Trent completed his mission in the other world, helping an alternate version of his mate who lived in that world forgive an alternate version of himself for something stupid he’d done. Trent was then catapulted home, helped along by his team and his family at home, and by the hot portal.
And now we join them.
…
25—Magical Bullshit
Serenity, Illinois, U.S.A.
10 months after The Taking of Paisley White
Inside Trevor and Ella’s house at Village Fucktastic (VF)
The day that Trent returned from the other world, and the daybeforeGraeme went all “silence of the lambchops” on Rex’s head, as seen in One True Mate 10; Shifter’s Homecoming.
Trevor Burbank, Lieutenant of the Khain Special Response Team (KSRT), mate to Ella, and father to Track and Treena, sat on his couch, legs spread wide, elbows on knees, with three notes in his hands. He stared intently at the notes, switching compulsively between them, reading them again and again.
Note 1: The wolves agree to grant Abigail White full amnesty for anything she ever has done or may have done. They agree not to seek punishment or reparations in any way. They all swear to be bound by means other-than-worldly, if necessary.
Note 2: Use the hot portal.
Note 3: Not him, the pure one.
One of his officers, Crew Arcoal, came down the steps behind him.
“I think the place is clear,” Crew said.
“But you don’t know for sure,” Trevor said, his voice pitched low.
“I don’t.” Crew’s voice was quiet but resolute.
“And you don’t know how she got the notes here in the first place.”
“Nope.”
Trevor shook his head slightly, dismissing Crew, who left out the back door. Trevor raised the notes to his face, scenting them again. The paper was clean, with no fingerprints and no accompanying scents. The writing was a neat cursive script. Either the notes were written using straight up magic, or the writer wore gloves and something to block his or her scent completely.
The first note had come three hours ago, just before sunrise…
***
The house was full, with males and mates everywhere—because one of their own was dying. Trevor’s brother Trent, suspended in perpetual wolf form his whole life, had been found unconscious in Wisconsin yesterday, then brought home withdragentravel, which had burned him. He hadn’t woken and they didn’t know what was wrong with him. His vital signs had gotten worse over the long night, nothing the doctor did changed that.
Trevor stood in the doorway of the room, watching the medical team work on Trent, who was limp in wolf form on the bed. He hadn’t moved since they’d found him in the forest. He didn’t respond to their voices, to needle pricks, or to smelling salts. His heartbeat was slow, his breathing labored. Liquid leaked from his mouth and nose.
Their brother Troy dampened a towel and wiped the liquid away from Trent’s face, then looked up at Trevor, his thoughts flooding strongly and suddenly into his scent. Troy thought Trent was dying.
Trevor shook his head slightly, just enough for Troy to see. ‘No Troy, don’t think it,’ he said in ruhi,but it was too late. Others had caught the thread, and a real panic began to sweep through the room.
Trevor stepped forward, meaning to do something—anything, but a fat POP sounded from the living room, making males growl from all around the house. Trevor ran that way. A lone piece of white paper lay folded on the floor between the couch and the TV. Trevor snatched it up and read it silently.
‘The wolves agree to grant Abigail White full amnesty for anything she ever has done or may have done. They agree not to seek punishment or reparations in any way. They all swear to be bound by means other-than-worldly, if necessary.’
Trevor read it again, baffled. Everyone was staring at him silently, looks of apprehension on their faces. Troy grabbed the note from him and read it, then locked eyes with Trevor, his expression as mystified as Trevor felt.
Crew took it and read it then held it up. “This is like the note when she told us how to save Eventine,” he said.
Trevor grabbed the note back, resisting the urge to tear it in half. “Right in the middle of my house?!” he growled. He looked to the ceiling and all the corners of the room. “Now?”
