Of Flame and Promise by Cecy Robson

encounter.” He angled his head in her direction. “She was mine to respect and cherish. Never would I have treated her with anything less.”
    Well. I never had anyone tell me “fuck you” without using the actual words, but Pop did a banner job then. “Ah…”
    Gemini swiped his brow. Oh, God. For all I thought
I
was looking bad, I was making him appear worse. “Baby, I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
    Pop continued, laying into Gemini. “You call her your mate, Tomo,” he said, not bothering to speak Japanese this time. “Yet you have not claimed her, choosing to use her to sate your own needs.”
    “Oh, but that’s my fault,” I stammered. “Lord knows he’s wanted to claim me. I mean,
every
time we’re alone—”
    Their glares and Gemini’s groan told me I should stop right there before Momma and Pop envisioned way past nipple suckage. So I did.
    I didn’t need a shovel. I did fine burying myself deeper without one. “Jesus,” I muttered.
    The trees slowly thinned and opened into a large lot. Aside from two other SUVs, we were the only ones there. I couldn’t slip out of the car fast enough, needing air and to fix everything I’d so far screwed up.
    I wrenched open the rear side door as Momma tried to step out, causing her to fall to the ground. Not to sound like an ass, but from a
were,
I expected better reflexes than that.
    “Oh,
sh
— I mean, oh,
no.
Are you okay, Momma?”
    She rose easily enough, and while my name for her offered the barest pause, she didn’t seem any happier with me.
    Go figure.
    Gemini and Pop hurried around the SUV, the sound of Momma’s tiny body crashing against the frozen ground beckoning them to us. Their widening stares danced from her to me, regarding me like I’d shoved her. “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again.”
    Pop led Momma a little further from my reach. “Perhaps it would be best to return,” he said.
    “Please don’t.” It was one thing for them not to like me, but I hated them being angry at Gem. And in all fairness, while I might not be up for favorite girlfriend of the year, I hadn’t had one decent shot. “Look. Let’s take a walk. According to the website, there’s a lookout.” I stomped along in Shayna’s hiking boots to the rear of the SUV and popped it open, retrieving the heavy backpack I’d brought. I hefted it and scrambled back to where they stood, speaking fast. “I brought food for lunch. Hot potato soup and bear-liver sandwiches.” I tried not to cringe. “You like bear liver, right?”
    Gemini lifted the backpack from my shoulders when his parents did little more than blink back at me.
    “Mother, Father, my mate is trying to please you. Please allow her this opportunity.”
    While they seemed to listen, they appeared far from convinced. I stepped forward. “We’ve come so far. At least let’s make it out to the lookout and have lunch.”
    Pop turned to focus on the far end of the lot, where a stone and steel rope blockade had been erected to prevent cars from going over the ravine. Further out were more of Tahoe’s magnificent slopes. My breath released in short bursts. The altitude was making it hard to breathe, especially considering how fast I was talking, but I was determined to make this a good day.
    I took a few steps forward and motioned in the direction they were looking. The view was impressive, and we were just in the lot. I hoped they realized as much. “In the summer, the snow melts and all you see is green for miles. It’s a different look, and while beautiful, not as spectacular as what you’ll see today if you give it a chance.” I shrugged, trying to sound more relaxed. “Between the war and all the demon activity that’s been spotted in recent days, very few supernaturals venture out. We’re probably the only tourist types here.”
    Again, they didn’t speak. I tried not to swear, but it was hard. I wasn’t one to beg, but I all but fell on my knees then. “This is a