Chapter One
Hunter lingered outside of his parents’ kitchen.
He knew from the other warriors and from little Meryn, that his unit brothers were spelled to have dreams of their mates.
His started weeks ago before Genevieve arrived.
In his dreams he saw a woman with kind eyes and easy smile.
At her side two children hold on to her hands as if she were an anchor they floated around.
Then, dark hands ripped the children away, causing his mate’s heart to shatter.
Each night he tried to stand between the children and those grasping hands but failed each time.
Unable to stand the thought that the children were in danger, he did some poking around.
He had recognized his mate almost immediately, Caiden pointed her out years ago as a recent Academy graduate.
When he thought about how many times, they had almost been close enough to find one another and didn’t, he shook his head. No point dwelling on it now.
Today, he had made his way back to the estate where the children lived with their uncle. They sat quietly out-front watching people go by. Both still looked slightly underfed, and their clothes serviceable, but worn. He tried to bring them treats, but they shied away from him.
Now, he stood outside his mom’s kitchen. If there was anyone who would know what to do, it was his mother.
“Hunter, get in here,” his mother yelled out, jolting him from his thoughts.
Hunter walked into the kitchen. “Hello Ma,” he said, keeping his tone light.
“Hmm. You have been hovering for days. Sit and talk, young man,” she ordered, pointing to the chair at the table.
Sighing, but smiling ruefully, he sat down. “Can’t I just visit because I love and miss you?”
When he looked over to where his mother was kneading bread, she was giving him a flat look. “I birthed you and raised you. I know what you’re going to think before you think it. Now, tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’ve been dreaming of my mate. It’s Kiera Sorrel from around upper mid-city.
She left about five years ago to earn money for her siblings, visiting occasionally.
The children are currently being looked after by her father’s brother.
However, they look a bit thin and weary.
I don’t have the position to help them since, technically I haven’t even met my mate yet, and I want to feed the kids,” he finished his long ramble and watched as his mother blinked once, then blinked again.
“What!” she screeched.
Heavy footsteps pounded toward them as his father burst through the back door. “Myra? What is it?” he demanded going over to his mate.
His mother lifted a flour dusted finger at him. “He… he…”
Hunter gulped as his father level a hardened gaze at him. “Well son?”
“I kinda met my mate?” he said, leaving the words tenuous.
His father blinked, the same way his mother had, before a huge grin overtook his face. He abandoned his wheezing mate and came over to pull him out of his chair, before pounding him on the back. “What wonderful news! Where is she?”
Hunter took the back pounding and felt himself begin to grin, his father’s excitement was contagious. “I technically haven’t actually met her yet, she’s out of town, but I recognized her from the mate dreams the warriors are getting.”
His father frowned. “I wasn’t a huge fan of that spell, but damn me if it doesn’t seem to be working to get you boys mates.”
His mother came around the counter. “What about the children?”
“Children?” his father asked. “What children?”
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. “She has two small siblings, a boy and a girl, who their uncle is watching over. Overall, I think they’re safe, but they don’t look happy,” he explained.
“Well, bring them here,” his father ordered.
“Johann, you know he can’t do that, not yet anyway,” his mother fussed, before she started pacing. “Have you tried talking to them?”
He nodded, then steered his mother over to his chair, gently easing her to sit down. Only after she sat, did both he and his father join her at the table. “I think I scare them. They always shy away from me.” He paused. “Am I scary?”
His mother snorted. "Of course not.”
His father sat back. “All you boys take after your mother, thank the gods. You got her kindness and light.”
Hunter kept quiet. Growing up, he was more afraid of his mother, than his father when he messed up. Kindness and light, yes. But, she also had a motherly fury that kept him line more than any other form of punishment.
His mother tapped her fingers on the table. “Maybe I could take some muffins over later. Just to see if they want a few.”
Hunter exhaled in relief. No one could say no to his Ma. “I’d really appreciate it, Ma. I feel responsible for them and hate seeing them so skittish. I want to them to be running around causing trouble, the way Amelia did when she was little.”
His mother’s eyes widened. “You feel responsible for them because you will be a father to them once you claim your mate.” She sniffled. “Oh Johann, we have grandchildren, finally.”
Hunter winced at the way she stressed that last word. Then his heart began to race. “I’m gonna be a dad?” The reality smacked him in the face, as a smoldering anger began to burn in his chest. A low rumble crawled up his throat. “Why are they unhappy?”
