Fated Redemption [Kindred of Arkadia 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (14 page)

said softly.

Rebecca wiped a stray tear with one of Aidhan’s bibs.

“He’ll never meet Aidhan or Aleks. I wonder why I’m thinking of that now?” Rebecca took a deep

breath and stuck her tongue out at her Aidhan, whose bottom lip had started to tremble.

“The ones that leave before us are never truly gone, they are further ahead on the trail watching over us

as we catch up,” Rhys said. Abby looked over to see that Moe had casually wrapped his large arm around

Rhys. She felt the tiniest moment of insecurity. They had been together longer and Moe had been there for

him through his darkest moments. She wondered if they had room for her. Moe must have caught a look on

her face because his smile turned to a frown. Determined to ignore how she was feeling she turned to face

Rebecca smiling brightly.

“Rhys is right. There’s no way ole Mr. Morgan would want you feeling down either, missy!” Abby

grabbed Rebecca’s nose and wouldn’t let go.

“Ow, Abby, okay, okay let go already.” Rebecca turned her head this way and that, laughing, which set

off the babies.

Abby released Rebecca’s nose and looked around. Damn there were a lot of kids around. She looked at

Kate’s table and felt her eyes bug a little. Did she have four?

Ma chuckled at the look on her face and put food down on the table. Immediately Moe dug in. Rhys

started small with a french fry.

“You’ve never been around a lot of children have you?” Kate asked taking in her expression.

“I mean, like, one or two here and there. But you have the start of a basketball team.” Abby had to

admit they were all freaking adorable.

“You should see Rhys, he is an absolute wonder with children.” Kate smiled at her mate.

“Yeah, when you come up preggers I have a feeling you are going to be spoiled by those two.” Rebecca

stole a fry off of Abby’s plate. Moe began to choke. Abby wasn’t too concerned until she saw how red his

face was getting.

“Rhys!” Rhys looked over and whacked Moe hard on the back. A piece of french fry flew across the

table. Breathing hard, Moe stared at Abby as if she had two heads.

Wonderful. I’m not even pregnant yet and he’s choking on food. Thank god I have Rhys.

She looked at Rhys, who had gone so pale she was tempted to check under the table for a femoral cut

and blood loss.

“Guys, I’m not pregnant. Relax.” Abby shook her head and grabbed a french fry.
Stupid men
.

“It only takes once,” Rebecca sang, waving her fork about.

“No way tater tot, you’re just saying that because misery loves company.” Abby smiled at her mates and

continued.

“New topic. Since Moe and Rhys have agreed that we need to move since the bar loft doesn’t have

enough space for the three of us…”

“Maybe four,” Rebecca chimed in. Abby ignored her.

“I was wondering about the house down the road behind the diner. I saw it driving in.”

“No. No way.” Aleks shook his head.

“No.” Rian shuddered.

“That may not be the best idea,” Ma said diplomatically.

“The pack member that helped me relocate said that place was haunted. It’s why I bought the Plantation

house when I first moved to Arkadia despite it being so big,” Caleb said, holding Merrick.

Abby and Rebecca turned to face each other.

“No. Becca no!” Aleks started.

“A freaking haunted house in a shifter town! When can we go?” Rebecca asked, ignoring Aleks.

“Becca.” Aleks shook his head.

“I’d like to take tonight to unwind some more.” Abby shot a sidelong glance at her mates grinning when

they sat up straighter. She turned back to Rebecca.

“How’s tomorrow?” Abby asked.

“Perfect! Ma, can you watch Aidhan for me?” Rebecca swiveled in her chair and gave her mother-in-

law the pouty face. Ma looked at Rebecca concern on her face.

“Of course I will, but you girls be careful.”

“Becca, no. That place is dangerous,” Aleks said, sounding more agitated.

“I have a voice recorder to do EVP work. Do you still have your night vision camera that you use for

tracking the little furballs you study?” Rebecca asked, still ignoring her mate.

“Yup, though I don’t know how effective it will be in daylight.” Abby bit into her sandwich and

moaned loudly. The sweetness of the peppers blended perfectly with the sausage that held just a hint of

heat. The potatoes had soaked up every single flavor that was currently singing in harmony in her mouth.

