Page 23 of Valentine's Day Treasure

“Always.”

They got on the second snowmobile, Cerise in front. Crew got back on his machine, while Beckett coached Cerise. Crew started his snowmobile and took off into the woods, getting stuck immediately. He rotated his machine around and found a path through the yard to another forest trail. He revved his engine and shot across the yard to the new trail, where he stopped to look back. Cerise was going slowly in a straight line from where she started, while Beckett talked a mile a minute and gestured to the right. Slowly, Cerise turned to the right, and then she picked up a little speed, smiling broadly.

They were on their way.

12—Feeding Wolves

Ella, still in her kitchen, scooped the last bit of stew out of the crockpot and ladled it into a food container. She put the lid on and placed the container into a box with six others, then she stacked paper bowls, napkins and spoons on top.

She turned to thebearenwaiting in the hallway, his eyes on the floor. He held his hands together and alternated looking at the floor, the wall, and at Trevor, who was sitting at the kitchen table, eating stew.

“You’ll get half of this to Bob and Sharon and Lillian?” Ella asked him.

“Yes, ma’am,” the male said, his voice deep but soft. He’d been acting nervous since he came in the door.

“And you can feed the rest of the team, too?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She nodded at him but he still wouldn’t look at her. She stepped away from the counter and motioned at the box, telling him, “Come back if you need more.”

The big male came timidly into the room, snatched up the box, and made a beeline out the front door.

Ella watched him go, then asked Trevor, “What’s his name?”

“Who?”

“Thebearenwho just took the stew.”

“I don’t know,” Trevor said. “He must be new. I’ll have Troy find out.”

“Never mind, it might make him more nervous.”

Troy came down the stairs. He was on guard duty over Dahlia, who was sleeping in the upstairs guest room, while Crew had been off doing something for the last hour or so. Troy made his way up and down the stairs every few minutes, while Trent patrolled the perimeter of the house outside. They took guard duty seriously.

That’s Hugo,Troy said.You make him nervous, Ella.

“Me?” Ella asked, surprised.

Yup. He’s fascinated that you’re half angel, and that you went to the Pravus and fought Khain, but Trevor terrifies him, so he’s scared to talk to you.

“Shit. I’ll give him something to be scared of,” Trevor growled from the table.

Troy ignored him.Plus he’s nervous about your power,he told Ella, though Trevor could overhear.He thinks if he says the wrong thing, you’ll blast him into oblivion.

Ella gaped at him. “I would never,” she insisted.

Troy chuffed a laugh.Yeah, but he doesn’t know that.

Troy disappeared up the stairs, but now he was laughing in her head.

Ella looked over at Trevor, throwing her hands up, wanting him to do or say something.

He nodded at her. “If he looks at you funny, you better blast him before I do.”

“I wouldn’t,” Ella said again, shaking her head, noticing her feet hurt. She made herself some toast with butter, some stew, and a glass of water, then went to sit down at the table.

Trevor, looking handsome as could be, held up his spoon. “This is pretty good stew,” he said.

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