Atomic Mage by Garrett Carter (short books for teens txt) 📕

your best, my kits will have a strong father, one who will keep them safe, secure, and loved," Mina said as her expression changed to a playful but sensuous grin.

"Do not disappoint me my Cade, I have waited for this day since I was a cub, and I will not take a mate who doesn't fulfill that little cub's dreams." She finished her speech with a cheek to cheek rub with Cade.

"I won't my Mina." Was all Cade could muster as a response, the gravity of what he was undertaking, the seemingly instinctual need of his mate reinforced by a lifetime of dreaming what this moment would be like.

Cade promised to himself that he wasn't going to let that little girl down.

Removing the covers from them both she got out of the bed.

He watched as she trailed her clawed fingers along the sheet-covered mattress with a look of promise in her eyes she left the room her luscious hips swaying in counterpoint to her long black tail.

Cade shook his head to clear the lustful thoughts racing through it at the woman's exit.

"Time to get in the game Cade then you can get into her," he said as he admonished himself with a grin.

Reliving his bladder in the bathroom with his morning wood slowly wilting just incensed him even more.

Stepping into the kitchen he was graced with the vision of Mina finishing her meal of gator meat and hard crackers from the bandit's supplies.

Cade felt his heart swell with emotion as he caught his soon to be wife/mate in such a mundane activity.

"Hurry my Cade, eat so we can begin," Mina said as she saw him walk into the kitchen.

"Yes ma'am," he said with a grin as he plucked a crumb of cracker from Mina's furred cheek before making a plate for himself.

Finishing his own quick meal he gestured to the door meeting Mina's gaze.

Grinning at him she stood and exited their home.

Listening to the crunching gravel beneath her feet as she walked away Cade shook his whole body.

"Get your mind in the game Cade, work hard now play hard later," he said as the butterflies that were swarming in his stomach grew three sizes.

Finishing the statement with a grim look at the soon to be battleground he closed the door to their home behind him as he went to fight for his mate.

Walking up to where Mina stood glancing around, Cade cleared his throat to get her attention.

Turning to look at him Mina smiled.

"This area will work for what we need, first the rules," Mina said airily.

Cade barked out a laugh "rules?"

Holding up one finger Mina continued.

"Yes, there are rules to this my Cade, first we fight barehanded allowing only our natural abilities."

Mina completed this comment by extending the claw on her upraised finger.

"It seems I am woefully under matched in that category,buuuut," he said with a grin as he hardened and lengthened his fingernails.

A quick swipe of his hand against his forearm proving the nails nowhere near as deadly as his mate's claws.

Mina grinned at his attempt at humor, her grin changed to a smirk as Cade cut off the useless nail extensions with a thought.

"What? Just making a little fun. Please continue."

Mina's smirk stayed in place though as she wrapped up her explanation.

"Second and last we will fight until one of us is unconscious, or yields, this is not a fight to kill but to subdue."

Mina finished her statement by backing up ten feet and adopting a ready stance.

Face impassive and focused she spoke to Cade "I am ready my mate, do not disappoint me."

Adopting a less polished stance of his own Cade replied "didn't plan on it my mate, be ready for tonight I will have you begging for my kits before I am done with you."

Finishing his declaration he nodded to her, his signal clear.

Mina disappeared immediately, thrown off guard Cade looked around.

The crunch of gravel was his only warning as five sharp claws cut through his jerkin and his flesh to the metal covered bones beneath.

Grunting in pain he was too slow with his thrown arm, as he looked down to see Mina disappear again as she dodged his untrained swing.

Jumping in the direction she had dogged in he swung a haymaker that created a small gust of wind but met nothing but air.

Hearing her chuckle to this right he swung and missed again.

"You flail around like an untrained cub Cade, where is the bluster from before, my kits aren't coming anytime soon with a mate that swings his claws like he is trying to kill flys."

With Mina's jab fresh in his mind, Cade felt the blood that been flowing from his injured side slow then stop.

Their game of cat and lobotomized rat with a broken leg and glaucoma, continued for a few minutes before he groaned.

He stopped trying to chase his nimble mate and use the abilities he had completely forgotten about as he swung at Mina's after-image like a damn caveman.

Cade rolled his eyes as he tapped into one of his abilities.

Expanding his power he felt for the signature of his mate, familiar with it from the past day of traveling.

Seizing her roughly in his mental grasp, he watched her appear with a smile on her face.

"Took you long enough to figure it out, I had expected you to do this immediately," she said, not even a little out of breath.

"We are going to have to get