His father reached over and clasped his shoulder. “We’ll find out and then bring them home as soon as we can. In the meantime, we’ll do whatever is needed to ensure their health and safety.”
His mother wiped at her eyes. “I’ll grab yesterday’s muffins. Once you meet your mate, we’ll get them fed.” She stood and walked over to the cabinet. “Hunter, when do you think your mate will be home?”
Hunter felt his bear calm as he watched his mother begin to pack food. “Soon. The dreams are happening every night now. In my dreams this week, she was packing to come home. Her siblings are at the Sorrel estate, outside the Academy. Her uncle is in charge of the proctors there.”
She placed one muffin after another into a basket. “I haven’t heard much about Ellar Sorrel. Not sure how I feel with him working at the Academy, not after what happened with Caiden.”
Hunter watched in amusement as she managed to get over a dozen muffins in the basket before covering it with a towel. “Ma, I don’t think they can eat that much.”
“Hush. Kids eat more than you realize. You boys would no sooner finish breakfast before you were bellowing for lunch.”
Hunter had to agree. Growing up, he had always been hungry.
Once she crammed the basket to her satisfaction, she started bringing out her large stock pots. “I’m going to start on some soups now. The longer they simmer, the better they’ll be. After the soups cook, I’ll head to the city and see if I can get them to talk to me.”
His father smiled. “You’ve made your Ma a very happy woman.”
“I guess. I haven’t really done much yet.”
His mother looked at the assorted ingredients and nodded to herself. “I’m going to the garden, they deserve fresh vegetables.” She grabbed her light shawl, another basket and walked out their back door.
His father waited and in the distance they both heard the gate close behind his mother. “How bad are the dreams, son?”
“Something is after the kids. Shadows reach out and rip them away. When that happens, something in my mate shatters.”
His father began to growl. “Does your unit know?”
He shook his head. “They know about the kids, but not about the threat. I can barely get within five feet of the kids as it is.”
“We can ask your brothers to visit,” his father suggested.
Hunter thought about it. “I really want them to come home, especially Graham, but he’s needed more in Lycaonia.”
His father sighed. “I guess we can rely on your unit brothers.”
Hunter laughed. “You just want Graham to visit.”
His father nodded. “It has been a while, plus those kids will be his niece and nephew. He should at least meet them.”
Hunter felt inspired. “I’m going to head out and call him.”
His father shook his head. “Don’t torture him too much.”
“Would I ever do that?”
His father raised a dark brow. “You forget, I have a brother too.”
Hunter grinned. “I know, you taught us well.”
“That I did.”
Hunter stood and headed for the door. If he couldn’t get close to the kids, he could, at the very least, torment his brother. Smiling, he pulled out his phone as he began walking toward his ATV.
His brother answered on the second ring. “What’s wrong?”
“Why does anything have to be wrong?”
“You never call. Storm Keep is a dumpster fire right now and I know for a fact Menace is visiting, so, you do the math.”
Hunter swung his leg over the ATV and sat down. “Meryn is an adorable delight. I’m not sure why you all are so mean to her.”
He heard sputtering then his brother responded. “Is she well?”
“Besides looking like a balloon about to pop, yes. But, that wasn’t why I called. It’s been a while since you’ve visited.”
A loud sigh echoed from his phone. “You know we have a lot going on right now. My hands are tied. I’m needed in Lycaonia.” He paused, then asked. “Are mother and father doing okay?”
“You mean Ma and Dad?” Hunter teased. Being younger, he had no compunction about being less formal. Graham was older, and the more familiar modes of address always got stuck in his throat.
“You are without a doubt a spoiled brat.”
“I know. And to answer your question, our parental figures are doing well, great in fact.”
“Great huh?”
“Ma is over the moon and is currently cooking for her grandchildren,” Hunter grinned and waited.
“What the fuck? Grandchildren? Since when?” Graham demanded.
“I’ve been dreaming of my mate, and she has two, tiny, adorable siblings, so in essence, I’m about to be a father.”
“Gods above,” his brother muttered. “Tiny?”
“They could be underfed, but definitely look under ten.”
Graham began cussing, and Hunter felt a warmth in his chest. His brother was already angry on the kids’ behalf. “Why are they underfed?”