Chapter-30-


    The next few days passed with ufortable strain as Serra’s hatred and resentment settled on


    Cassandra’s shoulders like a heavy nket and Tieran hadn’t visited since Serra had arrived, which


    only served to intensify her insecurity about having the woman in the house.


    Cassandra rubbed her distended belly and muttered, “I’m living in a daytime soap opera.” In a normal


    world, there’s no way in hell Cassandra would’ve been living under the same roof as Tieran’s former


    love but then in a normal world she wouldn’t be carrying mystical twins who were growing like


    extraterrestrial weeds soaked in Miracle-Grow either.


    Her back twinged and she groaned as she rolled to her side to ease the pressure. Iona had rubbed


    some kind of salve on her back that had helped but she couldn’t reach the spot on her back and Iona


    was gone for the day. And she sure as hell wasn’t going to ask Tieran to rub it on her.


    Though, she thought unhappily, she missed his touch so badly she was nearly shaking with need.


    As if summoned by her unspoken thoughts, Tieran appeared in her doorway.


    The sight of him always took her breath away — damn the man — but who wouldn’t be struck dumb by


    a tall, muscr man who looked cut from marble with eyes that zed with unrestrained hunger?


    She tookfort in the fact that he was suffering from their sexual drought as much as she but the


    moment she was tempted to simply forget all that crap between them and just open her arms to him,


    she remembered they were not living in a fairytale and he was not Prince Charming.


    More like Prince Not So Charming, she wanted to grumble.


    “I’ve brought you breakfast,” Tieran said, walking in with a trayden with lots of protein. Her nose


    twitched at thick bs of pepper bacon and she actually smiled a little. “Ah, the first sign of happiness


    in days. I must remember to always bring bacon if I hope to coax a smile from your lips.”


    “It would help,” she admitted with a small sniff. If only she wasn’t constantly ruled by the needs of her


    body.


    First, it was the Phase, then the Breeding Time, and now…mystical pregnancy. Was she ever going to


    catch a break? What was next? She shuddered to even specte.


    She epted the tray and immediately tore into the bacon. He watched with open approval at her


    ravenous appetite and she became self-conscious.


    “Please don’t watch me eat. It’s weird,” she said, wiping her mouth and reaching for the orange juice.


    “It’s not like I don’t feel like a science project already.”


    He chuckled and the sound warmed her heart, even if she was still mad at him. Why did he have to be


    so damn handsome?


    Maybe if he looked like a three-humped beast she’d have an easier time forgetting about how badly


    she wanted to hump his brains out.


    “Would you like to share with me?” she asked grudgingly.


    His gaze darkened and she wondered if she’d made some n mistake by her offer but instead he sat


    across from her and took a slice of bacon.


    However, before biting into it, he said in a solemn tone, “In our culture, when a man and woman share


    their meal, it is a symbol of theirmitment to one another.”


    “Oh.” She chewed and swallowed. “In my culture, it’s a way of not being rude. I’m not ready to pick out


    towels or anything. I’m still pissed at you, remember?”


    His look of disappointment pinched at her conscience. He was trying to be nice and she was throwing


    his attempts right back at him with a little zing for good measure.


    She drew a deep breath to apologize but he cut in brusquely before she could start.


    “You would have me turn out a woman who has been a loyal n member since the day she was born,


    after she saved both our lives, simply because you are jealous of our past together?”


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    Cassandra frowned. “Well, when you put it that way, I sound like a royal bitch.”


    “How else should I put it?” he countered stiffly. “Is there something I’m missing? Perhaps leaving out a


    key piece of the puzzle?”


    “She still loves you,” she blurted out, her eyes stinging. “And she’s bound and determined to get you


    back. I won’t live in a house where I feel threatened. Nor will I subject my babies to the threat she


    poses to their safety.”


    He stood, his shoulders rigid. “Once again you imply that I cannot keep you safe. I would protect you


    and our pups with my life. Is that not enough?”


    Her heart squeezed at the realization that he made no distinction between either pup, even knowing


    that one was not his, yet he imed both.


    She wanted to cry and she wanted to kiss him at the same time but judging by the thunderous


    expression etched on the hard angles of his face…neither kisses nor tears were a good idea.


