Destined (Darkin World Book 2)

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Feck, king. You claimed her all right," Amanda sputtered as low whistles sounded from the men around her.

The household was gathered in Breqlynn's favorite room at Wolfrick's house. She was wearing a low-cut, graphic tee that read, "Sorry, no hablo Fucktardo," fully prepared to freeze to death to show off Jaeger's mark.

An impromptu brunch had been called. Breqlynn's family were there, as well as the returned Kingsmen, visiting Firsts and their mates. With the curse broken and their king mated, there was a great deal for the shifters to celebrate this beautiful, Sunday morning.

Keilynn was happy for them and full of smiles and congratulations. Aeddon was more reserved, struggling with the fact that Breq was no longer solely his to protect.

"So, how was it?" Amanda asked without preamble as glasses of champagne were passed around. The women had drifted to one end of the long room, the men to the other.

"Memorable," was the only reply Breqlynn was willing to give. There were knowing smiles on Ife Jelani and Ingeborg Koster's faces.

"I bet! He marked you good," Amanda pressed.

Wolfrick's eye caught Breq's from across the room. He'd heard the she-wolf's words. A guilty, half-smile lifted the corner of his mouth before his attention was pulled away once more.

"I can't believe what a festive mood one, little bite can create." Breqlynn tried to steer the conversation away from the personal details Amanda craved.

"There's nothing 'little' about that bite." The Irish woman, undeterred, pulled back the collar of Breq's shirt to give Keys a better view. Her twin immediately blanched. Across the room, Aeddon saw her sister's reaction, then looked at Wolfrick as if he wanted to use the shifter king to practice murder.

"And now the curse is broken?" Keilynn recovered quickly. She was more interested in the mystical aspect, rather than the physical.

"Yes. There was an emergency conference call to inform the council. They got in touch with their alphas who told their packs. While Wolfrick was doing that, I called the Kingsmen to tell them the good news." After the calls ended, Breq and Jaeger went back to their previously scheduled shower. The tips of her lips lifted at the memory.

"There've been reports that some shifters haven't yet changed back from their beasts," Ife told them, effectively erasing Breqlynn's good mood. She spoke English well, but with a slight, Kenyan accent.

"Is that bad?" Keys asked. "You sound worried."

Ife lifted one shoulder. "It's too soon to tell." The other shifter women quietly concurred.

"I suppose it would be too much to hope there would be no unintended consequences from breaking such a dark curse," Keilynn mused. Breqlynn couldn't help feeling a stab of guilt, even though she wasn't directly blamed.

Everything okay? Wolfrick asked.

Fine. Just heard about those stuck in beast form.

They'll come back to us eventually, Jaeger assured Breq.

"Breqlynn? Where did you go?" Keilynn snapped her fingers in front of Breq's face.

"Probably daydreaming." Ingeborg teased in her heavily accented German. "And who could blame her?" The she-wolf gave Breqlynn a saucy wink.

"Definitely had me some Jaeger on my mind," Breqlynn agreed.

The other women laughed.

A short time later, the men joined the women and conversation flowed through a myriad of topics. When Breqlynn yawned about an hour later, Wolf saw and cut their celebration short. She'd been pushing herself too much since yesterday, and he was going to insist she rest.