“I’m not sure,” Ian began slowly, “but it would explain why Theo is pregnant. If my memory serves me correctly, the mating of ghost bears occurs when one says the words. Marriage is a recent concept and is not a condition for the commitment words to take effect.
“My parents told me both had to do it, so even if Theo did say them, I still had to do it too, in order for him to get pregnant,” Norm protested.
“That would be true if your parents were correct, but since there is evidence to the contrary, I must assume they weren’t.”
“But…but…it’s always been that way!” Norm exclaimed.
“No, it hasn’t,” Ian replied. “According to every medical book I’ve read, the mating habits of Ghost Bear shifters require that only one of them needs to say the commitment words for them to work.”
“Why would my parents tell me both had to if they knew otherwise?” asked Norm.
“Many reasons, but if I were to render a guess, they wanted to prevent you from saying the words in the heat of passion resulting in an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy.”
“Those fucking assholes,” Norm growled. “I guess everything my parents told me was a lie…like how Theo couldn’t possibly be my Fated Mate because he’s male.”
“Did they know he’s an Omega?”
“I don’t know…but if they did I hate them even more for putting my Theo through hell simply because they didn’t want him as my mate…my Fated Mate,” Norm muttered, trying to control his anger over his parents’ actions.
“I understand,” Ian sympathized, “and I don’t blame you, but right now, Theo needs you…all of you…to help get him through the pregnancy. If it was a shock to you, then imagine how Theo will feel when he wakes up and finds out the reason for all his mood swings. How do you think he will react to the news?”
“Happy. He always wanted a family and now he’ll have one,” Norm said, quietly.
“What about you?” asked Ian. “Do you feel the same?”
Pausing for a moment, Norm tried to get his thoughts in order before answering. Once he had, he said, “I never much thought about it when I was growing up or, for that matter, after I discovered Theo was my mate. I was just happy to have found him since my parents told me it rarely happened.
“Then we woke up in Arald’s prison and my focus was on making sure Theo and I survived. After we were rescued, it still wasn’t something I thought much about until Theo insisted we take this compatibility quiz he found in a magazine.
“One of the questions was whether we wanted kids. That’s when it hit me that I really did want to have a family with him. So yes, I’m elated my Theo is pregnant.”
Chapter 14
Logan’s Raven shifted into his human form just before landing gracefully on his feet next to Kieran. It was a trick he’d perfected and enjoyed using from time to time. Tucking his mate against his side, he asked. “Did you get everyone moved?”
“Yup, all the low-level magic users are protected,” Kieran said, grinning at his mate.
“What about the guards?” asked Logan.
“Taken care of,” replied Dylon. “We’re just waiting for Sawyer and Glenn before we proceed.”
“About that…did Kieran tell you what I learned?” asked Logan.
“The basics, yeah…but I wanted to ask you about the interaction you saw between Gerard Vonner and Zohar,” Dylon said.
“Strange, to say the least,” Logan said. “I know Gerard is a second tier magic user but that’s not what I saw in Zohar’s office.”
“What exactly happened?” Brady asked.
“It appeared Gerard was in charge and Zohar was reporting to him, not the other way around,” Logan said. “Gerard asked the questions and Zohar answered…not at all what you would expect between the head of the Witches’ Council and someone who is below him in the magic world. At the end, Gerard said to Zohar ‘Just remember the price you will pay if you fail.’'
“Whoa, that’s disrespectful to say the least,” Zane muttered.
“I agree,” Mystia said. “No second tier magic user would dare speak to a first level, much less the head of the council, that way.”
Dylon frowned. “Logan’s right…thatisstrange. What do we know about this guy’s background? Could he really be a first level magic user and if so, why would he want to be listed as a second level one?”
“It’s impossible,” Brady said. “Each magic user’s level is recorded soon after birth.”
