“We don’t really need weapons with the combination of shifters we have, and with Micah’s experience, we’re kind of a formidable team,” Liam points out, unable to keep his hands to himself any longer and tugging me against him. I smother the smile that wants to cross my lips at the fact that he can’t seem to keep his hands off me. I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s going to be like when I’m bonded to all of them.
“Let’s go. It’s going to take a couple of hours to get where we need to, and I’d like to approach the town in daylight so we aren’t at a disadvantage due to the dark. Gem, you should probably do a fly over in stealth mode and see if you can spot any problems before we go in just to be sure,” Hunter says.
I thought Gryffin was the head alpha of this bond group, but it seems he and Hunter share the role. Perhaps being the general’s son gives him more tactical experience, and Gryffin acknowledges that. I don’t know, but none of them seem to take issue with Hunter’s orders.
We head to the car, and I look back at Nox’s cabin as we drive away, sighing.
“Don’t be sad, angel.” Liam tugs me against his side and puts his arm around my shoulders. “We will find your wayward mate, and all will be right with the world. Soon, all of this will be behind us, and you will wish for excitement in your days of dealing with petty shifter squabbles.”
“With eight mates, I don’t think my days are ever going to be boring,” I mumble, closing my eyes as the car lulls me into a dozy state.
He chuckles, and his whole body vibrates beneath me as he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “No, you may be right,” he says as my eyelids drift closed, and I get more much needed sleep.
* * *
“Don’t wake her. I’ll just grab a few things, and then we can be on our way again,” Micah says, but it’s too late. Something disturbed my slumber. I’m not sure if it’s my stiff body from sleeping upright or the fact that the car stopped, but I yawn and stretch my back, getting off of Liam’s lap where my head somehow ended up.
“It’s okay. I would like to stretch my legs,” I mumble, wiping my mouth to make sure I haven’t been drooling on his crotch.
The car doors open, and the guys in the middle row get out, allowing Liam and I to follow them. After the heat of the car, the cold air makes me shiver as I look around. We are at some kind of military outpost with a huge wall that seems to stretch as far as the eye can see in either direction.
“Wow, I knew the human and shifter zones were divided, but I had no idea that was literal.”
“Shifters are very territorial, and while they generally don’t have a beef with humans, it is best not to test them. The wall runs the length of Aramis, and only the section with the neutral zone doesn’t have it. The goddess herself erected it at the end of the war when tensions were still high.” A voice I don’t recognize has me spinning to see a male shifter in military fatigues approaching us.
“Major Payne.” Micah salutes the man, and Hunter does as well, which surprises me.
“At ease, captains,” he says, and my eyebrows jump. I hadn’t realized Hunter had a rank. I thought he was just a part of Watch Team One. Maybe that’s why Gryffin deferred to him. “Prince Gryffin.” The man bows his head slightly, and it’s Gryffin’s turn to acknowledge him. “What are you all doing here? I had no reports from the general or the king saying you were coming through.” His tone is neutral, but there is suspicion in his eyes, and his gaze lingers on me too long.
“Queen Colbie is on a diplomatic mission to Zalfari. She is extending an invitation to the equine shifters to nominate a member of their ranks for a council position.” Gryffin gestures to me, and the major snaps to attention, kneeling and bowing his head with respect.
“My queen, it is an honor to meet you,” he says and waits for me to give him the command to rise. I don’t know if I like all this genuflecting, but I guess it must be a shifter custom, because most of them have done it when meeting me.
“Please rise, and it’s a pleasure to meet you too, Major Payne,” I say, and he gets to his feet.
“Zalfari you say? What do you need from us? An armed escort?” he asks, but Micah shakes his head.
“No, that won’t be necessary. I just wanted to grab a few weapons as backup.”
“But you can conjure yours out of thin air,” the major says. “Why would you need more? Are you expecting trouble? If so, we could accompany you.”
“You can conjure your weapon?” Liam looks impressed, and Brodie looks like he’s dying to ask Micah to show him his sword. Micah rolls his eyes and holds out his hand.
In a burst of magic, a three pronged trident appears in his hand. It’s silver with markings on it, and there is a gorgeous, large, white pearl in the center of it. “I can, but it’s not very practical. A gun is quicker and cleaner than me stabbing everyone with this,” he explains as it disappears again.
“That’s so cool!” Brodie is giving off that golden retriever vibe, and I bet if he was in wolf form, his tail would be wagging.
“Yes, but slightly impractical. I’ll head to the armory and get what I need, if that’s okay with you, Major?” Micah asks, and the major gives his approval.
“We aren’t expecting any trouble, but I like to be prepared for any occasion. I won’t take risks with the queen and prince’s safety,” Hunter explains, and the major seems to accept his reasoning.
“Do you have a restroom I can use please?” I ask the major, my bladder becoming very insistent all of a sudden.
“Of course, follow me.” He starts back toward the large building that Micah disappeared into, and I follow him, flanked by Brodie and Liam, with Hunter bringing up the rear.
“Are you coming?” I ask Gem and Gryffin, but the phoenix shakes his head, gesturing between himself and the prince.
“We’re going to take the car and fill it up at the gas station, then grab us some food for the rest of the journey. We will have to shift in about an hour, and we are going to need all the energy we can get.”
