Logan strapped a gun to his thigh. “Just Garrett and I are going.” The female really had no clue of what they’d done before peace had finally been achieved. The two of them had worked together for years at this point, their skills a deadly combination of training and talent. “The other two soldiers are here for your safety.” Not only would they protect her from any enemy, they’d keep her contained in case she decided to contact the Fae.
Her chin lifted. “You don’t trust me.” Odd, but she sounded more curious than hurt by that.
He wanted to trust her, he really did. “These are your people, sweetheart. I’m just taking the decision out of your hands.” If her people ever questioned her, she could honestly say that he’d locked her down.
She eyed the soldiers and looked back at him. “You don’t think I could take these two?”
Amusement ticked his lips into a smile. “No.” They were Realm soldiers—pure vampire and deadly as hell. In fact, this babysitting job was probably way beneath them, but Garrett had some pull. Neither male even reacted to her words, their gazes already scouting the apartment for threats or weak points.
She tapped her foot against the wooden floor in a way that was way too cute.
Logan finished suiting up and moved to her, kissing her full on the mouth in front of everyone. “I’m getting my brother, then we’re figuring out our future,” he whispered against her lips.
Her eyes widened, and she tried to back away, but he held her tight. Then her eyes softened. “Logan, be careful.”
Sweet words from a sweet female. He kissed her again and moved for the door, his mind already on the battle to come.
* * * *
“Why are there so many random stone walls in Scotland?” Logan asked, his back pressed to one as he crouched in the high grass.
“Dunno.” Garrett’s pose was similar as he looked up at the sky. “At least it isn’t raining. Nice night, really.”
It was. The sky in Scotland was as stunning as in Idaho. Clear and pure. The sound of the evening pressed in around them, creatures stirring and chirping. They were outside of town, in the middle of nowhere, with an impressive stone keep behind them. Had been a small castle at some point in history, probably.
Logan shook out his arms and controlled his heart rate, waiting for the signal to go. Apparently the Realm boys were having problems getting the satellite into position. He drew in a deep breath of the heather-scented air and glanced at his best friend. “You feel any different after the ritual?”
Garrett, always thoughtful, took a moment before answering. “Yeah. Besides the obvious change that my torso is now a shield to keep my organs safe, I feel…connected to something bigger. A pulse of energy. And I can sense the other Seven members in a way I’ve never felt. I assume it’s similar to the connection between blood brothers or even mates.”
Logan weighed his words. “We haven’t talked about it, but if I don’t survive the ritual—”
“You’ll survive.” Garrett’s jaw snapped shut, and he looked into the deep forest.
“I know,” Logan said, giving his friend the words he wanted to hear. “But just in case, I need you to cover Zane and Sam for me. Zane will blame himself, and Sam will go nuts trying to figure out a way to change time or the past or reality. You have to force them to go on.”
“Nobody is going anywhere,” Garrett said tersely. “You’ll survive the ritual. I can’t do this without you.”
The words hit Logan square in the chest. There was nobody he trusted in this life more than Garrett Kayrs. “You’re a good brother. I also need you to protect Mercy.” He cleared his throat. The idea burned like acid through him, but if he passed on, was there any chance Garrett could mate her? “She’d be a good mate.”
Garrett snorted. “She’s as crazy as your mother, which is one of the reasons you’re falling for her. You mate her. You know she’s yours.”
Some of the Kayrs males had an odd gift of dreaming of their mates before meeting them. Had Garrett dreamed of Mercy? If so, then Logan’s fate was death. “Have you dreamed of her?”
“Nope.”
Relief sizzled through Logan. That didn’t mean he’d survive, but at least his failure wasn’t foretold. Curiosity grabbed him. “Have you dreamed of your mate?” They’d never talked about it.
Garrett pressed his earbud, and then settled back down. “Yes. I think she’s human.” He sounded perplexed by that. “Sometimes I get glimpses of her, or maybe just a sense of her. I’ve tried to draw her but can’t quite get her features right.”
Interesting. Man, Logan had to survive the ritual just to see Garrett go down for a female at some point. Of course, it could be centuries from now.
A low male voice crackled through the ear comms. “Satellite in place. Guards in two-on-two formation with only two teams visible on exterior.”
The Fae were too few in number. “Fae or Cyst?” Logan asked quietly.
“Fae,” the male replied. “No Cyst in vicinity that we can see. Sending satellite imagery of heat signatures inside now.”
Garrett’s phone buzzed nearly silently, and he drew it out to show Logan. There were about ten people inside, all with higher heat signatures than the cold-blooded Cyst. Several were in prone positions, no doubt sleeping. In the lowest level a large form was secured to a chair with another form standing close and one at the door. The closest form threw a punch, hitting the secured male.
