Dessie looked back over her shoulder. “That’s okay, Garrett.” She tripped along with Emma. “I’ll see you later?” The doors closed behind them.
Dage crossed his arms.
Sam pulled Honor to his side. “Well, then.” His green eyes twinkled. “Honor and I are heading to demon headquarters to see my brothers, and we’ll catch up with you later. You two have a nice chat.” Then he turned and all but fled the room with his mate.
Garrett watched the side door close behind them. Demon headquarters was a distance down the same lake as vampire headquarters. He felt silly in bare feet and scrubs, but he didn’t let it show. “I spoke with Jordan, and the feline nation has agreed to ally with the Realm again. We can count on them for anything we need in case we go to war.”
Dage’s powerful chest moved when he uncrossed his arms. “Nicely done, Garrett. Great job.” A hint of relief showed in his argent eyes.
“Thanks.”
“How did you manage it?”
Damn good question. Garrett lifted a shoulder. “Best guess is that Jordan wants back in. Second guess is that Katie smacked him on the head and insisted upon it. Either way, Dessie’s jumping into a freezing river to save their kid, even though she doesn’t know how to swim, put Jordan in an amenable mood.”
Dage’s chin lifted. “She risked her life?”
“Yeah. She risked her very human life.” Garrett shoved a hand through his thick hair. Man, he needed a haircut. “You should see her fight, Dage. She’s quicker than some immortals, and she knows some serious moves.” His body wanted to go right through those doors and follow her to make sure she was all right.
Dage frowned, throwing the cut angles of his face into darkness. “She’s human.”
“I know. But she dreamed of me as a kid, or at least she thinks she did.” None of it made sense. “I like her.” It sounded lame.
Dage cocked his head, fixing his gaze solidly on Garrett as if he could see inside his head. “You’re drawn to her.”
Heat spun through Garrett’s torso. “Yes.”
“Huh.”
“I know. She’s not enhanced.” There was no way to explain something he didn’t understand himself. “I know we don’t have a future, but I need to help her.” If he could make sure she lived a long human life, then he’d be content to go on his way. Probably.
“You can’t keep a human, Garrett.” Dage’s frown held more concern than condemnation.
Garrett crossed his arms. “She’s not a puppy, King.”
Dage held both hands out, palms up. “Fine. Not my problem, so long as she’s not a threat to the Realm. You can discuss it with your father when he returns. For now, go check out your new house.”
“I have a house?” This was news.
“Yes. We figured you’d stop riding motorcycles and return home with a wayward mate at some time, so your mother insisted we build you one of the houses in the family section of the territory.” Dage scratched at a bruise on his neck. He must’ve been training with one of Garrett’s uncles, or even with his dad. “I take it you haven’t found this mysterious female who wants you dead?”
“Not yet,” Garrett admitted. “It might be centuries before we meet. I don’t know.” Yet he did know that he’d stopped looking since he’d met Destiny, and that wouldn’t do. He had no idea how the little human had slid beneath his skin the way she had, but he needed to get a grip on himself. Emma would heal her, and he’d make sure she was set up safely elsewhere to live her life.
Then he’d find his mate and get on with the job of being a Seven.
His path determined, he relaxed. “It’s good to be home.” Although he wouldn’t be there for long—the Seven were convening in Wyoming in less than a week. But he would hit his family with that fact after they had a nice meal or two together.
Dage scanned him as if reading his mind, which supposedly he couldn’t do. “You’re in with the Realm now. No more of this Seven business. Got it?”
“I took a vow,” Garrett said.
“Family comes before any vow.” Dage clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Later on, we need to hammer out the treaty with the feline nation. We can get Jordan on a call while we draft so we’re not playing back and forth for the next year.” He glanced toward the door to the medical rooms.
The door opened, and both Emma and Destiny walked out, Emma holding several scans in her hands.
“That was quick.” Garrett smiled, his shoulders feeling pounds lighter. He’d known his aunt could help. Then he noticed her pale face. “What?”
She glanced from Destiny to him, her gaze wide. “I can’t fix this, Garrett.”
