Her phone buzzed again.Sheriff Cottonmouth.
"Don't answer it," Tim said.
"He'll just keep calling."Ali put it on speaker."Hello, Sheriff."
"Alison, what in the hell do you think you're doing?"Cottonmouth's voice carried cold fury."I've got news crews calling my office asking about corruption in medical supply enforcement.This is exactly the kind of attention-seeking behavior that ruins families."
"That documents the truth?"Ali interrupted.
"You're traveling with criminals, making our family look like fools on national television.That creature you're with has a history of violence."
"His name is Tim, and he's never hurt anyone."Ali's magic crackled around her with protective anger.
"He's a seven-foot cryptid who refuses to register with authorities.That makes him dangerous."
"Registration isn't required," Tim said calmly."Supernatural citizens have constitutional rights."
"Stay out of this, McGraw.I'm talking to my stepdaughter."
"Actually," Ali said, surprising herself with her boldness, "anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of my mate."
The word hung in the air like a declaration of war.Tim's surprise and pleasure flooded through their new bond, making Ali's magic purr with satisfaction.
"Mate?"Cottonmouth's voice dropped to dangerous levels."Alison, your mother would be horrified."
"My mother would be proud that I finally have someone who sees me as strong instead of broken."
"This is going to end badly.These people have made powerful enemies.Come home now, before you get hurt."
Ali looked at Tim, at the convoy around them, at the growing number of civilian vehicles joining their procession.For the first time in her life, she was exactly where she belonged.
"I am home," she said firmly.
She ended the call and immediately turned her phone off.
"You okay?"Tim asked.
"Better than okay."Ali leaned over to kiss his cheek, breathing in his pine-and-musk scent that now carried traces of her own magic."I'm free."
The CB erupted with Luna's urgent voice: "All units, we've got a situation.Civilian supporters are organizing online.They're calling it 'Rolling Thunder for Medical Freedom.'Estimated five hundred vehicles planning to join us at the state border."
Ali stared out the windshield as their small medical convoy became something much larger.Cars, pickup trucks, and motorcycles were falling in behind them—ordinary people who understood that denying medical care was wrong, regardless of species.
"Think we're still just delivering insulin?"she asked Tim.
"No," he admitted."But maybe it needed to be bigger."
"Big Timber," Bertha's voice crackled over the radio, "I've got my mobile kitchen fired up and three of my dragon cousins running supply support.If we're making a statement, we might as well feed everyone properly."
"Copy that, Bertha.Appreciate the support."
Ali grabbed the radio."Bertha, what's dragon fire barbecue sauce like?"
"Honey, it'll either cure what ails you or put you in the ground.No in-between."
Tim's laughter rumbled through the cab."Fair warning—dragon fire sauce is an experience.Most humans can't handle more than a drop."
"Most humans aren't mated to legends," Ali replied, then blushed at her own boldness.
