Between Feather and Fur (Gryphon Melds #1) by Angela Castle Read Free Book Online Page B

hugging her son.
    “Mum, this is Arial, Arial my mother Payton McCallun.
    “Oh, my boys, she’s absolutely beautiful, just like you said. You’ve done well for yourselves! Welcome Arial, welcome to our family.”
    Suddenly, Arial was pulled into Ben’s mother’s arms and squeezed like she was the main course for a boa constrictor.
    “Ease up, mum.” Ben chuckled. “She needs to breathe, you know.”
    “Oh, sorry.” Air rushed back into Arial’s lugs as the woman pulled back, but grabbed her hands and pulled her inside the massive mansion. “They’re here, they’re here!” She sing-songed through the huge lobby and into a large sitting room with people milling around. Wide smiles greeted her, another woman bounded towards her, half a foot shorter than Arial, her sandy brown hair cut in a stylish bob around her face, and pixy like features with bright brown eyes.
    “Oh Payton, she’s adorable! We have a daughter at last!” Her eyes sparkled in clear excitement.
    “Arial, this is my mother, Serena Alzera.” Steve introduced.
    “Nice to meet you.” Arial smiled at the woman.
    “Oh, none of that formal stuff, you’re a part of our family now.” Serena pulled her into a tight hug. “Welcome, my dear.”
    Heat infused her cheeks. “Um, thank you.”
    Ben and Steve moved to pry her away from their mothers. “Let’s introduce you to our dads.” Ben bent down to whisper in her ear. “Things will make more sense now.”
    She glanced up at him puzzled by his words until she came face to face with not two, but four strikingly handsome men.
    “Arial, these are my two dads. Peter Macintyre and William Callun.”
    Two? Macintyer and Callun, McCallun. Her eyes widened as the reality sank in, glancing between the two men.
    “Welcome, love,” Peter said first.
    “I guess from the look on her face, the boys didn’t explain things properly.” William chuckled. “It’s an honour to welcome you into our fold; I hope you feel happy and safe with us sweetheart.”
    “She’s been though a lot; we didn’t want her to worry.” Ben Shrugged.
    “I, uh, um, thank you.” She shook off her shock long enough to offer her hands, but like Ben and Steve’s mothers, she was pulled into hugs.
    Steve tugged her away to turn her to meet his fathers. “These are my two dads, Hans Allen and Gene Hazera.”
    “Alzera.” Arial glanced at Steve.
    “Melded names are a part of our family’s history and tradition.” Gene explained. “You’re looking much better from the first time I saw you darlin’, you’re flushed with colour. I’m glad these two are taking proper care of you.”
    Arial was confused by his words. “Sorry, I don’t remember meeting you.”
    “My dad is a doctor. When you passed out that first night, I called him to check on you.”
    “Oh, well thank you, I feel very well. Your, uh, son is a wonderful man.”
    “Glad to hear it, love.”
    “We’re all happy they finally found their one.” Allen smiled, drawing her into another hug.
    “We have brothers as well; they’re away on business at the moment.”
    “It’s a lot to take in at first,” Payton claimed Arial’s arm drawing her away from the men. “Having two husbands rather than the traditional one, but you quickly get used to having them following you around like lost puppies.”
    Male groans sounded from behind her. “Gods, woman, you make us sound like a pair of whipped dogs.”
    Arial nodded, she had never met such warm, genuinely welcoming people beyond her two men. Everything around her started making a lot more sense.
    “Ignore them sweetheart, we’ll let the men catch up; we can have our talk in the kitchen, no doubt you’ve got a lot of questions.”
    “Oh, yes.” In fact, her mind swirled with so many questions; she didn’t know where to start.
    They passed down a long hallway, on the walls hung photos of the two families, always two men with one woman. She spied pictures of Ben and Steve and their brothers.
    She