Malachi ached for his woman. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. At first Cassidy was stiff in his arms, but, eventually, she relaxed.

  “My mother has always told me I’m a stubborn thing,” he said. “That once I set my heart on something I don’t quit and guess what? I’m not about to give up on us. Even if it means moving my whole family here because I will. You are my Little Whirlwind, and I consider myself lucky to have found you.” He turned her around and stared down at her beautiful hazel eyes. “After this announcement your father is bound to make, would you come with me to my home while I start the process of moving my family?”

  She tilted her head to the side. “You would really bring your whole family here? They have jobs and lives there,” Cassidy said. “I would hate to interrupt their lives. How many are we talking about, anyway? We talking about your mom, dad, and such?”

  His Cassidy didn’t know the dynamics of their lives, but she would learn just like he would learn about her adopted family. “Yes and no. My mother and father are there, but when I talk about family or clan, it’s the region I kind of rule over. As your father and mother are consider royalty among our kind all over the world.”

  “Great, just what I need, more rules. Can you really just move your territory?” She moved out of his arms and continued her walk along the edge of the cliff. “This town is small, and I believe you come from a larger town. I don’t know if there will be much for everyone here.”

  “Careful,” he said and pulled her back away when the wind picked up and swirled around her.

  “I’m fine. This is my world, Malachi,” she said as the wind gently lifted her, holding her in the air. She crossed her legs. “Will you join me?”

  Before he could say a word, the wind gently picked him up and placed him right next to her.

  “Sit, you’ll be okay.” Laughter danced in her eyes as he joined her sitting on a cushion of air.

  “I take it no one can see us now?” He took her hand.

  “No one can see us. It’s why I come out here, let Tonto run, and listen to the sea. I guess I get that from my father, Hugh. He likes to come up here and just listen to the sea tell him all its troubles.”

  “You can actually hear what troubles the sea is having?”

  She nodded. “It’s so sad what people are doing to their oceans. My father and his people, well, our people, work night and day to at least keep this part of the ocean clean, but so many animals still get caught in nets or plastic out there and die. It’s one of the reasons I sell many of the things I make. The money goes to a group that picks a certain spot of the ocean and cleans it. We started out here and cleaned this whole area, now we are working toward your city. Did you know plastic when recycled makes great homes under the water it polluted? My father’s city has grown huge here. He was thinking of building another one on the other northern side of Ireland. Maybe now would be a good time. We could speak with him, but I know this will always be home.”

  “Are there other of your kind farther out in the ocean?” he asked, taking her hand and squeezing it. “I’d like to help. Living as long as we do, I have plenty of money.”

  “When we go to your home, maybe we can stop and I’ll show you our headquarters and where they are working. It’s so cool to see them scooping up the plastic, metal, and such. My father’s men then take it to our plant to be converted to the material for the underwater cities.”

  “I’d like that. So, your mother believes we are going to have another man in our family?”

  “Cara knew all of you were coming as I did. We each have our gifts, but what she predicts usually comes true. I never thought of having two men, though. Hell, I never believed I’d have another man after my husband.”

  “Why? You’re beautiful and from what I can tell, very intelligent,” he said.

  “You think that because we are mated there can be no one else for us.” She shrugged.

  Malachi lifted her up and placed her on his lap. “It is true we can be with no one else. But, my dear, I found you highly attractive when you walked into that room tonight. You held yourself up and even when confronted with all of us, you didn’t run. My Little Whirlwind, you can’t sit here on my lap and not know my body is very happy to have you here.”

  “But that is a man’s reaction…” she said.

  “Who do I kill? I mean it, Cassidy. Who told you that you weren’t attractive? Because this person obviously needs a new pair of eyes.” Malachi was furious. “It was your ex, wasn’t it?”

  They slowly lowered to the ground, and Cassidy squirmed out of his arms. “It does not matter.” She looked up at him, reaching up touching his cheek where the little scar was.

  “How did this happen?” she asked.

  “You can change the subject, but I will show you every single day how beautiful you are to me, until you believe it.” He stood and pulled her back into his arms. “I got the scar when I was a teenager. My brother and I were training with swords. I turned and wasn’t paying attention. My mother kicked both our butts that day.”

  “I’m going to apologize now for tomorrow. When Mom says a breakfast, we are not talking small.” She stepped back and held out her hand. “Do you like to hold hands?” she whispered, ducking her head.

  “I love touching you, so of course I’d love to hold your hand.” He took it and brought it up to his mouth. “Why don’t we have a bonfire tonight. We can roast some marshmallows and such. Just relax with your family. I saw the pit out back.”

  Cassidy laughed. “I love it, but be warned. Every time I start that thing, my father and mother show up along with a few of their friends. Seems they love s’mores.”

  “Well then, let’s not disappoint them,” he said, guiding them toward the backyard where her parents and brother were already working on the fire. “See? They had the same idea.”

  “I told you.” Some of those in the yard strolled toward her house, laden with s’mores ingredients.

  “They must really like s’mores. That’s a lot of food,” he whispered, placing a kiss on her cheek.

