For Toron's Pride by Tressie Lockwood

Author:Tressie Lockwood
Language: eng
Format: mobi, pdf
Publisher: Amira Press
Published: 2012-10-21T21:00:00+00:00

For Toron's Pride

Chapter Seven

Toron detected the rustle of feathers and waited for his friend to come in through the window. When he did, Toron scratched a few more notes and then looked up. “When will you use the door like normal people, Hawke?”

His childhood buddy scratched the back of his head, a sheepish expression on his face. “Easier that way, and we’re not exactly normal people, are we?”

Toron shook his head and nodded toward the closet. “At least put some clothes on.”

Hawke made use of the change of clothes Toron always left for him.

“You’re early. Your report isn’t due for another two weeks.” Toron stood and walked around his desk. He leaned on the edge and folded his arms across his chest.

“I’ll admit I don’t mind hearing how she’s doing.” He started when a new thought occurred to him. “She is fine, isn’t she?”

Hawke’s movements stilled.

“Hawke!”

“She’s fine.”

Toron frowned. “Why the emphasis? What are you implying?”

“I haven’t…uh… She’s on her way here.”

“Come again?” Toron tightened his lips. On one hand it thrilled him to know Sienna was coming back, but there was much more Hawke hadn’t said, and that worried him.

“Explain yourself.”

Hawke pulled a T-shirt over his head tugged it to his waist. He wandered over to the window and stared out. No one knew more than Toron how much his friend loved the sky, and he should. After all , he was a bird shifter—a hawk to be exact. “There’s something I haven’t told you all these years you asked me to keep an eye on her.”

Dread stirred in Toron’s gut, but he remained silent.

“She was pregnant when she left you.”

“You’re saying—”

“I’m saying you have a son. His name is Simeon, and he’s four years old.”

Emotions battled within Toron, thoughts raged for attention, all of which kept him from forming words. He remained where he was, glad for the desk, so he could have something to grip rather than crush his best friend’s windpipe.

After some time, he settled down enough to speak. “I asked you to report monthly regarding her.”

“You never wanted details.”

Toron sneered. “That’s your excuse?”

“You didn’t want to know about her life, her career, or even whether she was involved. You told me to assure you she was safe and had a roof over her head, food to eat. Nothing more, you said.”

Toron pushed off the desk and took measured steps toward his friend. “And it never occurred to you to forget my instructions and just tell me? Not once?”

“I—”

“Sienna! What are you doing here?” came Stella’s voice from somewhere outside his office door.

“Where is he, Stella?”

Toron started at the worry in her tone, and he changed directions to wrench the door open. The impact of seeing her robbed him of mobility. Her beauty, defined by that defiant light in her eyes, did him in.

“Sienna.”

He spoke her name on a constricted breath, annoyed at his weakness.

She swept past him holding a tiny bundle in her arms. An oversized coat covered the figure, allowing small sneaker covered feet to peek from the bottom.

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