“Same to you,” Gael returns and they end the call.
The Summer After High School Graduation
Gael
The First Time Inheritance Became an Issue
“You said what?” My mother’s screech rings in my ears as I swing into the living room.
I’m heading to Sin’s house, but I stop in my tracks at the sight of my mother in a fighting stance facing my grandfather with my uncle standing between them, arms up like he’s trying to keep the peace. It explains why he’s siphoning off everyone’s anger right now, and it makes me hungry for Sin.
As soon as I decide to turn right around and climb out the window, everyone’s eyes land on me.
“Gael, come here,” my mother demands, pointing to the floor at her side.
There’s no way I’m taking sides before I know what this argument is about, but I head over and stand between her and Grandpa just like Uncle Hubert is doing. “What’s up?”
“Your grandfather is proposing skipping the rest of us over and naming you his successor,” my mother explains, furious as she glares daggers at my grandfather.
My immediate, visceral reaction comes out of me in a sharp shout. “Fuck no!”
All three sets of eyes fall on me.
“What do you mean?” my mother demands, outraged. “It would be an honor to be his successor!”
“That’s completely out of line,” my uncle comments on top of my mother’s outrage.
Grandpa sets his wrinkled paw on my shoulder, smiling gently. “You will make an excellent successor, son, but it won’t be for many years. You have plenty of time to go out into the world and learn all you can. Don’t worry about it yet. I’m just talking about the future. Nothing is set in stone.”
I shake my head, rejecting the idea of becoming the species leader. “I don’t want to lead. What would I do with Sin? I can’t tell him anything about me already; trying to hide being the leader of a whole species would be impossible.”
“Sin?” my mother gasps. “You would reject your responsibilities because of a human? Gael. You can’t do this. You need to stop this ridiculousness. Sin isn’t your destiny. You are meant to eventually be the leader of the species”—she gives my grandfather a dark look—“after I pass. It would be better if you gave him up now. Most people lose touch as they transition through college, and it’s the perfect time to let him go.”
“Valerie,” my grandfather warns her.
I interrupt, putting my foot down for the last time. “I’m never giving him up. He’s mine, and you have no say in the matter any longer. Even if I have to give up the entire clan, I will always choose Sin first. Don’t put me down as the successor if it means I have to give up my Sin. I’ll never choose the species over him. He’s my perfect person. Stop trying to separate me from him. He’s a part of me.”
I lean over and kiss my grandfather’s cheek. “Love you, but I’m leaving. Pick someone more suited to the position.”
He says nothing, and I leave, much to my mother’s dismay, and the next time she sees Sin… Well, if looks could kill, he’d be a corpse.
Present Day
Phineas
As soon as Felicity is gone, I want to collapse to my knees. My entire body aches for my missing mate mark, and spending so much time talking about mates and mate marks turned up my longing for Gael’s to unbearable levels.
“My mate, what is wrong?” Gael coos softly as he pushes his fingers into my beard.
I let my instincts guide me to my knees, and I wrap my arms around his middle, pressing my face into his tight, muscle-bound abs. “Will you please mark me?” I beg him, muffled by his shirt.
He runs his fingers through my hair and does that thing with Sin where they talk about me like I’m a doll they’re planning to share. I love it when they do this. It makes me feel so wanted.
“Look at him. Our Phineas wants his mate to finish marking him,” Gael croons, happy in the way that always draws people into his orbit.
“You have been holding back with him. I couldn’t the first time I made love to him. I’m not really sure how you’ve managed it,” Sin responds, possessively caressing the mark on my neck he left there.
“It never felt like the right time, and if his sister’s reaction to learning he has two fated mates is indicative of the rest of the clan, it’s probably better that I didn’t mark him up while Arden was in charge,” Gael replies. “He would look lovely with my bite here, wouldn’t he?” He touches the opposite side of my neck, andI whimper, trying to control the need that rushes through me at his touch.
