Autumn Feast - Charlie Richards Page 0,50

who knew damned well what the wolves were up to with their mutocide—coined from the Latin for shift combined with the Latin suffix for killing, as in genocide for shifters. Despite the wolves’ insanity, not one but two new stags sat at his table. In addition to himself and his mate, Rory, he now had Eryk and Rocco. Both were big with the broad shoulders common in red deer shifters.

Donner raised his glass and tapped it with a butter knife, getting everyone’s attention. “I can’t tell you all how happy I am. My table is full, as it should be.”

“Hear, hear! Fitting for a king.” Isla called, raising her glass. She had also joined their herd. She was an old hind—as old as the wind.

“Thank you.” Donner nodded in acknowledgment of her praise. “I hope to be the kind of king you all will continue to support in the years to come.”

Everyone cheered. The years to come were not promised to them, but the words held hope. Donner sat in the seat next to Rory. Rory slid his hand over Donner’s thigh with a promise of a private celebration later.

The children sat at a separate table. With six adults taking up the big one, having them at a smaller table was convenient. They were still close by, since no one wanted to let them out of their sight for a moment.

Pride warmed him as he watched his daughter, Alana, tending to the youngest of them, Lotte. It was good to see the youth eating with gusto. He was too young and malnourished, having lost his birthing parent, Mikel, before he arrived with his father, Eryk. A haunting sadness surrounded both of them, lingering much longer than he’d hoped. Donner didn’t even want to contemplate what losing a mate would be like. He squeezed Rory’s leg, needing the solid feel of his muscle to reassure him.

Rory smiled up at him. “The food is delicious. Emma and Isla did a great job.” They’d not only prepared the delicious food, but they also did a marvelous job decorating for Mabon. The candles glowed, warming the atmosphere and complimenting the fall colors of various golds and yellow with brown and dark green accents. Maple leaves, apples and pears, and various squash adorned their table. A pumpkin the children had helped decorate had been placed in the center. They celebrated the bounty of the harvest feast, which meant not only food but family, and also the balance of light and dark. Winter would be there soon, covering the land with snow, but for the moment, they would enjoy the cooler winds of autumn.

Their feast was incredible. They had everything imaginable. A rich pumpkin soup, sweet potatoes, an amazing roasted turkey, and a full basket of Mabon bread were strewn across the table. For dessert, they had their choice of pies—pumpkin, pecan, or apple. There was also a large tin of spice cookies on the kitchen counter. The bounty was fit for a king and his court.

Donner glanced over at their children, Finley and Alana. It’d been nearly a year since their birth, and they were growing up so fast. Shifter children aged as their deer side, not their human side, even in human form. They’d spent most of their time learning everything Rory could teach them in days rather than years. As humans, they now presented as moody pre-teens. Alana almost always walked around with a saucy attitude, and Finley moped constantly.

It was glorious seeing them interact with the newest deer, Lotte, who was only a few months old, and Maja, who they treated like a sister. They’d witnessed her birth when they were only a few weeks old. Donner didn’t know how much they remembered of that time. For them, Maja had always been there. As it should be with deer. The larger the family, the better. Their six adults and four children made Donner happy and hopeful his herd would continue to grow.

A loud shattering of glass interrupted their meal. Donner jerked upright and cautiously hurried toward the sound, his new bucks Eryk and Rocco behind him. Rory gathered the children, shushing them so the adults could hear. Donner ignored them, focusing on the danger. Ready to protect his family.

In the sitting room, he found a large stone had been thrown through the front window. The glass and frame, now destroyed, had been several hundred years old. Before the anger and sadness over it could take hold of his heart, figures silhouetted on