Free Lost Paradise by Tara Fox Hall

or more. Devlin wouldn’t have
patience to wait if he arrived in mid-play.
    Two hours passed, Elle emerging the victor,
though Theoron had only been a few moves behind. Through it all no
one came looking for me or disturbed us.
    As they put the game away, I debated taking
the kids out to an early dinner as a treat. But for that we needed
a guard of some kind. Also, Danial wouldn’t like it if I left.
Devlin would expect me to be here, too. I knew better than to think
he’d understand. He wanted me right where he told me I should
be…
    I pushed my bitter thoughts aside. Devlin
hadn’t been anything but understanding, really. I was just
grumpy—not that I wasn’t entitled to that—and I wanted nothing more
than to spend tonight quietly with my family. I wanted comfort,
love, and comfort food, too. I’d missed lunch.
    “Want me to make you some dinner?” I
asked.
    “Yes,” they chorused. “We’re hungry.”
    Elle still ate raw meat as Theo did, just
Theoron drank blood like Danial. Tonight however, it was going to
be normal food. “Come on. I’ll make some sandwiches. After, we’ll
make cookies.”
    * * * *
    We had just put the last batch of gingerbread
cookies into the oven when Devlin walked into the kitchen.
    “Uncle Dev!” Theoron yelled. He ran to Dev,
who had crouched down, his arms open to receive him. Devlin grabbed
hold of Theoron, and swung him up into his arms. “We’re making
cookies,” Theoron informed him.
    “So you are,” Devlin said with a smile. “Did
you make me any?”
    “You don’t eat cookies,” Theoron laughed.
    “True,” Devlin said, laughing himself. “But
I’d like some anyway, if you made them.” He put Theoron down, and
came over towards me. “And how’s my lovely—”
    Elle blocked him.
    Annoyed, Devlin crouched down in front of
her. “Little Lioness,” he purred softly. “What do you think you’re
doing?”
    “I don't want you by Mom,” Elle growled. “Not
until Dad comes back.”
    “Its okay, Elle—” I started.
    Devlin held up his hand. I fell silent.
    “Why not?” Devlin said, his golden eyes fixed
on Elle. “Your Mom likes me to touch her, Elle. It’s my right to,
as well. You know what the choker she wears means.”
    “I know what it means,” Elle hissed, bearing
her fangs. “But I don’t trust you. I smell—”
    “Quiet, child,” Devlin said authoritatively.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you. You will obey me—”
    “Stop it,” I ordered. “Dev, where are Theo
and Danial?”
    “They came to help me,” Devlin said, making
it clear to me by his tone what they had been helping him with.
“Danial said he had a right as well. Kev and Vince are dead.”
    “Thank you.” My words were polite and
clipped. Though I was happy those asses were gone, I’d assumed that
and wanted not to ever hear their names again. Would Titus be
disposing of the bodies? It was much better for me if I didn’t
know.
    “You’re safe, Love,” he said softly,
caressing me with his voice. “Lash had a talk with the others as
well.”
    Most likely none of the bears, male or
female, would be coming within ten feet of me for the foreseeable
future. That was good, but it also ensured I’d never become
friendly with Devlin’s guards the way I had with Danial’s. My sole
friend there would be Serena. Maybe that was for the best, too.
“Good.”
    “You were baking,” Devlin prompted. “For
whom? Theo?”
    I’d just been keeping the kids and myself
busy, but his comment reminded me I’d been going to make a cake for
Theo’s birthday in May. I hadn’t decided if he’d want a surprise
party. He’d spent so many birthdays alone. He might still look
twenty-seven, but his face was growing older. There were faint
lines on his brow now that had not been there when I’d met him
years ago. Soon, despite his were genes, we would look almost the
same age. After a few more years passed, he would began to look
even older than me…
    “Sar?”
    I was scared