Page 14 of A Swan for Christmas

Vic’s jaw went slack. “Whoa, wait, hold up. Male swans can lay eggs?”

Rosemary pursed her lips then shook her head. “Vic, my dear, you’ve been living in your own world for much too long. You reside in a town where the entire male population—shifters, elemental spirits and humans alike—can have a child, and you find it surprising that a male swan can lay eggs?”

“I…” He ran a hand over the top of his head. “Yeah, I guess that sounded kind of dumb. But, it’s not as if I can impregnate… or, how would that work? I mean, I’m a wolf.”

“Yes, dear, you are.” Rosemary grabbed both of his biceps and gave him a shake. She might be older than dirt, but she’d always been a strong Alpha wolf and that hadn’t dulled with age. “Why don’t you let nature and the fates take its course, hmm?” She released him then opened the door to her car. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m having the family over tonight.”

The smile she gave him held a lot of mystery and Vic wished he could convince her to reveal more about Kellan and the mating rituals of swans.

“Thanks, ma’am. Can I call you if I have any more questions?”

Rosemary climbed into the driver’s seat and gazed up at him. “Call anytime, ask what you want. Answers?” She grinned. “Maybe.” Rosemary barked out a laugh then shut the door.

As Vic watched her drive away, he blew into his hands again, the sharp blast of cold reminding him that he needed to verify that Kellan was bundled up well before they went to view the sunset at the lake.

Heat?

He supposed she was right, why couldn’t a male swan or any other avian shifter lay eggs? Vic glanced back at the restaurant where Kellan sat waiting for his return. Everything inside him screamed that Kellan was meant to be with him—had been drawn to Vale Valley so they could be together—but he hadn’t considered that they could be fated mates.

Maybe I have been wallowing in my loneliness for much too long.