I hit send and sigh.
I haven’t turned on the lights in the collection area, only the office. Work, yeah, there’s no way I’m going to get any work done. I close my eyes until my phone vibrates in my hand.
My sister’s face appears, smiling, her crisp uniform in place as she holds out a drink for the camera. “Holy fuck, Raine. No wonder. That’s a lot. A lot.”
I will not cry, I will not cry. “It is.”
“Did you tell them you love them? Because from the novel you sent me, it sounds like you do. All three of them. Holy hell.”
There’s a pause. A long pause. Because she knows me. “Right, well. From the text and the pictures, you’re happy with them.”
“I thought I was. But it’s like they’re all just waiting for me to pass out with this lightning.”
“Like when we were waiting for Aunt Amanda to have her baby?”
“Yeah, exactly. Like, when is this marking going to appear?”
“Okay... okay. So what? Maybe it doesn’t appear. Other shifters have love matches.”
“They’re not from around here, remember?”
“Right.”
“And royal,” I say.
“I know.”
“I should come home.” Even as I say it, I want to pull the words out of the air and back into my lungs.
“I mean. I guess that’s up to you. You and your three guys. Three guys!”
“Wren, stay focused.”
“Right. It’s up to you. Stay and see what happens or leave. Which do you want to do?”
“I want to stay. But . . .”
“You want to go?”
“Yes.”
“Can’t you stay and finish your contract? Or are they going to kick you out because of this ball?”
I hadn’t thought of that. “I don’t know. But since the queen isn’t excited about me being human and all... the ball is... back where they’re from, for sure.” I’ve told her a lot, but I haven’t told her everything.
“A fortnight. I thought shifters’ fated mates knew instantly.”
“Not where they come from.” My heart squeezes again. “I’m going to come home.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, I’m in Tokyo now. But Ellen, Kate, and Chanda have a two-day layover in Zurich in a couple of days.”
“Really?” The thought of seeing familiar faces right now is amazing.
“Yeah, they were joking that they should drive down and see you. Do you want them to pick you up?”
