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Din chuckled. "Those Fates have a strange sense of humor, and they are vengeful. They wanted me to struggle to prove that I was sincere about Fenella, or maybe they were punishing me for missing the opportunity they'd given me fifty years ago and screwing Fenella's life over."

Max shook his head. "If they wanted to punish you for that, they would have done so a long time ago. Besides, your punishment was self-inflicted. You lost not only fifty years with your best friend but possibly also with your mate."

"You were never one to mince words." Din let out a breath. "I see that hasn't changed over the last five decades."

"Why would it?" Max cast him an amused look. "Neither of us was a young lad back then, and for better or worse, our personalities were set. You are probably still the same judgmental grudge-holding asshole you were back then. Still, I loved you despite your rotten personality, and I'm willing to love you again." He batted his eyelashes.

Din laughed. "You're no less of an asshole than I am, just in different ways. I loved you, too, until you crossed the line."

"I thought we were done with that." Max tilted his head. "I'm a mated male now, and I no longer chase after every desirable female in my vicinity. I'm also working on my other shortcomings. You should work on yours, meaning being less judgmental and more forgiving."

"Touché." Din let out a breath. "So, what am I walking into? You know Fenella better than I do."

Max's expression grew somber. "She's been through hell, Din. That bastard—" He cut himself off, his knuckles whitening on the steering wheel. "Fenella is tough, and if you thought that she was a ball buster before, then get ready for the new and improved version."

That was a very diplomatic way to describe what Fenella had endured and how she'd survived. Still, Din felt his fangs itch and his venom glands fill up.

"I'd expect nothing less after what she endured, and I'm ready for whatever she will throw at me."

"Just be patient with her," Max said. "She acts like nothing fazes her, but it's mostly bravado. I don't know what she's ready for, if anything."

Din nodded. "I'm a patient male. I'll wait as long as it takes."

Max looked satisfied with his answer. "I'm glad you're here for her, and not just because it resolves the guilt I've been carrying around. She needs someone who sees through her defenses but respects them anyway."

"She might not want me at all," Din pointed out.

"True," Max conceded. "But she's curious and she's willing to give you a chance. That's a good start. Did she tell you she wanted to fly out to you instead? After your plane incident?"

"She did, but I thought it was just talk."

"She meant it, but I suspect she wanted out of the village more than she wanted to see you." Max cast him an apologetic look. "No offense, it's just that Fenella is a rover. She feels cooped up in the village. If the two of you hit it off, and you want to make her happy, expect to travel a lot."

That wasn't good news given his job, but a mate came first, and he would find a way to make it work. Instead of teaching, he could actually start taking part in digs, but not as the onsite archeologist because that would bore her as well. A consultant job would be perfect.

They rode in silence for a while, the landscape passing in a blur as Max navigated his sleek car with the care and devotion of a lover.

"I've arranged for you to stay with Thomas," Max said. "He was my roommate until recently. Good bloke, keeps to himself mostly."

"Until recently?" Din asked, raising an eyebrow. "You and Kyra moved in together, I take it?"

Max grinned. "We did. We live across from Jasmine and her mate. It's nice."

"That sounds so domestic. I'm happy for you."

"Kyra is extraordinary," Max said with such naked adoration that Din had to look away. Max in love was a different male from the Max he used to know.

They fell back into comfortable silence as the city gave way to winding mountain roads. Din grew nervous when they entered the tunnel leading to the village, and when they parked and stepped out of the car, he was once again disappointed that Fenella wasn't there to greet him.

"Where is she now?" he asked as they entered the elevator. "Fenella, I mean."

"I don't know. She could be at her place or with Kyra or Jasmine or both. The three of them have become good friends." Max looked him over. "I can call her to find out, but the question is, do you want to freshen up first or go see her straight away?"

Flying from New York to Los Angeles wasn't the kind of journey that required a change of clothing, but Din needed a moment to compose himself. After fifty years of building Fenella up in his mind, the reality of seeing her again was more daunting than he cared to admit.

"I think I'll freshen up first," he decided. "Then perhaps we can meet at the village café."

Max nodded. "She'd probably prefer that. Baby steps."