Kylan: Prince of Tigers – Paranormal Tiger Shifter Romance Read online

  I know I couldn’t. I mean, even being around as long as we have been, I’m not sure what I would have done if I’d found myself in a cave with others depending on me. By the way, Olivia was so proud of Lynette and the others. She said Lynette never once told her she was younger than her and that she didn’t have to listen to her. That’s the only thing that saved their lives, having someone in charge. Bryant said he was proud of all four of them. I am as well. So in speaking on that, this party should be for all four of them. They all four got to come home. It was a combined effort that saved them. Yes, Olivia guided them through it but had the others balked, I’m sure we’d be having a different kind of gathering.

  You know what? I think you’re absolutely right. We have them because they worked as a team. Kylan told Bryant that when he got back to the room, he’d talk to Emmie about the classes Olivia had taken. Thank you. I think I’d be willing to sit in on them myself. And some self-defense classes. We are cats, but sometimes it’s not good for us to shift when we need to protect those we love.

  When Dad and Mom were in yesterday, Dad asked me about carrying a gun. I told him I don’t think it would have done any of them any good to have been able to shoot the trolls. From what I’ve seen of them, their skin is like armor. Hard to penetrate. Bryant told him he’d seen that as well. I’m at the door. So if you don’t mind, I’m going to be spending some time here with my little family. Tell the rest of them for me, but ask them to please wait until tomorrow to come to see us. We need this more than we need everyone else around right now. Understand?

  I do. I really do. And tell Olivia that I love her, would you? That kid has carved herself out a special place in my heart. He told him how she’d asked to call him dad. Good for you, Kylan. I think you should know how much I love you as well. I don’t think we say that to each other nearly enough.

  We don’t. I’ve been telling Mom and Dad that more too. Especially Mom. We didn’t have her for so very long that I’m never going to miss an opportunity to tell her that all the time now. Bryant said he might mention that to the others as well. Go ahead. You never know how wonderful you have it until you almost lose it. I think that neither Emmie nor I could have survived if something more had happened to our daughter. It would have broken me.

  Going into the room, he handed them both a dozen roses. They both sobbed about how good he was to them, and he got choked up a little too. When he opened the large box of candy to give himself something to do to get control over his emotions, he realized he was the luckiest man in either realm.

  They talked even after Olivia fell asleep. She would do that, the nurses assured him, for a few more days. There had been a lot of changes to her body that she had to adjust to. He knew she was telling him it was magic, but she’d never come right out and say that. There were a lot of rules in larger hospitals about magic and taking care of their patients.

  His parents sent dinner for Kylan and Emmie. It was wonderful to know they’d thought of them in this way. He knew he should have gotten them something to eat when he’d gone out but hadn’t thought of anything but getting back to the hospital. Dad even sent along some food for the staff. They had really gone above and beyond what had been expected of them for their little girl.

  “I was thinking about something Olivia told me. She said she knows she has a great deal of magic now—she can feel it all along her skin. But she said she’s not going to be using it for every little thing she wants. It took me a few minutes to figure out what she meant. I’m assuming she can make herself anything she wants.” Kylan said he’d bet on that. “She also mentioned her education and how she wasn’t going to cheat in that either. Do you suppose someone spoke to her about that?”

  “No. I don’t think anyone would have thought of that. Perhaps she knows something we don’t. That she could recall anything from a book at a second’s notice but isn’t going to cheat. I don’t know that it’s cheating, but it’s good to know she’s going to work hard for this. She’ll appreciate it more. Don’t you think?” Emmie said she thought so too. “Lynette and the others want to come and see her tomorrow. Allie said they have been so emotional the last few days. She thinks it’s because they’re afraid she’d not make it when they did.”

  “I think it might do Olivia some good too. The four of them are lucky to be alive.” Emmie had been emotional too, but he didn’t say anything to her. She would get better as Olivia did. “As I said earlier, I’m going to take the job the family offered me. I realized when I was looking over the couple of contracts they gave me that I’ve missed it a lot more than I thought I had. It’ll be nice to only have one client and to be home with my family all the time. I’ve already asked for them not to pay me, but I was told in no uncertain terms that they were going to.”

  “I think they do that because of taxes or something.” Emmie said that was what Harper had told her. “I hope you know we’re a very diverse group of people, in that we’re all into something or another helping people out. We’ve not had this money very long, but we’ve made some major changes around the town and other places to make sure people are taken care of.”

  “I have the list I was given the first day. The places you donate to, as well as fellowships the entire family is taking care of. Harper told me that if I needed to get my hands dirty on a project of my own, they’d help me get started. I don’t know what that would be, but I’m going to give it a lot of serious thought.” Kylan told her about the projects he was working on. “I like that. There aren’t enough places like that to make sure that children are fed. I can get on board with that with you, can’t I?”

  “I want to help too.” They both smiled at Olivia. “I’m sorry I keep falling asleep. I feel like I’m forever exhausted. But Aurora told me when I’m tired, I should nap. That way, the magic will be able to work harder than it would be if I were fighting it all the time. I’m hungry, but I don’t want anything heavy.”

