But she couldn’t. Not yet.
She pulled away, breaking the kiss. “I’m going to see if I can spot her.”
“Shall I come with you?”
“No, you stay here.” She passed him her phone. “Just in case she calls.”
“I’ll wave if she does.” He resumed his professional stance by the camp entrance, like a bouncer outside a club; feet apart, eyes on the road. “But if she doesn’t, don’t rush back down. Take your time.”
Because this might be your last flight for a while,hung unspoken in the air. Lola couldn’t stay for long. By evening, she’d be on her way back to Alaska…taking the eagle with her.
But she still had her wings for now. Leonie reached down, finding that golden, shining other self. Dropping to all fours, she leaped into the sky.
Yes.
It always felt like shaking off a burden. On the ground, she always had duties, responsibilities, people who were counting on her. But in the sky, all of that fell away.
Up here, she was free.
I don’t want to give this up.
She shook off the selfish thought. Her sister loved flying just as much as she did. How could she keep the sky all to herself?
Cupping her wings, she balanced on the fresh mountain wind. With these eyes, she could see far better than she could as a mere lion. Everything was sharper, brighter, more intense. She could have counted the individual blades of grass far below; the whiskers on a mouse.
A car turned off the main road, heading up the gravel track that led to the camp. From above, she couldn’t see the driver...but only one person would be heading this way.
Letting out a cry of welcome, she spiraled down. By the time her claws touched the ground, the car was coming to a halt in the camp’s parking lot. A familiar short, stocky figure emerged, tired and travel-worn, but grinning.
“Hey, Catbutt,” Lola said casually, as though they’d only been separated for hours rather than weeks. “Looking good.”
It was hard to let go of the effortless power of the griffin. She did it anyway, shifting back to human form so she could hug her sister.
“I’m sorry to make you come all this way,” she said into Lola’s ear. “But I’m glad to see you.”
“Same here.” Lola hugged her back. Even though she must have showered since she got off the fireline, the scent of smoke still clung to her short blonde hair. “Sorry, I probably stink. It was a long trip.”
“I would have come to you if I could. But I can’t take that much time off while camp is in session.” She released Lola, stepping back to study her anxiously. “How have you been?”
Lola shrugged. “Eh, I’ve had worse weeks. Though I can’t say it’s been a barrel of laughs, being grounded for this long. I don’t know how you do it.”
Because I have to,she didn’t say.Because I love you.
There was no point in delaying. Steeling herself, she held out a hand. “Here, I’ll give you the eagle back now.”
“First things first. I want to meet this tiger of yours.” Lola looked past her. “Is he the huge guy who looks like he’s about to meet a firing squad?”
She laughed. “That’s him. Come on. I’ll introduce you.”
Shan was indeed standing rather stiffly, apparently fascinated by a passing cloud. Leonie led her sister over to him.
“Shan, this is my twin, Lola.” She smiled, filled with deep, possessive joy. “Lola, this is Shan. My mate.”
Lola did not seem impressed. She looked Shan up and down with an expression of profound skepticism.
“So, you’re the guy who spent most of the summer trying to run away from my sister.” Lola’s tone made it clear what she thought ofthat.“I see you finally came to your senses. You treating her right?”
Shan’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Ask her.”
