Read Online A Slash of Savagery (Wiccan-Were-Bear) by R. E. Butler - Free Book Online
Authors: R. E. Butler
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that’s neat. Are you okay with us eating with them?”
“As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
They linked hands and walked to the cafeteria together. “I’m definitely happiest with you.”
* * * * *
The rest of the week passed quickly, and with each sunset, her anticipation of the weekend rose. Each night at work, Brone took her away from the desk for an extra hour at her break so they could spend more time getting to know each other. She had a feeling he was trying to share more about his long life so she wasn’t so shocked by all that she would see when they mated. She was sure she’d be shocked by what he’d done before he became what he called “more civilized,” when he joined Mishka’s coven, but the sexy sweetheart who called her beloved was the man he was because of his past, and she wouldn’t change anything about him.
It had only been a week, but she hadn’t had trouble adjusting to working at night and sleeping during the day. Mishka seemed pleased with her work in helping the mates. For most of her life, she’d been happy to be part of a coven and working with Wiccans, but with the vampires, and especially with Brone, she felt as though she’d finally found her true place.
As the night waned early Sunday, her spine tingled in anticipation. She felt Brone coming down the hallway, even before she heard his heavy footfalls. He strode into the reception area and stopped next to the desk.
She turned off the computer and pushed the forward button on the phones so the automated system would take over. Waving at the guards at the front door, she stood and joined her mate on the other side of the desk. He gave her a half-smile that made her want to melt into a big pile of goo on the rug as he enveloped her hand with his and led her away from the desk.
“How was your first week?” he asked.
“Hectic but good.” She smiled at his attempt at small talk. He was not a male of many words, but he was an excellent listener. She also knew that he was aware of everything that had gone on during the week because he paid close attention to her to make sure she was safe. She’d never had anyone care so much about her well-being.
Her own mother had only had her because, according to the coven her mother belonged to, it was every Wiccan’s duty to bear children for the future generation. Arissa wasn’t even sure who her father was. After she was born, her mother had dumped her off on her sister, Adelaide, who raised Arissa as if she were her own and taught her everything she knew about spell casting.
Arissa’s mother had never returned. Although she knew her name, Arissa had never met the woman who bore her, and she thought of Adelaide as her mother. An illness had taken Adelaide when Arissa was eighteen plus five, but she believed her aunt was still watching over her from the other side and would definitely approve of Brone.
Arissa had asked Brone about his family during one of their long breaks, and he said that his father was a warrior who died when Brone was a teenager, and his mother had died giving birth to his sister, who had not survived. Brone was a changed vampire, which meant that he would never be able sire children. Natural vampires, those born from two natural vampire parents, could have children, but ones who were changed from human to vampire, could not; their bodies became frozen and unchanging forever. When Arissa was changed due to her mating with Brone, she would be unable to bear children, too. It hadn’t occurred to her until that moment that she’d never have a child with her mate, something she had always thought would happen to her eventually.
The elevator doors slid shut, and Brone planted his hands on either side of her head and looked down at her. “You are sad.”
“No, not really,” she promised, hooking her hands around his massive biceps. “I was just riding a train of thought about our future, and I
“As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
They linked hands and walked to the cafeteria together. “I’m definitely happiest with you.”
* * * * *
The rest of the week passed quickly, and with each sunset, her anticipation of the weekend rose. Each night at work, Brone took her away from the desk for an extra hour at her break so they could spend more time getting to know each other. She had a feeling he was trying to share more about his long life so she wasn’t so shocked by all that she would see when they mated. She was sure she’d be shocked by what he’d done before he became what he called “more civilized,” when he joined Mishka’s coven, but the sexy sweetheart who called her beloved was the man he was because of his past, and she wouldn’t change anything about him.
It had only been a week, but she hadn’t had trouble adjusting to working at night and sleeping during the day. Mishka seemed pleased with her work in helping the mates. For most of her life, she’d been happy to be part of a coven and working with Wiccans, but with the vampires, and especially with Brone, she felt as though she’d finally found her true place.
As the night waned early Sunday, her spine tingled in anticipation. She felt Brone coming down the hallway, even before she heard his heavy footfalls. He strode into the reception area and stopped next to the desk.
She turned off the computer and pushed the forward button on the phones so the automated system would take over. Waving at the guards at the front door, she stood and joined her mate on the other side of the desk. He gave her a half-smile that made her want to melt into a big pile of goo on the rug as he enveloped her hand with his and led her away from the desk.
“How was your first week?” he asked.
“Hectic but good.” She smiled at his attempt at small talk. He was not a male of many words, but he was an excellent listener. She also knew that he was aware of everything that had gone on during the week because he paid close attention to her to make sure she was safe. She’d never had anyone care so much about her well-being.
Her own mother had only had her because, according to the coven her mother belonged to, it was every Wiccan’s duty to bear children for the future generation. Arissa wasn’t even sure who her father was. After she was born, her mother had dumped her off on her sister, Adelaide, who raised Arissa as if she were her own and taught her everything she knew about spell casting.
Arissa’s mother had never returned. Although she knew her name, Arissa had never met the woman who bore her, and she thought of Adelaide as her mother. An illness had taken Adelaide when Arissa was eighteen plus five, but she believed her aunt was still watching over her from the other side and would definitely approve of Brone.
Arissa had asked Brone about his family during one of their long breaks, and he said that his father was a warrior who died when Brone was a teenager, and his mother had died giving birth to his sister, who had not survived. Brone was a changed vampire, which meant that he would never be able sire children. Natural vampires, those born from two natural vampire parents, could have children, but ones who were changed from human to vampire, could not; their bodies became frozen and unchanging forever. When Arissa was changed due to her mating with Brone, she would be unable to bear children, too. It hadn’t occurred to her until that moment that she’d never have a child with her mate, something she had always thought would happen to her eventually.
The elevator doors slid shut, and Brone planted his hands on either side of her head and looked down at her. “You are sad.”
“No, not really,” she promised, hooking her hands around his massive biceps. “I was just riding a train of thought about our future, and I
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