“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.

“Ready?”

Sean nodded, impatient. “I’ve been ready for weeks. Can we do this?”

Andrea came to him, and Sean warmed when she ducked under his arm and stood against his side. Liam raised his hands, and the little crowd went quiet.

The sun blessing was not as formal as a full-moon blessing, the more sacred of the two. The immediate family arranged themselves in a circle around the couple, and the neighbors formed a ring outside them. Eric was in the family circle, invited as a family friend. Kim stood next to Liam. As the clan-leader’s mate, she had the right to participate in the ceremony and add a blessing of her own. Not all clan mates exercised this right, but Kim liked the idea.

Likewise, clan leaders didn’t need to say more than a few words to complete the ceremony, but Liam cleared his throat and launched into a speech.

“Friends, my brother, Sean, has at last chosen himself a mate.” The crowd fell silent as Liam’s voice broke the afternoon. “’Tis a romantic tale, one of a man reaching out to help another Shifter and then falling for the lass when he at last met her in the flesh. Sean has taken a mate outside our clan, as is custom, but she’s also outside his species. Andrea has Fae blood, which can provoke some hardness of feelings against her from some Shifters. But let this be known.” Liam’s gaze took in all present. “Andrea Gray is now accepted into our pride and our clan. She is protected not only by Sean, her mate, but by me, the pride leader, clan leader, and leader of the Austin Shiftertown. If anyone wishes to dispute this decision—well, too late, because here I am making it. ’Tis done.”