Her white-blonde head appeared around Rogue’s open stall door.She ran over to him immediately, making him suspect she’d been hiding, waiting for him.She leaned heavily against his leg as she stared up at Cat curiously.
Connor put a hand on her head.“Opal, I want you to meet my other sister.She’s a bit of a troublemaker, so you have to keep an eye on her.This is your aunt, Cat.”
Aunt?Shock flickered through Cat’s eyes, but she hid it quickly, lowering down to greet Opal with a warm smile.“Hi Opal.”
Anything else I should know about?
Later,Connor promised.Can you keep an extra eye on her for me?
“You know, Sam is pretty good at baking.I bet there are some treats in the kitchen.Want to go find some?”Cat asked Opal.
Opal’s eyes lit, but she looked up at Connor anxiously.
“It’s okay.Cat’s a good person to hang out with when I’m gone.I bet some of the others will want to go with you.”
Opal bit her lip, ducking her head quietly.Connor motioned to Cat to wait quietly, explaining through the mental link that the girl was talking to Rogue.
After consulting with the horse, Opal finally returned her attention to them.“Rogue says yes.”
“Oh, good.I was worried there for a second!”Cat smiled and offered Opal her hand before turning her gaze to him.“And you, sir, are not allowed to set foot off the estate without telling us.Right, Opal?”
Opal nodded vigorously in agreement.“Right.”
“Understood,” he told them.
I mean it, Con.Your freedom of movement is revoked!
Spark.He chuckled, letting his joy flow through the mental connection to her.Don’t you think that’s a little extreme?
You were dead, Connor.
Oh, come on, you didn’t believe that for a minute.He’d helped her hone her truth-seeking abilities himself.She was very adept at hearing lies with and without her magic.He’d made sure she’d learned regular cues in addition to developing her magic.
Maybe,she sniffed.But that one minute was the worst of my life.Whatever you’re planning better not bring it about again.I can’t lose you.
You won’t, I promise.
That was why his team was coming here to strategize.He wasn’t going to bring the traitor down alone.His heart swelled as he watched the two walk away, Opal taking to her vivacious aunt quickly.
I love you, Cat.
Love you too, big brother.
Chapter 24
Rosewood Keep, Realm of Calderre
Joyandgratitudenearlybrought Connor to his knees as he hugged Ryan to him.He’d known his partner had survived, but seeing him, feeling him breathing, made it true.
“Zevat, Con!”Ryan’s eyes filled as he embraced Connor.“We thought you were dead.Gone.”
“You’re not the only one.I’m so glad to see you alive, Ry.”He returned the hug as Ryan squeezed him tightly.
Thalia came forward with the barest hint of a smile.Her eyes were hollow shells, void of the vibrant glow they used to emit.His heart clenched hard with grief.Memories of Thalia and Jax together flooding his mind—both out in the field on missions with the team and at home.The two women had been inseparable.He couldn’t fathom losing one’s mate as Thalia had.
“Glad you made it,” she said solemnly.
“Tals.”Pulling her into his chest, he hugged her briefly before releasing her and framing her face with his hands.Looking into her eyes, he led with his heart, speaking the words he would have wanted his mate to hear after a mission gone so horribly wrong.“We rescued them.We saved the girls, Tals.The little ones Jax died protecting.”
