Free Cade: Le Beau Brothers: billionaire Shifter Series BBW mates (Le Beau Series) by V.A. Dold

trembling.
    His wolf snarled, no one was allowed to terrorize their mate. Cade remained quiet, waiting for her to initiate more conversation.
    She took a deep breath. “I won’t let him dictate my life again. Thank you for taking care of the police and judge.”
    “My pleasure,” he said forcefully.
    Flowing with the other pedestrians on the sidewalk, they strode along. There was no rush, and she savored the feel of his hand holding hers. She felt like she could absorb his warmth and strength through that link.
    The breeze ruffled her hair sending wisps into her eyes as they moved from one merchant to the next. Brushing it back she looked through the purses on display.
    A rack of leather belts caught her eye. “I could use a new brown belt,” she told him as she looked through the different styles and lengths. 
    He joined her at the booth. “I think this one would be attractive on you,” he said as he held it up for her.
    She took it from him, turning it over in her hands and testing the length for fit. “I love it,” she said smiling at him.
    “Then it’s yours ,” he grinned.
    She worked her way from one end of the market to the other sharing an occasional find with Cade. Standing at the exit she checked her watch. “Holy cow, we spent two hours here.”
    “Time flies w hen you’re having fun,” he laughed.
    She yawned. “I must not have slept well last night. Do you mind if we go back to the hotel? I’d like a quick nap.”
    “Your wish is my command.” He gave her a dramatic bow.
    She laughed at him. “Come on, silly man.”
    “Let’s hire one of the rickshaw bikers to take us back, it’s a long walk,” he suggested.
    “Great idea.” She was really dragging and a ride would be welcome.
    The biker flew like the wind. She was surprised how fast he got them to the hotel. As she reached the bedroom she literally fell into the bed and was asleep instantly. 
    Refreshed from her nap she walked to the living room to find Cade working on his laptop.
    “How are you feeling?” he asked holding his hand out to her.
    “Much better, the stress really wiped me out.” She checked the tim e uncertain how long she slept. “Wow, I must have been really tired, I was out hours,” she exclaimed.
    “You needed it, cher,” he said has he pulled her into his lap.
    They sat on the couch. “Babe, can I ask you something that’s been nagging at me?” she asked.
    “You can ask me anything.”
    She turned to him. “You said you live fourteen hundred years. How do people not notice that?” 
    “It’s a combination of the magic which allows us to appear to age for the benefit of humans as well as making people believe we are our own descendants. After a normal human lifetime, a descendent inherits the property and investments we have. Of course, this person is actually just us pretending to be our own relatives.”
    She thought about Cade pretending to be someone else. “So, have you had to change your name to be this ’new relative’?” 
    He smiled, his eyes showing his pride and approval of her. “I knew you were a bright lady. The last name I used was Herbert.” 
    She busted out laughing. “You don’t look like a Herbert.”
    He laughed right along with her. “We can also move away for two or three decades and then come back. By that time anyone who’d recognize our younger selves easily believes we are a child or nephew of the person they knew long ago.” 
    She became very quiet and then asked in barely a whisper, “What do I do about my boys? I can’t leave them and never see them again. I don’t know if I can bear to watch them die.”
    His heart was breaking. He couldn’t make this better for her with his magic. There were only two ways for her sons to join her in this new life, and both were very slim chances.
    “I’m sorry to tell you the odds are great you’ll outlive your human children. Without a shifter mate to share her magic with them, they’ll only have a normal lifespan.