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Okay.But come home safe.

Silas sighed.Okay, Daddy, I’ll go upstairs and play.The entire team heard that and chuckled.

Silas kissed her on the cheek before he jumped from her arms and sprinted up the stairs.They took seats around Xander’s living room and Jade was surprised when Noah sat next to her.

“Do you guys know where you’re headed?”

Jade nodded.“Based on Noah’s intel and where the failed shifters headed after they lost the fight, their camp is most likely in southwest Colorado, somewhere near Crested Butte.”

“Why there?”Reaper asked.

“I suspect because it’s near a popular ski resort where they could ‘recruit’ new members.Also, there is a lot of open land where they could set up a headquarters without being noticed coming and going.”

“When?”Ghost asked.

“There is a snowstorm forecasted for the end of the week.It should take us half a day to hike and find their headquarters, so if we head out tomorrow and find their camp by mid-afternoon, we’ll be back by Thursday at the latest.The snow will come in on Friday afternoon—well, that’s when it’s predicted.”

“When we get their intel, we’ll start with our plans, but we won’t finalize them until Jade and Noah get back and she can show us the layout from memory.Jade, have you and Noah been working on your mind link?”

“No.”

“What do you mean?” Noah asked.

Ghost explained, of course.“All the assassins have been successful at teaching themselves to mind link.It’s what Silas can do with ease.Usually it’s hard to master, but since you are mates, you two should find it easier to mind link.”

“But I’m human and I thought Silas was special, that’s why he could, even with me.”

“Yes, Silas is special, but you should be able to master it with Jade because you’re Jade’s mate.”

Jade opened her mouth to protest, not wanting to force Noah to do anything he would be uncomfortable with.He hadn’t accepted her yet, and this was the last thing she wanted Noah to know about.

“It would help coordinate in combat situations instead of using coms.”Noah turned to Jade and gave her a determined look that she couldn’t dismiss.

Jade nodded.“We’ll work on it during the drive down, the hike, and downtimes.”

“Thank you.”Noah nodded at her and turned back to Ghost.

“Okay.You’re both packed?”

Noah and Jade both nodded.Noah didn’t need to know that she packed him extra provisions.

“Then we’ll see you off at sunrise.”

As Ghost ended the meeting, Silas flew out of nowhere and landed in Xander’s arms.He smiled at Xander, knowing his daddy wouldn’t be mad at him, even though he hadn’t stayed upstairs.He hugged Xander and his mom, before he hopped down and climbed onto Noah’s lap.

Jade smiled into her hand when Noah wrapped Silas close and they started a conversation that only the two of them could hear.She loved that Noah had accepted her family so easily, but as she watched Noah and Silas’s faces light up as the conversation continued, Jade wished that in time, she could get through Noah’s wall and truly connect with him.