Lacey's Warriors (Bondmates #6) - Ann Mayburn Page 0,54
was happy for her. If anyone deserved two men that would love her for all eternity, it was Tara. Her mom had worked hard and sacrificed to make sure Lacey and then Jillian had the best life possible. It was nice, if a bit odd, to see that her mother had finally found someone.
Or, in this case, someones.
The sense of loss she’d been trying to ignore grew stronger as she wished with all her heart Gwarnon and Chel could be there right then. Not wanting her sadness to somehow leak to Jillian, she tried to strengthen the shield in her mind. The last thing she wanted was to hurt her daughter with her emotions. Anxiety hit her hard, and she wished Chel was there with his soothing calm, and Gwarnon with his rock-solid presence. With them at her side, she felt not only loved but protected.
Yes, she was a kick ass woman who could take care of herself, but knowing the men at her side will keep her safe was a nice one. A novel feeling, actually, considering her usual shit ass taste in men. For a moment, her mind flickered to Jillian’s father, and wondered if someday he’d come looking for the daughter he’d long ago abandoned. A small, evil part of her wished he would somehow know that Jillian was happy, loved, and cherished on an amazing new world where her potential was limitless.
“Tara,” the sexy lumberjack rumbled. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, I’m just a little overwhelmed. I’ve been so worried…” Standing between the men, holding their hands, Lacey’s mom turned to her and said, “Honey, I’d like you to meet my husbands, Karwin and Phin. We met on Earth shortly after you were deployed.”
Karwin, the more savage looking of the two men with red and black hair, gave her a warm smile that changed him from intimidating to friendly. “It is our greatest honor to meet you, daughter of our heart.”
Startled, she blinked for a moment before she gave a soft laugh, shifting Jillian from one arm to the other as the little girl continued to snuggle close. “Wow, that’s right. I guess you guys are my stepdads.”
Phin’s chest visibly swelled as he smiled. “We are, and we are incredibly honored and swear to always protect you and treat you as our own.”
Jillian wiggled out of her arms, then crouched down and picked up the hopping ball of blue and white fur that was making an odd chirp, kind of like a squeaky toy. “Mommy! Meet Daniel!”
She gave the cute bunny/squirrel looking creature a hug big enough that Lacey was afraid she might hurt the creature, but it didn’t seem to mind.
“He is very cute, but remember to be gentle,” Lacey said as she smiled down at her daughter before looking back to her mom standing with her bondmates. “We need to talk.”
The smile left Tara’s face, her red lips firming into that familiar line that meant she was tired of someone’s shit. “We do. Why don’t we show you to your rooms? You can get washed up and have something to eat, then we’ll talk—” Tara glanced around. A crowd still watched them from a distance at the landing port. “Without so many ears listening. I must say, daughter of mine, you are quite the celebrity. Come on.”
Holding Jillian’s hand in her own, Lacey nodded and followed her mother across the landing pad and into the gigantic forest.
Once Jillian had been led away by Wythe to go have dinner with some friends she’d made at the manor, Tara took Lacey off into a side room while her husbands stayed outside.
The silence of the large, lush indoor garden was broken by light lavender water spilling over silver rocks from a nearby fountain of a beautiful woman surrounded by foaming waves of purple water.
Looking at the fountain closer, Lacey did a double take then said, “Is that you?”
“What?” her mom asked, then followed Lacey’s line of sight past all the exotic flowers and plants to the statue of the woman. “Oh yes. The local craftsman wanted to honor my taking over of the Territory.”
“Wow,” Lacey mumbled, then turned back to her mom and took a step closer. “You look…good. Did I mention yet how happy I am to see you? Confused, but happy?”
Her mom’s blue eyes filled with tears that she tried to fan away with her hand, her red lips curving into a smile. “Don’t get me started. We’ve got too much work to do for