บท 28: Chapter 28: A Daughter's Defiance

Lilia POV

Her mother and Jude.

It was one thing to suspect, or hear Ravyn talk about it, another to stumble upon them when they were on their way to mating right there on the woven sisal rug.

"Eavesdropping?" Ravyn questioned, with a guilty look on her face.

"It is my house," Lilia snarled. "I'm the Luna, and I'll listen wherever and whenever I please."

It was a childish remark, but she felt like a teenager catching her parents having sex–except she'd never had the opportunity, d*mn her father, whatever his reasons for staying away.

Ravyn slipped out of Jude's arms and climbed down, making a graceful landing. Did she ever do anything less than perfectly?

Again, it was childish, but Lilia felt like a child.

"Jude, I'll meet you as we agreed later," Ravyn said softly.

Giving Lilia a searching look, Jude nodded. "I only want your happiness, Ravyn."

Bristling at his remark meant to shame her, Lilia snapped, "That will be all, Alpha Jude."

His eyes flashed wolf gold. "And I only want yours as well. Even if your father doesn't. Just remember, your mother is the Pack Mother and loved by all shifters."

He strode out without another word. D*mn the man. Did he have to be such an Alpha?

"I don't need HIM to lecture me," she growled, aiming her comment at his retreating back.

"Oh, you'll get a lecture, alright. Luna or not, I'm still your mother."

Lilia shut the door and wove a magic anti-eavesdropping spell that should keep out even the sneakiest spies in the family. Her fingers tingled as the energy shot out, and then she was ready to do battle with Ravyn.

Her mother folded her arms. "Dismissing Jude. Being rude to him. I taught you better than that. You say you're the pack's Luna. Well, act like one."

"DANE came down hard on–"

"For the same reason that Jiro put Dane in his place over similar behavior with Cyran. Daxius is under his protection as a guest. Well, so is Jude."

Her mother's reasoning was hitting hard and fast. Lilia huffed. "It doesn't look like Jude Faolan needs protecting from anyone."

Ravyn's violet eyes snapped. "The man lost his mate, Lilia. Lost her in the most brutal way possible. Emer Faolan was a friend to you. How do you think she'd want you to treat Jude?"

Again, Ravyn's blows landed and her mother didn't even have to raise her voice. Someday Lilia wanted to learn that skill. "This is different–"

"Not from where I'm sitting."

"You weren't sitting at all-Jude was carrying you off to do Goddess knows what after he probably seduced you while half asleep several days ago!"

Ravyn had another perfect comeback. "You mean the way Dane did in your childhood bedroom three years ago? Marking you without even asking for my blessing?"

Heat flooded her cheeks. "He was delirious and under a healing spell!"

How could she forget that long-ago first erotic encounter in which Dane, half asleep, marked her and bonded with her?

"And Jude didn't mark me while sleepwalking," Ravyn pointed out, guessing Lilia's thoughts.

"Only because you stopped him, yes?" Lilia asked hopefully.

Ravyn's cheeks turned crimson and she stuck out her chest with pride. "Lilia Rolfe Cresta, I'm more than just your mother and the grandmother to your pups–and I'm not dried-up or bedridden or unable to feel!"

Smarting at the dressing-down, Lilia muttered, "I know that."

"Jude is not like your father or Anneliese's ex-lover or Cyran when he was out of his mind–"

"Did you think Father was going to betray you?"

Ravyn hissed. "I'm going to forget you said that. Jude is a shifter! With a few exceptions, when they mate, it's forever. A concept I shouldn't have to explain to you!"

The same devastating wit and intelligence that flattened Daxius had now been unleashed on Lilia. But she tried to give as good as she got. "There are other ways to hurt someone than running off or cheating on them. YOU taught me to be wary of men. Remember? 'Men can be charming but not always trustworthy or honorable.'"

Recalling that chat just before Lilia and Dane left for Evenhide the first time, Ravyn blushed. "I also told you I trusted Dane with you–and YOU hid your bonding from me. Trust me, when Jude and I bond, there'll be no hiding."

"Not in a houseful of Crestas and Sinsworths, anyway, and not from the pack," Lilia muttered. "And 'when Jude and I bond'? It's already decided?"

Ravyn glared at her. "And do you want me to be alone for hundreds of years–without the happiness you've found?"

That hit Lilia in the gut.

"That's not fair," she mumbled.

But it was closer to the truth than she wanted to admit.

* * * * *

Ravyn POV

The woman in front of her reminded her so much of the spirited little girl she'd known. Even when gloom was a looming presence in their home after Daxius left, a younger Lilia made it her mission to cheer Ravyn up, often pulling Anneliese into her schemes.

