Page 41

Ever

L edger huffs. “Will you stop being so stubborn?”

But Skylar stands his ground, hefting Sophia higher up on his back as we hike the mountain to Mercy Ridge, cut off from our powers until we cross the next barrier. “Nobody carries my mate but me.”

“I can walk, really,” Sophia says softly, and Skylar glowers, tightening his hold.

“Absolutely not. You almost twisted your ankle at the bottom, and haven’t eaten all day.

It’s fine. I’m fine,” the dirty rotten liar says as he struggles up the steep incline.

It’s a hell of a workout and even I’m winded without carrying any extra weight.

Pretty sure it’s spite that’s gotten him this far trying to prove a point.

With an exasperated sigh, I shake my head and keep walking. Men.

Myles isn’t willing to drop it yet. “There’s no shame in letting us help, we aren’t going to say shit. You've been locked in a box abused and malnourished for years .”

“Oh?” Skylar challenges. “So you'd be fine if I gave Ever a piggyback ride? Had to watch her wrap her arms around my neck, pressed up against me for the next hour?”

Several growls immediately tear out of my guys’ chests, validating his stubbornness.

“Swing her around so you're holding her bridal style,” Ledger says.

Warily, Skylar asks, “Why?”

“Just do it,” he demands.

As soon as he does, Ledger scoops him off his feet and strides up the mountain carrying them both against his chest, completely unfazed at the added weight.

Skylar’s cheeks tint red. “Put me down!”

“We still have over two miles left, you know,” Bellamy helpfully points out. That shuts Skylar right up, and we make great time for the last leg of our journey.

As soon as we cross the barrier and I can sense everyone’s powers around me again, I breathe easier. Hopefully I’ll never have to use someone else’s abilities to protect myself or my mates ever again, but there’s comfort in knowing that it’s an option.

Seraphina is waiting for us on one of her gargoyle’s laps a few feet inside of the barrier. As soon as she sees Skylar and Sophia, she grins. “Oh good, you figured it out in time.”

Scowling, I start to flip her off, but barely move my finger before Sera says, “Now that's not very polite.”

My eye twitches. “You suck the fun out of everything.”

“Not for me.” She smirks.

Myles glares at her as she rises to her feet. “If you knew he was alive and needed help, why the hell didn't you tell me? Or do something to save him sooner!?”

One of the gargoyles takes a menacing step towards him, but Sera places a hand on his arm. “Didn't see him until Ever broke into my house.”

“So why didn't you tell us then?” he demands.

She raises an immaculate eyebrow. “Say I did. Would you have allowed your mate to be kidnapped and put her life at risk on a gamble that might have saved your friend if things played out like one of the seventy-two possible futures I saw?”

A telling silence hangs heavily in the air.

“Exactly,” she says. “Think about the chain of events that never would have happened if I had told you where I was hoping it would end up.”

I try to remember everything that’s happened since the day I met her.

Going to the mimic compound, which led to Kiara leaving with us and meeting Vic, even if he's being an idiot about their connection right now.

Learning about my parents, getting Oscar somewhere safe, and Ledger freeing his hometown from his monster of a father.

Rescuing both Sophia and Skylar. None of that would have happened because we would have made different choices trying to prevent any of us getting hurt in the process.

“Thank you.”

Sera smiles softly, tucking a lock of her silken, crimson hair behind her ear. “I know it's frustrating, but trust me, it was worth all the heartache.” She lifts a finger to her lips. “Wait for it.”

Not two seconds later, we hear “Sophie?!” as Cyrus comes running around the corner into view and catches sight of her.

A choked sound as Sophia grips Skylar's hand like a lifeline until he crashes into them both, scooping her up into a bruising hug.

“Seraphina said that Ever found,” his breath hitches, “but I was scared to hope, and-” he tapers off, breathing shakily as he fights back tears.

They stay locked like that for ages before he finally collects himself, swiping a hand over his watery eyes while clutching her to his chest and meeting my gaze. “After the way I treated you…” he shakes his head as if disgusted with himself. “I'm so sorry. How can I ever repay you?”

My chest tightens. “Just take care of them. They need a grumpy asshole to keep the rest of the world at bay and give them peace to heal.”

