Free Daeton's Journey (Wiccan-Were-Bear Book 10) by R. E. Butler

needed to be here, but I know now that whatever brought you here, it was for this very reason.  We’re in your debt.”
    Tyrant shook his head.  “We owed a debt to your family for our part in her near-death.  That we could be here, in your time of need, to help keep Daeton and her young safe – that’s our repayment to you.”
    “Whatever evil orchestrated bringing Daeton into the realm in the first place, it’s been put to rest,” Rysk said.
    Daeton rumbled in agreement.
    Although Perseus wanted to take Daeton home and tend to her burned flesh, she was adamant about not leaving.  He and Ekho sat with her on the cobblestone street for hours as the bodies burned until there was nothing but bones, the scent of charred flesh heavy in the air.
    She walked slowly around the bones that were still smoking as if she were checking for signs of life.  Then she lifted her head and bellowed, and the sound was one of triumph.  The Centaurs raised their voices, too, and Perseus, Ekho, Rysk and Tyrant added their cry of victory to hers.
    Daeton lumbered to them, and Ekho said, “Time to go home and rest, honey kitten.”
    Her head hung wearily as they walked back to the settlement.  Instead of going to the home they shared with his parents, she went straight to the lake and submerged herself in the dark water.  When she rose, she was in her human form, the water sluicing from her body as she wrung out her hair.
    Perseus and Ekho held their hands out to her and she joined them.  Perseus kissed her and looked over her body, checking for signs of injury.  The burn wounds had mostly healed with her shift and he knew she would shift again and heal completely.
    “I want to sleep for about a year,” Daeton said as he and Ekho held her between them.
    “Let’s go home, then,” Ekho said.
    “I wish we could go to our own home,” she said wistfully.
    Perseus lifted her into his arms and she snuggled close.  “Just a couple more weeks and we’ll be ready to move in.”
    “Good.  It can’t come soon enough.”
    “I agree,” Ekho said.  “I love your parents, Perseus, but I’m looking forward to having a place of our own.”
    “So anxious to get me all to yourselves?” Daeton said, her voice soft and teasing.
    “You know it, honey kitten.”
    Perseus chuckled as Daeton yawned and relaxed in his arms.  “You’re safe now, sweetheart.  You and our son.”
    “You and Ekho are safe, too.  Thank you for trusting me to make the right choice for our future.”
    Daeton was asleep before they crossed the threshold.  Perseus laid her down on the bed and Ekho climbed in next to her.  “I’m going to talk to my dad and the elders.  I’ll be back.”
    “We’ll be here,” Ekho said, curling around Daeton and covering them both with a light blanket.
    As he left, he thanked their lucky stars that Daeton was safe, and the threat against her was finally gone.  He’d heard the man tell Daeton that he was Urijah’s brother, so revenge must have been his motive, but it certainly hadn’t been worth his life.
    After speaking to his dad and the elders about the events of the day, he watched his dad take the bone blade and swim to the center of the lake to return it to the depths.
    “If we ever have need of it, we will know exactly where it is,” Barnabas said.
    “Let’s hope that day never comes,” Perseus said.
    Hurrying home to his mate, he stretched out next to her and closed his eyes, sending up a silent prayer of thanks to whoever – or whatever – had sent Daeton the vision that had helped them win the day.
    She was his and Ekho’s forever, and the next chapter of their lives was beginning with a fresh slate.  Whatever the future held for them, he knew they would handle anything life could throw at them, because they were together.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 6
    Ten Months Later
     
    Daeton rubbed her belly and tried not to think about how much her back hurt as Elektra handed her another gift.  The baby