“Dare I ask what guards?” Dagan drawled.
“Later. I need to get this settled with Michael first before shit hits any harder.”
“Race, wait.” Ash pulled back from him, frowning. “Have you forgotten already? I have to call Mum and Dad. They’ll be beside themselves by now.”
“Hell,” he grunted, pinching the bridge of his nose. He lifted his head. “Fine. Let’s be quick.”
“Oh, how gracious,” she said, her voice crisp. “My mobile’s dead. My charger and everything else are somewhere in the Himalayas. So, yes, let’s be quick.”
Shae smothered a laugh.
Race patted his pockets and cursed. “Dammit, I must have lost mine?—”
“Use mine.” Shae offered Ash her cell.
“Ah, thank you so much.” She accepted it. “I’m Ash, by the way.”
“And I’m Shae. And this,” she stuck her thumb to her right, “is my mate, Dagan.”
Dag nodded, and Ash gave them both her wide, gorgeous smile. “Lovely to meet you both.”
Phone in hand, she moved to the forlorn oak tree, her fingers flying over the display. As the line connected, she glanced back at him, scowled.
Damn.Exhaling roughly, he closed the new portal and waited.
“Mum, it’s me. Where’s Dad?” she asked. “No, I’m fine, honestly. I’m on a…a friend’s phone. Mine died…” She paced under the tree. “I know, I know, I should’ve checked in. I was camping in the mountains…” Her nose scrunched adorably as she tried to white-lie her way to avoid worrying her parents. She threw him a wry look.
His heart cramped as if a huge hand had wrapped around it.
“Three weeks?” She faltered to a halt, her gaze rushing to him, wide in shock.
Race stilled. Sure, time flowed differently between realms, but three weeks?
“Mum, I did say I needed time, but I’m fine really—hey, Dad. Yes, I am well, dressed warm, too.” She laughed. “Did some research, jotted notes about the climate, you know, hoping for answers to myproblem. Oh, Janika…”
“So,” Dagan murmured, fangs flashing in a shit-eating grin. Damn vamp. “An English girl, the Himalayas, sounds like one of those films Shae loves watching?—”
“Hey.” Shae lightly smacked his arm. “You watch them, too.”
“Only because you’re there.” He cast her a tender look, then those amused citrine eyes returned to Race. “So?”
“So, nothing.” He continued watching Ash’s soot-streaked face, haloed in falling snow.
Dagan laughed. “You can try and shut me out, but know that back at the castle, you’re in for a load of shit—the male who swore he never wanted a mate.”
“Still don’t,” he retorted, fed up with Dag’s nosiness, especially since he never butted into their lives—okay, maybe he did a little. But being the bastard he was, he refused to tell them anything. “Just need to deliver her to Michael.”
Dagan snorted, and Shae frowned at them. “Both of you stop before she hears you.”
Race’s gaze snapped back to Ash. She now sat on the bench beneath the tree, her gaze on them, her brow furrowed.
“This is a sight I can’t get over.” Dagan lowered his voice, not letting go of his grin. “She’s completely clubbed you over the head and won.”
“No,” Race said, watching Ash as she tried to pacify her parents a little longer before relenting. “Iwon. She just hasn’t realized this isn’t short-term.”
“Is she a psi?” Shae asked softly.
“Michael will have to confirm,” he murmured as Ash ended her call. “But I’m certain she is.”
