“My king sent me here with his blessing, to offer the services of not only our warriors but those among us who possess abilities that allow them to glean any missing pieces that have yet to be uncovered. I believe that computer technology may have taken you as far as it is able, despite the hard work, dedication and digging that has taken place by so many.”
Zaiden’s large head inclined towards where Taggart sat holding hands with Soren. “If you will entrust us to find and locate the remaining member of the council, determine the full scope of their experimentation, and deliver proof of their actions and those involved who have sought to use us to line their pockets. We will happily undertake bringing them to task and eliminating any and all threats that remain to Cookietown and so many other communities.”
“Why would your king allow you to make this offer?” Gabai questioned, his own mate Asher there next to him, eyeing Zaiden with a look of speculation he didn’t hide.
“Because we have been unable to locate several estranged members of our community,” Zaiden offered in way of an explanation. The same one he’d given to Arlo when he’d agreed to attend the rushed meeting. “Those they typically kept—even loosely contact with—have not seen nor heard from them. When Arlington initially contacted me and presented me with the information he’d gathered, some of the abilities he described, specifically the venomous traits carried in the blood and claws ofthe owls and the foul smelling being that he described as being able to turn into smoke, raised some serious concerns.”
The pause was deliberate, Arlo knew it as Zaiden took the measure of those in the room. Arlo had seen him do it before. He could pick up the slightest change in atmosphere, especially if there was a threat.
His forked tongue came out and flicked at the air twice before he continued. “These creatures, in part, they created using our genetic material. Possibly with members of my society that are missing. My king shares this concern and wants to know what has befallen the unaccounted members of our community. It is imperative for our survival. Also, to keep the records updated of every one of our kind.”
Arlo knew this was significant to Zaiden’s kind, he just had never explained the reasoning behind it.
More murmuring, more rustling as whispers tore through the room. Where once there had only been questions about how the creation of those beings had been possible, now they had another of the missing pieces. Would this information go against Zaiden and his kind? The strength and power of their abilities were seldom, if ever, relayed to outsiders. To Arlo, this revealed the depth of fear Zaiden’s people had about the ramifications of using their DNA to create monsters to rule the shifter population.
“If we’re going to agree to this, then we will need to put it to a vote,” Gabai declared loud enough to be heard over the raised voices.
Arlo looked to the head of the crash, at his nod, he spoke for them. “The crash vote would be to allow Zaiden and the serpents to take over pursuit of the rogue council and the constructs they’ve cobbled together.” Arlo continued before further conversation could take place. “Don’t y’all think it’s time the shifters of Cookietown step back from this battle andcontinue to focus on building a safe space and a haven for those who have been affected by these travesties?”
Thoughtful faces peered back at him, the voting took place slowly, with careful consideration and hushed conversations that eventually led to a unanimous decision to allow the serpents to handle what they’d started all those months ago. They would move forward with Zaiden’s people providing detailed updates on all progress and any fresh revelations uncovered during their investigations. That didn’t negate them from the obligations in Arlo’s eyes, Taggart’s biggest worry.
“We would have it no other way,” Zaiden assured them after listening to all they had to say.
Arlo felt a great sense of relief at the lifting of responsibilities that had come with the hard drives he’d given to Taggart following the vote. Knowing that he could return home to his mates without fear of being sent on a mission that would further damage his mental health and erode his belief in the good that he knew existed in their world meant more to him than he could ever put into words. When Bash had changed his designation from Enforcer to Security, Arlo felt conflicted, wondering how his partner in arms could make such a rapid shift so shortly after mating. Only the events of the past weeks—months—had taught him exactly how and why, and Arlo was more than ready to embrace the change himself. He’d done his part, never shirked his duties, and now, finally, he hoped to breathe and embrace a new chapter in his life.
Chapter Twenty
Taggart
He stood next to Arlo fidgeting with excitement as they watched Zaiden and the serpents who protected him—not that he needed it, so Arlo explained, the serpent was deadly—leave. They had stayed for several days, coming daily to work with Taggart so he could lead them through the dark web.
Zaiden had declared earlier today that he had everything they needed from Taggart. A relief he didn’t voice, but Arlo and Soren knew. What had Taggart excited was that while he had workedinside with Zaiden, Arlo and the crash had worked outside, resulting in a finished outdoor space.
The day was warm, and the wallow looked inviting. So Taggart projected loudly to Arlo and Soren what he wanted even as they continued to wait for Zaiden to disappear.
Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. I want to get nakey and play in the wallow on Daddy’s back.
Arlo’s rumbling chuckles and snorts were all in his head and quickly followed by Soren’s giggles as he shifted and landed on Arlo’s shoulder, tweeting. His clothes landed in a heap at Taggart’s feet. He needed no more invitation and shifted into his meerkat form, his clothes joining Soren’s before he wriggled out of the pile to scamper up Arlo’s jean-clad leg to perch on the other shoulder.
“Alright, let’s get in the wallow,” Arlo said with much amusement.
Taggart scampered up onto Arlo’s head, ready to sit on Arlo’s horn when he shifted. His little oxpecker tweeted and took flight. So graceful, he circled the wallow as Taggart clasped Arlo’s head as he bent to shuck off his boots and jeans, then striding to the edge of the wallow before he reached up for Taggart. “I need to take off my T-shirt,” he explained, kissing Taggart’s little nose before placing him down on the ground.
He vocalized his displeasure before a very naked Arlo stretched and stepped away before his rhino appeared. He dropped his enormous head and angled his horn so Taggart could climb up easily.
Taggart groaned in delight as he slid down the horn and then ran over Arlo’s skull to scamper down the hide of his back. Although his hide was tough, it was warm, and Taggart took his time finding just the right spot. Then he lay on his furry back to stretch out, feeling the warmth of the sun on his fur and the heat of Arlo’s rhino beneath him.
Arlo vocalized back at Taggart as they climbed into the wallow carefully as not to splash or drown Taggart.
His paws ran over the tough hide, and he giggled in his mind at the fluttering of air above him right as Soren came to perch right next to Taggart, his tweets music to Taggart’s meerkat.
There had never been a more perfect moment for Taggart, his imagination was great, except the reality of them in the wallow, it was so much more. They hardly moved. The occasional swish of a tail and the flap of a wing as the afternoon sun lowered in the sky. Taggart never wanted the moment to end.
When Arlo finally shifted in the muddy water holding both Taggart and Soren in his hands, Taggart was about to complain until Arlo spoke. “So, who wants to have some hot tub naked time with Daddy?”
Taggart’s furry paw shot up, and he shifted so fast, he gave Arlo the hard task of trying to hold him and not upend Soren.
Taggart’s giggles erupted out of him with joy when Arlo wiggled him around onto his mud-slicked hip. The delightful feeling of slick skin against his sent tendrils of desire through him. “I knew you’d hold me up, Daddy.”
