“Ready, Mom?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Clasping hands, the two of them stepped up to the tiny alcove. Instantly the rock around them began to hum. The vibration seemed to seep under her skin and travel along her spine. Before she knew it, the wall in front of them was gone…it was now at their backs. And their clothes were gone, too.
Her mother crossed her hands over her breasts, but she didn’t need to. Neyla and a beautiful woman with long black hair were waiting with large blankets to cover them up.
Neyla introduced them to Petra and gave them their clothes, but before Olivia’s mother could take them, Petra dropped to her knees and took the older woman’s hands in hers. “My family and I will forever be in your debt.”
“I don’t understand,” Olivia’s mother said, looking confused.
“The evil man killed in your home was one of those responsible for my beloved brother’s death. We miss Fallon every day, but we can rest now, knowing justice has been served.”
“I…I didn’t do much. I just incapacitated him for a time, giving Olivia time to heal Asher.”
“But it was enough and my family is very grateful. Our home is your home for as long as you wish.”
Olivia pulled on a pair of butter-soft riding breeches, a purple cotton tunic with intricate embroidery at the neckline, and leather boots. “These are beautiful clothes, Neyla. Did you make them?” Rickert had told her that Neyla used to own her own clothing design business.
“Yes, except the boots. We bought those in town. How does everything fit?” She examined both of them with a critical eye.
“Like they were made for me,” Olivia said.
“Me too.” Her mother craned her neck around, admiring the blue sari-like outfit she’d just put on. She turned to Neyla. “And now it’s my turn to thank you.”#p#分页标题#e#
“My pleasure,” Neyla said, pride and excitement reflected in her eyes. “I’m glad everything fits.”
“And I’m not talking just about the clothes, although they’re lovely. I’m referring to you using your army contacts to find out what happened to my son.”
“I just hope the army’s fixer wasn’t lying to us,” Olivia said. That was the last thing they needed. To have their hopes raised that Vince might be alive only to be dashed again if they found out he wasn’t.
“As soon as I hear anything, I’ll let you know,” Neyla said. “Now, I’m sorry to rush everyone, but Rickert will be coming through the portal at any minute. And unless you want to see him naked…” She paused. “Let me rephrase that. No one but me gets to see my man naked, so we need to hurry.”
Petra scoffed. “Will you ever change?”
“What?” Neyla protested. “So I’m still clinging to my non-exhibitionist, Pacifican ways. Big deal.” She turned to Olivia and her mother. “They’re less inhibited over here when it comes to…well…sex. Let’s just say I was a little surprised on my first trip over here. So don’t be surprised if you see—”
“A few cocks and balls?” Asher strode into the antechamber like a rooster strutting into a henhouse. “Everyone decent?”
Olivia just about melted. The man—her man—was gorgeous. He wore a leather kilt and a white linen shirt with a deep V that hung open at the neck, showing the muscular plane of his chest.
As Petra and Neyla doted over her mother, helping her into a cart pulled by two handsome horses with flowing black manes, Asher grabbed Olivia and shoved her against the wall. “I thought you’d never get here.”
“What are you talking about? It was only an hour.”
“But it was too long. I missed you.” His mouth came down hungrily over hers. She reached under his kilt and found he wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
Dark and Deadly: Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance by Jennifer Ashley, Alyssa Day, Felicity Heaton, Erin Kellison, Laurie London, Erin Quinn, Bonnie Vanak and Caris Roane
CHAPTER 27
Two months later
“So you think I’m ready?” Olivia asked.
The woman with the raven-black hair nodded. “Yes, it’s time.”
Olivia retied the strings of her tunic. When she entered the circle, a few people clapped and Conry barked. Neyla and Rickert stood on the far side, his hand on her protruding belly. Petra and her husband were there, along with a few others she’d met. Olivia’s mother had learned she was from the town of Derry’s Folly and had met her biological sister there. Her parents had been killed in the raid when infiltrators had breached a portal, invaded their village, and kidnapped her as an infant sixty-two years ago.