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Jake frowned. “Is he okay? He didn’t mention anything in our calls.”

“That business with Alec hit him pretty hard, and then Aelryn had a talk with him about stuff they’d discovered in the records from the Maine camp. His head must be as full as yours.”

Jake squeezed Rael’s hand. “Then I’ll see you all at dinner.” He hurried from the room, closing the door behind him.

That is one overloaded man.

Horvan and Dellan were at his sides in an instant.

I feel so useless.

Rael kissed Dellan’s cheek.Let them take care of each other. That’s what mates do, right?Then he gasped as Horvan hoisted him over one shoulder.What are you doing?

Taking care of my mates—in bed.He walked out of the office, Dellan behind them, shaking his head.

That’s our mate. Trying to cure all of our ills with his dick.

Horvan snorted.It works, doesn’t it? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

He had a point.

“THIS FEELSwrong.” Except that was a lie.

Nicholas was in Jake’s arms, the bed was warm, and all was right with his world.

Well, for about thirty seconds before his tumultuous thoughts kicked in.

“What’s wrong about it?” Nicholas murmured into the pillow. “Apart from the fact that we were in this bed about fifteen minutes afteryou came through the door. And five of those fifteen minutes, you spent in the shower.” He chuckled. “Not that I’m complaining. Some afternoons were made for this.”

“It feels so… lazy. Like we should be using our time for more—”

“Can’t you switch your brain off for five minutes? And enjoy a little downtime?”

Jake sighed. “I’m sorry, I—”

Nicholas cut off his words with a kiss. “You have nothing to apologize for, okay?Anyonewould be in a tailspin if they’d learned all the things you have. But now you need to rest.”

“How can I do that? There’s still so much to do.”

“Yes, there is, but what I’m saying is… let others take the lead in this battle.Youneed to acclimate to your new life, and that requires time.” He rolled over in Jake’s arms and cupped his cheek. “I know you want to keep on fighting too, and you still can, but in a different way.” Nicholas smiled. “I guess the concept of working from home is new to you, but it’s one you could benefit from.”

“I need to tell people what we discovered. They need to know shifters shouldn’t be divided, that there were never meant to be Fridans and Gerans. They—”

“And you can tell them.” Nicholas stared at him. “Only, you’ll do it online.”

Jake stilled. “That’s what Orsini said too. He thinks I should talk about the artifacts, the prophecy….” The final parts of which had floored him.

No way can anyone argue with that.

Nicholas smiled. “Wise man. I agree with him. So I guess the first order of business is to determine where ‘home’ is going to be.”

Jake had been thinking about that too. “I want to stay close to Dellan, but… I can’t live here. They need their privacy, and so do we.”

“I agree.” Nicholas kissed him. “I’m glad you said it. I have a house, but that’s all it is. I’d be willing to sell up and choose a place closer to here. A place that would be a real home.”

“Big enough for three?”

He laughed. “Definitely. I must say, I’m intrigued to discover who our mate is.”