatic music as she stared into his golden eyes.

"What are you doing to me?" His voice was a growl that sent thrills through her before he captured her lips with his.

Oh, Goddess Brigid!

Something secret within her, locked away for decades, burst free of that prison and she kissed him back with all the passion in her heart. Time stopped and the world shrank to just this room and this man. Everything else vanished, including hunting for Jude's Luna, his son's hostility, and not having enjoyed a man's touch for years and throwing up invisible shields.

Jude's lips moved on hers with a raw sensuality she hadn't allowed herself to notice the first time around. He kissed like an Alpha, like a man in command of his world–in the best sense. He knew who he was and what he wanted.

And he wanted her. A handsome, intelligent, heartfelt, brave, loyal, stubborn-as-all-get-out Alpha wanted her. She could understand why Lilia never stood a chance when Dane burst into the shop that night, or why Garnet immediately fell for Jiro.

His fingers dug into the mass of her hair to hold her still so he could kiss her more deeply, demanding everything she had to give. Lucky for him, she had a whole realm of passion to give and in this moment she felt as if she'd saved it all for him. Her hands roamed over the powerful, taut muscles of his back. Bowstrings and coiled springs felt looser.

He groaned against her lips and she gasped, feeling his body stir against hers. Seizing the opening she offered, his tongue delved into her mouth, caressing and playing with hers.

That kiss they'd shared when he wrestled with his nightmare was a tiny candle flame. This was the blazing fire in the fireplace.

Her hands wandered down to the rounded globes of his buttocks and squeezed, wringing a growl and a groan from him. It had been a long time since she'd touched a man like this, but she'd spent all that time around her sons and daughters being affectionate with each other. It opened her heart in a strange way and made her remember the joy of being with someone like this.

He steered her towards the bed while still kissing her, and she caught sight, in passing, of a portrait of Emer and Jude hanging on a wall. Done recently, it captured all the love the couple had for each other. Soon, a new portrait might hang there, of Jude and his future Luna.

It wouldn't be her.

She tore herself away from him, stepping back. Confusion swirled in his eyes and he growled, reaching for her.

"Jude." Her voice sounded like a stranger's. "We can't do this."