The headline of the New York Post said, “No Way Out: Ashcroft Evidence Ruled Admissible.”
The conspiracy had made national news for months. Reed and Siren’s names had been kept out of the papers, but they’d been watching the coverage.
Draven and Ashcroft were still awaiting trial. The evidence against them was overwhelming, and their lawyers’ attempts to suppress it had failed repeatedly.
Diana Reyes had come out of hiding after the arrests and was consulting on the prosecution as an expert witness on the financial trail.
The others who’d helped them had gone back to their lives. Greg Sullivan had returned to his quiet existence in Ohio, relieved to be free of the burden Carl had left him.
Justice had been served. The people who’d tried to destroy Fate Mountain were finally facing consequences.
After a quick shower, Reed got dressed and decided to go over to the farmers’ market. He chatted with his sister, picked up some honey oatmeal soap from Joy Kinkaid, bought a dozen lemon bars from the bakery stand, talked to the organizer about playing at the final fall market day celebration. Then he went across the street to buy a six pack of beer from the brewery and checked in with Max about the entertainment schedule for the beer festival.
When he got home, he found Siren’s motorcycle was parked next to his SUV in the carport. He put away the things he’d picked up at the market and put the beer in the fridge.
He found Siren sitting in one of the Adirondack chairs on the back porch. She was staring out over the trees that lined the backyard. “You’re back early,” he said, sitting beside her, offering her a lemon bar.
“It was a quick meeting. Nothing serious,” she said, taking a bite of the treat.
He noticed she had a handwritten note on her lap. “What’s that?” he asked.
She sighed, looking down at the paper. “I wrote my mother a letter while you were gone.”
Reed knew about Siren’s mother. She’d told him bits and pieces of her childhood while they’d traveled across the country. But after they’d moved in together, she’d shared the full weight of the loss of her father, and the toll it had taken on her relationship with her mother.
“What made you decide to do that?” he asked.
“Something Dom said to me today after the meeting. About how being bonded with Velaria has changed him. It got methinking…” Her voice was steady, but the tension of pain was right below the surface. “About my bond with you.”
Reed could feel her emotions swirling. Like something sharp and heavy was trying to break free. Like an old wound wanted to finally heal.
“Our bond is… everything to me.”
“Me too,” he said without a second thought.
“My mother… she was a human bonded to a shifter. When my father died…” She shook her head. “She fell apart. I’m starting to understand why.”
She was quiet for a moment, staring at the paper in her lap. She sniffled back tears and looked up at the fading afternoon sky.
“It doesn’t excuse what she did.” Her voice hardened. “She chose a pervert man over her own daughter. That is unforgivable. But I’m starting to understand how broken she was by my father’s death.”
She turned to him, her blue eyes bright with tears. “I can understand why she was grasping for anything that might fill the hole that my father’s death left in her heart. She was shattered, and had no support or understanding of what it meant to lose a mate like that.”
“Are you going to send the letter?” he asked.
“No.” She looked back out at the trees. “I don’t want to reconcile. But… I’ve been angry for so long.” She exhaled slowly. “I don’t want to be angry anymore.”
She pulled a lighter out of the pocket of her jacket and lit the letter. It burned up quickly, and Siren let the ashes fall into a metal bowl at her feet.
Reed reached out and took her hand, so proud that she was his mate.
Later that night, they drove out to Hampton Orchard for a family dinner hosted by Ash and Eliana. When they stepped around the path to the back of the farmhouse, the yard was overflowing with the Bright family. All of Reed’s siblings and their mates were there. Oliver and Eli were running around between the trees.
Harvest season was in full swing, and the trees were heavy with ripe fruit. Smoke rose from the grill where Ash was watching over the meat. Holly trotted over and gave Siren a hug, telling her she’d missed her at the market that morning.
Reed’s father had baby Jasper on his hip and was making faces that had the toddler giggling.
Eliana came out of the house, wiping her hands on a towel. “Reed. Siren. Perfect timing, we’re just about to sit down.”
