Quinlan: Foster’s Pride – Lion Shapeshifter Romance (Foster's Pride Book 3), Kathi Barton [management books to read TXT] 📗

Are you all right with all this? I don’t mean your niece, but with everyone being here? She smiled at him and told him through their link that she was slightly overwhelmed, but it had little to do with the crowd. Yes, I’m right there with you. But this is a good thing. Without her, Robin might well have gotten away with a good deal more deaths.

I’m just worried about what he’ll try and do to her once he figures this out. I have no idea how he would connect the dots to her, but that’s what is on my mind. He sat down next to her after shoving his brother Cass to the floor. Not that he seemed to mind. I don’t know why you thought sitting closer to me was going to make me less overwhelmed.

It helps me. Now hush. I think we need to pay attention here. Parker has some news you need to know too. Parker turned and looked at her. There was still tension between the two of them, but they were working it out. She’s not going to hurt you.

I know that, dumb ass. He laughed, and everyone turned to her. Embarrassed now, Rogue stood up and asked what was on her mind. How to keep her niece safe during all this. “I’d rather die than have anything happen to anyone in this family. Well, with the exception of Quin right now. But the rest of you, I can help out if you don’t piss me off too much.”

Laughter was just what she needed. As it seemed, the rest of them did. It was Parker that answered her. She might have said it earlier, but Rogue told the room she’d not been giving this her full attention. Rogue said she was still trying not to sound panicky when she thought of Robin.

“You don’t have to worry about him killing anyone here. Not ever.” Rogue asked why not. “You’re immortal. Just the same as everyone in here is. Any of us can be hurt, and it will be painful, but nothing will kill us. You’ll also heal a good deal faster than you would have as a human.”

“But I am a human.” Parker shook her head at her. “I am. I don’t shift, fly, or do any of the things the rest of you can do.”

“The moment you can Quin came together, that is when you changed. You have magic too. You can change your clothing at a moment’s notice. Bring things to you that you might want. My favorite thing is this.” She put her finger on the glass she was drinking from, and it filled. Not just with water, but also ice. “You’ll need to drink more juice. Also, you’ll have more magic once you and Quin bond. So get on that. It’s important to your wellbeing.”

The glass of clear water turned to a deep shade of red, like her favorite drink of raspberry tea. Drinking it down, it wasn’t a surprise to see it refill. She looked over at Billy when she laughed. She apparently could do that as well. Billy’s clothing changing was a little sickening, it was so fast. Rogue was happy to see that some of it was girly, but mostly things that would be nice to work in. She couldn’t love these kids anymore if they were her own.

For the rest of the evening and well past dinner, they spoke about all the things that needed to happen before they could confront Robin or even his father. Rogue thought the best way was just as she did everything—straight to the point and telling Robby what they knew. Also, what Billy could do. It was thought that once she started working for the elderly man, he’d figure it out sooner or later anyway.

“I don’t mind telling him. Just talking with you all has made me feel like I’m not some sort of a freak about this.” Gabe, Lily’s biological son, hugged Billy and told her it didn’t matter about the animal talking stuff. She still was a freak. “Thanks, jerk.”

Rogue loved that they never seemed to be at odds with each other. While they did argue, it was never brought up how they weren’t related, nor did Gabe point out that it was his mom and not theirs. It wasn’t an issue. They all loved each other like they’d been born to the same parents.

It was about eight-thirty when someone came to the door. Not having a clue who it might have been, she wanted to hide away the kids and make sure she was armed. Instead of doing that, she sat with her hands under her legs and waited for the bad news to be dropped on them.

“Daddy?” Rogue looked to the doorway when Lily yelled. Getting up, not wanting to come between her dad and Lily, she hugged Lexi, her stepmother. “I’m so happy you came. I had no idea you were coming tonight.”

After Lily moved back, Rogue hugged her dad. They’d been talking over the years, but this was so much better. Having Lily accepting Lexi and their dad’s relationship with her made her heart extremely full. Then Lily introduced her children to their grandda.

“I’m a grandda again. I knew about Gabe, of course—Rogue told me—but I have a houseful. Oh my, come here and hug me. I’ve wanted to see all of you all my life.” Sandy went right to her new grandda. After he picked her up and held her, she wiped the tears off his cheek, asking him if he was sorry about having grandkids. “Never, my dear child. Never. I’ve never been happier than I am right now about finding out that I have little ones to play with again.”

Everyone introduced themselves to her dad. It was her that told them she and Quin were mates and that had dad sobbing again. Happy tears tore at her like