  Chapter Five

  As Cassidy and Malachi entered the yard, she noticed someone new and stopped, shocked. “That’s Krill…I haven’t seen him since I was a child.

  “What is it?” Malachi asked and looked toward the man in question. “Well, it looks like we just found our mate.”

  “What?”

  Malachi pulled out a chair and pointed to it. “Sit. I’ve been with males before, and it would seem he’s not only yours but mine, too,” he said, shocking her even more.

  Krill’s mother and father came over, giving her a hug. “It has been a while, hasn’t it? Can you believe Krill is finally home?” his mom said, stepping back. Krill approached them and placed a kiss on her palm. “The last time I saw you, you were about ten. You are gorgeous, Cassidy, just like I knew you would be.” His dark voice sent a chill down her spine.

  “Crap.” Cassidy’s hand heated and she turned it over when he released it. His mark, a wave with a swordfish, was burned into the middle of her palm. Yep, he was her other mate.

  He cupped her cheek. “I had a feeling you were mine before I left, but I refused to say anything, knowing you needed the time to grow.” He turned and held out his hand to Malachi.

  “Umm, you sure you want to do…”

  Malachi grabbed onto his hand and held it as Krill sucked in his breath and shook. The front of his pants were now damp. “Well, that answers that, does it not,” he laughed as his pants all of a sudden changed.

  “How?” She frowned.

  Malachi winked at her. “There are many things you do not know, but later we will speak.”

  All three sets of parents were smiling from ear to ear.

  “Tomorrow’s breakfast is going to be interesting.”

  Cassidy finally got to sit and relax with a nice glass of her favorite wine. Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013. Its flavor of blackberries and cherries was perfect, and her father always made sure she had at least two bottles in her house.

  She sipped her wine as Malachi and Krill talked. The men had dark hair, but Krill’s eyes held a red tint as well. Cassidy had always had a thing for sexy asses and eyes, and both men possessed impressive qualities in those areas.

  “Cassidy, were you listening?” Krill asked.

  “Sorry, did you ask me something?” She froze as Nordstrom strolled over. “What the hell are you doing here? “I told you last time you were not welcome.”

  “But I’m afraid when the king calls, I come. Not even you can stop that,” he said.

  Cassidy rose. “Excuse me, gentlemen. I’m going to give my dad a piece of my damn mind.”

  Krill wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap. “No, there is a reason for this. Do not interfere in this. Your father would not bring him here if it wasn’t necessary.”

  Cassidy frowned. “What happened? Is everything okay?”

  He placed a kiss on the top of her head. “I’ll explain things later tonight after all of those have left.” Krill looked up, his gaze going over to a couple she had only seen a few times. The man himself gave her the creeps, Orin was his name if Cassidy remembered right But Cassidy also felt very sorry for his wife, Bethany. The way Orin treated her, like some caged pig, had her wanting to go over and deck him a few times.

  “You are growling, Little Whirlwind. What’s wrong?” Malachi asked.

  “I guess you could say there are people in my father’s realm that I can’t stand, and, of course, a few of them had to show up,” she said, glaring at Orin.

  As if sensing her stare, he looked up and smiled. It wasn’t a good one at all. The way his eyes raked down her body had her shivering.

  “Do not allow him to get to you. Your father will take care of him, just give us time.” Krill wrapped his arms around her as Malachi stepped closer, wrapping his arms around the both of them.

  “I have to agree with Krill, it seems your father has this under control, why don’t we go inside and sit in front of the fire in there? Allow your father to hold his court,” Malachi said, turning them around.

  “Good idea. Did you know I’ve never been in your home?” Krill said as Tonto came over, following them inside. “I have to say I love your dog. She’s very protective of you, too. Even though you didn’t see her, she was watching all that was going on around us.”

  “I’ve worked with her for a couple of years. Trying for the ghost-like stalking. In this world now with the attacks and such, I just felt safer with her. Next, I want to get a male for her, but I haven’t found one I like with the temperament that I need, especially with the grandkids around. The twins can be a handful.”

  “I have so much to catch up on. I would have been here sooner, except for the alien freaks and other cities having troubles,” Krill said as they stepped into her home, moving toward the living room, where she found Alexander and Maria.

  “Couldn’t stand the political stuff, could ya,” Alexander said, coming over to shake Krill’s hand. “Once I heard the king and Dad talking about problems, I knew it was time to go. Plus, I had a feeling he was staging something. Was I wrong?”

  “He’d better be because he knows how much I can’t stand those assholes out there. The fact that they are even near my home makes my skin crawl.” Before she could sit on the couch Malachi took the seat and settled her in his lap. Krill sat next to them, pulling her feet up in his lap.

  She shook her head. “You know I can sit by myself.”

  “Get used to it.” Maria smiled as she sat between Alexander’s legs.

  “Okay, Krill. What’s going on? You said there was trouble in other cities? How does this affect Dad?” Cassidy asked.

  ***

  Cassidy didn’t pull any punches. But she was right. Something was going on, and Malachi would like to know how much danger their mate was truly in. Already, Krill had indicated they would speak after she fell asleep.