And she wanted to wring Lilia's neck for not understanding the situation with Jude, just as she'd been frustrated with Bram. But she'd gone easier on Lilia than on Bram–because lilia was her own flesh and blood, and Lilia's unhappy eyes still had the power to weaken her resolve. Suddenly Lilia was ten years old again and demanding that Ravyn let her go to the carnival in town after dark and ride the rides and eat all the sweets she wanted.

Ravyn hadn't given in then and she didn't intend to do so now.

"Lilia, please try to understand."

"I just don't. You're not alone," Lilia argued, full of fire. "You've said many times that we have a very busy life. We have a huge family–or was that speech just directed at Dad?"

"And I ask you again, if it were you, having known love with Dane, would you be content living your life never having that again?"

Lilia wiped away tears. "Please, don't say that."

"Lilia, I hope it never happens, and I'm sure Jude and Emer never thought it would."

Lilia sank down on one of the chairs, a green wingback chair, and put her head in her hands. "I can't even think about it, either."

"Oh, sweetheart." Ravyn approached her and gave her a gentle shove. "Slide over."

Lilia did, and Ravyn sat down, putting an arm around her. For a long moment, they sat together in silence, with Ravyn stroking Lilia's soft hair, just the way Lilia liked.

Lilia mumbled something Ravyn didn't catch.

"Lilia, use your words."

Lilia lifted her head. "Why did you have to be fated mates? You KNOW it's impossible for shifters to argue with that one–it worked so well for everyone else in this family."

Ravyn grinned wryly. "Take it up with the Moon Goddess."

"HONESTLY, Mother. You're sometimes more of a wolf than natural born wolves. It's really quite annoying sometimes."

"It wasn't when I accepted your bonding with Dane."

Lilia growled. "That will only work so many times. It's getting old quickly."

"Then maybe you should listen to me for once!"

Lilia leapt out of the chair so fast it made Ravyn's head spin. "I'm not a child."

Dumbfounded and with hurt squeezing her heart like an iron fist, Ravyn stared at Lilia with angry eyes. "You're acting childish!"

Lilia's eyes burned. "It's bad enough you're so determined to go on this fool's quest with Father. You have to have Jude, too!"

"Lilia! I'm not the one who ran off with a dancer from some traveling minstrel show, and I'm not cheating on your father with Jude!"

Lilia growled. "I never said you were! And whatever happened to trying to be fair to Father?"

Ravyn pressed her fingers against her temples, where a headache was forming. "This is hardly getting us anywhere, Lilia. Jude is a good man. The best I've ever known. He also makes me laugh and I can hold conversations with him and want to spend more time with him. As you saw, there's desire involved. That may be hard for you to hear, but I'm not going to apologize for wanting him. And you, a witch, can't accuse me of not thinking this through when you know how I view sharing my body and my energy with someone.

"I know that we'll have challenges from his children–even Mali. I know that there are some people in the witch community, like Melisande, who won't hesitate to use my bond with Jude as a weapon. I don't think they'll get far, but I've made my share of enemies. And yes, Absalom and the Dark Goddess are always on my mind."

Lilia made a small, frightened sound.

Ravyn continued. "They won't hesitate to try and use our family strife against us."

"I would NEVER–"

"Then don't give in, Lilia!" Ravyn heard her voice, more passionate than in her entire life. "Don't give them even a tiny crack to slither through!"

Lilia went pale, her amethyst eyes popping against her creamy skin.

"I know you would never do that intentionally," Ravyn said gently. "Just as Bram wouldn't. But anyone can be a target."

Lilia sucked in a deep breath, then said, "Mother, I want your happiness, of course. I just need time. Time to come to grips with my mother getting nipped and kissed all over … and leaving us for Silverpaw territory."

"I'm not leaving you! I'd be right next door. Jude is here all the time. If he's not here, he's in Crimsontail territory. Did you object to Jiro moving there?"

"Not the same thing." But it was only a halfhearted protest. "I guess you're going to do what you want anyway."

"Yes."

Ravyn felt the privacy spell disappear and heard the hum of energy fade away. Lilia opened the door and turned to her mother, her face pulled tight with unhappiness. "I need to go check on the pups. And you … Jude's waiting for you." She choked out the words. "He better not hurt you, ally or no."

Ravyn nodded, accepting with a heavy heart that she'd said all she could to persuade Lilia. Her daughter walked out of the room.

Ravyn called after her, "I love you."

Lilia's soft voice soothed her heart a little. "I love you, too."

Left alone in the room, Ravyn wondered how she could feel so awkward and so free at the same time. Maybe because Jude was waiting for her upstairs, and she knew what was going to happen between them … what she wanted to happen.

Today would change everything.