35. Thirty-five

thirty-five

Our bond lights pulsed and somehow I knew it was Drym. He was okay. I relaxed a fraction and let myself take in the majesty in front of me.

The property was a small preserve not far outside Damruck. A gravel road sliced through the middle of dense forest and ended at a long structure that was used for gatherings.

The inside was dusty and stagnant from disuse, but the windows along both sides were functional. A giant fireplace stood at the opposite end. There was enough room inside for all six wyrfangs to be comfortable, plus quite a few other supernaturals and (I hoped one day) humans.

The floors were beautiful, wide plank heart pine. I could easily envision what a good cleaning and a coat of paint would do.

It was perfect.

"Are there any houses?"

Zeus shook his head. "No, but there are building sites already mapped and perk tested. I thought each of them would want to choose their floor plan and architecture style."

"That's probably wise. We'll need to give them options. The sheer number of house plans available would be overwhelming. Maybe three options in each style? They can narrow them down from there."

"So, you approve?"

"I very much approve. I'm not sure how we'll afford this, though."

"Like I said before, the council will foot the bill, and what they don't cover, I will. We take care of our own."

I nearly sagged in relief. It was a dream come true in a lot of ways. Plenty of land for the ‘fangs to run and be free. The ability to choose whichever house plan suited each of their needs and personalities. Far enough off the beaten path to not be bothered, but close enough to let me go to town when I needed.

I spun a slow circle until I faced Zeus again. I grinned. "We'll take it." Then I gasped and threw my hand over my mouth. "I mean, one sec!" I skipped outside with a giddy smile. "So… what do you think, guys?"

The five of them looked at each other. Kragen spoke for them. "Do you think it's appropriate? Do you think it will fit our needs?"

I nodded. "Yes, I do."

"Then we agree. We have no frame of reference for these things. We trust you Kendal."

Four words that made my eyes leak. I wasn't sure anyone had said they trusted me before. My parents certainly didn't, rest their souls. Don't get me wrong, I loved them, but they expected a rebellious daughter and I wasn't. I got good grades and always made curfew. They still questioned me about where I was and who I was with.

It didn't matter that I led a very boring life during my teen and young adult years. It wasn't until after they were killed in a car accident that I let myself loose a bit. I spent a good year getting tipsy every night in bars across town. The seedier the better.

Until I got sick of being hungover every day.

I'd like to think I reached a happy middle. I was no monk, but I wasn't hanging out with biker gangs anymore either.

I guess instead of motorcycles and leather my tastes had changed to fur and horns.

Thurl put his hand tentatively on my shoulder. His ears drooped and he whined. "Why are you sad, Kendal?"

"I'm not sad, I'm happy. These are happy tears."

He looked at his brothers, his head cocking. "This place makes you happy?"

I shook my head. "No, you make me happy. It's been a while since I've had friends who cared about me. Even longer since I've had a family."

Quin, Cavi and Thurl tilted their heads back and howled. Kragen had an indulgent smile on his face.

"What's happening?"

"You make us happy, too. These are happy howls."

My tears didn't stop, even through a burst of laughter. Thurl picked me up and twirled me around before almost throwing me down and backing away. "Sorry."

I swiped at the tears on my cheeks. "It's okay."

Bull appeared from somewhere, his tall lanky frame and habit of going everywhere with a laptop not hampering his ability to move without sound. Though the ‘fangs heard him, their heads swiveling like a school of fish.

"Our offer has been accepted and they're willing to close immediately. Apparently the property has sat vacant long enough they're just happy to be rid of it." He held the laptop in the palm of his left hand, his eyes glued to the screen, his right hand typing away. He finally looked up after a few minutes. "We'll need to send a representative to the closing. Who wants to stand as proxy for the wyrfang?"

Kragen stepped up. "Kendal should go."

Zeus swung his head in that direction. "Whoever goes will sign the paperwork to gain ownership of the property. One of my team members can stand in using one of your new identities."

I laid my hand on Kragen's forearm, and it tensed beneath my fingers. It reminded me how they were unused to affectionate touch and my heart broke for them. I decided to hug them each once a day.

"Kragen, I appreciate that you're offering to put me on the deed, and I'll go if you want that, but you or one of your brothers should also be on it. Then you can officially name beneficiaries, so if something were to happen to one of you, the others wouldn't have to worry about their homes being taken away."

"Couldn't you make us your beneficiary?" He stumbled over the unfamiliar word.

I nodded. "I could, I suppose?" I looked at Zeus for confirmation. I'd never owned anything worth assigning a beneficiary before.

"Yes. That would work. In the eyes of Society's council, you and Drym are bonded, so you've automatically become the inheritor of each other's property. It's the normal's rules and regulations that can prove tricky sometimes. We have a fae lawyer who can navigate the complexities later."

"Well then." I dusted my hands on my jeans. "I'll sign the paperwork. While I'm doing that, Zeus, can you show the ‘fangs each of the housing sites so they can decide who will be where?"

"Of course."

As I slid into the passenger side of Bull's SUV, the joy of the successful property expedition faded. The bond lights floated around my head and stretched into the distance. I hope you're okay. I scanned my body for any new aches and pains and there were none, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that the beast I loved was in a miserable place with awful people.

And I couldn't do anything to help him.