  “What you didn’t know, Cass, is that there are a number of underground cities around the world. Your father is king of all of them, and he sends troops out when needed. I was one of those who went to the US, near California, to help them. They really could use your help with your machine, Cass. The waist is unbelievable, and the animals…it’s just so sad.” Krill shook his head, and Malachi could almost see the tears there.

  He reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “Maybe this will be our goal, to start up a place like they have here over in the US to help them.”

  “I was planning on it soon, but it takes over two hundred thousand just for the machine, not to mention the people we would have to train, and we would need to recycle the material we find.”

  “You know, this might be something for my little brother,” Malachi said. “He’s been wanting to go to the states, San Francisco. He doesn’t know why, but something has been calling him there.”

  Maria and Cassidy said at the same time, “His mate!”

  “Hmm, never really thought of that, but I insisted on coming here with your father, Reese. Maybe you ladies are right. Cassidy, you start searching for the location in San Francisco, and we’ll go from there. Krill, if you know of any people that would like to help out with this, maybe have them contact Cassidy here.”

  Cassidy wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed. “Thank you,” she said.

  Krill reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “I agree, thank you.”

  Reese entered with Kat as they spoke. “We will be helping, too. Malachi, why don’t you set up an account there that my daughter can use to build this place. The king has told us how proud he is of you and the work you are doing to clean the waters around here. I can see this is a good cause to put some of our money in.”

  Cassidy’s smile was the most amazing thing. It was the first time this day he felt she was truly happy. “I’ll do that. Maybe when things settle down, we can even go there and inspect the progress. I’ve heard San Francisco is beautiful.”

  “You guys are too much. Let’s focus on tomorrow morning, shall we? I’m warning you now it’s going to be a big thing, especially now that Krill is here,” Cassidy huffed.

  “I think you are worrying about too much. But I do hope you two will take me on a grand tour of this town,” Malachi said.

  “Hey, don’t forget us. Can we take pictures? I’d love to send them to my daughter,” Maria asked.

  “I don’t see why not. Certain areas are not allowed to be shown, but we won’t hit them. If you really want some fun, you should come and swim with the whales. We could do it before breakfast. I have an extra wet suit.”

  “No,” Alexander, Reese, and Malachi chorused.

  She rolled her eyes. “Well, I’ll be going, since I promised them I’d be there.”

  “Cassidy, I would prefer you didn’t do this,” Reese said.

  “Why? I do it every morning. They are amazing animals.” She got off Malachi’s lap and stood. “I know this is all new to you, but I’ve done this before, many times. Come with me. Let me show you.”

  Reese sighed. “It looks like I’m going swimming, you coming, Malachi?”

  “Of course. Where my mate goes, I go. Krill?”

  “It’s been a long time, but I would love to. Tell me, is Mastif still around?” Krill asked, bringing sadness to Cassidy’s eyes.

  “No, he’s gone. Someone killed him about eight years ago off the Northern side. Turell, his son is here, though, and just as big as his father was.”

  Krill wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry, Cassidy. I know how much Mastif meant to you.”

  Reese leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I can’t wait to see your world, little girl. We’re off to bed since I’m going to need my strength for tomorrow, and, Kat, don’t even think about it. You are carrying our child.”

  Cassidy sucked in her breath. “You’re pregnant? I’m going to have another brother or sister?” She walked over to her mother and placed her hand on her mom’s stomach. “You’re pregnant with twins. Do we have twins in our family?”

  “What? How do you know?” Kat asked, sliding her hand down to cover Cassidy’s.

  She shrugged. “I can feel them. It’s faint, but I can hear them. I think a boy and maybe a girl, the way he has positioned himself over the other one. Figures, even in the womb, males are alpha-like.”

  Reese threw his head back and laughed, and Malachi couldn’t help but smile. “You, my dear, are amazing. Night, sweetheart.” Reese kissed the side of her head then wrapped his arm around his wife and headed toward their room.

  “Since we will be swimming with the whales tomorrow, I suggest we make it a night, too. Alexander, are you going to join us tomorrow morning?” Malachi asked.

  I will be.” Maria took a last sip of wine. “I will not miss this chance to go.” She gave her mate a look, and he laughed.

  “We’ll see you in the morning,” Alexander said, coming over and placing a kiss on Cassidy’s cheek, before turning to look at him. “Hurt my sister, and there will be nowhere you can hide.”

  “Never,” he promised as Alexander took Maria to their rooms.

  “Well, Krill?” Cassidy asked. “Are you going to join your mom and father?”

  Krill smiled and cupped her cheek. “Cass, we’re not leaving you. You are our mate. We know you need time, but we will be staying with you from now on.” He leaned down until his nose was touching hers. “And that means in bed, too. Now, show us to our room.”

  “Fine, but we need to lock up and inform my parents. You might want to let your parents know, too, Krill, that you are staying.” She started to move toward the door. “Wait. You’re staying in the guest room, right?” Her voice squeaked.

  They flanked her. “Nope, we will be holding you snuggled against us. We know you are not ready for loving tonight, but we will hold you while we sleep,” Malachi informed her.

  “Let’s go say our goodbyes and make it quick because I haven’t been back that long and already Orin has my fins up,” Krill growled.