Page 113 of Red King

I nod. “That would be great. Thank you.”

He hoists the bigger of the two on his back and then tries to take my big wheelie bag, as well.

“It’s fine, I’ll manage.”

“You need to start saying your goodbyes.” He glances at Maggie. “Christie will want to do the safety briefing well before take-off.”

“I’ll be right there.”

He starts to walk away, slightly bent under the weight of my bag.

A woman has just walked into the airport building. She looks around, unsure of where to go.

“That must be the new nurse. I hate her already,” Maggie mutters, her eyes on the woman who is now wandering aimlessly.

“Maggie!” I laugh. “You don’t mean that. She looks nice.”

Maggie sighs. “She does. I wish you could stay…that’s all. I don’t want anyone to take your place.”

“We’ll message each other. And I’ll call, too. I promise.”

The poor woman starts walking toward the exit. She looks like she might burst into tears at any second.

“I suppose I’d better help her,” Maggie grumbles, rolling her eyes. “Yoo-hoo! Over here.” She waves.

The woman instantly brightens up and rushes over. “Oh, thank god. I wasn’t sure what to do or where to go. Truth be told, I’m a little afraid. There are shifters on this island,” she whispers, looking around like a dragon might jump out at us.

Maggie and I take one look at each other and laugh because we understand her nerves completely. We were her once.

Maggie clasps the woman’s arm. “You’re fine. Everything is going to be okay. My name is Margaret, but you can call me Maggie.”

The woman sighs. “I’m Tessa, but you can call me Tess.” She turns to me.

“I’m leaving.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widen, and her mouth makes the shape of an “O” for a few long seconds. “You must be who I’m replacing. Is it bad? Is that why you’re leaving? I’m starting to think I made a mistake coming here.”

“No, it’s great. Dr. du Pont is a little old-fashioned but a real sweetheart. He’s great to work for. I’m needed back at the Mainland. Otherwise, I would have stayed.”

“Don’t leave me!” Maggie wails.

We hug, and Maggie starts crying again.

“Oh, Mags. We’ll see each other again. Let me know when you’re next on the Mainland visiting your sisters. You have three of them, so I can’t imagine they would let you stay away too long.”

“You’re right about that, but you’ll be in Europe.” She wipes her eyes.

“Not forever, silly. We’ll keep in touch, and we will meet again; I just know it.”

“I’m holding you to it.” We hug again. “Let me know when you get there safely.”

“I will.”

“Come on, Tess. Let’s get you settled,” Maggie says as I walk away. “Let me introduce you to your very first shifter. This is Hazard.”

I glance back.

The newbie looks up at the big shifter with wide eyes.

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