Fated Healing [Kindred of Arcadia 5] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) (5 page)

mate set his coffee down so early in the morning wasn’t the best of ideas.

Claybourne steered Felix so that he was in front of the open refrigerator and stood behind him.

“Tell me what you see,” his mate said, nodding to the shelves.

Felix looked back at him, confused. “Nothing, no food,” Felix repeated.

“That’s strange because I see scrambled eggs with cheese, turkey bacon and made-from-scratch

cinnamon rolls.”

Felix’s head swung back to the fridge. “Where? I don’t see anything,” Felix said, looking from top to

bottom.

“Right there. A dozen eggs, a package of bacon, a block of cheese, yeast, milk, and butter.”

Claybourne’s voice was tinged with humor.

“That’s not funny! You made me even hungrier.” Felix pouted. Claybourne kissed his pouted lip and

shut the refrigerator door.

“Make me something,” Felix begged. Claybourne shook his head.

“You’re a big boy, make yourself breakfast,” he said as his cell phone rang.

“I’m going to starve!” Felix wailed. Laughing, Claybourne answered the phone.

“No, I don’t mind at all. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes,” he said before hanging up.

“Who was that?” Felix asked.

“That was Ms. Tully. Ms. Brayburn isn’t feeling well and they are waiting for me at the clinic,” he said,

walking to the family room. Felix followed.

“I thought you had Saturdays off,” Felix asked, looking around for his man bag. He grabbed it off the

floor.

“I do, but I go in if someone needs me. Ms. Brayburn is getting up there in years, even for a shifter, so I

like to keep an eye on her. Ms. Tully has taken it on herself to keep checking in on her, though she’s not

much younger herself.” Claybourne located his keys and looked up. Felix was waiting for him by the door.

“It could be something she ate, raccoons are not picky eaters. Face it, you need me, Doc. Your bedside

manner needs work,” Felix said haughtily.

Claybourne rolled his eyes and dropped a kiss on Felix’s lips. “Liar. You just want a ride into town so

you can go beg Ma for breakfast.” Felix laughed when his mate busted him.

“That woman can cook,” He sighed happily, thinking about her muffins.

“Come on, patients are waiting, we’ll grab something after I see to Ms. Brayburn.” Claybourne held the

door open for Felix.

“Thank god!” Felix said.

* * * *

“I’m so sorry to call you in here like this, Doc. I just can’t seem to wake up today. I feel so weak and

tired,” Ms. Brayburn said. Felix had to admit she looked as weak as a kitten. Ms. Tully sat next to her

friend, looking concerned.

“How much running around did you do at Field Day yesterday?” Claybourne asked.

“Quite a bit actually. I probably overextended myself,” she said.

Claybourne nodded. “Go home, drink lots of water, and catch up on your soaps,” he said, winking.

“Oh, Doc, you know all my secrets.” The older woman giggled like a school girl and flirted with his

mate. Felix thought it was adorable, especially since she was old, gray, and female, and in no way a threat to

his mating.

“It’s my job as the town doctor to know everyone’s secrets,” Claybourne flirted back, wagging his

eyebrows. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

“Oh my.” Both Ms. Tully and Ms. Brayburn blushed.

“Off with you two now, and rest the entire day. Doctor’s orders,” he said, winking.

“Thank you, Doctor,” Ms. Tully said, patting his hand.

When they left Felix looked at his mate suspiciously.

“You don’t always have a terrible bedside manner. You were wonderful with them and with little

Bethany yesterday. What gives?” he asked.

Claybourne shrugged. “Being a shifter doctor is different than being a regular physician. Our patients

rarely get ill or suffer from the normal physical maladies that strike down the human population. I do more

damage control than healing. We live in a town of nothing but shifters that don’t have to hide who they are.

I can’t tell you the number of broken bones and wounds I’ve had to tend due to short tempers and

stupidity.” He shook his head.

“So you have selective assholiness, good to know.” Felix nodded his head sagely.

“That’s funny, because I could have sworn you wanted food.” Claybourne eyed his mate.