Cyrus shoots a wary look at Skylar and I can see the struggle in his eyes.

Torn between wanting to attack him for standing next to his long lost mate and thinking he might have been the one keeping her from him all this time.

Then the moment he decides to trust me claiming ‘they’ needed him. “With my life.”

He leads them away, and I offer Sophia a wave, wishing her all the happiness in the world. And if Cyrus and Skylar have anything to say about it? She’ll find it and then some.

We’re just about to head home when Sera says, “Give your grandfather my best. That man has the patience of a saint.” Eyes sparkling, she winks before she and her mates walk off, leaving me with a sense of ominous foreboding.

Oscar hasn’t seen us yet, which is probably for the best, because I don’t have a damn clue how to react upon seeing well over two dozen people from the mimic compound seated around the fire pit in his backyard like he’s leading a summer camp.

A college-aged girl shoots her hand in the air and he calmly calls on her. “Yes, Crystal?”

“So let me get this straight,” she asks.

“Force bonded? You can just ask somebody around town that's stronger to kill them.

People are so desperate for mates, they'd sooner chew off their own arms for the 'honor' of taking care of us before they'd hurt us. And anyone that cheats gets shrunk and tortured as punishment?”

“That's right!” he crows. “Very good.” He opens the cage beside him and plucks out a tiny, squirming, chittering Adam, showing him off to the crowd and dangling him precariously close to the fire.

“This little shit hurt my granddaughter, but she has good men by her side now to take care of her.

If you're being courted and they aren’t willing to avenge your honor?

You don't want ‘em. Throw out the whole man and move onto someone that understands you deserve to be treasured. "

He tosses Adam back in his cage harder than necessary, the tiny thunk making me snort.

“Parker, is it done?” Oscar asks, calling on a young man that can’t be more than seventeen.

He lifts a charred lump on a stick out of the fire. “Uhhh, don't think it can get any more done than this."

“Good, pass it over, thank you,” Oscar says. “Adam, dinner time! Then straight to bed, young man.” He plops the charcoal abomination in a tiny pet dish inside Adam’s cage and locks the door without a blip of remorse.

I have to bite my lip to hold back my laughter. I may have been worried before, but something tells me the two of us are going to get along famously after all.

A familiar face pops up from the crowd, scrambling to his feet and rushing over.

Bellamy blinks. “Am I hallucinating? What in the actual fuck is happening right now?”

Gage slams into him. “Bossman!” As he pulls back, he slaps his back in a bro hug. “Boy have I missed you. Roman's a dick. Just barking orders day and night. It’s ridiculous and inhumane.”

Roman strolls up to us with a roll of his eyes at his partner’s dramatics.

“You were there when we needed you the most. Now it’s our turn to return the favor.

” He gestures at all of the people looking at Bellamy like he’s some legendary hero.

“Safety in numbers. We weren’t going to let you go off into the world without backup. ”

I watch Bellamy blink in shock, softening as he looks at the people he’s rescued over the years that came to support him, chest feeling suddenly tight.

“Oh!” Gage fishes a letter out of his back pocket. “Elder Naomi asked me to deliver this.”

My sweet Bellamy. I hope you’re doing well, and don’t hate me too much for how we parted ways.

All I’ve ever wanted was to protect our family, and over the last few centuries, I’ll admit I’ve lost touch with how the world has changed, more focused on protecting mimics than worrying about how we could fit into a cruel world.

If the offer is still on the table after my terrible behavior, I'd really appreciate taking your bondmate up on his offer and purchasing some of those bracelets.

And if not, I understand it was my fault for ruining a kind gesture.

Regardless, please look after the people that followed you out there.

Maybe one day I can come visit to your new home to see what makes Mercy Ridge so special.

But know that you and your mates will always have a place here.

Love,

Grandma

As I blink back tears, Gage comes up to us. “Oh! Myles, right?” He nods. “This is for you; for the bracelets.” He plops a cinched bag into his hands. When he opens it? I’m not the only one gaping, seeing the obnoxious amount of gemstones nestled inside.

Myles stutters, “I... I didn't even agree yet.”

“But you will. You’re a solid dude, Myles, and we’re lucky to have you on our side.” Gage claps him on the back. “Welcome to the family.”