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Christmas had arrived at the end of August.

He squinted in the afternoon sun, and it took him less than five seconds to locate Scott, who was standing at the edge of the pad, grinning.

Aelryn forgot about decorum and ran toward his mate.

The feel of Scott in his arms again brought him the peace he’d been seeking all the time he’d spent in the UK.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he murmured into Scott’s hair. Their lips met, and something inside Aelryn locked into place. It had been more than merely missing Scott.

Aelryn had felt as though a piece of his soul had been torn from him, and someone had put it back into its rightful place, mending it.

“She’s nervous,” Scott said in a low voice.

“Where is she?”

“In our room. She didn’t want to come with me.”

Aelryn drew back. “Well, we can’t have that.”

“Oh, it isn’t only because she’s scared of meeting her third mate. Part of it is because… well… because you’reyou.” Scott’s eyes sparkled. “Aelryn. The name they all know.”

He huffed. “Then let’s go find our mate and she can see I’m just like everyone else.”

Scott walked at his side toward the school building. “What’s happened with Theron?”

“I left him with our team in New York. He’ll be transported to the upstate NY base.” And if Aelryn never saw him again, that would be fine and dandy. “I have so much to tell you.”

“I gathered that much from our call last night. Something about artifacts?” He pushed the door open for Aelryn, and they stepped into the cool interior. “Is Jake Carson still in Rome?”

“No, he left for Chicago this morning. He should be almost there by now.” Aelryn’s conversation with Orsini in the early hours had left him shocked to his core.

He could only imagine what its effect would be on Horvan, Dellan, and Rael.

They climbed the stairs, and Scott paused at the door. “This is ours until it’s time to leave.” He knocked gently, and it opened to reveal a tiny woman with dark, sparkling eyes and short, spiky black hair. She stared at him, her nostrils flared, and then she launched herself at him.

“You smell the same as Scott,” she said breathlessly, clinging to him.

Aelryn laughed. “Well, that’s a great opening line.” He stroked her arms, breathing her in. “Hello there.”

Kia jerked her head upward. “Oh my God, you’re tall. I’m gonna get a crick in my neck every time I look at you.”

“We can soon change that.” He scooped her into his arms, and she wrapped her legs around him. “Better?”

She grinned. “Much.” Kia bit her lip. “Hi there.”

Aelryn closed the gap between them, and their mouths met in the sweetest kiss ever. Then Scott moved in behind her, one hand on her waist, the other over Aelryn’s, and there they were, connected at last.

“We have a lot to talk about.” Then Aelryn laughed.

That had to be the understatement of the century.

RAEL WASoverjoyed to have Jake, Seth, and Brick home again, but ever since they’d walked through the front door, Rael’s stomach had been churning.

Something is coming. He could taste it on the breeze, feel it crawl over his skin, hear it in the way Jake spoke. Then Jake had asked for everyone to gather in the big living room, and that had been enough to send Rael’s pulse racing.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s something I need to share with you all, and I’d rather do it once, because it’s going to wipe me out.”