Fated for Her Wolves - Tara West Page 0,14

which made her feel ten shades of awkward. She wondered if he was still drawn to her scent, and if he hated himself for it.

“I’m going to be your mother-in-law,” Dr. Lupescu said with a grin. “Call me Eilea.”

So much for Tatiana pretending she was only here for a visit. Apparently everyone knew she was there to seal their bond.

“Okay.” She rubbed her arms, looking out the window for any sign of her parents.

Eilea frowned, shallow lines marring her otherwise smooth, ebony brow. “Where are the others?”

“They took the scenic route,” she said, repeating what Constantine had told Bunica when asked the same question. “They’ll be here soon."

Eilea didn’t seem concerned. She placed her feet in Marius’s lap once more. He rubbed them. “How was your trip?”

She shrugged. “Okay, I guess.” Other than Natasha’s nastiness, Dimitri’s glares, and the constant feeling that she wanted to jump out of her skin.

Groaning, Eilea turned onto her side. “Forgive me.” A pained look crossed her features. “This baby weight is becoming unbearable, and no amount of magic will stop him from kicking.” She smiled at her son, sleeping in his playpen.

“I understand,” she said, leaning over the playpen and ogling the baby. He slept like a cherub, sucking his thumb with his round, little butt pointed in the air. He had a full head of curly, brown hair streaked with blond, an olive complexion, and the cutest squeezable cheeks. Tatiana couldn’t wait until he woke up. She suddenly had the urge to hold him. Then she remembered the nephews she’d left behind and wondered when she’d see them again. She spent almost every day at her brothers’ house, helping Amara and Rone with the boys. Would they miss her when she didn’t return right away, or would they forget about her? She resented having to go to Romania and that the women in her culture were expected to follow the men to their home country.

“Can I get you anything, my love?” Marius asked Eilea.

“I’d love some cinnamon tea,” she whispered to Marius. Then she asked Tatiana, “What would you like to drink?”

She shrugged. “Whatever you’re having is fine.”

“I’m making tea,” Dejan called from the kitchen.

“Thanks,” Tatiana mumbled. So much for privacy. They were hanging on her every word.

After Marius went to the kitchen, Eilea sat up and patted the space beside her.

Tatiana quickly switched seats, relieved to turn her back to the brothers and have a wall behind her. Not that it made much difference. They had wolf-touched hearing.

“Oh, there he goes again.” Eilea grabbed Tatiana’s hand. “Want to feel?”

She smiled when she felt the baby move in Eilea’s belly. “Wow! That’s a strong kick.”

She’d longed to have babies of her own. After her harsh words had driven Katarina into the hunter’s crosshairs, she feared the Lupescu brothers would never forgive her, and she wouldn’t get a chance to have children. Instead of blaming her, they had repeatedly told her their mother’s death wasn’t her fault. She should’ve run into their arms then.

“Are you okay?” Eilea asked.

“I’m fine.” Tatiana forced herself to push negative thoughts out of her mind.

Eilea and Tatiana thanked Marius and Dejan when they brought them steaming cups of tea.

Eilea frowned. “It’s too hot.”

“I figured you could cool it to an acceptable temperature,” Marius said with a wink.

Much to Tatiana’s surprise, Eilea dipped her finger into the tea, and the water turned blue.

“That’s a cool spell,” Tatiana said. Amara told her that Eilea’s magical powers were strengthening. She didn’t know how much stronger they could get. Eilea had already cured the entire Alaskan tribe from demon sickness with one spell and closed a portal to hell.

“It’s not a spell,” Eilea said. “I’m harnessing my baby’s power.”

Tatiana’s jaw dropped. “Amazing! Amara’s babies all have unique powers, too.”

“I remember.”

Their goddess had once told Amara that shifters who have human blood give birth to babies who have magical powers. Tatiana’s nephews could see the future, create earthquakes, and teleport. At times their abilities came in handy, except for when a temper tantrum had caused glasses to fall off the shelves. After that, Tatiana’s brothers had to lock away and bolt down anything breakable.

She set her cup down, waiting for it to cool before she drank it. “Are you ready for baby number two?”

Eilea’s grin stretched nearly ear to ear. “More than ready.” She balanced the tea saucer on her belly, which doubled as a shelf to emphasize her point.

“You seem to be adjusting well to Amaroki life,” she said. Eilea hadn’t been born