Chapter 39 Like savages

Chapter 39 Like savages


H

e stayed on his side of the bed as promised and rolled his eyes at the pillow wall I put between us. He’d seen me cry. I hated that.

The next morning, I pulled open the drawer by the bed and pulled out an injection case. I kept batches everywhere, and I was too familiar with the process now. I stabbed the needle into my mating mark and administered the potion that was currently keeping me sane. Eyes watched me through the holes in the pillow wall, but I ignored them.

I dressed for the day and walked out the door without another word to him. I sat in the mess hall with Cassia and her daughter.

Cassia flipped off Kam, who’d followed me. “Hail the conquering hero!” Cassia chuckled like the glorious bitch she was before focusing on me. “How are you doing?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I growled at my yogurt like it was the cause of all my problems.

“How was your date?” She tried again. “Dead.”

Cassia smiled at me. “We could plot Kam’s death?”

I love this woman.

Kam went to sit at the table with Balthazar and I whispered, “I need to get to Kaylen’s without being tracked.”

“I’ve got you.”

“Maleene, I’m confused.” Cassia’s daughter spoke up, turning the book in her hand. It showed a picture of a woman with wings for arms. “That’s a siren.”

“Ahh.” I chuckled at her realization.

“But they call you a siren. Do you turn into a bird too?” she asked as she dug her nose back into her books.

“Sirens were created by the wind god, Limic, a long, long time ago. But Ocio and a couple of other gods stole the wind god's design and twisted it to suit their own purpose.”

“Like the way Herth designed my grandpa after hellhounds?”

“Exactly. But sirens still existed when mermaids were created and our voices were so similar they thought the calls were from two versions of the same creature.”

Her gray eyes were wide, soaking in the story with excitement and understanding. “So, it’s like a big case of mistaken identity.”

I smiled my approval, loving the joy on her face in response. “By the time they realized we weren’t the same creatures, the term had already stuck. Getting these old men to change is next to impossible.”

My eyes cut to my sorry excuse of a mate. I hoped he choked on his bacon.

After breakfast, I walked towards Kaylen’s house. Soft footsteps behind me alerted me of my follower. Just like before, he’d caught me going somewhere I needed to go alone.

I zagged into the forest and heard the snarls behind me. I used a plant Cassia gave me to obscure my scent and hid in some bushes right behind Kaylen’s house. I prayed to someone else’s god, Herth maybe, the forest god seemed relaxed, that it worked. That Kaylen didn’t step out of his house right at this moment.

“Maleene!” Kam yelled. “Maleene, get your crazy ass out here!” I stayed quiet and cringed, knowing Kaylen would come out now.

The door opened and my six-foot son stepped out of the door with a growl in his chest. His pupils were blown and his skin transitioned back and forth between human and beast. His lips pulled back, showing his serrated teeth, ready to defend my honor.

“I need to talk to you,” I whispered.

Kaylen leaned to see me hiding in his bushes. His eyes tightened and fury made him shake as he struggled to remain a humanoid.

“Guppy, we both know I can take care of myself.” My sweet boy. “Let me in and leave him be.”

He put his hand out to help me stand. “I’ll rip him to shreds. Who the fuck has the audacity—”

“Your father,” I interrupted, stopping him short. His eyes grew wide before guiding me inside. His pregnant paramour bopped around the kitchen with a smile on her face. I slapped Kaylen’s chest. “Don’t make her cook.”

“I can’t get her to sit the fuck down. She’s been baking since four in the morning.”

“Gillie, you need to relax. You’re due in a couple of weeks,” I scolded her.

“I want something sweet, but I can’t figure out what.” She pulled her brown hair into a bun on the top of her head.

I slapped Kaylen’s chest again. “Go buy her whatever is her favorite.” “Mama, we’ve got a bigger problem outside.” Kaylen pointed behind

him, where I was sure Kam was still yelling.

I grabbed his ear. “Take care of your paramour.” “Ow! Okay, mama! Fuck.”

I slapped the back of his head where he was still bent over. “Now! Focus on what’s important. I’ll look after her.” I shooed him out. “Let’s get you off your feet,” I cooed over her.

“I want to bake.” “Sit down,” I hissed. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Now, tell me what you need done around the house.” “I’ve been trying to get the clothes put up.”

“You got it.”

When Kaylen got back with her favorite sweet treat, she shuffled around and ate it, looking like an adorable little penguin. He kissed her nose, and she blushed.

“See,” I told him.

“You always know what’s best, mama.” He smiled, leaning against the wall of the nursery, keeping one eye on his paramour.

“Don’t ever forget that.” I winked.

“So, what’s he doing back?” Kaylen frowned.

That stopped me short. How could I ever explain this to a man who’d never gotten to meet his father? “He came home.”

“After all these years?” Kaylen’s lip curled back. Right after Kam left, I found out I was pregnant. I wasn’t sure which part was the hardest.

“He says he has a valid excuse.” I hadn’t decided how I felt about the whole prison thing. He still left me behind. Maybe he hadn’t intended for it to take so long, but he hadn’t trusted me enough to take me as his backup.

Kaylen snarled. “There is no such thing as a valid excuse for leaving your mate for so long.” It was against the beast way of life.

“Well, I can’t shake him now.”

“Is that why you didn’t answer your phone yesterday?” “Yeah.” Long story short.

“Does he know about me?” Kaylen asked quietly.

“No. I wanted to talk to you first to find out how you feel.”

“I’ve got a lot going on right now, mama.” His eyes went back to his paramour.

“You’ve got it, Guppy.” I hugged him. My little guppy was a huge man now. His arms swallowed me whole when he hugged me back. I missed the days where I could hold him to my chest and soothe his fears. “I’ll hold him off until I can’t anymore.”

“You’re the best.”Like savage in our nstints