Felix immediately capitulated. “You are the most perfect man in the entire world and the way you use

your cock is ballad worthy,” Felix exclaimed, clasping his hands in front of him as if begging for

forgiveness.

“Dude, TMI.” Damian laughed from the door. Felix blushed.

“What brings you to my humble abode?” Claybourne asked.

“Doc, you are many things but humble isn’t one of them,” Damian quipped.

“You’re right, I am a genius and I know it, now what can I do for you?” Claybourne rephrased his

question.

“Got anything for sunburn? It has me completely wiped today.” Damian asked.

“Let me see how bad the burn is.” Claybourne reached for his gloves.

“Umm, Doc, it’s kinda below the belt. Isn’t there like a cream or something you can give me?” Damian

asked. Felix gawked.

“No. I’m not even going to ask.” Claybourne shook his head.

“Well I am. What in the hell were you up to?” Felix asked, curiosity eating him alive.

“Most of the pride was in town for Field Day, so after Rian and I left there we went to Bobbles and

Things for a while, before we decided to head back to the pride house to work on our no-line tans and fell

asleep. Rian was lucky. The way the sun moved throughout the day he was in the shade for the later half of

the afternoon. I wasn’t so lucky.” Damian winced.

“You poor thing.” Felix sympathized.

“I heard you got mated, runt. Who is the lucky guy?” Damian asked. Felix nodded his head to where

Claybourne was packaging the healing salve.

Damian’s eyes bugged out. “Holy shit! Wait until I tell Rian. Our untouchable and unattainable teenage

crush has finally gotten mated,” He shook his head laughing.

“Yes, wait, what?” Felix asked.

Claybourne walked over, grinning. “Rian and Damian would injure themselves on a regular basis to

visit me. I was always flattered when they came in.” Claybourne handed Damian the cream.

“Don’t rub it in too much. Drink lots of water to rehydrate and you should lose that tired feeling,”

Claybourne advised.

“Thanks, Doc,” Damian said. He waved the cream and walked out.

“How in the hell old are you anyway?” Felix demanded. He knew that he was a doctor, so that meant

years studying, but his mate barely looked a day over thirty. Claybourne looked at him, surprised.

“Forty-five,” Claybourne responded.

“Oh. You do like younger men right?” Felix asked.

Claybourne nodded. “It seems I have a certain affinity for loud, boisterous, and zany hybrid shifters in

particular.” Claybourne turned back to his cabinet and secured the lock.

“I’m not loud,” Felix grumbled.

“You were last night,” Claybourne said under his breath.

“Ha ha. Old man has jokes.”

“Come on, youngster. Let’s get some food into you and see if you become civil after that.” Claybourne

grabbed his hand as they left the clinic.

When they walked into the diner, Felix was surprised by how empty it was. Claybourne looked

surprised too, so Felix knew it wasn’t just him.

“Grab a seat wherever, guys,” Connor yelled from behind the counter.

“Where is everyone?” Felix yelled back. Claybourne just stared at him. Okay so maybe he was a bit

loud.

“No idea. I thought today would be easy, with none of our regular customers in. But half our normal

staff is out too. I think everyone is tired from Field Day.” Connor laughed.

“Take a seat, boys,” Ma said, smiling and walking up from the kitchen.

“I’m about to get food. Yummy food to go in muh face,” Felix sung happily to himself. His mate

laughed and took his hand.

“It’s like you breathe joy,” Claybourne said.

“You better watch out, Maddox. You keep smiling like that and your reputation will be shot,” Ma teased.

Felix looked at him confused. “Who’s Maddox?” he asked. In the kitchen they heard Connor bust out

laughing.

Claybourne grimaced. “That’s my first name,” he admitted. Felix felt embarrassment wash through him.

Claybourne tugged on his hand.

“None of that. It’s my fault, what kind of man am I that I didn’t bother to give you my first name?”

Claybourne sounded thoroughly disgusted with himself. Felix squeezed his hand, feeling Claybourne’s

emotion this time through their bond.

“The kind of man that mates someone who didn’t give him their last name. We did get kinda distracted

yesterday.” Felix smiled.

