Midnight Wolf (Shifters Unbound #11)(59)

The sound of children’s voices drifted to them. Angus gave Tamsin a long look, then very carefully set her down.

Tamsin gave him a brief kiss on the mouth and looked over his shoulder as Ciaran emerged from the culvert, leading young Natalie by the hand.

Natalie stood close to Ciaran, giving him a look like she was Princess Buttercup and her Westley had just rescued her.

She then gazed at Angus and Tamsin, who hid herself behind Angus’s broad body.

“Ciaran, why is that lady naked?” she asked in a small voice.

“None of us know,” Ciaran answered gravely.

Natalie was restored to her family at the office, to everyone’s relief. Her parents gushed over the little girl, hugging and asking her what happened, asking Tamsin—dressed again—how they’d found her. Ciaran generously volunteered Tamsin’s part in the search, saying how good she was, but he of course didn’t mention Shifters or foxes.

Natalie explained she’d been following a rabbit out into the field and then found herself lost. Hot, she’d gone inside the culvert to cool off. A snake had been crawling toward her, but a fox had attacked it, drawing it away, and then the fox had run off, and Ciaran had come to rescue her.

Natalie’s mother listened to the explanation without much comprehension in her eyes, then she began to scold Natalie for not sticking close by, and then she began to cry, to Natalie’s bewilderment. Natalie’s dad ushered them out to take them home, Dante returning the entrance fee they’d paid.

Natalie gave Ciaran a longing look as she left, but he only waved cheerfully as he, Angus, Dante, and Tamsin walked them to the entrance.

“I told you her mom would yell at her,” Ciaran said after the family moved toward their car, holding tight to one another. “Just like my dad.”

“All’s well that ends well.” Tamsin gave Natalie one last wave. “That’s what my mom used to say.”

The last words choked her, and she turned away so Angus wouldn’t see the sudden tears that flooded her eyes.

She found Dante giving her a watchful look. Dante had been impressed with Tamsin’s and Ciaran’s stories, praising Ciaran for his part in the rescue, but he knew they’d held information back.

Tamsin returned his look neutrally. Was Dante curious for curiosity’s sake? Or for a more sinister reason? How had Dante escaped detection all this time?

“You’re right,” Dante said, softening his gaze. “It ended well. I don’t like when cubs get lost. Thanks, Tamsin. You too, Ciaran.”

He said nothing about Angus, but Tamsin sensed Angus didn’t mind. He wasn’t a Shifter who sought the limelight. He didn’t have much of an ego, though he did possess deep-seated convictions about his strength and ability, convictions he didn’t slop onto everyone around him.

Angus, she decided, was a Nice Guy. A hot, sexy Nice Guy. Maybe that was why she’d said yes to the mate-claim.

Tamsin was still puzzling over the impulse that had made her yell her acceptance. Perhaps the Shifter in her had known it was right.

“Why don’t you kids knock off for the day?” Dante said to Tamsin. “Celene fixed up a trailer for you to use so you won’t have to sleep in your truck. It has a bathroom. With a shower.” He gave Tamsin a nod, knowing she couldn’t refuse.

“Thanks, Dante,” Tamsin said cheerily. “You’re a brick. Point us to it.”

Celene came out to join Tamsin and lead her and Ciaran to the trailer. Behind her, Tamsin heard Dante speaking in a low voice to Angus.

“Celene and I can look after Ciaran for a while,” Dante was saying. “You know, if you and Tamsin want to . . .”

He left the words hanging, but Tamsin knew exactly what he meant. Mating frenzy swirled inside her, making her want to take Angus out into the field beyond the fairgrounds, throw him to the ground, and satisfy her urges on him, never mind about all the stickers and the snakes.

“No,” Angus said, to both Tamsin’s relief and disappointment. “Ciaran stays with us.”

Tamsin knew he didn’t trust Dante enough yet to leave his cub in the bear-man’s care, which Tamsin agreed with. Worry for cubs trumped mating frenzy.

“If you change your mind . . .” Tamsin glanced back to see Dante clap his feathered hat onto his head. “Don’t let mating frenzy kill you, Angus. Give in. Give in.”

He shot a grin at Tamsin, knowing she’d heard every word, then walked back to his carnival, calling out to people as he went.

Celene slid her arm through Tamsin’s. “You’ll have time alone soon enough,” she said. “All Dante thinks about is mating frenzy.”

“You’re an interesting couple, aren’t you?” Tamsin said. “A bear Shifter and a half Fae. How did that happen?”

“Long story.” Celene smiled, her face one of the most beautiful Tamsin had seen. Tamsin thought her own face was too pointed, too full of nose and eyes, but Celene’s had perfect proportions.

“I’m a very curious person, so you’ll have to tell me someday,” Tamsin said. “What did you mean when you said we’d have time alone soon enough?” She had suspicions in bucketfuls, just like Angus.

“Hmm? Oh, I meant we’ll be on the move tomorrow, and if you come with us, you and Angus will probably have time alone sooner or later. Are you coming with us? We’d love to have you.”