Chapter 1
Silver and Logan
Logan approachedme from behind and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Silver, do you want to talk about it?”
I shook my head, crestfallen. It was the second time that year that we’d lost a child to nefarious buyers on the black market. Logan and I weren’t able to conceive children of our own; nature had no intention of bending the rules for a Chitah and a Mage. The orphanage had turned us away, so we’d resorted to bidding for children on the black market.
Logan Cross made me happier than any woman could dream, and I was blessed to have him as my kindred spirit. I sometimes thought back to when we first met—when I was so lost in this unimaginable new world. This dark and mysterious man who had been hired to kidnap me ended up saving my life in more ways than one. Even after years of living together, I still got butterflies when he looked at me with those beautiful amber eyes. Logan was a doting, protective lover who carried me to bed whenever I fell asleep watching TV. He cooked most of our meals, threatened any man who disrespected me, and always kept my feet warm on winter nights.
We lived in a private building with Logan’s brothers and my Ghuardian, Justus, though they resided on separate floors. I still received Mage training from Justus, and I was surrounded by people I considered my family. Life couldn’t be more perfect.
Except for that one thing I couldn’t give Logan.
The one thing he said didn’t matter.
But it did.
Even though I couldn’t have children, it didn’t negate my desire to share the experience of parenting with him. Fate might have removed one option, but Logan was determined to pursue another. He was born to be a father. Not only was it in his DNA, but he had so much love to give—so much to teach. I wanted to see him hold a baby in his arms while it grabbed fistfuls of his blond hair, and I wanted to feel the joy of watching our child grow. I’d never dared to dream so big, but Logan made anything seem possible.
“Female, I can scent your pain.”
I gazed out the window at the snowfall blanketing the dark city, ignoring Logan’s reflection in the glass. “That’s the second time this year one slipped through our fingers. It’s hard enough not getting a child for my own selfish purposes, but it’s even worse to think how we failed at saving those children. God knows where they are now or who bought them.”
He rested his chin on my head. “We can only hope there are others like us who are searching for the same reasons—who are willing to pay anything for such a privilege.”
“I hope so,” I whispered.
Logan wrapped his strong arms around me, and I drew in his masculine smell. “Trust in the fates, Little Raven. Don’t let our failures destroy us. I’m not going anywhere.”
I turned around and nestled against his chest. “I know. I just didn’t think it would be this hard. Now I’m depressed all over again, and it’s almost Christmas. You might as well just leave me here and go celebrate with everyone else.”
He rocked with laughter. “I’m hardly leaving my female alone during a festive occasion. It’s not like you to sulk.”
I peered up at him. “You’re not the one who’s going to be cooking for seventeen people. And half of them are men who can single-handedly put an all-you-can-eat buffet out of business.”
He furrowed his sexy brow. Logan’s face had the characteristics of a predator: a broad nose at the bridge, a heavy brow, a terrifying gaze, and a wide smile. “Sounds like someone’s getting her usual holiday jitters. Why should something as innocuous as dinner make you nervous? We’re family.”
I stepped back. “Because! I have to make sure there’s enough food, time everything, do all the dishes—”
“Alone?” he asked, shifting his stance. Strands of long blond hair obscured one eye when he tilted his head to the side.
I’d insisted on doing Christmas dinner myself since in the past Sunny and Page had always volunteered to cook on special occasions. The least I could do was give them one holiday where they could enjoy their children and not have to slave over a hot stove.
“There’ll be plenty of food,” Logan assured me, swaggering toward the kitchen.
“Oh really? Because last I checked, one oven isn’t enough to feed the Cross family.” I glanced in the mirror and saw my dark hair was all scrambled up, so I reached in my pocket and retrieved a hair tie. “I’m getting up early since I’ll be cooking all day tomorrow. The more I can get done in advance, the better. My plan is to knock out the desserts since they’ll keep for a few days anyhow. Then tomorrow night, I’ll prepare some of the side dishes. Obviously not the dressing or hot foods, except for beans. I have a slow cooker to keep those warm. Levi likes potato salad, and I’m making those homemade yeast rolls that Finn’s always begging for. We’re having turkey and ham. Hopefully that’s enough meat for everyone.”
Logan stood barefoot, peering into the fridge. He finally decided on a bag of cheese cubes and turned around, walking me backward. “We can cater. No one will know.”
“I’ll know.”
He kept advancing until my back was to the wall. “Why must you do this alone? I offered to help.”
“You don’t help; you take over.”
His eyes were brimming with concern. “You won’t enjoy the day if you’re exhausted. I don’t like seeing my female stressed and overworked.”
“I need this distraction,” I admitted.
