Page 45

“Okay, hotshot, you better slow down,” Tony warned. “Those pack a punch.” He had given her the nickname after they tested how far away she could hit the bullseye with her bow. It had been pretty damn far.

“I’ll punch you,” she joked, and everyone laughed.

As with most times the Clan got together, Elle was introduced to so many strangers who were considered family.

Dakota’s best friend, Jolee, was also a wolf shifter, and her mate, Ollie, was a lion.

Lydia, another of Tony’s cousins, was there with her polar bear mate, and their two friends, Dooley, another polar bear, and his mate, Kennedy, an arctic fox.

“I thought we were supposed to hide what we are because of the humans,” Elle said after the not-so-quiet introductions.

“Oh.” Dakota waved a hand around. “We didn’t take any reservations for the weekend, and I gave all the human staff time off so we don’t have to worry about outing ourselves.

We’re used to speaking in code and being careful, but we wanted you to feel free to be yourself.

” Dakota cocked her head to the side, and Elle got her meaning.

She removed her glamour, and there were several gasps.

“Did I forget to mention my mate is a light fae from a different realm?” Tony asked, grinning.

With the spotlight on Elle, she spent the next couple of hours sipping margaritas and answering questions about the fae, dragons, and Evyndral.

After gathering in the restaurant for lunch, they returned to the bar area, and someone turned on music.

Dakota and Seven served drinks, everyone danced to the fast music, and when a slow song came on, Tony pulled Elle into his arms. They swayed together, forgetting about everyone else.

Elle couldn’t stop smiling. Her mate was so handsome.

And funny. And... Elle might have gotten a wee bit tipsy.

Tony retrieved their luggage from the Jeep while Elle sat with Lydia and Kennedy. She wanted to know about Alaska since she couldn’t imagine somewhere so cold until Bas explained Norway’s weather was similar.

When Tony returned from the room they were staying in, he was carrying her parka and gloves. “Put these on. There’s something I want to show you.” She did as he asked, and then he led her to the large deck on the front of the lodge.

“Oh, my goddess! It’s snowing!” Fluffy white flakes swirled all around, and Elle clapped her hands before trying to catch a snowflake. It was absolutely magical. There had been snow on the ground in Norway, but Elle had never seen it fall from the sky.

“Do they not have snow in Winterhaven?” Tony leaned against the railing, smiling as she danced around.

“No. It’s just cold.”

The door opened, and several others joined them. Lydia started singing about letting it snow, and Beck grabbed her around her thighs, hoisting her over his shoulder. “Sugar, what have I told you about that?” he asked, smacking her on her ass.

“But, My Bear, you love my singing.” Lydia was laughing, so she obviously didn’t mind hanging upside down.

“Kennedy!” Dooley shouted as a cute little white fox scampered down the steps.

Elle ran to the railing, watching as Kennedy zoomed around the grassy area being covered in white stuff, yipping.

Beck set Lydia on her feet, joining the others as they watched the fox play.

Bright blue eyes turned upward, as her tail swished behind her.

She gave another yip, and Dooley shook his head.

“Fine.” He strode down the stairs and from one instant to the next, a large white bear joined his mate.

“Aren’t they afraid of being seen?” Elle asked.

Dakota tipped her hat back. “Nah. Bas closed the gate at the bottom of the hill earlier, plus, the last time Nikita and Mads visited, they set up some type of interference in case someone decided to fly drones above the property.”

Elle stepped in front of Tony so he would wrap his arms around her. She didn’t mind the cold if she got a magical show out of it. And if she wished they would get snowed in for a few days? Well, that was her business.

They did not get snowed in, only because Tony had a four-wheel-drive Jeep.

The white stuff continued coming down, covering the ground and surrounding trees with several inches.

Elle had a wonderful time between playing outside and getting to know her new family better.

It was easier to remember who was who when Tony suggested adding a photo to their contact information in her phone.

Instead of leaving late Sunday, they spent one more night and left early Monday morning to return home.

Elle hated leaving Kody and the others, but she was glad to see their house when Tony pulled down the driveway. Nekoma came out of the barn when Tony parked in front of the garage. He waved and smiled, then retreated back inside. That was weird.

Tony helped Elle down from the Jeep, but instead of gathering their bags or heading inside, he tugged her toward the barn.

“I have a surprise for you.” They stepped through the open door, and Nekoma was in the back corner, bent over a fencing of sorts.

“Go on,” Tony urged. When Elle reached her brother, he turned, and in his arms was a fuzzy, gray kitten.

“Tony.” Elle’s eyes misted as she took the baby from Nekoma. “What about her aversion to you?” she asked without taking her eyes off the bundle of fur.

“Turns out Harlow has the same ability as Tamian.” Tony stepped closer, running a finger across the kitten’s head.

“When I called to ask if Tamian was going to be in town anytime soon and why, she admitted she was also an ‘animal whisperer,’ and it just so happened this little girl was available. Grace, Sebastian’s assistant, figured two kittens wouldn’t be too much trouble, but she found out differently.

She mentioned it to Harlow, so I told her to do her thing, then bring her to Nekoma. ”

“Thank you.” Elle held the kitten up in front of her, and as blue eyes stared back, she gave a sweet little mew.

Nekoma stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his feet. “I kept her out here in the barn with me while I worked, but she has everything inside she needs. I put the litter box in the laundry room for the time being.”

“Thanks, Koma. What should I name her?”

“Do you know who she reminds me of?” her brother asked.

Elle gasped, remembering the gray cat who tried to climb the trees and chase after Novus. “Dephíne.”

Nekoma grinned. “That cat was relentless.”

Tony settled his hand on the back of Elle’s neck, rubbing it with his thumb. “How about Daphne? That’s close.”

“Daphne. I love it. And I love you. Thank you.”

“Come on. You take our girl inside while I grab the bags.”

Elle snuggled Daphne and followed Tony to the door. She turned and said, “Come on, Koma. You can show me where her stuff is.”

They hadn’t been back an hour when Tony got called in for a job, so Elle and Nekoma spent the rest of the day playing with the kitten and chatting about their weekends.

Elle ran a load of laundry and cooked supper while Nekoma sat on the floor, letting Daphne crawl all over him.

It was the almost perfect ending to a perfect few days.

It would only have been better if Tony was there with her.