Authors: Kassanna
The pain in his little sister’s voice fueled his anger. “Amelia, you’re too good for the bastard. I warned you, honey. Told you they weren’t to be trusted. Quit. You can come and work for me. That asshole doesn’t deserve your loyalty.”
She sniffled. “No, you need me here. I’ll stay. I’m sorry, Heinrich, I should have listened to you. I thought…I really thought he cared for me.”
“Those bastards only care about themselves. I don’t want you to be miserable, little sister. I can always find someone else to infiltrate the Blaidds.”
“Nope.” Resolve strengthened her tone. “Then you’ll have to start all over. I’ll help you.”
“Are you sure? You’re more important than any mangy wolf.”
“I’ll call you later. Thank you, Heinrich. Love you.”
“Love you more, peanut. Go wash your face and get some rest.” He ended the call and sipped his drink. “I’m back in the game you fuckers and this time I will win.”
Epilogue
Myka crossed the foyer. The house was quiet without Keen whooping and hollering and behaving like a kid in general. At least things had returned to some semblance of normal. Last he’d heard, Seri was in a coma. That would keep that asshole, Roman, occupied for a while. He glanced at the folder in his hands. A quick fax to his dad at Council and he would take the rest of the day off for his mate’s birthday. Tee was finally off bed rest and he wanted to take her out into the woods and have a picnic among other things.
A banging at the door caused his steps to stutter. He glanced at his watch. Who the hell was at their door at this time of morning? Deviating from his path he stalked to the door and yanked it open. Jamison stood on the porch, the strap of an overnight bag thrown over his shoulder.
Myka made a point of staring at the duffle. “Jamison, sorry but what are you doing here?”
“I came to check on Tee. Your father was kind enough to offer me his guest bedroom.”
“Of course he was. I just wish he’d have warned us,” Myka added as he opened the door wider.
Jamison stepped over the threshold. “Great. How is my second-in-command?”
“You do realize Tee and I are mated?”
“Yeah, Colin told me. Congratulations, but I need to send her on her next mission now that things have cooled down here in Volkshire.”
“Pardon.” Myka crushed the folder in a fist.
“If she’s feeling better, I have a new job for her,” Jamison reiterated.
“No.”
Jamison’s head snapped up. “I believe that would be for her to answer.”
A deep growl slipped through Myka’s lips.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Boris spoke from the hallway.
Jamison shook his head. “Don’t you people communicate?”
Boris glanced at Myka and his brows knitted together. “Snake, I don’t know what you said to my normally laid-back little brother but if I were you, I’d take a few steps back.”
“What the hell for?” Jamison swung around and faced Myka. “Oh.” He pulled at his cuffs. “I’m here to see Tee anyway.”
“No.” Myka growled.
“Damn, perhaps you should leave and come back later, snake.” Boris chuckled.
“What the hell is going on in here?” Rhys appeared in the foyer and looked around. His gaze settled on Jamison. “What the fuck are you doing here and what did you do to Myka?”
“I didn’t do a thing. I’m here to see Tee.” Jamison threw his hands up in the air.
“Who’s here to see me?” Tee showed up behind Rhys, a cereal bowl in her hand. “Oh, hey, Jamison. What’s up?” She pushed past Rhys.
“Finally someone with a little sense.”
Myka took a step toward Jamison.
The front door flew open. Sasha stomped in and stopped, glaring the group. She nodded at Rhys. “I tried calling but no one answered…”
“Daddy.” Keen came running through the door and flung himself into Rhys arms when he opened them. “I missed you.”
Rhys hugged Keen close. “I know a certain someone that will be so happy to see you.”
Sasha huffed. “Keen brought several shif…”
Etienne, Armand, and Loubel came strolling into the vestibule. Etienne interrupted the sentinel. “No need for introductions,
sha
. After everything we been through with Myka, we practically family. Consider us their country cousins.” He winked.
Sasha’s hand grazed the butt of her gun. She narrowed her eyes at the gator, turned her back to them , and marched toward the door.
Etienne sniffed the air. “I swear the air smells so much sweeter with her around. Like honeysuckle. Who is she, the guard?” He turned toward Myka and cocked his head. “You all right, son?”
Myka nodded, never taking his eyes off Jamison.
Everyone turned to see who Myka was watching. Loubel shoved his way between Armand and Etienne and took one look at the Anaconda shifter. “You son of a bitch.”
“Uh-oh.” Tee squeaked.
Loubel launched himself at Jamison and swung a fist. “That was for Marree,” he yelled, spittle flew from his lips. Loubel shifted.
Jamison became his beast in a counter move. They fell to the floor twisting around each other. Myka looked over at Boris. They smiled at each other.
“Don’t just look at each other. Stop them before they kill one another!” Tee shrieked.
“Why?” Myka and Boris asked in unison.
Tee held up an index finger. “I swear.” She turned toward Armand and Etienne, tapping her foot.
Armand shrugged. “As I understand it, this be a long time coming,
non
?”
Tee scrubbed a hand down her face. “For the love of the Goddess.”
From the doorway Sasha called out. “You need some help, Tee?”
“Yes!” Tee tersely replied.
Sasha tried to ease past Etienne. He grabbed her by the arm. “This be a fight about family. Let them work out their differences.”
She snatched her arm from his grasp.
“Will everybody shut the fuck up! I promise one hell of a retribution if one of you wakes Fre up.” Rhys yelled. “You two, separate the snakes.” He pointed nodded toward Boris and Myka.
Myka crossed his arms.
Rhys narrowed his eyes. “Are we going to go there, little brother?”
“I’m younger by ten seconds, Rhys.”
“Are you challenging me?” Rhys narrowed his eyes.
“I’m debating if it’s worth it.” Myka added blithely.
Boris broke the tension. “Well damn, two fights. I need to charge admission.”
“All of you are crazy. Do you hear me, freaking crazy!” Tee met Sasha in the center of the room close to the writhing reptiles. “And don’t think I won’t be mentioning this stupidity to Fre and Nix.” She made a point to look at Boris and Rhys.
Before her and Sasha could grab the animals, Myka and Etienne stepped forward.
“I know I’m going to regret this.” Myka reached into the fray and grabbed Loubel’s head before the snake could strike.
“Don’t get bit!” Tee cried.
“Now you’re worried about that?” Myka tossed over his shoulder.
Etienne used both hands to get a hold of the anaconda. He looked over at Sasha. “Are you happy now,
petite
?”
Myka swallowed his mirth when Sasha rolled her eyes. “Jamison is lucky anyway. I was this close to killing him myself.” Myka held his other hand up with is fingers inches apart, then gave Loubel a brief shake. “Behave.” He dropped the pit viper. Myka looked over at Armand. “So what brings you guys to town?”
“We brought the little one back. We also wanted to see this town you described. A Matos Snoil contacted us and relayed that a group of people wanted to come to Betaille to confirm things. We told him we would meet his people here.”
Myka scratched his head. “Funny, Dad didn’t mention anything to me and I haven’t seen any faxes. I’ll have to ask Amelia about the communications.”
The corner of Etienne’s lips lifted. “No matter. A few days’ vacation would be nice.” He stared at Sasha.
Myka shook his head. “I bet it would.”
“Well damn, we’ve been invaded,” Boris muttered.
“Son of a bitch,” Keen added.
All eyes turned to the youngster. He smiled, showing where the tip of one of his adult teeth was pushing through his gums. “Aunt Nix said that was good to say that when you’re happy.”
Myka burst out laughing, took the few steps toward Tee, and yanked her up against him. He looked down into her eyes and pressed his lips to hers.
The End
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