It was one of the original buildings in the town, passed on from human to human until the humans became dangerous and the shiftersscared them off. That was usually the story of Saint Lakes. Shifters had been there first and then humans came in, taking whatever they wanted, killing both shifters and animals because they were ignorant and couldn’t tell the difference. Sage figured the humans were just greedy, wanting the money the animal skins could provide and didn’t care if that animal had a family waiting for its return, or if that animal could shift into a human form.
Of course, the trapping and hunting stage happened so long ago most humans had forgotten. A few hundred years were nothing to them. They’d learned about the prosperity that the animal skins had brought them in history class and had mourned the loss of the money.
Shifters learned something different. Sage learned the story about the humans killing them off in huge numbers. Sage had lost a great grandfather on his dad’s side to a human. It was a story of caution and one that the shifters of Saint Lakes had heeded.
Humans had found other ways to make money and they left Saint Lakes alone. It had been many years since humans had caused Saint Lakes major problems, longer than Sage had been alive. The ones who lived in town knew about shifters and were part of the clan. Their town was safe or had been before the vampires started showing up.
Garridan sat down on the couch. “You manipulated me with your eyeglasses. I notice you still haven’t taken them off.”
Sage smiled and poked the fire with the iron rod. He had forgotten to take them off. “I was thinking I’d read some of our book while you’re otherwise preoccupied.”
Garridan chuckled. “Preoccupied how?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I remember you mentioning once that you wanted to eat my ass.” Sage stood and put the poker back in its place. He walked across the room to the kitchen and washed his hands in the sink. The water was so much colder than his skin. The fire hadheated him so much it made the warm water seem cold. “Now, maybe we could—” Sage went to turn around and didn’t see anyone behind him right away, but he felt them. He stiffened and made a small noise. Then he realized it was Garridan and relaxed.
Duh, who else would it be, Sage? Seeing Magnus earlier has made you crazy again.
Garridan wrapped his arms around Sage and held him close. “It’s just me, baby.”
“Sorry. Dr. Tucker says I’ll have moments of panic from time to time. I just hate them, though.”
“Everybody startles, baby. It’s completely normal.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Sage knew it wasn’t that simple. Not everyone startled as often as he did, nor did they want to fall to the ground in the fetal position, begging the vampires not to touch him again, following the heart-stopping experience. Sage fought the urge every time it happened.
“Guess what?”
Sage smiled. Garridan had a way of talking that came off as very direct, almost rude to some people. Sage noticed he didn’t talk that way as much anymore.
“What?”
“We’re completely alone.”
“Oh yeah. What ever shall we do?”
“Knit?”
Sage raised an eyebrow. “You just made a joke.”
“Crochet?”
“Oh my gods, you just made another one.”
Garridan grinned. “Get naked.”
“I vote for that one.”
Sage started toward the bedroom. He grabbed the pillows and blankets off the bed, handing them to Garridan, who had followed him in.
Sage had other blankets in the closet and went to grab them, taking them out to the living room. Garridan already had the coffee table moved out of the way and was standing around, looking at the place. The blankets he carried out were in one giant heap on the couch.
“I want to have more kids,” Garridan suddenly said and Sage nearly tripped over the blankets that were dragging on the ground at his feet.
He righted himself quickly enough and just stared at Garridan. Was this man still his mate because Sage felt as if someone invaded Garridan’s body.
Garridan began spreading the blankets out, one at a time, on the floor.
After a few minutes, Sage started to think about the way Garridan treated Bennett and Lucas, all the kind things he said and did. Garridan had even started taking on more of a parental role with all the other Somerset siblings, especially Jules and Ladon.
