“Is he alive?” Jess whispered.
“Yes. We put Mitch through some tests, and no matter what we did, his story stayed the same.”
“Tests, Jase?” Jess folded her arms and stared at him.
“Ghoul, Banshee, Medusa, and others may have played a part,” Jase stated. He remarked. Jess’s brows descended, and Jase refused to let her intimidate him. His concern for her well-being outweighed any tantrum Jess might throw.
“What happened during these tests?” Jess demanded.
“We attempted to discover his real persona. All he was concerned about was you, Jess. He had no idea who you were apart from the woman he loved.”
Jess stalked back and forth again. Those who’d come to watch had disappeared when they exited the water. Jase waited patiently as Jess worked through her issues. She was always one of the more cautious Shifters because of the Sin she carried.
“What do I do, Jase?”
“You love him?”
“I didn’t spend the week at the bottom of the lake because I was sulking,” Jess snapped.
Jase merely raised an eyebrow and waited.
“Sorry. Yes, I love him,” Jess finally admitted.
“Eventually, you’ll have to tell Mitch,” Jase said.
“I can’t!”
“Why not?”
“How does he mate with the Loch Ness Monster? I’d squish him!”
“Jess, there is always a way. Don’t write the mating bond off yet. I suggest that you read the files and then decide. Anyway, Mitch knows what we did. Somehow, he broke Lilith’s spell on his mind and phoned Leon.”
“What did he say?” Jess demanded, and Jase spotted her worry.
“That Leon had to give you the flash drive. Mitch also called Leon an asshole.”
Jess smirked. “Leon is.”
“But he’s our asshole,” Jase added, and she nodded.
“Could you accept Mitch? You hate humans, but loathe Hunters substantially more,” Jess asked.
“Honestly, Jess, I won’t believe Mitch, not even when he’s mated. Hell, I still don’t fully trust Mac, Shelly, and Ranson. There’s no way I’ll be bosom buddies with a guy whose familykilled Harpy and Basilisk. But I concede it wasn’t Mitch’s fault; that’s all I can offer for now.”
Jess gaped at Jase, and he smiled, amused. It wasn’t often that Jase shocked one of his siblings into speechlessness. They were more apt to run and hide from his temper.
“Willow’s working miracles on your personality,” Jess whispered, and Jase scowled.
“I’m capable of growth,” he retorted. Jess laughed and glanced at his groin, and Jase got her message.
“Screw you! Willow’s very happy with what I’ve got in my trousers!” he shouted.
“And on that note, I’ll come back at another time,” Garrett/Merman announced, turning around and disappearing.
Jase exchanged a glance with Jess, and they both laughed.
Mitch – a week later.
