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What the hell just happened?”
    She shook her head. Even if she could speak, she wouldn’t know what to say. The shock was slowly wearing off, leaving her with the sense that something momentous had just happened and she had no idea what.
    Other than the fact that her six-month-old son had apparently talked to a bear.
    “We need to talk to Cole. Come on.”
    Race grabbed her hand and pulled her along in his wake.
    She stole several glances at Arin, who wore a big, happy grin. He clapped his little hands, as if he were having a great time.
    It didn’t take them long to get to the den’s main community of houses. Cole kept a home there, though it mostly served as his office. The building looked almost plain, as did the rest of the houses in their community. To the outside world, it looked like any other rural development, set in the woods miles from the nearest city.
    The houses were made from wood and stone, all local material. And almost all had only one floor, a nod to their Etruscan roots. Cole’s home was no exception.
    Race beat her to the door, his fist banging against the wood until she swore she heard it echo through the forest.
    Seconds later, a tall woman opened the door, dark eyebrows raised.
    “Dorian, we need to talk to Cole.”
    Mara recognized the woman. Cole’s praetorian , his personal guard. The first time Mara had met her, she’d wondered why the lucani king’s safety would be entrusted to a woman who couldn’t weigh more than one hundred forty pounds and stood nearly six feet tall.
    She’d only thought that until she’d gotten a glimpse of Dorian working out in the community building across the street. Now she knew better.
    “What’s wrong?” She waved them into the house, her gaze traveling between Race and Mara. “What happened?”
    “We need to talk to Cole.”
    “Then talk.”
    Cole had appeared in one of the doorways toward the rear of the house and Mara was struck as she always was by his quiet sense of strength. The lucani king was handsome in conventional terms, with dark-brown hair, dark eyes and perfect cheekbones.
    But he had an air about him that was…imposing. She never failed to feel intimidated in his presence. And to know that her welcome here hinged solely on his opinion…
    Would he kick her and Arin out now? Where would they go? How—
    “I know this is going to sound crazy but we’re pretty sure Arin just had a conversation with a bear.”
    Race’s hand tightened around hers and she realized she was clenching his so tight her knuckles were white. Arin had started to babble, jumping up and down in the pack, as if he understood what they were saying.
    Which he couldn’t. He was a baby. Her baby.
    Cole’s eyebrows lifted but he didn’t show any other sign of shock. As if people told him babies communicated with wild animals all the time. “Why don’t you start at the beginning.”
    Mara was starting to think the beginning went back a lot further than her arrival here at the den.
     
    Race felt the change in Mara as soon as the last word left Cole’s lips.
    She tensed, as if he’d said something shocking. Or he’d threatened to kick her and Arin out.
    Cole wouldn’t do it. But, of course, Mara didn’t know that. She hadn’t been here long enough to know Cole had a heart. Unlike every other man she’d ever known.
    Instead of answering Cole, he turned so he could look directly at Mara. “Hey. We’ll figure it out. Everything’s going to be fine.”
    Mara’s mouth pursed and he waited for her to shake her head, to deny him. Instead she signed, “Let me have Arin.”
    Cole and Dorian waited silently while he undid the pack so Mara could lift the baby off his back. But once she had Arin out of his snowsuit, Cole stepped into the room and held out his arms. “May I?”
    Race wondered if Mara would balk at handing over the baby but she gave Cole a small smile and a nod before holding out a smiling Arin.
    “Hello, little man.” Cole took the baby as if he