“Why shouldn’t it?” Remy said angrily. “It matters to the magic world…my world…the world I was born into…the one my parents hid me from because they were afraid of what would happen to me if I was discovered!”
Staring at Remy, Mystia hesitated, thinking of everything she’d heard about him today. Then as the pieces fell into place she said softly, “You’ve decided to reject him, haven’t you?”
Closing his eyes against the pain lancing his heart, Remy realized how much he hated to hear the words ‘reject him’.Yet, that’s what I plan to do.He heard the disappointment in her voice. And he couldn’t blame her for feeling that way. He knew his parents would be upset at him for spurning the precious gift the Fates had chosen to give him, a gift very few ever received in their lifetime.A sob caught in his throat as he pictured his parents’ faces, hearing their voices in his head as they tried to convince him not to throw away love. But his commitment to his brothers pushed everything out until only the sweet, trusting faces of Galen, Eamon, and Rune were left. Knowing what he must do, Remy fought his tears before opening his eyes. “It’s the only choice I have.”
~/~/~/~/~
Ducking into a building, Glenn took the elevator to the top floor, got out, and walked to the end of the hallway, stopping when he reached the door with the red ‘Exit’ sign over it. Pushing it open, he entered the stairway, gripping the railing as he leaned over it. After listening to make sure no one was below him, he headed up, taking two steps at a time until he reached the door leading to the roof. Pausing to make sure no one was following him, he unlocked the door, pushing it open.
Crouching low, he crept across the roof until he reached the edge. Peering over it, he found the narrow space separating the two buildings empty. Backing up, he removed his clothes, tying them into a ball. Then, after shifting, he picked it up with his teeth and, charging forward, he leapt, landing on the next building. After two more leaps, Glenn shifted, dressing quickly before heading down to the floor where, according to Agent Singer, his mother was located.
Entering the sixth floor through the stairwell door, Glenn cursed at the overwhelming smell of blood. Pausing, he inhaled deeply, cataloguing the other scents he detected.Wolves…one who has a fucking strong animal. Frowning, his mind quickly flipped through Singer’s intel, none of which mentioned anything about a super wolf shifter. Silently padding down the hallway, Glennfought back his fear about the fate that may have befallen his mother, continuing until he reached the apartment where the blood scent originated. Then, in a second, he was inside, staring at the carnage.
Looking down at the two dead men, Glenn smiled grimly, knowing they deserved what they got. According to the intel Singer provided when he arrived in New York, his mother’s kidnapping was ordered by ‘The Collector,’ a shadowy figure who’d been on the agency’s most wanted list for some time. The list of potential charges was long but kidnapping and shifter trafficking were among them and now it looked like his mother was to be his next acquisition.
Upon closer examination, Glenn had no doubt as to who was responsible for their deaths, assuaging his anxiety about his mother not being alive. Somehow, she’d escaped. Searching the apartment produced no clue as to her whereabouts, but the scent of three unknown wolf shifters was powerful, indicating they were here recently.Why? What are they after? My mother? Or do they have a beef with her kidnappers?
Putting those questions on a back burner to contemplate later, Glenn pulled out his phone, searching for one number. “Ah, ha.” Hitting a button, he waited until his call was connected. “Riley? It’s me. Mom’s missing.” After filling his buddy in on the details, he arranged for them to meet before hanging up. After surveying the scene one last time, Glenn sent a message to the Hare, knowing he’d take care of getting Agent Singer off this case and out of the agency…permanently.
~/~/~/~/~
Sitting on their bed in the afternoon, David stared at his phone, willing it to ring so he could hear the voice that would calm his fears. The bravery he possessed when hechose to stay behind disappeared as soon as Zane left. Now his fears were back, and he didn’t know how he’d make it through the night without his mate at his side, holding him and keeping his nightmares at bay. Not that his mate knew about them; he’d never told Zane, which was probably a mistake, but he was just too embarrassed.
Rubbing his finger on Zane’s photo on his phone, he wrestled with his need to call him; if he did, he was afraid it might put his mate in more danger than he already was.And for what? So, I can tell my mate I’m afraid I’ll have a childish dream tonight?Shaking his head, David knew it was something he’d have to learn to handle himself.
Flopping down on the bed, he rolled over, burying his face in Zane’s pillow, hoping his mate’s scent would quell the queasiness in his stomach. David felt his body relax as he focused on his mate until, finally, a small smile graced his face as he closed his eyes, daydreaming about happy times with Zane. Suddenly, the ring of his phone startled him. Quickly answering, he asked, “Zane? Are you all right?”
“Hey, babe,” Zane replied, “I’m fine. What about you? Are you okay?”
“Yes, everything’s good,” David said in a rush, wanting to stop his mate from worrying about him. “Did you find Willow?”
“No, but I have some leads. At least she’s still alive.”
“Oh, thatisgood news. Your mother is worried…I tried to keep her mind off her friend after you left by helping her through the exercises Ian gave her, but I could tell her mind was somewhere else.”
“I wish I had better news for Mom, but, hopefully tomorrow we’ll find Willow and bring her back so we can protect her.”
“I’ll pray to the gods tonight to keep her safe,” David murmured.
“Thanks, babe,” Zane said and, hearing the worry in his mate’s voice, changed the subject. “What else did you do today?”
“I met with Adam and we went over the laws for my first meeting so now I understand them much better…then, Móndaslu and I visited Kieran and Queenie…that was so funny…my poor little guinea pig kept running away every time Queenie landed next to him, so I finally put him inside my shirt…and he must have liked it because he went right to sleep. Theo joined us and showed me the gazebo Kieran and Logan made for his wedding ceremony…oh my gods, you should see it… it’s so very beautiful.”
Pausing to think a moment, David continued, “Oh my goodness, I almost forgot to tell you…guess what? I’m going to a pajama party tonight! I haven’t ever been to one and Theo decided to do it tonight because he wants my help…well everyone’s help actually…about planning the menu and other wedding stuff.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun. What are you supposed to bring?”
“Myself,” David giggled.
Chuckling, Zane said, “I figured that, but I was thinking along the lines of sleeping bags…stuff like that.”
“No, I asked Theo and he said just myself, a pillow and my pajamas.” Then David asked, “Do you think I should bring a gift? I mean it is a party after all.”
“No, babe, not necessary,” Zane replied, “it’s not that kind of party. Who’s going to be there?”
“Quin, Kieran, me, Norm, and, of course, Theo. I was going to bring Móndaslu but then I was worried someone might step on him, so I decided not to. Do you think he’ll be okay in our room by himself?”
“Yes, he will…just make sure his cage is locked so he can’t get out.”
