And Tristian? Of all people, that’s who they’re sending? Why not Silas? But I already know the answer—he won’t step foot on the tourist island. He’s struggling with the whole concept of having part of our land as a tourist attraction. And honestly, I agree with him, but now isn’t the time to make that stand.
I finally look up at Jackie, who’s watching me with worried eyes. She looks beautiful as always, even in the simple clothes Leah must have found for her. Her curves fill out the shirt perfectly, but I can tell from the way she keeps pulling at it that she’s uncomfortable.
She catches me looking and glances down at her outfit, grabbing the hem of her shirt. “This isn’t my style,” she says, a hint of defensiveness in her tone.
“Don’t worry about it, baby,” I tell her, the endearment slipping out naturally. “I’ll replace everything. All of your clothes, your makeup.”
Jackie narrows her eyes at me, placing her hands on her hips in a way that makes my bear stir slightly in its sleep. “Well, that’s a lot of money,” she challenges. “So you’re saying you’re rich or something?”
I chuckle, immediately wincing at the fresh stab of pain. “Rich enough to spoil my woman properly,” I say, trying to keep my tone playful despite feeling like my head might split open.
“He is wealthy, Jackie,” Damon interjects. “His clan accumulated a lot of wealth over the centuries. Even though they were living in caves, they weren’t destitute. And you are a daughter of Wintermoon—this isn’t something you’ll need to worry about ever again.”
Jackie shakes her head. “Just forget it for now.”
A black cloud of smoke forms in the center of the room, and Leah appears, holding several shopping bags. She spots me and smiles warmly. “Oh good, you’re awake.”
“Hi, Leah,” I manage, attempting a smile that probably looks more like a grimace.
“I’ll get you some water as soon as I make sure your fated mate has what she needs,” she says sweetly, holding up the bags. “More toiletries, and more clothes. We’ve got makeup on Wintermoon in the market. And if you have a certain style of clothing you prefer but you don’t see, we can get it for you. We have stuff shipped in online all the time.”
Jackie reaches for the bags, but Leah pulls them back with a wink. “Oh no, I’ve got it. Be right back.”
She glances down at a puddle of water on the floor. “Kade must have been here,” she sighs before teleporting out of the station.
Leah’s gone for just seconds before she pops back in. With a wiggle of her fingers, blue and gold magic spews from her fingertips, flowing through the station and around to the back utility closet. The sound of running water follows.
Leah looks to her with a smile and says, “you’ll get used to all the magic.”
Jackie sighs exasperatedly. “I keep hearing that.”
My head turns sharply when I catch a familiar scent, sending a fresh wave of pain through my skull. Tristian. He’s close.
The door swings open, and my cousin enters like he owns the place. I look away, rolling my eyes hard enough to hurt.
Leah beams at him. “Tristian! Always good to see you.”
He removes his baseball cap and bows his head to her. Leah skips over, a blush coloring her cheeks as she stands on her toes to reach up and place her hands on his arms. She kisses his cheek affectionately. “My sweet, sweet bear. I’ll be visiting the academy tomorrow for the magic lessons in the witchery wing.”
Tristian stands upright, flashing a smile that shows off his perfect teeth, his blue eyes bright with pride. Of course he looks immaculate—nice boots, clean pants, crisp flannel shirt, freshly shaved jaw. Even when coming to pick me up in the middle of chaos, my cousin manages to look like he just stepped out of a fucking catalogue.
I groan, not bothering to hide my jealousy.
Tristian’s eyes immediately find me in the jail cell, and he approaches with a look of frustration that I’ve seen too many times before.
“How many times do I have to come pick you up?” he demands. “I told you if you got yourself into trouble this time, I couldn’t help you and Silas won’t either. What could these humans have possibly done this time worthy of sinking the ship?”
I look up at him, my brow furrowed. “I know you aren’t judging me. You burned down a radical bar.”
“In my woman’s honor,” Tristian counters without missing a beat.
I smile despite myself and look over at Jackie, only to find her watching Tristian with flushed cheeks, her hands clasped behind her back. Oh hell no. Why is she blushing at Tristian? A growl rises in my throat, unbidden. The women always blush at my cousin, and I fucking hate it.
Tristian follows my gaze, noticing Jackie for the first time. Her blush deepens on her brown cheeks, and it just pisses me off even more. My head throbs in time with my irritation.
“So all the bear shifters are big and handsome, huh?” Jackie says, and I swear I can feel my blood pressure spike.
Leah grins and puts her hand on Tristian’s chest in a familiar gesture. “This is Tristian. He works patrol part-time at the border, helping humans with safe passage to Wintermoon. Ebony, his fated mate and mother to his two cubs, is the Headmistress of Wintermoon Academy. He also works there and helps the orphaned bear shifters.”
