Free Claiming Her Mate by Jess Buffett Page B

poor mate, however, seems like he has seen better days.”
    Summer peered up at him and he shrugged. There was no point in lying, he was well and truly ready for this day to be over.
    “If you could give us anything, Ruth, I’d really appreciate it.” Summer’s sympathetic, yet worried gaze met his and suddenly Evan felt like a heel.
    She must be thinking he was ready to run. He had known her for so long, and somehow everything between them just seemed so...right, that he forgot it was only the night before that everything had come to a head. Had it really only been twenty-four hours?
    Walking over to her, Evan cupped her cheek, stroking it lovingly. “I’m not going anywhere, honey.”
    “No, he isn’t,” Ruth injected. “Trust in that, child.”
    Summer’s eyes watered but she nodded. “I do.”
    The older woman suddenly chuckled, and Evan sent her an inquiring look. “Something funny?”
    “Not really, just hearing those words. I do,” Ruth said, a coy smile on her lips. “Just reminded me of something.”
    Evan stared at the woman, feeling slightly unnerved by the knowing glint in her eyes.
    “I’m guessing that means you’ve had a vision, Ruth,” Summer asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.
    “Yes, I did. However, it was a phone call from your sister that prompted my visit.”
    Summer’s eyes opened wide in shock. “Ella? Is she okay? Is it her friend that’s coming?”
    “Your sister is fine, dear,” Ruth reassured Summer. “She merely had a dream. One that concerned her enough to seek my counsel.”
    “A dream? Like...a vision?” Summer asked sceptically.
    “Yes, like a vision.” Ruth raised a brow. “Do not tell me you haven’t noticed your littermate's unusual ability to know things she shouldn’t?”
    “Well…” Summer bit down on her lip, eyes darting to Evan then back to Ruth. “We’ve talked about it, but nothing serious, you know? Are you saying Ella is a Seer, like you?”
    “That remains to be seen, but she is something unique. More important though, was her dream. She saw you both in danger, she couldn’t tell where you were or who you were with, but it was dense bush area.”
    “That could be anywhere.” Fear skittered down Evan’s spine. It was all well and good to know that something was coming, but he needed to know more. “Have you had this vision? Do you know where, or at least when?”
    “Young man, demanding answers I cannot give you will get us nowhere,” Ruth chastised.
    Evan grunted. “I’m sorry, Ruth, but surely you understand the frustration I must feel.”
    “I do, and I’m hoping to alleviate some on that by answering some of your simpler questions like who you really are and what you can do.”
    He peered at her curiously. “And who am I?”
    “You are a descendant to one of the most powerful witches the earth has ever seen,” the Seer stated.
    “Seriously?” He'd not been expecting that.
    “Gaia was revered, loved and worshiped. She was the mother of all witches. She could not only manipulate electricity in its rawest form, but nature itself. Human and shifter DNA had slowly diluted the powerful blood, to the point where no abilities were evident in either your mother, sister, or yourself. However, Summer’s White Tiger DNA, so rare and powerful, has awakened the part of you that slept.”
    Evan gaped at the woman. Powers? Him? “So, I’ll have abilities? Like the bolt I shot out tonight at Sean?”
    “You will be capable of doing much more than that.” Ruth chuckled. “Given your ancestor, it is possible you and your children will not be limited by one type of ability, but be able to possess them all. At least, I know your children will...if they survive.”
    Evan stiffened. “What do you mean?”
    “The prophesy, Evan.” The older woman pinned him with a look so ominous he shivered. “You know about it, it is real. There are those out there who will do anything to stop your children from being born, from fulfilling their