He pulled me back into his warmth, his lips gently caressing my own. My hands found their way to his hard stomach and my legs went all weightless as the kiss deepened. When he pulled away, he said, “Even if my mother didn’t approve of us, that wouldn’t stop me. You’re mine now. No matter what.”
I might have been an heir for my entire life. Queen for a brief period too. But I was still like most women and shifters, insecure, lost, searching for pack and home. Kade’s reassurance wrapped around me, sank into the darkest recesses of my insecurities, to the place where my father disappeared and my mother was distant to me. It filled in some of the cracks in my soul. I had Kade now. Forever. He was my family, my mate, and I wasn’t going to let anyone jeopardize that.
After sneaking downstairs into my room I quickly messed up my bed so Calista wouldn’t suspect anything, considering I hadn’t made my bed in my entire life. Heir perk. Then I showered and put on a nice dress. I was going to meet Kade’s mom. I needed to make a good impression. Luckily I was pretty well trained in etiquette and small talk. I could do this.
I knew Kade had said that she was okay with us being a couple, but sometimes men don’t see the truth. Especially sons. She might be secretly plotting my death. I would know after this first meeting. I could size someone up in about sixty seconds.
After throwing my long hair into a braid and finishing my makeup, I made my way downstairs. It was still early, just after 7 A.M, and Calista’s door was closed. That was good. I would rather not have a crowd for this meeting, I was nervous enough as it was. Damn, I missed Violet so much. I wish she were here to calm my nerves, or at least make fun of me. Three days. Three more days and I could get her back.
I heard Kade’s low voice the moment I stepped into the foyer. I was trying to walk quickly to announce my presence and not eavesdrop, but I picked up some of the conversation.
“How dare they dethrone her for this! We should march on Manhattan and make this right.” The woman’s voice was strong and deep.
Kade’s reply was low: “We have to be political, Mother. Arianna’s first priority is Violet. Then she can decide what to do about her crown when she gets her best friend back.”
“Hmpf. In my day you couldn’t just dethrone someone so easily. It took a fight to the death with just cause.” Her voice was heating up; she sounded enraged on my behalf, which of course made me instantly like her.
I turned the corner then and cleared my throat. Sitting at the table was Kade and his mother. I wasn’t prepared to see bright blond hair; she looked mid-forties, although with shifter aging who knew her real age. She had fine wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, which told me she smiled a lot, and she was wearing a dress that would make Violet swoon. Full Renaissance style.
She stood and I bowed deeply. I don’t care if you’re the pope, when you meet your king boyfriend’s mother, you bow.
She greeted me with a smile and a deep bow of her own as she crossed the room quickly and opened her arms. “It is so nice to finally meet you!”
My body froze when she pulled me in for a tight hug. Quite quickly though my shock eased, and I was able to relax into her comforting embrace. She was tall. At least a few inches taller than me.
“You too, Your Majesty,” I replied, unsure of proper protocol here.
“Oh please, call me Annette.” She waved a hand and ushered me to sit beside Kade. I did so and then she took a seat as well.
“We were just talking about your dethroning. Honey, I’m so sorry, that must have been hard.” Her tone of voice, the way she looked at me, this must have been what it was like to have a real mother. She reminded me of the softer parts of Calista. I loved my mother, but she’d been duty first and all hard edges.
“Yes, it was very hard, but I’m not a quitter. Selene is not a fit leader for my people, and as soon as I rescue my best friend, I will take back what is mine.” I hadn’t really said it out loud to anyone yet. Weird that it was Kade’s mom I was eventually confiding in, but I had never planned on letting my dethroning stand. I was going to fight that evil hag until my dying day. I would not allow her wickedness to taint our packs.
Annette patted my hand. It was … nice. I felt more relaxed than I ever would have expected, so deciding it was time to address it straight up, I said, “So … I need you to know that I love your son. Pretty sure I have since I was fifteen. We never meant to go against our packs like this … but … are you okay with us?” Kade hadn’t said a word since I walked into the room, but his hand slipped in mine now and he squeezed.
“Oh, honey, didn’t Kade tell you? Bears marry for love. Always. We don’t do the arrangement thing like the cold wolves—”
“Mother,” Kade said, a slight warning in his tone.
She waved a hand. “I’m sorry, but it’s weird to me. Breeding for dominance, mating for pedigree…”
It was weird. I’d never been a fan of it, but the way she put it, so bluntly, it really struck me how odd it actually was. Why didn’t we marry for love? Why didn’t we teach our young that it was okay to do that? Lineage should come second, love first. But when you grew up knowing that was the way, it was hard to break.
“You’re right. It is weird,” I said, and she smiled.
“Yep, but then again, so is a bear and a wolf. It took some getting used to, but I knew you had to be a special woman. Kade’s been talking about you since your coronation.”
“Is that right?” I said, raising my eyebrows at the king.
Kade grinned then, and I could see that cocky confidence he was so well known for. He always owned his feelings. His gaze remained on my face, before he gave me the slightest of winks. Damn bear.
“So, Mother, how was Florida?”
Annette went with the change, starting out with a hilarious tale of a few bear cubs in the Orlando den.
Our breakfast was brought out then, huge piles of bacon, eggs, and sausages, fruit platters, small rolls and sweets. I might have lost my throne, but this morning I’d still eat like a queen. Annette and Kade had huge appetites. For once I was the one eating smaller.
I realized that I had barely stopped smiling for thirty minutes. It was so warm and friendly at this table. I was starting to see where Kade’s beautiful heart and soul had come from. I’d never known what his father had been like, but his mother was wonderful. And funny. She gossiped and told tales, all of it in good humor. Once we finished eating, Annette announced that she was going to head back to her house.
“It was so lovely to meet you,” I said, standing and bowing into a curtsy.
Annette grabbed me and hauled me in for another hug. When she pulled back she kept her hands on my shoulders. “I’ve lost my husband and my eldest son, so Kade is all I have now. I want a big fancy wedding to help plan, and a couple grandbabies one day. You got it?”
A grumble rocked Kade’s chest, but I just laughed.
“Yes, ma’am,” I told her, and she winked, giving Kade a long hug before leaving the room.
Once she was gone, Kade turned to me. “Sorry, she’s a little intense.”