No one argues. They understand.
Aldar pushes off the wall, breaking the heavy moment. “I spoke with Kelt this morning, updating him on what’s happening out here with Sloane. He thinks it’s a good thing that Anna and Keric remain at the commune, across the country from Sloane.”
“Yes,” Garlen agrees. “The more distance between Anna and Sloane, the harder for Aldridge to target them both.”
I nod, forcing my mind back to strategy. “And we can make sure the evidence is distributed. Anna and Keric can have copies too. Multiple backup locations. Even if something happens to one of them...”
“The story still breaks.”
“Exactly. Aldridge can’t win. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
Garlen stands, signaling the meeting is wrapping up. “So we’re agreed. Protect Sloane. Help her finish the story. Prepare for potential attack.”
Nods all around.
Dane clasps my shoulder one more time. “She’s a good female. Sloane survived things that would break most humans.”
“She did.”
“And don’t worry, I’m certain when all of this settles down, she’ll choose you.” Dane’s voice is warm with certainty. “I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”
“I’ve scented her arousal only for you,” Garlen confirms. “The way she relaxes when you’re near. That female has already made her decision, even if she doesn’t know it yet.”
“Enough’” Aldar grouses. “Let’s go make sure no one’s trying to kill our journalist.”
Garlen snorts in agreement.
Chapter Fourteen
Sloane
The moment the men disappear upstairs, the house gets quiet.
I can hear Zoe’s excited voice above us, something about beads, and then Loki’s nails clicking on the hardwood as he races after her. Laurie’s warm laugh carries down the staircase.
And then it’s just me and Ellie at the kitchen table, surrounded by syrup bottles and coffee mugs and the general happy wreckage of a Saturday morning.
“Would you like more coffee?”
“God, yes. Please.”
She refills both our mugs and settles back into her chair, shifting back slightly as she wraps both hands around the ceramic. “So.” She looks over at me. “How are you actually doing?”
Nothow are the feetordid you sleep okay.Not the polite version of the question.
I pause. My default is to deflect. Fine, great, getting there, all things considered. That’s what I’d say to my editor or my mother or anyone who didn’t actually want the real answer. “Honestly? I’m not sure yet.”
Ellie nods like that’s exactly what she expected to hear. “That makes complete sense.”
I like her immediately. I liked her last night too, the way she saidyou don’t have to know anything right now, you just have to restand actually meant it. There was no performance in it.
I wrap my hands around my own mug and decide to ask what I’ve been wanting to ask since I woke up this morning. “Can I ask you something I’ve been super curious about since we arrived?”
“Sure, you can ask me anything.”
“Well…how did you end up living here with Garlen?” I gesture at the house, the kitchen, the general situation. “Because I know you originally lived next door. And now you’re married and?—”
“And I’m pregnant,” she chuckles. “I figured you must know, so why not mention it.”
