Killian glanced out of the bathroom, at the huge pile of pillows and blankets on the floor. “That’s not going to fit.”
Crush laughed. “Have you already forgotten, bunny rabbit? I make things fit.”
Sometime later,Killian found himself tucked into Crush’s lap, Naddie buckled into her car seat behind them. Also in the back seat were bags of clothes, Naddie’s things, and the perishable groceries that Crush had bought earlier that day.
Somehow, Crush and Hansel had managed to stuff all the pillows and blankets into the trunk. Killian suspected that spells were involved.
“Off we go,” Crush announced.
He drove carefully out of the forest. Hansel was riding on Wonder Cart’s handle as a falcon, cackling gleefully to himself. Crush gave periodic updates as they drove.
“Just got out of the forest,” he said. “Hansel took off for an aerial view. It’s pretty dark out.”
Naddie babbled to herself, growing quieter as she began to doze off. The whole time, Crush’s fingers brushed gently along Killian’s ears, sending intense waves of comfort down his spine.
He must’ve fallen asleep. One moment, the car was dark around them, with only the dashboard lights keeping them company.
The next moment, they were slowing down, the driver’s side window lowering with a mechanical whir.
Killian jerked awake. Crush held him down firmly but gently, stroking his back.
“Hey, Uriel,” Crush said. The dome light came on, illuminating the car’s interior. Killian craned his neck to see the scarred mage peering down at him.
“Definitely not what I expected,” Uriel said with some amusement.
“Crush saved me!” Killian protested. “And Mathlin. Oh yeah, how is Math?”
“He’s fine, just shaken. Recovered pretty quick, from what Doc told us,” Uriel said. “He was making some noise, though. Said he felt guilty for not sticking around with you. He wanted to come along to help fight off your kidnappers.”
Killian frowned. “He can’t. He’s going to get hurt.”
“That’s what I told him,” Uriel said. “He’s worried about you anyway. How areyouholding up?”
Crush’s smile was indulgent. “Killian has been amazing.”
Uriel rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t askingyou.”
Killian laughed. “I’m better. Things were kind of terrible earlier, when the bad guys showed up. But Crush helped. He made everything better.”
Crush rumbled, sounding pleased.
“Good,” Uriel said. “Hand over the tracker and I’ll destroy it.”
“About that.” Crush paused. “Is it possible to freeze it somehow, deactivate it temporarily instead of completely erasing its magic? We could use it to our advantage. I’m thinking of activating it only when we’re ready to take on the assholes.”
Uriel gave him a thoughtful look. “Let me see what I can do.”
“Thanks.” Crush handed over a clear plastic bag containing the tracker. “Be careful, though. It’s still broadcasting its location. I really don’t want Killian’s kidnappers coming down on you.”
Uriel nodded gravely. “I’ll be careful.”
He rapped his knuckles on the car roof, then stepped away.
Crush started the car and merged onto the highway. “Not too much longer now. We’re fifteen minutes away from pack territory.”
Anxiety spiked through Killian. He and Crush were not officially together; it wasreallytoo soon to be meeting Crush’s family.
Not only that—Killian remembered shows on TV where an alpha’s family rejected their mate, sometimes even chasing their mate out of the pack’s territory.
