~/~/~/~/~
As soon as the man left the hotel, he ducked into a dark alley and vanished. His employers would not be happy with his delay after they had summoned him. Now, after presenting the green diamond and the agreement to them, the man realized his services were no longer needed and was sure death was imminent.
Closing his eyes and praying it would be quick, he stood, trembling slightly, not hearing the murmurings going on around him. Instead, images of his life before that fateful night flipped through his head—his parents, younger siblings, college, friends, all gone—stripped from him without permission. Now, his life—wretched as it was—would be taken from him.
Other opportunities to buy his freedom had always slipped away through no fault of his own and now his last chance—to find the green diamond before Reif did—had, once again, ended in failure. Lost in his thoughts, the man never heard the question.
“Hey, what the fuck is the problem?” asked Valerian.
When his employer’s anger finally penetrated his thoughts, he snapped his eyes open, wondering what he missed. “I’m sorry…”
Snorting in disgust, Valerian barked, “I asked you if the sea dragon was claimed by his mate?”
“Yes, sir, he was.” Wondering why that was important anymore, he strained to hear what his employers were saying, but only caught bits and pieces that made no sense. He could tell they were agitated about something that had to do with the other members of the coven. Finally, when it looked like his employers had reached an agreement, he braced himself again, certain he was just moments away from dying.
“Where is the sea dragon now?” asked Valerian.
“You mean Reif?”
“Yes, yes, of course I mean him. What other fuckin’ sea dragon do you know?”
“Still in Scotland with his mate, well, at least that’s where I left him.”
“Good. Now this is what we want you to do,” Valerian said, with an evil grin.
Chapter 38
Groaning at the pounding in his head, Reif cracked his eyes open, trying to get his bearings, but the bright, blinding light made him quickly shut them tight.Jeeze that must have been some celebration last night.Trying to remember what happened made the pain in his head worse so Reif gave up and slipped back into a deep sleep.
~/~/~/~/~
All night, Brian sat there, leaning against the boat’s bulkhead, holding the note Reif left for him, unable to believe it.Why?That question ran through his mind over and over but when the sun rose, it was still unanswered because Reif had never given any indication he’d changed his mind about having their babies.My babies!A sob escaped him at the thought that his dream had disappeared.
~/~/~/~/~
“Wake up!Macushla! Wake up! Brian needs us! C’mon!” Kieran bounced on Logan’s gut several times before jumping off the bed and pulling on his jeans.
“Babe, now what’s the problem?” growled Logan, refusing to move. The celebration last night lasted far into the early hours of the morning, leaving him tired and cranky.
Wrestling his long-sleeved t-shirt over his head, Kieran’s voice was muffled. “Something to do with the baby Nessies.” Popping his head through, Kieran glanced at his sleepy mate. “Macushla, don’t worry. Go back to sleep. I’ll go find out what’s the matter.” On the way to the elevator, Kieran sent a text to Groose, telling him he needed a car to take him to Loch Ness.
It was the click of the door lock that snapped Logan’s eyes open. “Babe? Kieran, where are you?” Hearing no reply, he asked their spirit where his mate was and, after hearing the response, shot out of bed. Grabbing his phone he called Groose as he hopped around, trying to pull up his jeans.
“Logan?” Groose answered, “Did you know Kieran just ordered a car to take him to Inverness?”
“Has he left?”
“No, he’s waiting downstairs for the car. Do you want me to send some enforcers with him?”
“Fuck yes, but I’m coming too. Don’t let him leave until I get there,” Logan ordered, finally sitting down on the edge of the bed so he could properly get his pants on. Scrambling into the rest of his clothes, he then grabbed jackets for himself and his mate and ran from the suite to the elevator waiting for him.
Stomping his feet, Kieran was trying to keep warm, but was failing at it, even with his arms wrapped around his body. Debating whether to go inside to wait or stay where he was, he looked down the road, hoping the car would arrive shortly.
“Babe,” Logan growled, setting a jacket on Kieran’s shoulders. “What are you doing outside? You’ll freeze your balls off.”
Looking over his shoulder, Kieran grinned as he slipped his arms into the jacket’s sleeves. “Thanks,macushla. I was in a hurry because Brian needs me.”
“So our spirit told me. Any idea why?”
