I had to stop and think for a second because I knew she’d been on missions during the day and had that meeting. Waiting for the smell of her hair and for the humorous tales of her wacky assignments always puts us at ease. But the hour grew late, and she didn’t come home—which is why I sent Rafe to check the Maison. I should have told my primary, but I didn’t want him calling out the entire Company training class to look for her.
“She isn’t here,” I said, and the words felt three sizes too big in my mouth. “After she talked to Amanda, she never showed up.”
Taurus blinked, his confusion turning briefly to panic. He set his bag down with a thud and leaned in. “What did she tell you about why she’s not here yet?”
“She didn’t.”
Taurus nodded, his jaw clenched, as he let out a long breath through his nose. Rafe didn’t turn from the window, just pressedhis forehead harder to the glass, letting the cold bite. So, we waited.
There’s a particular dread that comes from sitting with that urgency and knowing you can’t do a thing about it. The three of us went through the motions of pouring drinks, changing clothes, checking our phones, and texting others carefully. Every ten minutes, Taurus would walk to the door, as if he could conjure her back by sheer will. Rafe started biting his thumb until it bled, and I had to stop him.
It’s almost midnight now, and when the Deli’s family group chat finally pings, all three of us scramble for our screens. The text is a single photo: the sign from a brand-new suburb, letters half-lit under a floodlight.
WELCOME TO SAFE HAVEN
There’s no caption, no coordinates, just that eerie, supposedly cheerful sign. Beneath it, a shadow that looked like it might be her, but the resolution is shit and I can’t convince myself. I send back a question mark, then a whole cascade of messages, but nothing comes. The typing bubble blinks once, then vanishes.
For fuck’s sake, can we not catch a goddamn break?
The Bird Goes Over The Edge
TAURUS
I’ve been waiting for Rafe to get back for damn near a half hour. When the hour got later and the storm got worse, he told us he was going out to search for our mate again. I didn’t like it, but he said he’d be back in thirty minutes.
Well, the goddess and I are waiting; goddamn it, where the hell is he?
“Taurus, stop pacing, you’ll wear a furrow in the rug.”
“Shove it,” I growl.
It isn’t fair. The minx shouldn’t do this to us. If she needs time or space, she should talk to us. Don’t leave us all hanging, waiting like idiots as we worry about her and the baby. Whatever it is, we should deal with it as a family.
If she’d come home, I wouldn’t lecture her, just help her.
The door bursts open and my mate walks in, soaked to the bone and carrying a bundled-up blanket that seems to shake. Rainwater is dripping from his clothes, his hair, his face, andhe’s followed by a snarling white tiger. Aradia shimmies the water off her coat, her eyes glowing with discontent.
Sampson’s expression doesn’t give away a thing, but I can sense the pain rippling through him. He moves to the bed, setting the blanket down. Whistling low, he waits for the tiger to jump up and curl around the bundle protectively before looking up. He jerks his head toward the workout room, wanting to talk elsewhere.
We can’t do anything else but follow, so the goddess and I walk behind him, closing the panel as we come in.
Rafe is prowling back and forth, much more energetic than normal as he runs his hands through his hair. When he looks at us, his eyes are golden, and he stops, turning to punch the bag with a snarl of frustration. The goddess looks at me, and we spread out as if we’re defending our family.
“What in the sodding hell happened today?”
“We know who, love. What they said or did to her would help us plot our revenge,” Talia hisses.
Punching the bag again, he roars. “They said she’s the problem.”
I look at Talia, and she frowns.
Obviously, we’re missing context.
“She sodding kills herself for those idiots and she’s the fucking problem.”
“Vague it up a bit more, mate. Can’t have it make too much—” It hits me and I sigh. “Oh. Bloody buggering hell.”
My primary frowns. “Wait, I’m confused. Deli knew they were going to turn on her after the party. Sari had too many ironsin the fire while Deli wasn't as accessible. I thought she was resigned to that. What changed?”
