Page 119 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

Rael smiled. “We’re honored to have you join us.”

Brandon let out a raw chuckle. “Jamie sat us down and told us the whole story, but seeing you all here…. It’s amazing.” Shawn nodded.

“I too have news.” Aelryn gazed at Scott and Kia, his eyes shining. “Our little family of three is about to grow into a somewhat larger family of eight.” He beamed. “We have located all five of Kia’s children, and very shortly, they will be with us.”

Applause broke out, accompanied by a whoop from Crank.

“You’re gonna have more, right?” he said with a grin. “I mean, baby red pandas… we’re talking cute overload.”

Scott laughed. “I think that could be a possibility. Unless they take after Kia or Aelryn. But I’ll be happy with whatever we get.”

“And on another note….” Aelryn smiled. “Yesterday, I learned that the archaeologist who discovered Berengar’s tomb has been located. Sarah Delaney had been imprisoned in a Geran camp that we raided. She’s well, and she’ll be joining Orsini in Rome to catalog the artifacts.” Aelryn glanced at Jake, Doc, and Victor. “And I would like to extend my thanks to Jake. Without him, we would not be in the fortunate position we now find ourselves. He gave us a glimpse into the lives of Ansfrid and Ansger, and in so doing revealed the truth.” Aelryn’s eyes sparkled. “A truth we are now sharing with all shifters.” He raised his glass. “To Jake, the one who can see.”

Jake swallowed as everyone toasted him.

Silence fell, but Horvan knew he wasn’t finished.

“I want to say….” Tears pricked the corners of his eyes, and damn it, that wasn’t like him. He fought to regain his self-control. “I want to say thank you to the best fucking teammates anyone has ever had the honor of working with. I cannot tell you how proud I am to have watched you all grow, find your own families, and prepare to embark on new adventures.”

“Don’t get all weepy, H,” Hashtag called, “or elseImight start bawling too.”

Eve ran a hand over his back, but whatever she said to him was between them.

Horvan squared his shoulders. “I know we’re splitting up and taking on new missions for Aelryn and his people. There are still a lot of smaller camps out there that we’ve yet to find and a lot more shifters to save.” He raised his glass to Aelryn, who held up his own. “The fact you’ve seen the potential in each of them tells me that we did good, people. All of us.” He sucked in a shaky breath. “I’m gonna miss the fuck out of you.”

“It’s not as if we won’t see each other again,” Dellan said. “Right?”

“Probably not like this, like a family. At least not until we get everyone out safe and bring them home.”

“How many camps do they think are left?” Roadkill asked Aelryn.

“It’s true a lot have been abandoned once the troops got to hear the truth, but conservative estimates are anywhere between seventy and a hundred still in operation. Die-hard Geran leaders who refuse to believe the fight is over. Of course that number might change if people start joining them.”

“Pretty fucking stupid people, if you ask me,” Crank grumbled. “Because how could anyone in their right mind see all that evidence and not believe it? I mean, if I was a shifter? Right now I’d be kissing the fucking ground you three walk on.”

Horvan stuck his foot out. “Well, far be it from us to stop you. I prefer it right on the toes, please.” That earned him another ripple of laughter. He gazed at their faces. “But yeah, the fight isn’t over. That’s why Aelryn needs help. It’s also why he’s taking the most experienced people to head up the squads.” Horvan glanced at Hashtag, Roadkill, and Eve. “You guys are gonna be awesome in the UK.” He grinned. “And at least we know we’ll have a bed for the night if we visit.”

Eve laughed. “Oh, I think we can find you some space.”

“And then we’ll get you babysitting Logan while we go out on the town,” Hashtag added with a grin.

“And I’ll be visiting regularly to see how the orphanage is doing,” Dellan added.

“You’re not getting rid of usthateasily,” Saul muttered. “Of course, wewillbe moving houses—all the way to the lake.”

Vic laughed. “Yeah, that’s going to be a tough commute, right?”

“And I’m gonna be up here every day.” Crank chuckled. “You think I’m gonna miss out on Mrs. Landon’s cookies? Think again.”

Mrs. Landon laughed. “There will always be a box in the kitchen labeled Crank’s Cookies.” Her eyes twinkled. “Right next to the ones that say Saul’s, Horvan’s….”

“Do you deliver?” Brick asked. He glanced at his mates. “Wyoming might be fifteen hundred miles from here, but that’s what planes are for, right? We’ll be visiting you so often, you’ll get sick of us.”

“Never,” Dellan declared. “Now that I’ve found my brothers, I don’t intend losing track of them.”

“And I’ll only be in Boston,” Jamie added. “I mean,we,” he added hastily.

Horvan chuckled to see the stare Shawn gave him.

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