Magical Midlife Love (Leveling Up 4)

“Apparently. Niamh finds it endlessly entertaining.”

“Austin has calmed down since I saw him last.”

“He’s been trying, I think, to get over that.”

“Yet he didn’t step up to claim his position as alpha until you.”

“Yeah.” I ran my fingers through my hair. My toe hit a crack and my body weight shifted forward. “Bugger.” I staggered to a stop, Kingsley’s hand gentle around my arm, stabilizing me. “It’s fine, seriously. I fall a lot. It’s really not a big deal. I have this sleek, athletic body again. I don’t care. I can heal myself really quickly. I can heal you, too, if you want. You tired? I can fix that up really quick.”

“No.”

“Okay. Just say the word and…” I snapped my fingers, only no sound came out. “You get it.”

“No one has spoken to me like this in…” He peered down the next street we reached, only one person down the way, the hourglass figure indicating she was female, the powerful frame saying I didn’t want to fight her. “It’s a lesson in control, one I haven’t had to wrestle in—”

“You should get out more. It’s good for you.”

“My brother has never lost his temper with you? He’s never lost his temper with others because of you, other than earlier tonight and the instance you spoke of earlier?”

“Well there was one time at Ivy House. This other alpha didn’t like Austin, and Austin didn’t like him, and they almost went at each other. I kept Austin from blowing up, and I shut the door on the other dude. They had a bit of a scuff-up another time, too, when Dam—the other alpha—was a douche in Austin’s bar. But honestly, Austin is really worried about losing control, but he doesn’t do it much. He really doesn’t.”

“And you don’t want him to.”

It wasn’t a question this time.

I paused at the next corner, looking both ways, feeling a little strange. I put a hand to my stomach, wondering if it was the beginning of the end. I didn’t think I was going to hug a toilet, but sometimes it snuck up on me.

“I should be able to heal an upset stomach, though,” I said to myself, looking back the way we had come. My senses were swimming in alcohol, but I knew that danger lurked that way. Something was amiss.

I put my hand out, meaning to touch Kingsley’s shoulder, a silent command to stop. Only that was a Jane sort of gesture, and he moved out of the way, trying to keep contact to a minimum.

I pitched forward like a puppet with broken strings, my limbs flailing and my balance obliterated. My knee gave out and I staggered off the curb, not adjusting for the sudden change in altitude, and dove forward. My hip hit first and I rolled, my arms slapping cement, my legs askew.

“You moved,” I bleated, knowing when I was sunk. I went limp, lying on the street, now huffing out laughter. “You moved!”

“I apologize. I wasn’t thinking about—” He bent to me, his arms out, looking utterly lost and disheveled. This man who’d shown no outward emotion all night clearly had no idea what to do. Where to grab. “Can I— How can I—”

“It’s fine.” I lay there for a moment. “I’m good.” The night sky looked down on me, floating softly, pricks of light swimming in the black. “It’s a lovely night, though, isn’t it?”

“Can I help you up?”

“Nah. I got it.” I pushed myself to sitting, only because he was clearly uncomfortable.

“Are you hurt? Do you need to be carried?”

My laugh was soft at first, but soon I was guffawing again. “I’m sorry. I’m just a little emotional because my son came to visit, and he had to go home yesterday. It’s hard when they leave. This is the first time I’ve lived away from him. I’ve been so busy with this new life, but seeing him again…” Tears filled my eyes and dribbled down my cheeks. “Sorry.” I wiped them away, trying to stifle sobs. “I’m a little more broken up than I’d expected to be.”

“Ah.” Surprisingly, Kingsley sat down next to me, legs crisscrossed. “I didn’t realize. I’m sorry. My kids are getting to about that age now.” He paused for a moment. “Since you are not a shifter, or in the pack, or even part of this territory, I wonder if I might be frank with you?”

“Ugh. I’m not sure I’m up for your criticism right now. Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

“No, I meant…can I be open about my own situation?”

“Oh sure, yeah. I didn’t realize you shouldn’t be. I don’t know the shifter rules.”

“Yes. That is apparent.” He glanced away, watching the quiet town. “I have a boy and a girl. They both have the makings of a good alpha, but my girl is…cutthroat. She’s a handful. She’ll leave first, I know she will. She is eager to start her life away from her parents’ guidance. I just want to hold on with everything I have. To keep her home, safe. Every time she takes my hand, I worry it will be the last.”