Page 22 of The Mating Quest
Nia beamed. “You’re amazing. My sister told me you were responsible for saving the lives of those elderly Skins who were on a bus ride and nearly drowned in a flashflood.”
Heat suffused her cheeks as she sensed all eyes upon her. Ilana toyed with the hilt of her knife. “I just happened to be there. Anyone else would have done thesame.”
Nia hooked her arm through hers. “No, they wouldn’t. There’s more, but I won’t go into it because I see you’re modest and uncomfortable with this. So instead, how about I show you where you’ll be sleeping and you can get a little settled? There’s breakfast in the dining room and plenty of freshcoffee.”
Ilana gave Ethan a helpless gaze. His mouth twitched. “See you at breakfast,Mage.”
Upstairs, Nia escorted her to a comfortable guest room with a splendid view of the ranch. There was even a door leading out to the wrap-around balcony. “Tristan already put your things in here. He said you needed to expand your wardrobe, and he gave me your size, so there’s extra clothing in there to make you comfortable. And he said you like a hard bed, so we rearranged a few mattresses. If you like fresh air at night, it does get chilly here, but we’ve plenty ofblankets.”
Ilana fingered a horse statue on the oak dresser. “Why are you being so nice tome?”
Turning from opening the outside door, Nia met her gaze. “My twin, Nikita, advised me you’re special and you have a reputation that makes Others afraid. A reputation that will aid this group in finding the pelt that could possibly harm my brother-in-law. My twin and I are extremely close, and those who help her, help me. She loves Tristan with every fiber of her being, and I want her to continue to behappy.”
Ilana folded her arms. “What kind of reputation? One that makes your own mate growl atme?”
Nia didn’t flinch. “One that makes powerful Lupines like my mate afraid for his people. Aiden and I encountered a dark being such as yourself previously, but Grayson is Lupine. Our neighbor. You’re Mage and Aiden can’t give his trust so easily to another species. But my twin knows things I don’t and even though she and Tristan can’t tell me everything, I trust her, and she trusts you so I trust you. That’s good enough forme.”
It had been so long since anyone was this open with her, Ilana didn’t know what to say. Instead, she changed the subject. “Your sister is married to Tristan. Does she livehere?”
Nia laughed. “No. Nikita is immortal. Long story, but she and Tristan live in Tir na-Nog with their twins, a boy and girl. I adore my niece and nephew, and wish we could see them more often, but she is needed in theafterworld.”
Her expression tightened. “Especially now with so much at stake. There have been incidents that make me fear for the future, and what will happen to all of us if the Dark Lord growsstronger.”
This intuitiveness she truly did appreciate. “Yes. The sleeping monster is real. It’s growing stronger every day. I sense it.” Her gaze flicked to Nia’s. “Your sister and Tristan must sense it as well if Ido.”
Neither stated aloud the deepest fear of what would happen to the race ofOtherWorlders.
Totalannihilation.
Nia headed for the hallway. “Breakfast is ready when you are. I’d say take your time, but I know Tristan wants you to get started as soon aspossible.”
“Nia?”
The Lupine turned, her ponytail swinginggently.
“Thankyou.”
Smiling, Nia left. Ilana sat on the bed, reassured to find it as hard as she’dhoped.
She only hoped her time here on this quest wouldn’t be equallyhard.
After a delicious breakfast,they explored the ranch. Ethan had outlined the areas where Tristan had spent much of his time, particularly near a pond on the property where he’d first made himself known toNikita.
Ilana reasoned a magick wolf pelt shouldn’t be difficult to find, not with a Lupine’s excellent tracking abilities. To expedite their time, Aiden assigned his pack’s best hunter, Kyle Morgan, to aid them. Darius, the alpha’s beta wolf and second-in-command, would take over Aiden’s ranch duties while theysearched.
In the lodge’s dining hall, the team gathered for instructions on the search. Aiden let Ethan take lead, and provided backpacks filled with water, lunch and radios they used while on theranch.
Using a paper map of the large spread on the ranch, Ethan divided the ranch into sections, and assigned teams to hunt the pelt. Chloe teamed with Kyle, Ava with a young, but intense Lupine named Ranger, and Dakota withAiden.
He chose Ilana for his partner and she didn’t mind because Kyle and Ranger eyed her the same way Aiden had, as if she would attack when their backs were turned. She wanted this mission over as soon as hedid.
He shrugged into his backpack, giving their group a once-over. “Remember, if you see the pelt do not touch it! Only Ava may touch it. Use your radio to signal everyone that you foundit.”
They went outside. Aiden had given them the choice of horses or ATVs. Ilana told him they needed to ride theATVs.
A cowhand showed her how to operate the machines, and soon they roared off. Ethan led the way, not to the pond, but to the ranch’s forest, where Aiden said the pack sometimes ran free as wolves and hunted during the fullmoon.
They rode up an old logging road and Ethan parked. “From here we go onfoot.”
