“I have an idea that might work for everyone,” Dakota said. “I can read Reif’s thoughts and, if he has even the slightest concern, Zane can pop in and take care of the threat.”
“That might work,” said Ian. “If the contact behaves differently, Reif’s mind will react, alerting Dakota to it.”
“Ay, but how long would it take afore Zane gets there?” Brian asked.
“Just seconds,” replied Zane.
“Nessie, how about it? Will you agree to Dakota’s plan?” Reif asked.
Thinking it over, Brian grudgingly admitted his mate was right, but that didn’t mean he was happy about it. “Ay, I do,” he said, reluctantly.
“Good. Now all we have to figure out is where in the loch Brian is going to plant the green diamond,” Logan said.
“Nessie? Any ideas?” asked Reif.
“Ay. Remember the underwater cave ye found near the southeast shore?”
“Uh-huh, but I didn’t go inside it,” Reif said.
“Nae a problem. I will put it in a stout metal box just inside the opening.”
Nodding, Reif handed the green diamond to Nessie. “Be safe.”
“Ye too.”
“Great,” said Logan. “I texted Jackson and he’s going to ask Penn to draw up an agreement for your contact to sign saying that in exchange for receiving the green diamond, you and your people will be free from any more demands made upon them. As soon as Penn has it ready, Mystia will bring him here for the signing. So, let’s get going. Reif, you and Brian will be in one car, Dakota, Slate, Zane, David, Kieran and myself will be in car two.”
“What do we do once we get to Inverness?” asked Reif.
“You’ll drop Brian off at his boat and continue on to your cottage,” Logan said. “The rest of us will meet Brian at his boat and go out on the loch with him. That way, if anyone’s watching, it’ll look like Captain Crannach is doing another sightseeing tour.”
“Maybe Nessie should go with you,” Reif said. “That way, no one will see him with me.”
“Brian, what do you think?” asked Kieran.
Opposed to that idea, Brian was about to reject it until he saw his mate’s eyes pleading with him to agree. Unable to refuse, he reluctantly agreed. “Ay, I will go with the Shaman.”
Checking a text, Logan announced, “The cars are waiting for us downstairs. Reif, you’ll be escorted to yours by Groose and we’ll follow in a few minutes.”
“C’mon, Nessie, walk me out,” Reif said, as he grasped his mate’s hand and tugged.
After they left, Logan looked at Dakota. “As soon as Reif leaves, find his thoughts just so we know he’s made it safely to his cottage.”
“What should we do?” asked Theo, glancing at Norm.
“For now, nothing. It’s just a waiting game to see what Reif’s contact does,” Logan answered.
“You still think he’s in on the scam, don’t you?” Colton asked Logan.
“Better to assume that, than be surprised, but I hope for Brian and Reif’s sake, everything works out,” replied Logan.
“I have an idea, Theo,” Kieran grinned, bouncing slightly in his seat. “Why don’t you, Norm and Fi plan the baby shower for Brian and Reif? We only have a few more days before we leave and it’d be really great if we could do it before then, otherwise we’d have to come back and I’m not sure the Alpha will let that happen anytime soon so the other choice would be for Brian and Reif to come to California which wouldn’t be bad because then they could meet the Alpha but I don’t think Brian will want Reif traveling all that way. So the best thing is to have it before we leave and since we know they’re all going to be boys, we can do a pink and blue theme.”
“If you know the babies are all boys, why the pink?” asked Fionn.
“Sea dragon shifters are only male so…”
“There aren’t any female sea dragons?” asked Theo.
