Midnight Lies (Shifter Island #2) - Raye Wagner Page 0,21

staring at the two blonde girls, trying to find some way to tell them apart.

“First pregnancies with fated mates are usually multiple births, and they’ll always be identical.”

My mouth popped open, and Rage and I shared a look that had both of our cheeks reddening.

“Sadie and Audrey,” Sara called and gestured to the twins. “This is…”

Oh. My. Mage. We hadn’t introduced ourselves.

I claimed my pack with pride: “I’m Nai, Crescent Clan alpha heir.”

“Courage Midnight, first prince … but I go by Rage.” My mate bowed his head in respect to the girls.

My attention shifted back to the young women in time to see their eyebrows hit their hairlines. Even if he didn’t claim the title of prince, everyone knew Courage Midnight was next in line to be alpha king. Sure enough, at his declaration, each of the young women seemed to coil and tighten as if preparing to fight. Looks like John had taught his girls to be warriors, not princesses.

“They’re banished,” John reminded the girls as well as any others eavesdropping. “Just like your mother and I once were.”

Straightening, Rage pulled his arm away from his side and sucked in a breath.

My attention jumped from the wolves to my mate, who was turning pale.

Sara clicked her tongue. “Let me get that healing salve, and you both can have a shower before we eat.” She glanced toward her girls. “Take them to the guest room, and mind your manners, ladies.”

Sadie or Audrey, one of the blondes, led the way through the house with the other twin bringing up the rear. We passed a humble kitchen with hundreds of canning jars stuffed with various fruits and vegetables, and I skidded to a stop.

“You guys have a farm?” I asked, my inner Montana girl geeking out.

The blonde in front nodded. “Out back. Dad and mom run it with Lizbeth. Audrey and I run security with James and his boys. Everyone here has a job. Everyone contributes.”

Whoa. Okay. She was not-so-subtly telling me she—Sadie—was in security and not a gardener. Also, no one was allowed to laze about. Got it. I noticed Sadie had her hair cropped a tiny bit shorter than Audrey. Sadie: short hair. Audrey: long. 52.8% got this.

“We don’t want to bring trouble,” I assured her. “And we’re really grateful for your kindness.” Just because we’d won over her parents didn’t mean these young women liked us.

Audrey stepped up next to me and smiled, a sharp, shrewd gleam in her eye. “Trouble doesn’t scare us, and you don’t look like you could cause much anyway. But if your mate is anything like his father—”

She never finished her sentence because Rage spun and, staring her down, growled, “Declan is my uncle, and I’m nothing like him. If you want to know something, just ask—don’t assume.”

She swallowed hard and nodded, dropping her gaze. “Sorry.”

“Well, you sure have a lovely home.” I steered the conversation into less tense waters, and both girls gave me a slight smile.

“Thanks.”

Shortly thereafter, we reached a room toward the back of the house, and Sadie opened the door. Waving toward the queen bed and dresser, the only furniture in the room, she said, “You can stay here if you need rest. Shower’s through that open doorway. I’ll put the healing salve and clean clothes outside the door for you, and one of us will get you when the table’s set.”

Then she turned, and both twins left.

Leaving Rage and me to stare at the bed. The solo bed … for two.

Gulp.

Rage walked past me and into the room. “If we’re going to stay, I’ll take the floor. No biggie.”

He must’ve seen the color drain from my face. How humiliating. I gave a nervous laugh, following him inside, and then shut the door. “What?” I squeaked. “It’s fine. I don’t care either way.”

He raised his eyebrows, and I crossed my arms over my chest, jutting my chin out defiantly.

“Truly,” I continued to ramble. “It’s whatever. I mean, we’re not staying the night, but if we were … why should it matter. We’re mates, right? So, uh, yeah. It’s fine.”

Shaking his head, Rage crossed the space between us. With each of his steps, more and more butterflies took flight in my stomach until all of me was crawling with nervousness. He wasn’t stopping. All the way up until we stood toe-to-toe. I craned my neck to look up at him and gulped.

Finally, when our eyes met, he reached for me. Slowly, giving me plenty of time to back away, he took