  “They said as soon as you woke up, you could have some soup. I can go and get you some if you want.” Olivia told him she’d just eat something they had on the menu. “I don’t know if you’re aware of this or not, but whatever you want, you can make for yourself. Even if it’s only soup. My dad sent us food, but he didn’t send any for you. I’m thinking he thought you’d be too sore to eat just yet.”

  The bowl of broth with dumplings appeared on the tray in front of her. Emmie fed Olivia so she’d not wear herself out too quickly before she was able to eat. It worked out well, he thought. Both of them were looking better with every bite full.

  “While you eat, I’ll tell you what we know, all right?” Olivia nodded but did tell him between bites that Aurora had told her some of it. “I’m sure she told you a great deal more than we know. But that’s all right with me. I’m just happy you’re mending. It was quite a scare not knowing where you were.”

  “Dad, if it’s all right with you, I don’t want to talk about the kidnapping just now.” He nodded at her. “I’m here. The others are here too, and we’re all getting better. For now, I just want to be happy that none of us were seriously hurt. I was, but I want to think I’ve become a better person for it. Okay?”

  “Absolutely. And I can understand too.” She smiled at him, and he could see her mother in her face. The way she wrinkled her nose when she was thinking of something. When he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, he kissed Emmie too. “I’ve decided I’m the luckiest man in the world with the two of you. A man could do no better than to have his little family here with him and everyone healthy.”

  The rest of the evening, they laughed and watched television. It was the most fun he’d had in a while, and he would cherish the memories of tonight for the rest of his life. It was Emmie that pulled out her phone and started snapping pictures of the three of them. He had her send them to his parents so they’d be a part of it too. Dad sent back a picture of him and Mom with kisses all around it, and he knew Dad had had help with th
at. He could barely make the television work, much less a phone.

  When Olivia fell asleep this time, they knew it was nothing like before. She was smiling and didn’t look like she was having any kind of dreams. Emmie sat in Kylan’s lap in the big chair the hospital had provided for them and covered them up with one of the many blankets in the room. When she kissed him then snuggled into his arms, Kylan closed his eyes.

  Thank you, Aurora, for my family. Appearing in the room, she blew him a kiss, and he felt it as if she’d put one there herself. Anything you need from me, you shall have it. Because of you, we’re whole again.

  I did nothing you have not done for me a million times, my black tiger. I am only repaying a debt to you and yours that I shall be paying back forever. I thank you for this opportunity to be with you in such a good way. She looked down at Olivia. She is braver than most men. Stronger than any weightlifter. Olivia Prince is a child of my heart, Kylan. She will have a place in my life that no other will ever touch. I hope you know that.

  Thank you.

  She looked at him and then back at his daughter. When she touched her, just putting a finger to her forehead, Kylan had a feeling that not only would Olivia have more magic, but she’d know exactly what she had and how to use it. Then the beautiful queen disappeared. Kylan closed his eyes. Sleep was what he needed now, and he let it take him.

  ~*~

  Setting up her office was a good deal easier than she had hoped it would be. Emmie needed something to occupy her mind and to stretch out her body. But having help, too much help, was making things flow to the point where she felt she wasn’t needed. When Pudge landed on the shelf in front of her, she tried her best to smile at him.

  “You’re not having fun.” She shook her head and looked around to see if anyone had heard her. “They’re only trying to help you, my lady. I can send them away if they are bothering you overly much.”

  “No. It’s not that. They’re getting into my mind and doing things before I can tell them. I need to be able to…I don’t know. To be able to move things too. I’ve been idle for much too long waiting on Olivia to get better.” He said he could understand that. “Don’t tell them. They’re trying, like you said, to make me happy. I just think I’m being overly sensitive today.”

  “Nay, you’re just emotional because of the babe you carry.” He flew away before she could ask him what he meant by that. Emmie thought about her last few weeks and how much she and Kylan had made love. Daily for sure, sometimes several times a day. But a child? Wouldn’t he have known before her? When Pudge came back, she asked him to explain to her why she was pregnant. “My lady. I’m sure you have an idea of that.”

  He sounded so indignant she nearly laughed at him. Instead, she told him what she meant. How did he know before anyone else? When he sat down on the shelf that suddenly had plants and other items on it that she loved, he smiled.

  “You have all been under more stress than not, my lady. I would imagine now that the young miss is home, you’ll find out a lot of things you’ve not thought of before.” She asked him what. “Well, you have more magic than before. I can feel it all over you. Also, you have guards around you at all times now. Some that you may well have noticed, but not taken into account how many there were. Also, you have been tired a great deal more. That is the babe.”

  “Why didn’t Kylan or one of the others notice? I heard that not only can they tell when the baby was conceived, but the date it will be born.” He told her she’d been avoiding the others. And that Lord Kylan had been stressed as well. “I guess I have. I just needed some time alone. To get my shit together.”

