“Youdid,” she disagreed, voice muffled against my chest, but I felt the growing dampness. “You kept all these things safe. You keepall of ussafe.”
“You’re getting snot all over Cas’ shirt, baby girl,” Zane smirked. “Ten bucks says he has a breakdown about it later.”
“Fifteen says he’s already mentally tallying which detergent will best remove tear stains,” Ko chimed in.
I shot them both a glare over Seri’s head even as I reached into my pocket for a handkerchief. Gently, I tilted her chin up and dabbed at the tears tracking down her cheeks.
“Ignore them,” I told her in a gruff voice. “They’re just jealous because you huggedmethe longest.”
Her watery giggle was worth the knowing looks my brothers exchanged behind her back. I’d never been the one to make her laugh; that was Zane’s territory. I was the pragmatic one, the strategist, but in this moment, the boundaries between our roles seemed less defined than before. I wasn’t one given to much introspection, but I clearly realized that I was no longer the man I’d been before we met her. I was a better one now. Or at least, I wastryingto be. For her.
Trying to be less rigid, less solely focused on the mission at the expense of everything else. More aware of the impact my words and actions had on others. More willing to question things that conflicted with protecting those I cared about.
She’d changed my brothers, too. Koa was more vocal about his feelings, less likely to internalize everything until it overwhelmed him. Zane was still as irreverent as ever, but there was a new thoughtfulness to him, especially in how he gauged Seri’s reactions before pushing a joke too far.
“We prepared something else.” I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “A trip to the lake to test out the reel. If you’re interested.”
“Really?” Her entire face lit up, the last traces of tears forgotten as excitement took over. “Now? Can we goright now?”
“Breakfast picnic’s already packed.” Zane bounced to his feet. “And Mrs. Wentzel made that shortbread you like. The one that turns Cas into a moon-damned vacuum.”
“Hedoeseat them disturbingly fast,” she snickered.
“Efficiently,” I corrected with a frown. “No point in prolonging consumption.”
“Unlike when you consume our girl,” Zane stage-whispered with a wink, earning a backhand to his shoulder as my eartips burned.
4. Element of Surprise
MISSION: OPERATION DUCK AND COVER
DATE: Sunny as hell. Not good for redheads.
OBJECTIVE: Secure aquatic cuteness for beloved’s enjoyment
MISSION PARAMETERS: Stealth approach. Swift capture. Minimal splashing. Maximum adorableness.
PERSONNEL: Agent Zoodle (that’s me) and Agent Fuzznuts (that’s Brumous)
STATUS: About to go sideways in ways evenIcouldn’t predict
Zane Cimmerian
I stretched out in the grass under the willow trees, their shade keeping the fang-rotted sun from burning my fang-rotted skin while I counted the ways a man could die of boredom.
Fishing ranked somewhere between watching paint dry and listening to Casimir lecture about equipment maintenance.
At least Seri was happy, her legs dangling over the edge of the wooden planks, fishing rod clutched in her hands like it was made of gold instead of carbon fiber, and that was enough to keep my ass planted right where it was. It didn’t hurt that she was cute as hell when she was excited.
“You’re holding it wrong,” Cas murmured, his hands hovering near Seri’s. “If you angle the rod more like— Yes, that’s it.”
I rolled my eyes so hard, I nearly strained something. For a lethal killing machine, my big brother turned into an awkward teenager around our beloved.
“Excellent form, blossom,” I called out, just to watch Cas’ jaw tick with annoyance. “You’re a natural fisherman. Or fisherwoman. Fisher-beloved?”
“Leave them alone, Z.” Koa, stretched out on the grass next to me with a book, didn’t even look up.
“I’m being supportive,” I protested, rolling onto my stomach and propping my chin on my hands. “Someone has to—”
