Sean gave her a quiet look, no teasing or anger. “You want to believe him, don’t you?”

“I want to know.”

“Don’t worry, love. We’ll find out.”

“I don’t see how.”

“We’ll wrap his ponytail around his neck and threaten to strangle him with it unless he tells us what we want to know.”

Andrea started laughing. “I’d like to see you doing that to a Fae warrior. He looks pretty tough.”

“Then I’ll pull him into this world. He’d be weaker here, what with all the iron around. I could stuff him into Dad’s pickup and drive him around until he talks.”

“I think I’d pay to see that.” Andrea leaned against him, wishing her anger and confusion would drain away. “Why are you helping me, Sean?”

With one touch of a key, Sean shut off the database. “I’m curious too, love. I want to know what this Fionn is up to.”

“I mean with everything. You admitted last night that you first claimed me because you thought it would be your only chance to have a mate, and there I was all helpless.”

Sean chuckled, eyes warming. “The day you are helpless, love, is the day the moon falls out of the sky.”

“Very funny.”

Sean nuzzled Andrea’s hair, his breath hot on her scalp. “Maybe it was the reason why I jumped at the chance for the mate-claim before I met you, but not after. Love, I want you for my mate because you have eyes the color of smoke. Because you are wicked sexy, because you’re fearless and have a smart-ass mouth, and because you kiss like fire. Why wouldn’t I want a woman like you around me the rest of my life?”

He could melt stone, this one. He smelled good too, musk and heat and the soap from his shower.

“You could charm a girl,” she said. “You and your Irish accent and beguiling flattery.”

“It’s not flattery, Andrea. I want you. I want to touch and hold you. I want to keep you safe. I’m wanting you in my life.”

“In that case ....” Andrea stopped, her heart beating so hard she could barely get the words out. “In that case, Sean, let’s have the mate blessing and get it over with.”

Sean’s blue eyes blazed with his sudden smile. “Andrea, love, you like to ask for trouble.” He stood up so suddenly she nearly fell, but he caught her hands, lifting her to her feet. “But all right. The sun is high, and Dad is here.” His smile went positively sinful. “I say we go have us a mate blessing.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“You sure about this, Sean?” Liam asked.

“Just get on with it.”

Liam had arrived home in record time after Dylan had called him with the news. The rest of the family had materialized as well, as though they’d all been hanging on their cell phones, waiting for the call.

“It’s always best to make certain.” Liam was grinning at Sean, an excited light in his eyes. A few feet away, Kim fixed a garland of flowers to Andrea’s hair, the two young women chattering animatedly about whatever women liked to chatter about at these times.

“He’s sure,” Connor said. He wrapped lanky arms around Sean from behind and squeezed hard. “We’ll have more and more cubs, and it will be a grand thing. Is she already pregnant, Sean?”

“None of your bloody business,” Sean said, but he gentled his voice and returned his nephew’s hug.

“Well, if she’s not, get a move on, man.” Connor let Sean go, spun around to Andrea and gave her an equally hard hug that lifted her off her feet. “Welcome to the family, Andrea. You and Sean can have my room—it’s the biggest one in the house. I’ll take Sean’s. It’s like a closet. No room for cubs there.”

“I thought I’d move myself in with Andrea and Glory,” Sean said as Connor set a flushed Andrea down. “Kim and Liam will be needing all the space they can get.”

“Aye, that’s true,” Connor said. “And Glory needs a man about the place.” He glanced meaningfully at Dylan, who waited a little way away for the ceremony to start. “Now that Grandda’ has moved out.”

“Exactly.” Glory walked toward them, dressed from head to toe in silver lamé, her silver platform shoes shining in the sunlight. Her finger- and toenails and been painted to match her outfit and decorated with thin-lined Celtic designs. “We ladies need protection.”

“Huh,” Connor said. “One look at you, Glory, and your enemies fall over in fear.”

“Well, that’s true.” Glory smiled, showing every tooth. “I welcome Sean and look forward to a lovely stack of pancakes each morning. It will be nice to have someone to take out the trash, clean the gutters, rake the leaves, fix the sink ...”

Sean broke in with a growl. “Stop before I change my mind.”

Glory covered her mouth in mock fear. “Ooh, wouldn’t want that.”

They were laughing, eager, and the air was tinged with joy. Another mating in Shiftertown, another strengthening for the Morrissey family and its pride and clan, another strengthening of Shifters in general. Kim was nearly dancing with happiness, and Sean wouldn’t have been surprised if Connor broke into cartwheels. The young man bounced around, making whooping noises as neighbors came out of houses to join them.

Liam stepped to Sean and pulled his brother into his arms. Liam’s embrace felt good; the brothers were of equal strength. The two men had comforted each other through so many years and hardships, so much grief and pain. Sean had rejoiced when Liam had found Kim, his perfect mate, and now Liam thumped Sean on the shoulders, nuzzled his neck, and finally smiled into his face.