Chapter Seventeen
Ahearn
Back at my estate, I unexpectedly found myself at loose ends trying to fill the hours left empty now that Bari and I were no longer confined to one small space.
The truth was that Bari only required physical contact with me four hours out of every twenty-four and, with more than enough space available, there wasn’t any reason for us to continue to share a bed. A modification in his care that should have been a relief to me, but was oddly proving to be unsettling instead.
Instead of sitting across from me working the puzzles in his book or commenting on the scenery streaming past the window as the train raced through the countryside, Bari spent his free hours in the gardens outside, clearing debris and trimming the plants that still flourished in the fall days. And considering that my own cooking skills left a significant amount to be desired, Bari also didn’t require me to provide his meals. In fact, in the week following our return, he’d begun to prepare his own meals, each time ensuring that there was a plate left for me. Even though I knew I was technically meeting the terms of the agreement I’d made with the dragon prince, the sudden distance between us was grating on me and I didn’t know why.
Seven days after we’d arrived at the manor, I glanced out the plate-glass window toward the herb garden and saw Bari kneeling awkwardly in the soil as a stranger loomed over him. Anger flared quickly at the sight of the intruder onmyland, threateningmyOmega. Even in my impassioned state, I corrected the thought tothe Omega under my careas I took the shortest possible route to the garden, breaking out the window with a dinette chair and hurtling through the opening as glass fell and shattered around me.
“Back off!” I shouted, ignoring the flame that licked at the stranger’s feet as I jolted to a stop before him, blocking Bari from his view. To my surprise, the intruder seemed more amused than fearful as I glared at him.
“Ahearn, no!” Bari gasped in horror. “You can’t!”
“It’s okay, Bari,” the man said gently. “Everything is fine.”
A snarl began to rise in my throat. “Do not talk to him.”
“Ahearn!” Bari snapped, starting to struggle to his feet. “Stop!”
Moving past me without warning, the stranger reached down to help Bari stand, resting one hand on his back to steady the Omega and placing the other on his ripe stomach. “Calm yourself, dear. He’s no threat to me.”
I frowned when Bari leaned into the stranger’s touch. “Unhand him and identify yourself before I show you that I am more than a threat!”
“Ahearn,” Bari spoke again, his voice strained. “You know Alpha Petroh Byrne. We attended university with his son, Colm.”
I hesitated, the name taking me back as I studied the man more closely. With salt and pepper hair, a ruggedly handsome face, and a fit body that belied his age, the older Alpha was still in his prime, to be certain. That he was a dragon was clear from his scent, but there was more. I drew in a deep lungful of air, not bothering to be discreet as I tasted it.
“You,” I nearly spat the word. “You’re the sire of the babes that Bari carries.”
Alpha Byrne remained calm. “They are of my line.” He turned to Bari. “How is it that he doesn’t know?”
The Omega closed his eyes briefly and when he reopened them, there was a glisten of tears. “He injured his head some time ago,” he explained quietly. “He doesn’t recall much of the recent past,” he swallowed and offered a weak smile. “Including our relationship. He is supporting me through the pregnancy under protest.”
Despite the accuracy of the statement, I found myself about to dispute it when Alpha Byrne’s jaw tightened. “I see.” Instead of following my instruction to unhand Bari, he stepped closer still, wrapping his arm around the Omega’s waist. “You poor child.”
Bari burrowed into his side with a sigh. “I’m glad you came.”
Alpha Byrne stroked his back, for all intents ignoring me completely. “Why don’t you get cleaned up and I’ll take you to dinner, dear?”
Bari glanced at me nervously but nodded. “That would be lovely.” He turned to me with a concerned look. “May I?”
Like so many other things in the past weeks, Bari asking me permission to join his lover for a meal seemed both strange and annoying. Which was illogical as I’d originally schemed to determine the identity of the father of Bari’s issue with the intent of orchestrating a reunion.
“Of course,” I ground out through clenched teeth, forcing a smile. “In fact, I’m sure that we have enough space for Alpha Byrne to stay for a few days.”
The other Alpha cocked a brow at me before offering Bari his arm and leading him to the house.
“Bari, darling, tell me absolutely everything.”