“I know, right? Ma is the best cook ever.” Rebecca sighed happily.

“Rebecca, seriously, that place is creepy.” Aleks wrapped both arms around his mate and pulled her into

his lap.

“Aleks had the shit scared out of him in that house when we were kids,” Rian said, frowning.

“Aww my poor honey bear.” Rebecca turned and peppered his face with kisses. Abby noticed the large

man didn’t turn away, but soaked up her attention.

So cute!

“We’ll be careful, I promise. Scout’s honor.” Rebecca held up her hand with her fingers split in a Spock

‘V.’ Aleks just closed his eyes and sighed.

Yup, that man knew the score, poor devil.

“Okay, who else is up for some ghost hunting?” Abby asked. The diner got quiet.

“Ashby is coming and so is Sebastian,” Rebecca announced, volunteering the two men.

“I don’t know, Rebecca,” Liam said, wrapping an arm around his mate.

Ashby had gone white as a sheet.

“Me?” he squeaked.

How have they survived nearly a year of Rebecca? Then again, they didn’t have me here egging her

on.

“Ashby, I think you’ll be perfect for this.” Abby nodded sagely.

“If you really think I can help.” Ashby turned to his mate who was scowling at the entire diner.

“I’ll feel better about you going after I am introduced to the young woman that is apparently mated to

my child,” Gabriel said, his voice sounding hurt. Immediately Rhys popped out of his chair like a jack-in-

the-box and walked to stand before his prince.

“My prince, may I have the honor of introducing Abigail Wright, the third in my ménage mating.” Rhys

gave a regal bow. Abby stood and walked over to Rhys, taking his hand. Moe also stood and took a place

behind Abby, resting his hands on her shoulders for support. The prince was terribly intimidating when he

was in protective mode.

Ashby elbowed Gabriel in the ribs and stood with their son in his arms. He rushed over to hug Rhys.

“Oh Rhys, I’m so happy for you. Fate has blessed you twice. I know I’ve only just met her but I just

know you’ll be happy together.” Ashby gave Abby a one-armed hug. Abby stared at the tiny, solemn little

face staring at her from Ashby’s arms.

She stared at him just as solemnly, and then suddenly stuck her tongue out at him.

“Bleh!” The baby’s eyes widened before a tinkling giggle filled the diner. Gabriel moved faster than

Abby could track to stare down at his son. Both Ashby and Gabriel looked surprised.

“It’s the first time we have heard him laugh. He’s such a serious little man.” Ashby dabbed his eyes.

Gabriel’s eyes were glowing an azure blue.

“He looks just like you,” Abby commented.

“Oh Ashers, he has the most contagious laugh,” Rebecca said. Abby turned and sure enough the entire

diner was grinning ear to ear.

Abby, Rhys and Moe went back to their seats. Abby turned to face Ashby.

“So you’re in, right?” Ashby took a deep breath.

“There’s no such things as ghosts right?” he asked, looking over to Gabriel, who noticeably refused to

comment.

“Right, Gabriel?” Ashby asked, swallowing hard.

“I’m sure nothing there will harm you,
mon ange.
”

Abby grinned at his response and looked over to Rebecca.

“Score!” they said together.

Abby looked at Gabriel and then Ashby, and had a thought.

“If shifter blood affects vampires, how come you’re not all addicted?” she asked. Gabriel smiled and

looked at Rhys, who nodded.

“You are correct, normally shifter blood is quite addictive to vampires. However, if Fate chooses a

shifter for our mates, their blood simply tastes delicious and does not have any side effects,” Gabriel

explained. Abby looked over to Rhys and Moe and winked.

“In-ter-es-ting.” She drew out the word.

The diner door swung open and a tall, slim man walked in wearing sunglasses. He paused letting the

diner get a good look at him. Madison and Connor came in behind him. Connor immediately dropped the

five suitcases he had been carrying. The unfamiliar man dramatically pulled off his sunglasses, revealing

startling, honey-colored eyes, and tossed his shoulder-length rich brown hair over one shoulder.

“Arkadia, I am here! Now, where are the men?” he demanded.

“Rebecca, who is that?” Abby asked. Rebecca grinned.

