The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,105
we do.”
The tension inside of me melted away, and I grinned at Mom.
“I don’t think anyone dislikes Adira as much as you.”
“I don’t know about that. Your father would tell you he is equally matched. Speaking of, he’s keeping Fenris away from me until you’re comfortable with them joining us.” She paused, her motherly concern peeking through. “Are you comfortable?”
“I would be more comfortable if we were both dressed.”
“Will this work?” Fenris asked from behind me.
I startled when a shirt appeared before me. I could feel Mom watching as I stared at Fenris’s exposed forearm. He wore one of my dad’s shirts with the sleeves rolled up.
When I slowly turned to look at all of him, I saw that he was wearing slacks, too. But, he was barefoot. And the top two buttons of his shirt were undone.
“Not sure that’s an improvement,” I whispered.
Fenris’s usually boyish grin remained firmly in place while I flushed.
Thankfully, the sight of my dad just behind him helped distract me.
“I can find another shirt if you’d like,” Dad said. “I’d offer a pair of my boxers, but your mother doesn’t allow me to wear any.”
I looked at Fenris, horrified by the open comment.
“That’s right,” he mouthed. “Commando.”
I should have known he wouldn’t care.
“Jason, darling, you know Eliana doesn’t want to hear those details about her father. Why don’t you and Fenris make us some breakfast?”
Fenris quirked a brow at me, which made me flush further.
“Mom, Fenris doesn’t need to—”
“Lavish you with signs of my affection? I believe I do,” Fenris said, his humor lighting his eyes. I realized that had been something I hadn’t witnessed in a while. And it kind of made me nervous that he was letting his mischief show now. Here. In my parents’ home.
I wanted to ask him what he was up to but was too afraid of the answer.
“Behave, Fenris.”
“I’m always well-behaved.”
I swallowed down my disbelief, took the shirt from him, and watched Dad lead him to the kitchen. While they quietly discussed how much batter to make, I shrugged into the shirt and joined Mom with the towel still firmly under my extra covering.
“He’s good for you,” she said, watching me.
“How so?”
“His playfulness helps balance your seriousness.”
“He’s a little too playful sometimes.”
“And aren’t you a little too serious sometimes?”
I shrugged and glanced at Fenris as he moved around in the kitchen with Dad.
“I don’t like making him cook breakfast for us. He’s not a slave.”
“Of course he isn’t. Use your senses, though, Eliana. Is he happier now that he’s doing something for you?”
I gave her a startled look. I spent so much time trying to ignore the emotions of others that they became background noise, easy to overlook. Now that she’d brought it to my attention, though, I could feel Fenris’s happiness. It was greater than Dad’s. Panic speared through me, and I scrambled to figure out what had happened. Had I accidentally fed from him? Was it the hugs? Too much touching?
Fenris laughed at something Dad said and nodded. The reason why Fenris was nearly bursting with joy clicked into place in my head.
His plan was working.
His elation wasn’t because he was “serving” me but rather that he was convincing my parents that we were together as a couple. And that was the point of all of this. Getting the parents to believe we were real so he wouldn’t need to keep going on the forced mate runs.
Calm flooded me.
“So good for you,” Mom said softly, not missing a thing.
“But will I be good for him?” I asked.
“What an odd question. Of course you will be. Just look at how happy he is.”
I was looking and had noted the way he’d tensed at my question. Knowing that his ears were far too keen, I grabbed my phone from my purse and typed out a quick message that I showed to my mom.
Me: Raging out on you wasn’t my first sign of possessiveness. What happens when he finds his mate? I don’t want to hurt anyone.
Mom read the message and gave me a look filled with affection and sorrow.
“Baby, you didn’t even come close to raging out. You gave me a warning look and politely asked me to leave. You showed far more restraint to an intruder than I would have.”
“You’ve never acted like that to me.”
“That’s because you’re my daughter. It’s different. But to address your question—”
I frantically shook my head at her and shoved my phone into her hands.