Free Darkest Risings by S. K. Yule Page B

scent of her excitement. That was something no one could confuse. It had
been unintentional on her part since she had no understanding of what they
were. She couldn’t possibly have any idea that she was broadcasting her
feelings as bright as a lighthouse beacon to a room full of vampires.
Fortunately, everyone else knew that as well, and would have been doing their
best to block the waves out of respect for Wilhemina. Everyone in his family
anyway.
    He
wasn’t sure about Dominic or Conrad. Conrad hadn’t given any indication that
he’d read much into it. Dominic, on the other hand, had made no secret out of
directing a smirk or two his way. He glared at the hunter across the table, and
the smug bastard had the audacity to respond with a devilish grin.
    Aldin
was going to require a serious workout tonight to calm the roiling unease
churning inside him. Or a particular
redhead in a compromising position. Stop it! He was not going to touch
Wilhemina again. He’d already hurt her enough. But one simple look at her had
the ability to stir his cock to life under the table. One simple glance at that
smooth skin, those gray eyes, those lush, full lips that inflamed him with
their touch, had the ability to make him argue with reason.
    He
could imagine how her thick, auburn hair would look spread across his pillow as
he took her body, slaked her every need until she shuddered in release and
screamed out his name until her silken, wet muscles clamped around him once
again. He put his fork down and closed his eyes for a moment, commanding his
carnal thoughts into submission. “Excuse me please.” He stood. He could not
take one more minute of sitting across from her, of not touching her.
    “Leaving
already, brother?” Aiston quirked a brow.
    He
ignored Aiston. “Pleasure to meet you.” He gave Wilhemina a slight bow. “Dinner
was amazing as usual,” he called out to McKayla on his way past the kitchen.
    He
went to the gym in the basement and changed into his workout clothes. He was
going to beat the hell out of some poor, unsuspecting punching bag tonight.

Chapter Nine
     
    “Mother!
To what do we owe this lovely surprise visit?” Ashe kissed Marilena on the
cheek.
    She
smiled up at him. He was an amazing, honest, loyal man. All of her sons were.
They had obviously not taken after her. Her heart ached, but she hid it well.
This was not going to be a lovely visit,
but she had no doubt it would be the biggest surprise of her children’s lives.
    “I
need to meet with you, Aldin and Aiston. When would be a good time?”
    “Aiston
is out with Avril this morning. After breakfast, she suckered him into going
shopping with her, but I believe we will all be available this evening after
dinner.”
    Marilena
nodded, not quite trusting herself to speak without her voice cracking from the
grief eating away at her insides. Her sons would probably hate her after the
meeting. She’d be nothing without them. They were her life, and her own actions
were going to be the cause of their scorn. She had no one to blame but herself.
    “Is
something wrong?” Ashe asked.
    “We’ll
talk later.” She hugged him and prayed he’d be able to forgive her for the lies
and deceit.
    He
nodded as she left him to make her way upstairs toward the nursery to peek in
on Marcus. She found her beautiful grandson sitting on the floor playing with
some wooden blocks adorned with bright colored letters and numbers while McKayla
sat in a chair across from him reading. He was a miracle. She’d never thought
Ashe would get a second chance at happiness. She quietly closed the door and
made her way to Estril’s room. She still couldn’t bring herself to go inside,
but standing at the door somehow made her feel close to the daughter that was
forever lost to her.
    After
a few moments, she made her way back toward the rooms she used when she was at
the estate, but stopped abruptly. She turned and raised a shaky hand to tap on
the closed door. A few moments