“Everyone, I would like you to meet Gideon McFarly,” Madison said, introducing the man to the room.

Everyone offered their name and welcomed him to Arkadia.

“We leave to pick up Giddey and there’s three new lovely ladies here.” Connor winked at his mate

before walking over to Bethy and Asling. Madison rolled her eyes and collapsed into the chair next to Rhys.

“Who are these two beauties?” Connor said, smiling.

“Little Bethany Prescott and Asling Stafford,” Aleks said in a deadpan voice. Connor jumped back as if

they had turned to snakes.

“Little Bethy and Asling? My goodness, look at you two. When did you guys get back? Is everything

okay?” Connor swung one leg over a chair and sat so that he could rest his arms on the back of the chair.

Madison sat beside him. Giddey stayed where he was at looking over all the men in the diner, winking at a

few.

“Hey, Connor. We’re fine. Just glad to be home. Things were getting a little crazy down in Florida,”

Asling explained.

“The ladies are darling, but umm, where are the men? Preferably the gay men?” Giddey asked, still

standing near the door.

“Oh for goodness sakes, Giddey, you’ve been in town a whole five seconds,” Madison said, sounding

exasperated.

“Oh come on Mad-a-sin, you promised hot, gay lions.” Giddey pouted. It was too much for Abby. She

started to giggle.

“The men here are super hot. I was in town for all of thirty minutes and met my mates. Both of them.”

“Oh god, that would be amazing. Mating sex is supposed to be super hot.” Giddey looked around the

room, sizing up the men.

The diner door opened behind Giddey and Salsiby walked in. Rebecca tightened the hold she had on

Aidhan and wiggled out of Aleks’s lap. She took her seat and leaned over to Abby.

“He tried to take my baby,” she whispered. Abby felt a cold rage fill her belly. No one messed with her

family. She could almost feel Rebecca’s fear. She could handle a pissed off Rebecca, a rambling Rebecca,

even a caffeinated Rebecca, but what she could not stand was seeing her bravest friend afraid.

“He did, did he?” Abby stood and walked past Giddey. With no preamble she raised her fist and

punched Salsiby in the face. She aimed for the tiny spot between his eyebrows. The sound of flesh hitting

flesh reverberated through the diner. Salsiby dropped like a rock.

“Oh my god, I thought that was my ex. Oh my, how silly of me, when I look closer, they are nothing

alike. Oops. Oh dear he’s blocking the doorway, I’ll get him.” Abby grabbed an ankle and dragged the

smaller man’s body outside and left him on the sidewalk in the January winter air. She walked back in,

brushing off her hands.

“It’s cold as balls outside,” she said. Everyone was staring at her in shock.

She tilted her head.

“What?”

“Is it just me…” Rian started.

“Don’t say it,” Moe, Rhys and Aleks said in unison.

“Doesn’t she remind you of Rebecca?” Damian finished Rian’s thought.

Connor, Madison, and the entire Inner Court laughed hysterically. Abby grinned.

“We did live together for four years. Our mannerisms were bound to rub off on one another.” She

flexed her hand.

Liam sighed.

“He’ll go directly to the council.”

“I was in fear for my life!” Abby said dramatically. She walked back over to her table and sat down.

“Girl I don’t know you, but I need you in my life, and I don’t say that to females often.” Giddey winked

at Abby and sat down next to her at the next closest table.

“Two. There’s two of them.” Aleks had his head in his hands.

“It’s like Abby is the version of Rebecca if Rebecca had been raised a shifter,” Kate said, shaking her

head.

Moe reached over and massaged her knuckles.

“That’s the same asshole that has been trying to get Rhys executed too,” Rebecca said impishly. A low

growl bubbled up from her stomach.

“I’ll kill him.” She snarled, moving to stand up and head back outside. Moe pulled her back down.

“Whoa there, killer, it’s not as easy as that. We can’t kill him or maim him as long as he hasn’t broken

any laws in Arkadia. I’m afraid you got in your one lucky punch,” Madison advised.

“I’d listen to her. She is a genius when it comes to the law.” Giddey nodded, his eyes empathetic.

Abby took a deep breath and crossed her arms over her chest.