Page 60 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

Cerys and I wanted to chat, so she settled in the back seat with me.

Additionally, it would provide the guys with more legroom, as they were taller than we were.

We stopped to stretch our legs, let Cerys move around, and take a bathroom break.

When we got back on the road, the four of us started speculating about Fiona Katz.

The guys hadn’t met her while they were there, so they had no clue what she looked like.

Gunnar hadn’t shared a picture with them.

And Keir was rather closed-mouthed about her.

Both men liked Old Galen and said the younger Galen seemed to be a good kid from what little time they spent with him.

He was respectful. I wondered why they lived with their grandfather.

Did he require help, or was it more a matter of economics?

Housing, no matter where you lived, was insanely expensive.

When you added the cost of everything else onto it, was it any wonder that younger people couldn’t afford to leave their parents’ homes or to buy a home of their own?

We pulled into the driveway of a small house in a rundown neighborhood.

While all the homes surrounding this one were in great disrepair and hadn’t been cared for in ages, the one we faced, while older, was different.

The yard was neat, and there was no junk lying around.

There were flowerbeds with flowers still in them.

The paint was faded on the house, but not chipped, and when we got to the porch, it wasn’t in danger of falling in if you put your weight on it.

Brax raised his hand to knock, but stopped when the door opened before he could. Standing there, grinning was a teenage boy. It had to be Young Galen. Brax held out his hand.

“It’s good to see you again, Gal. We’ve brought some new faces with us this time. If we can go inside, I’ll introduce them as soon as we’re with everyone else,” was how Brax greeted him.

Gal shook his hand and then stood back. “Yeah, it’s probably a good idea that you do come inside—no telling who’s watching.”

As we entered, Fen presented his hand to him, and it was shaken. Gal was avidly looking at Cerys and me. He sniffed, then turned puzzled eyes to Cerys. “I don’t get it. She smells like you, but not the way she should.”

“ Buachaill , what have I told you about holding your tongue and not saying everything that comes to mind? Please forgive this young cub,” an older gentleman said as he joined us.

He lightly cuffed the boy on the back of his head.

The way Young Galen grinned, he was used to it and didn’t take offense to it or act like he was being abused.

It was clear that grandfather and grandson loved each other.

Old Galen extended his hand to the guys and shook theirs.

When he finished that, he checked out Cerys and me. He shook his head.

“Two gorgeous women and here I am, already spoken for.” He sighed.

“Galen, who has you tied up?” Fen asked.

“My sweet Maria. She’s been gone for twenty years, but I’m still bound to her until I die and join her in heaven. Once there, I plan to re-establish our mating bond.”

His words were so sweet they made Cerys and me tear up.

“Stop, you flirt. You’re making us look bad.

Let me introduce you to my mate, Cerys. As you can probably tell, she’s pregnant.

We’re having twins,” Brax announced with pride as he kept his arm around her shoulder.

Galen took her hand and kissed it. When he turned to me, Fennick made the introductions.

“This is Akiva, she’s my mate. We’ve only newly been bonded. Ladies, this is Galen Katz the Second,” Fen announced, as my hand was kissed.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. We’ve wanted to meet you and your family since the guys came home from their last trip here,” I said.

Before more was said, Gunnar came walking into the room. He rolled his eyes. “Watch out. The storm is coming,” he muttered.

As soon as he said it, we heard the pounding of feet and the sound of heavy breathing.

Next, a young woman came into the room. She scowled until she saw us, then plastered a polite smile on her face.

She clutched her purse to her side. I tried to take in the sight of her, but was interrupted by Keir barreling into the room. He was scowling.

“If you think you’re running out of here without me, you’re crazy.

I don’t give a damn if my friends and their mates are here or not.

You know you’re not allowed to go anywhere alone, Fiona.

What are you trying to do? Get yourself hurt or killed?

There are people out there targeting shifters.

We have no idea who they are or where they hide out.

For all we know, they live on this street,” he scolded her.

She flipped her hair as she whipped her head to glare at him. “I was coming to say hello to our guests, you cretin. And then I’ll be heading to work, where I can’t be any safer than there.”

Turning her back to him, she smiled and held out her hand. Galen senior smirked as he launched into the introductions.

“This is my great-granddaughter, Fiona. You’ve met my great-grandson, Galen the Third, her brother. We call him Gal or Young Galen. Gariníon , granddaughter, this is Brax, his mate Cerys, Fennick, and his new mate, Akiva,” he quickly explained to Fiona. She shook each of our hands and then spoke.

“Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet all of you. I’ve heard about all of you from Gunnar and that one. I hope you don’t think me rude, but I must go to work for a little while. I’ve been called in. I should be back in time for dinner. Although, can I make one request before I go?” she asked sweetly.

“Sure,” Brax and Fen said at the same time.

“While I’m gone, can you send Keir home, or better yet, find a river to drown him in. He’s getting on my last nerve.”

Instantly, I cracked up, and so did the others.

Keir wasn’t amused and was muttering threats to her.

I liked Fiona just based on that remark.

She wasn’t one to lie down and take shit.

And if the way Keir was watching her was any indication, he more than liked her.

Gunnar’s report was right. She was giving Keir a run for his money, and that leopard wasn’t about to let his prey, I mean, his mate, get away.

I couldn’t wait to see how they battled and what the final surrender would be like.

And the reason I said surrender was that no matter the words or the way she glared at him, her pheromones didn’t lie. Fiona was deeply attracted to Keir. Despite the unknowns and dangers, the next several weeks and months appeared likely to be entertaining as hell.