Gael runs his fingers through our mate’s hair. “I had a thought. What if the rarity of fated mates is because shifters aren’t looking at the other species for potential mates? After the summit, the relationship between the species will change, and maybe we’ll find more people finding their fated mates and that poly love is more common as well. Maybe we won’t—maybe you’re one of the lucky ones—but either way, we’re going to make sure more of our people have the opportunity to find out.”
Phin hums happily, and I lift my head to peer at Gael over Phin’s shoulder. “How are you going to do that besides giving Felix the proposal for a new oath?”
Gael’s lips thin out and the satiated smile on his lips turns into a frown. “You remember when my mother stopped talking to me?”
“Of course.”
“It was partly because we went around her about where I was going to school, but the other part was that my grandfather was picking his heir and it wasn’t her. She loved me, but she was pissed that he wanted to skip her over for species leader.” His hand on Phin’s neck tightens as he thumbs the now-healed mark on our mate’s neck.
Phin mumbles happily.
“Your grandfather wanted you to take over?” I confirm; I’d gathered that possibility from the conversation with Felix, but this is the first we’ve talked about it.
He nods, loosening his grip and petting Phin’s loose, ginger curls. “He made me his heir—against my wishes—and the people had the choice to honor his pick or choose another. My mother advocated that the people respect his decision, but there were others in our family that wanted my uncle to take on the role.”
Phin protests with a little whimper, but otherwise he doesn’t verbalize his opinion on the matter.
“They voted to respect Grandpa Vernon’s choice,” I recall, remembering what Felix said. “It might make this” —I wave between the three of us— “easier if you’re the one making the changes happen and we don't have to rely on other leaders who might oppose us to get the work done.”
Gael nods. “Yes, that’s what I’m thinking, too. Change needs to happen, and I don’t have to be the species leader for the rest of my life. The problem is leading two species at the same time. The shifters really do need a shifter in place as their leader,” hesighs, bending to kiss Phin and looking at the man with as much love in his eyes as I have in my heart.
He’s so fucking beautiful like this. They both are.
“You will have to change the mode of succession for the shifters. I refuse to let anyone kill you just so you can get out of the responsibility of leading them.” I don’t care what tradition says, might doesn’t equal right.
“That’s at the top of the agenda before the summit. I’m not taking on the responsibility of the shifters at the same time as I take on the mare,” he laughs, lighting me up with his effervescent joy. “Phin can help me pick a good replacement leader.”
Phin mumbles something but immediately lifts his head to say it again more clearly. “Pick Anja. She’ll hate you for it, but she already takes care of our people and knows what needs to change.”
Gael smiles like Phin’s given him the best gift and kisses our mate soundly. “Perfect. Now we just need to get the rest of the species leaders on board, and we’ll have this revolution in the bag.”
“I’ll help. I’ll write up the proposal and stand with you every step of the way. We both will. We can do this together.” I don’t think it’s hubris to think of ourselves as unstoppable right now. It might be Gael’s magic making me confident, but we’ve never failed in any task we’ve ever taken on together; I don’t believe we can fail in this one either.
No matter what else, I believe in Gael. He can do whatever he decides to do, including changing the world of the paranormal species.
Two Weeks After the Funeral
Gael
The Cause of Death
“You look like you could use a decent meal.”
I look up from where I’ve been poring over the clan’s financials to the doorway of my grandfather’s office, where someone who looks suspiciously like Sin is leaning against the door frame in what is clearly a pose meant to entice me.
I blink at him, wondering just whose idea it was to find a doppelganger with the intention of enticing me. I’ve never learned to eat without Sin, and every part of me rejects the idea of consuming the energy of anyone right now. The only two people I want inside me are Phin and Sin, and the thought of taking anyone else makes the emptiness inside me churn, ready to expel anything that doesn’t come from my men. I can’t even eatfood-food. The only thing I’ve been able to put into my mouth in the last week is some lemon candies that remind me of Sin.
“I could, but you’re not it,” I reply, dismissing him and turning back to the log books I’ve been studying for the last four days.
The energy in the room surges as if this guy is trying to force me to take what he’s here to deliver, and I look back up, scowling at this fucker. “I said no, and I don’t give second chances to anyone who violates the sanctity of consent.”
He immediately raises his hands, taking a step back. “Woah. I was doing what your mother told me to do. She’s the one?—”
“Get the fuck out of my sight,” I order him, grabbing my phone to call my mother.
I pull up her contact just as my phone pings with an urgent message from the clan’s healer. I immediately call the woman, putting her on speaker as I open up the PDF she sent me.
“Shit,” I cuss, looking at the results.
