Heart's Desire

Chapter 1 - Monty

[Author's Note: This book is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. If you want to understand more of the world and characters, see the Heart's Desire series on my profile. Heart's Blood is book #1]

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I take a fist to the eye and land flat on my back, then grunt as a foot connects with the side of my head. I roll to the side and try to crawl away, but I'm instantly tackled back to the ground. A pair of hands grabs my hair, and another pair gouges at my eyes.

I struggle and cry out in protest, but my assailants are merciless.

Fortunately, they're also tiny.

"Argh, you got me!" I gasp, surrendering. "I give up, I give up — you win!"

My twin niece and nephew tumble over me, giggling as they plant sticky, wet kisses on either side of my face.

They're just over a year old, my brother's children, and are each half Wolf and half Fae: probably the first, and certainly the only, of their kind.

I love them to death, and frequently watch them for my brother and his mate. Every chance I get, in fact.

"Okay, who's ready for a snack?" I ask, tickling their tummies. "I know I am."

"Na-na!" my niece Luna protests, shouting her word for 'no,' and clinging to my arm. Her brother, Luca, who's less verbal so far, latches on to the other.

"Hey now," I say with pretend sternness, "Uncle Monty's hungry from all this wrestling. You don't let him get a snack, he gonna have to eat one of you little dumplings. So, what's it gonna be?"

They giggle and hold on tighter. Wolf children develop a little faster than humans do, so even if they can't say much yet, I know they have some idea of what I'm saying. Enough to gather that the game is still on.

"I'm getting hungrier," I sing-song. "Hungrier, and hungrier. Uh-oh—" I let a playful growl rumble in my chest. "I'm hungry enough to eat both of you now!"

The twins shriek with delight, let go of me, and set off across the floor on all fours, crawling away from me at top speed. I crawl after them, and chase them all over my brother's little house, until at last they're tired enough to let me feed them and put them down for a nap. Then I sit near, reading a book and watching over them, until their dads get home.

When I hear them arrive, I set my book aside and rise to greet them.

"What have you been feeding my children, Monty?" Dane asks, sniffing the air as he comes through the door.

"Tofu and brown rice," I answer. "It's good for them. A complete protein."

He grunts noncommittally. Unlike some of my other siblings, he's never given me any grief for my choice not to eat meat, but he doesn't exactly approve, either.

"You know, they got into the fridge and ate a raw steak the other day," he says. "I don't think tofu's on their menu."

I glance over to where Julian, their other dad, smiles down at them, brushing silky black curls away from their sleeping faces. He once told me he didn't like kids, but he's turned out to be a good parent, after all.

"Well, they are right little monsters, I suppose," I say fondly, and move to gather my things. When it's just me and the twins, I feel at home here; with other adults around, I take up too much space. "I'll get out of your hair, then."

"You're welcome to stay, you know," Dane says with a frown. "You're always welcome, Monty. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know." I wave at him. "I just got some things to do, is all. And it's easier if I leave when they're asleep, anyway."