Chapter 18

I staredat the big man who was supposed to be my dad and thought, Damn he's handsome. I could see why my mom fell in love.

The look he fixed on me, shocked and yet soft, had me hesitating only a second when he opened his arms and said, "My daughter. I am more happy than you can know to meet you."

The man hugged like a bear, and given I'd just been hugged by Koda the bear, I would know.

Dad lifted me up and murmured, "I will make up the lost years to you."

"I don't need anything." I truly didn't because, in that moment, I was overwhelmed. A mom and a dad in the same day?

Not to mention how Koda came to my rescue. Speaking of which, I glanced at him to see the bear gone. Koda stood looking awkward with his hands shoved in his pockets.

And then he was flanked by two naked hounds in human form. "I've never understood why regular shifters couldn't keep their clothes," he grumbled. "Then again, you also can only do one shape."

"Admit it, big guy, you like us." Orion grinned before adding, "I love a happy ending."

The dour Ambrose even had something nice to say. "Glad we arrived in time."

"How did you even know to come here?" I asked.

"Well, bird boy here went flying off without giving us an address, but Hekate came through," Orion announced with a smug grin.

"Will he really be stuck in Tartarus?" I did kind of worry.

"Even if he did manage to return, we'll be ready. Fear not. He will never harm you or your mother again." Dad squeezed me again before growling. "While your aid was appreciated, hounds, you will clothe yourself around my wife and daughter."

"Yessir." Orion didn't argue just jogged for the car and the trunk where they'd most likely stashed their stuff. Ambrose took his time following, his bare ass flexing.

Koda growled in my direction. "You shouldn't stare."

"Your jealousy is cute, but I'm actually looking at a bit of a problem. That tiny car is not going to fit all six of us," I stated.

"It barely fit three given the dude is huge!" Orion commented as he pulled on a shirt.

"I can fly," Koda stated. "Just tell me where to meet you."

"Might as well use Kowalski's house, seeing as how he won't be needing it." Which reminded me, I'd have to explain everything to the CA. Hey guys, so you thought you did a great job of cleaning out the corruption in our precinct, and well, you followed up by sending in an evil demi-god. But don't worry, we handled it. Thanks!

"Guess I'll meet you there, then," Koda stated.

My nose wrinkled. "Pity your owl isn't big enough to carry someone." The idea of being squished between the parents I'd just met—who were currently kissing in a way that might require therapy for me—didn't appeal.

"Actually, I did once meet a griffon hiking in the mountains of the Middle East."

I blinked. "As in flying lion?"

The corner of his mouth quirked. "Nice fellow. Hated visitors but he let me spend the night for a chocolate bar and a good scratch behind the ears."

"Could it handle my weight?"

At his nod, I braced myself and stalked to my parents, who paused in their lip lock to beam at me.

"Baby." My mom sighed my old nickname.

"Hey." Now with the danger done, I found myself shy

"It is my utmost pleasure to meet you, daughter. I look forward to us getting to know one another." Dad had the biggest grin.

"I do too. So, um, given the car is kind of small, Koda's going to give me a ride."

My parents both narrowed their gaze on him, and it was Mom who growled, "What are his intentions?"

Since I doubted me saying "defiling me with an orgasm" would fly, I stuck to, "He's my partner from work. He can be trusted with my life."

Dad nodded. "He is the honorable sort." Then in an aside to Mom, he added, "If he does anything to disrespect or hurt her, I will eviscerate him myself."

Mom beamed. "I'm so happy we get to be a family at last."

The words froze me. A part of me elated, a part of me terrified. What if they hated me? Or I hated them? What if, what if, what if…

As they piled into the car, I returned to Koda, who shifted with a smoothness that I'd never seen from a werewolf. Theirs tended to look a lot more painful.

His griffon had a golden body and snowy white wings, but the eyes remained Koda's. He knelt down so I could swing my leg over his back. His thick mane gave me a handhold, and I needed it as he leaped into the air, which caused me to squeak and hold tight. A little bit of magic kept me in place, and once I realized I wouldn't fall and smush to my death, I enjoyed it.

The night sky was full of stars, and as we flew over the city, the lights provided bright spots. To my surprise, we didn't fly directly to Abe's house but stopped atop an apartment building set up with a rooftop patio.

I slid off his back and, when he shifted, asked, "What's wrong? Why are we stopping?"

Rather than reply, he showed me, dragging me into his arms for the longest kiss.

When it ended, my weak knees meant I had to cling to him to remain upright. "Mmm, what was that for?" I purred.

"For not dying. For standing between me and lightning, and by the way, don't you ever do that again."

"Says the guy who charged a god."

"I realize we haven't known each other long, but—"

I interrupted to say, "Something between us feels right."

"Yeah."

I cupped his cheeks. "Does this mean I can take back what I said about this being casual? Because I am pretty sure we both want more."

"Much more," he agreed before his mouth slanted over mine again.

We made love on that rooftop. Nothing fancy or too long. The kiss resulted in my pants hitting the roof deck and his getting shoved down his thighs.

He hefted me that I might guide him into my sex, already wet and wanting. Our rhythm quick and pleasurable.

Under a sky full of stars, we came together, and in that moment, I knew nothing would ever keep us apart.

Except for my parents.

The moment we walked in, the pair of them were waiting, arms crossed.

"We need to talk, boy," said my dad, putting his arm around Koda and leading him away.

Before I could protest, Mom grabbed my hand and murmured, "He'll be fine. Everything will be fine from now on."

And it was, once we got over a few hiccups, AKA, set boundaries with my parents.