    “She’s dangerous,” she finally murmured. “Iona agrees that it’s not a good idea for Serra to be here.”


    “Iona has never liked Serra. Her advice in that regard is suspect.”


    “Ohe on. She’s the Seer, for crying out loud. Your judgment is clouded when ites to Serra and


    that in of itself is a red g. Why are you so ready to defend Serra, yet toss me under the bus?”


    “I am not tossing you under any vehicle, let alone a bus.”


    “Stop being so literal,” Cassandra said in irritation, grumbling. “Here’s where going to public school


    might’ve done you a world of good. What I’m saying is, you need to start cing your faith in me,


    instead of constantly giving it to a woman from your past. Unless, that is, you really want her and not


    me. If that’s the case, I’m not going to stick around. Just give me the word and I’m gone. I can be a


    single mom just fine as long as you’re willing to pay child support.”


    She struggled to her feet in spite of his thunderous scowl.


    “And you can stop giving me that look because it doesn’t scare me or make me bite my tongue. I’m


    tired of everyone bossing me around or telling me how I should or shouldn’t feel, act or not act, be or


    not be, simply because I was lucky enough to get caught up in this mystical mayhem that’s currently


    tossing me around from one cmity to the next and really pissing me off!” she shouted at the finish,


    too angry to notice that the persistent pain in her back hadn’t subsided until a sharp wrenching pain


    zinged up her spine, nearly driving her to her knees with agony.


    She fell forward but Tieran caught her before she went crashing to the floor. “That h-hurts,” she


    managed to pant as Tieran hoisted her in his arms as if she weighed nothing when in fact, she could


    probably ordion the spine of an elephant if she chanced to straddle one.


    “Where does it hurt?” Tieran asked,ying her gently on the bed, worry recing his former frown.


    “My lower back,” she groaned, rolling to her side and gesturing wildly. “Iona left a cream…it’s on the


    nightstand but I couldn’t reach the spot…”


    Tieran wasted no time in grabbing the pot of cream and scooping a healthy dollop, then raised the hem


    of her top and began spreading the cream across her lower back, rubbing the pain out with firm


    strokes.


    The cream cooled, then began to warm, loosening the tension clenching her muscles. After five


    minutes of solid rubbing, Cassandra began to rx as the pain receded bit by bit.


    A relieved sigh rattled from her chest and she released theforter she’d fisted in her hands as she’d


    waited out the pain.


    “Thank you,” she murmured with sincere gratitude. She was too wrung out from the pain to be angry


    anymore. Besides, Tieran’s touch, even done with therapeutic intent, did funny things to her resolve.


    “Tieran…?”


    “Yes?”


    “I miss you.” The rubbing motion stilled and she reluctantly nced back at him, almost afraid of what


    she’d see in his expression.


    When he didn’t immediately respond she turned back and blinked away tears, grateful that her face


    wasn’t visible. “I feel better now. You don’t have to keep rubbing.”


    “How long have you suffered this pain?”


    She sighed. “Not long. Only since the battle. I think thebination of multiple transformations and the


    babies’ freakishly rapid growth have aggravated my sciatic nerve. Iona said it will pass as soon as I


    give birth.”


    She suppressed a shudder.


    The birth.


    She wasn’t looking forward to that part, even if she was starting to look forward to meeting her babies.


    “Tieran…do breeding females give birth in the normal way?”


    “Yes. But you are the only female who has been able to transform as the males do. I cannot say if you


    will be different in that aspect as well but I will ensure you have the best of care.”


    She nodded and closed her eyes, saying, “I’m tired again,” so he wouldn’t see the tears threatening to


    ooze down her cheeks. For every step forward they took together, they tumbled two back. She felt the


    distance between them like a physical thing and not even their bond was enough to bridge the gap.


    Before, even when he was determined to keep his distance, Tieran couldn’t help himself around her.


    Now…he only touched her as a doctor would — efficient yet detached. She longed for the return of the


    wild beast who would rip apart anyone who stood between them.


    Maybe she wasn’t his True Mate. Maybe…she was just his baby mama.