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Then he realized that might not be possible, not if he got his way and joined forces with Aelryn. “Jana, there’s something you need to know. I—”

She placed a finger on his lips. “Do you think Aelryn will have room in his ranks for an otter who wants to fight for the Fridans?”

Milo’s heart skipped a beat. “You want to fight?”

She blinked. “Well,youdo, so why shouldn’t I? And I can be useful too, especially with some training.”

He said nothing, but squeezed her tight. Milo closed his eyes and sent up a prayer to whoever had placed Jana in his path.

Thank you.

“What are you doing here?”

The strident voice cut through him. Milo turned, and came face-to-face with a man he recognized from the camp. The guy glared at him. “Why aren’t you in chains? Why aren’t you facing a firing squad? You’re one ofthem.”

Jana whirled around and glared at him. “Don’t youdarespeak to my mate like that again. And have some respect. You’d still be in that godforsaken place if it wasn’t for him. Who do you think gave the Fridans all their information? Hm? I’ll tell you. You’re looking at him.” She clenched her fists, her face red.

The former inmate stared at her. “He’s your mate?” He gazed at Milo. “Really?”

Milo nodded, his arms around Jana once more, feeling her relax against him. “What she told you is true. And if you don’t believe her, itwon’t be long before you hear the same thing from Aelryn’s lips. You’d believehim, wouldn’t you?”

The man nodded, openmouthed.

Milo took a deep breath.This is going to happen a lot, isn’t it?

Yes. And I’ll have your back every single time.Jana craned her neck to peer at him, her eyes gleaming.Now can we go see our new room? Seeing as I have you all to myself for the first time.

There were better places to be, and sweeter things to be shared.

Especially if—when—they found their third mate.

Chapter Three

“I’LL BEin Boston tomorrow,” Aelryn confirmed.

Scott smiled. “Best news I’ve heard all day. I miss you. Especially since it seems Maine is too far to hear you in my head.” He’d missed that too.

“Whatyoumiss is the ability to talk to me when your mouth is full.”

He laughed. “What can I say? I like multitasking. And I certainly don’t hearyoucomplaining about it.”

Aelryn chuckled. “What right-thinking man would do that?” He paused. “Thanks for seeing Milo. He’s right. I can smooth things for him. Has there been any trouble so far?”

Scott frowned. “A little. Some of our new guests have objected to having him around, but his mate is one fierce woman. I don’t think they’ll do that again in a hurry.”

“We’ll have to discover what the best role for them would be. But we can discuss this when I get there.” Another pause. “Is it strange that I don’t want to hang up?”

Scott knew that feeling. “The sooner you do, the sooner you’ll get back here. And then you’re mine—until someone else comes along and you go back to being the Fridan leader again.”

Aelryn sighed. “Can I share something with you? WhatIwant to go back to is how things were before I found myself embroiled in a war that was never declared. When if someone wanted to see me, it wasn’t to report atrocities or casualty lists or—”

“You want to be the professor again,” Scott interjected. “To teach about ancient history.”

He laughed. “If Jake Carson is right—and Rudy Myers and Valmer Cooper—ancient history is about to come knocking on our door. And then I think everyone is in for one hell of a shock.”

“You’re putting a lot of hope into whatever it is Jake is hoping to discover, aren’t you?”

“You didn’t see Fielding when Jake reached into his mind. That….” Aelryn’s voice quavered. “I hesitate to use the word man whenmonsterisfar more applicable. He was afraid, Scott. First of Jake, and then I heard fear in his voice when Jake mentioned the caskets—and theMissal of Godwin. Whatever Theron is hiding in that castle? He doesnotwant us to know about it. And that excites me.”