  Emmie knew that Pudge wouldn’t understand her getting her shit together. He was very literal when it came to things she said to him. But right now, she was thinking about the things he’d told her. More magic? She thought she might well have noticed that. But not in a large way. Being tired? Well, she had thought that was from catering to Olivia. That was why she was here today. Olivia had run her off when her cousins had shown up again.

  “I can answer most anything you have in the way of questions about anything. I’m very old, as you know. But I listen to others speaking, so I have some knowledge of the newer things going on in the world.” She asked him about the baby. “‘Tis a boy. He will be a large child, over ten pounds. And he will be a tiger, as his father is.”

  “That’s good to know. What else do you think I need to know? Now, I mean. Do I need to be on a special diet?” Pudge told her the faeries had been making sure she was eating well. “Now that you mention it, I have been seeing little things I’ve not thought about to eat. Last night, I had a bigger steak than I usually have. And more sour cream and butter on my potato.”

  “That would be them, yes. You are also being encouraged to rest more. Until you are used to the extra person you carry, you will need to make adjustments to your schedule to rest. It will take a great deal out of you while you carry one such as this one.” She nodded. Asking him about vitamins and other things she’d taken with Olivia, he told her she’d not need them with a tiger. “They wouldn’t work on you anyway. Being magical, things that are human made will have less effect on you than when you carried the young miss.”

  As she opened boxes and began putting things on the shelves she wanted, Emmie thought of the other things Pudge was telling her. More magic. She did wonder how that would affect the child, and he assured her that he was getting all he would need to live a full and healthy life.

  “Will it be a normal progression from conception to birth?” He asked her how long a human carried a child. “Ten months or thereabout.”

  “A tiger in the wild will only take about three to four months. But as you are carrying a tiger that is magical, you can expect to go a little longer. I would say only about five months. You are one month now, so you have four to go. Such a short time to have another tiger born to the family.” He was excited, and she fed off this. “He will be born a child, as you are a woman when you give birth. But as soon as he is old enough to move around on his own, about five to six months old, he will be able to shift to a tiger. You’ll notice he will be stronger than a child of his age. And that he will need to have food, a good portion of that meat, so he can grow stronger. He will also be magical. As you and his lordship are.”

  “Kylan and I never spoke about children. I never thought to ask. We’ve had something going on since we met, I think.” Pudge said they had, but they were better parents for it. “I hope I can be a good parent to this one.”

  She was putting things away in the filing cabinet when she realized she was alone in her office. Thinking the faeries were in another part of the building she was using for office space, she didn’t think anything about it. As she began breaking down boxes, she realized how eerily quiet it was too. Putting down the empty box she had in her hands, she took the box knife with her as she moved from her main office to the area where a receptionist would be.

  The place was devoid of any noise as well. Not the buzz of the little wings that she’d gotten used to. Nor did she see anything moving at a dizzying speed. Twice she’d had to turn away from something they were moving, as it was too fast for her. Now with nothing going on, she was suddenly afraid.

  “Hello?” No one answered her. Not that she thought they would, but she did hope so.

  Moving to the front door, she was glad to see it was locked. Going to the back of the room, she could see the door there, too, was locked. The kitchen area she’d requested looked inviting yet scary, as there was nothing out of place or anything moving there either. She said hello once again.

  Standing still in the doorway, she did something she’d only learned how to do that morning. Olivia and she had been playing with their magic, and she showed her how to reach out beyond where she was to see what was around her. Doing that now, she was assured of two things. She was very much alone in the building, and she was more afraid than s
he’d been before. Kylan asking her if she was all right scared a scream out of her.

  I’m sorry, honey. I can feel your terror and wanted to see what was wrong. She told him what she’d done and how scary it was to be alone. Wholly alone. When he paused for a moment, she asked him if he was all right. I just realized I’m alone too. The two buildings I was inspecting had a lot of faeries in here, and now there isn’t anyone. Let me see what I can find out. Will you stay where you are?

  Yes. I’m not venturing out anywhere.

  She didn’t leave the building, but she made her way up to the second floor. So far, the only thing she was using it for was filing cabinets. But that was a thing she was going to change soon. The third floor would be for the cabinets of finished files, and her daughters and son would be able to hang out on the second. Close to her. They were all set up the way she’d wanted around the room, leaving the three windows open for natural light. Also, she noticed there were faerie gardens in each window. Looking down at one of them, she saw it had been set up with a child in mind. There was a swingset, as well as a small riding horse.

  Bryant said he has people around him, as well as faeries. He’s at the courthouse where he was filing paperwork. She asked him if he’d contacted any of the others. Not yet. I just wanted to tell you about him so we’d know a little. This is really strange. I’m going to come to you. I don’t know why, but I think, with no doors or locks on these buildings, we’d be safer there.

  Emmie reached for her daughter. She hated to interrupt her time with the other girls, but she needed to make sure they were safe. Olivia said they were just sitting down to lunch and that her new faerie was with her. Deciding she wanted to go home, she met up with Kylan at the door and told him where they were going right now.