Claybourne’s eyes lightened. “In that case. Hello, my name is Dr. Maddox Claybourne. Nice to meet

you,” he said, kissing Felix’s fingertips.

“It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Maddox Claybourne. I’m registered nurse Felix Kilpatrick.” Felix pulled their

joined hands to his lips and kissed Claybourne’s hand.

“Ma! The muffins!” Connor yelled. Ma, who was standing at the counter, shook her head as if to clear it

and raced back to the kitchen as a black smoke wafted toward them. Felix stared in horror at the smoke,

imagining all of the yummy muffins as charcoal bricks. He was about to make a joke when he looked over

at Claybourne. He was frowning deeply and overwhelming concern was coming through their bond.

“Claybourne, what is it?” Felix asked.

“I’ve known Ma since I moved to town over twenty years ago. She has never, ever burned anything,”

he said, watching the kitchen door.

“It happens, I mean I burn shit all the time. It’s like what you do in the kitchen.” Felix shrugged.

“I don’t think you understand. She remembered to turn the oven off before she left the diner to fight

hyenas when we were attacked a couple months ago. When the fight was over she had a full dinner ready

for everyone. That woman is a goddess in the kitchen.” Claybourne sighed and stood. “I’m going to check

on her,” he said.

“I’ll go with you.” Felix didn’t like his mate looking so worried.

When they walked into the kitchen it was a sobering sight. Ma was sitting in a chair with Connor

kneeled down on the floor at her feet trying to comfort her. She was crying into her apron. Over in the sink

a batch of what used to be muffins was turning the sink black.

“There, there, Margaret. It was just a couple muffins. Everything is okay,” Claybourne said as he gently

nudged Connor to one side. Connor looked like he was about to argue when Felix shook his head. Connor

nodded and stepped away, reaching for his cell phone.

Ma looked up, her eyes red. “I have never burnt anything in a kitchen in all my life. I don’t know

what’s wrong with me. I’m just so tired. We have so much going on with the council and the vampires

moving to town. Rebecca is pregnant and I’m trying to help out as much as I can with the Alpha Mother

duties and baby planning. She’s so small!” Ma started to weep again into her apron. Claybourne reach over

and took her wrist between his forefinger and thumb and looked at his watch.

“Margaret, how much water have you had to drink today?” he asked. She shrugged, wiping her eyes

with the corner of the apron.

“Margaret! Darlin, what’s wrong?” Pa demanded, storming into the kitchen, glaring at the burnt muffins

like an avenging angel.

“Oh, Aaron!” Ma wailed. Claybourne stood so that Pa could scoot close to his mate.

“What’s wrong with her, Doc?” Pa asked, frantic. Felix heard a noise and suddenly behind them six of

the Arkadion boys stood, looking like they were about to kill someone. They had to have moved at

breakneck speeds to get to their mother.

“Did someone hurt Ma?” Benedict asked.

Claybourne shook his head. “She burned a pan of muffins,” he said and gasps filled the kitchen. At first

Felix thought they were being silly, but everyone was staring at the muffins, shocked.

“Ma never burns anything. Never,” Finn said.

“Come on, Ma. Let’s get you home. Rebecca is fixing up the couch for you. She’s put a pot of jasmine

tea and is making your favorite apple cake,” Connor said, hanging up with Aleks then putting his cell phone

away. He nodded to Pa who helped Ma to stand.

“Don’t worry about the diner, Ma. Connor and I will stay and help,” Benedict said.

“Emmett and I will look after the garage, Pa. You go home with her,” Duncan said.

“Aleks has even promised to let you have the remote,” Connor said, winking at his Ma. She sniffed and

tried smiling up at him. Her eyes widened before tearing up again.

“I can’t leave. I have the council health inspector coming today,” she whimpered.

Gavin stepped forward. “Leave that to me.” He gave her a feral smile.

“I have such good boys.” She wiped her fresh tears and kissed each of her sons.

“Force a lot of fluids today, Margaret. A sports-type drink would be best. Stay off your feet and rest,”

Claybourne advised, moving to stand next to Felix. She nodded and walked out with Pa.

Connor turned to Claybourne. “Is she really okay, Doc?” he asked.