Kieran was waiting for Logan as soon as he entered their suite. “Macushla, why didn’t you wake me?” Ki asked, jumping up.
“Because you and our squirt need sleep. Groose caught someone breaking into Zane and David’s suite claiming to be a friend, but we can’t verify it since they’re missing.”
“I know. Our spirit told me they are safe but that’s all he knew.”
“Yup, that’s why I’m not calling Jackson tonight but waiting until morning. Maybe by then, they’ll reappear,” Logan said, setting Kieran on their bed before undressing and climbing in, pulling his mate tight against him as he turned off the light.
~/~/~/~/~
Once Zane had closed the cabin door, David looked around, loving how small and cozy it was, with its built-in bed big enough for both of them. Even the sheets had been turned down. Not sure what to do or say, he stood there, waiting for Zane to say something about Brian calling him ‘High Priest.’ He knew his mate wanted to know about that but didn’t want to get into it tonight—tomorrow would be soon enough—even though it wasn’t fair or right of him to make his mate wait.
Zane sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to take David’s hands, then said, “Babe, are we in danger here?”
Blinking at the unexpected question, David said, “No, no one knows we’re here.”
“Good, let’s get some sleep,” Zane said, rubbing the back of his mate’s hands with his thumbs. “In the morning, after I call my brothers and we have breakfast, then let’s talk, okay?”
Grateful his mate understood his need for more time, David nodded. “Which side of the bed do you want?”
“For my peace of mind, will you sleep on the inside?”
“Sure, if that’ll make you sleep easier.”
“Yeah, it will. Oh, and if for any reason you need us to disappear again, try to wake me first, okay? It’s a bit disconcerting to wake up in a black hole.”
Giggling, David said, “I’ll try.” Giving Zane a kiss, he climbed into the bed and wiggled over.
Watching his mate’s antics, Zane growled, “You’re a cock tease! Enticing me with that beautiful plump ass of yours.” Turning out the light, Zane slipped into bed, pulling the covers over them. Spooning his mate, he whispered, “Sleep tight, babe, and don’t worry about tomorrow. No matter what you tell me, Iwillstill want you.”
Blinking to keep his tears back at his mate’s assurance, David realized his mother was right; everything he ever wanted, he found in Zane. Sighing, his body finally relaxed as feelings of love and safety filled his soul. Closing his eyes, a smile graced his lips as he fell asleep.
Brian slid into the sleeping bag he’d unrolled, thinking about David and the mate the Fates gave to him. Zane was the third brother he’d met and, like the other two,power radiated from him—that alone made him perfect to safeguard the High Priest, but it remained to be seen if Zane would claim his mate after he learned who David was. If he were a betting man, he’d put his money on Zane sticking around, because Brian saw the pureness of good inside David’s mate. His friend needed that to ward off the evil coming after him. As he closed his eyes, the last thought crossing his mind was whether the High Priestess knew who the Blackwood Pack was and the prodigious power they wielded.
~/~/~/~/~
Jackson was delighted when Mystia appeared with Maximus for dinner, taking the opportunity to have Daniel show off the latest words he’d learned. After hearing her request for a meeting, he assigned Cody and Carson to clean-up duty and was now waiting in his study for Steel, Mystia and Maximus to join him. Checking his email, Jackson found another message from his cousins and made a mental note to speak to Dakota and Zane in the next few days.
Agreeing to requests by Mystia and Maximus to let them put Daniel to bed, Steel headed to Jackson, looking forward to a few minutes alone with him before the meeting started. Pushing open the study door, he smiled at his mate who looked up from the computer screen. “Dad and Mystia will join us shortly after they wrestle our son into bed.”
“Clever. You know our son gets his stubbornness from you, don’t you?”
Leaning down, kissing his mate, then giving a quick lick behind Jackson’s ear, Steel sat down next to him. Grinning when he saw Jackson shiver, he answered, “Idon’t think so,mo chroí.I have always been known as the voice of reason, ask my mother if you don’t believe me. If there was anyone who was stubborn it was my brother. When he got an idea implanted in his head, it was virtually impossible to remove. I spent my youth keeping Slate out of trouble or, at least, keeping it to a minimum.”
“Mmmm, maybe I should compare notes with Dakota about who was the troublemaker.”
“You do that and while you’re at it, ask him if my brother ever told him about the bullfrog incident.”
“Son, are you telling tales out of school?” Maximus asked, as he escorted Mystia into Jackson’s study.
“Not at all, I’m just defending myself,” Steel smirked.
“Oh, well, then that’s okay, I’m sure your brother will understand,” Maximus said, smiling.
Knowing Slate would not be pleased if he shared that story, Steel decided to change direction, asking, “Did you find out anything about David?”
Giving his eldest son a knowing look, Maximus let the previous topic drop, answering, “Yes, we did. But before we start, let me say this. When you told me about David, I was almost certain who he was but needed one more piece of evidence to be absolutely sure.”
“The facial markings,” Jackson surmised.
