CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Opening the front door of his lodge the next morning, Eli found Bracken standing on the porch, his mouth set into a thin slash. “What’s with the scowl?”

Bracken’s nostrils flared. “Your mink has corrupted my mate!”

“Corrupted? What are you talking about?”

The enforcer held up his phone. “Look!”

Peering at the photograph on the screen of the cell, Eli felt his lips twitch. Jesus Christ.

“My cat now has her own little collection of corpses, all neatly piled on top of each other behind her rockery.”

It was probably wrong that Eli found this so amusing. “To be fair, Brack, that cat of yours has always been crazy.”

“But not a murderous psychopath!”

“My mate is not a psychopath.” The mink was, however, silently skittering up the porch rail behind an oblivious Bracken, her nose twitching as she glared at the visitor’s back.

“Casey’s not, no,” allowed Bracken. “But her mink sure is. And she’s grooming my cat to be her partner in crime!”

Tipping his head to the side, Eli pursed his lips. “I wouldn’t say partner. More like ‘apprentice.’”

In a blur of movement, the mink leaped onto Bracken’s nape with a little snarl, and then jumped onto Eli’s shoulder.

Bracken slapped the back of his neck. “Ow! She just bit me!”

“She did not.”

“Look!” The enforcer twisted only slightly, not letting the mink out of his sight. Sure enough, there was a mark and a few dots of blood, but nothing like the kind of bite a mink could deliver with those formidable teeth.

“It was just a little nip.”

Bracken’s brows shot up. “A nip?”

“You’re on her territory, yelling at her mate. What did you think she’d do? Come on, don’t be a pussy.” The mink licked at Eli’s face, making him smile. He gently lifted her from his shoulder and held her against his chest as he stroked her. Just as she always did, she snuggled into him with a little purr. “See, she’s harmless.”

“Harmless? You have to be kidding.”

“She’s as playful as a pup.” Most of the time. She’d bitten Eli once, but that was only because he’d tried bathing her after she came into the lodge covered in mud. Honestly, that small bite had brought tears to his eyes.

As she lay in his arms quite content, Eli scratched and rubbed her belly. “It’s okay, gorgeous. The big, mean, whiny wolf is just a little scared of you, that’s all.”

“I’m not scared of her, I’m damn well disturbed by her. And I’d say I have reason to be, considering she just tried to kill me. That’s how minks kill, you know. They bite the nape of their prey, puncturing the skull or spinal cord like a freaking jaguar.”

“And where’s the wrong in that?” Eli asked. Hearing the rustling of grass in the distance, his wolf’s ears perked up. “We have company.”

Soon, Roni and Madisyn came into sight.

Madisyn’s brow furrowed as she spotted Bracken. “I thought I heard you yelling. What’s going on?”

His mouth thinned. “I showed him the photo I snapped of your cat’s little collection of dead bodies.”

Madisyn rolled her eyes. “You make it sound like she killed some hitchhikers and kept their corpses as trophies.”

Climbing the porch steps, Roni gasped. “Oh, Mads, look how cute she is!”

Madisyn’s face went all soft. “And she lets him cradle her like a baby.” The feline put a hand to her chest. “My heart can’t take how utterly adorable this is.”

“You hear that?” asked Roni. “She’s purring like a little kitten. And now she’s licking my hand. Oh, she’s so sweet.”

“She is not sweet,” snapped Bracken. “She just bit me!”

“Where?” Madisyn studied the spot he pointed at. “It’s just a little nip. What did you do to her?”

Bracken’s eyes widened. “I didn’t do anything. She has it in for me.”

“Has it in for you,” the feline repeated. “Right.”

Eli was surprised when the mink let out a contented clucking sound and crawled up Roni’s arm. Then again, the mink probably felt comfortable around her given that the she-wolf’s scent was like his own.

“Hey, cutie.” His sister very carefully shifted the mink so that she was pressed against her chest, her little head peeking over Roni’s shoulder.

Madisyn clasped her hands. “Can I hold her, Eli?”

“No!” Bracken shook his head wildly. “No holding her.”

Madisyn frowned. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to carry home your severed fingers.”

Again, Madisyn rolled her eyes at her mate and then turned back to Eli. “Do you think she’ll let me hold her?”

Eli shrugged. “She should be okay with you, since she’s friends with your cat.”

“You can have your turn in a minute, Mads,” said Roni. “Here, stroke her back, let her get used to you and your scent.” Roni turned toward Madisyn, inadvertently giving the mink a clear view of Bracken.

The enforcer jerked back slightly. “She just snarled at me!”

Madisyn shot him an exasperated look. “Stop being an idiot. She’s too busy purring to be snarling.”

“I saw her,” insisted Bracken.

So had Eli, but he clamped his lips shut and said nothing.

“Now she’s glaring at me over Roni’s shoulder.” Bracken perched his hands on his hips. “I’m telling you, she’s thinking of launching herself right at me.”

Madisyn shook her head. “God, you can be such a drama queen. And stop shouting, you’re going to scare her.” Like the mink was a sensitive, nervous fawn or something.

The enforcer slashed a hand through the air. “That’s it, I’m done here.” Bracken stalked off, muttering to himself.

Eli turned to his female visitors. “So, what brings you two here?”

“We came to make sure that Casey hadn’t sneakily split,” said Roni. “I know she’s not exactly looking forward to the party.”

Casey had initially talked Shaya into waiting until Casey had moved in before throwing the welcome party, but Shaya had brought the date forward, figuring it would be good for Cassidy to be part of a celebration and be surrounded by her closest friends. The pup had been a little subdued since the shooting, although having Cain around did seem to reassure her.

“It’s not that Casey doesn’t want to attend the party,” said Eli. “She just doesn’t think she deserves to be thrown a welcome party when she hasn’t officially joined the pack yet.”

Madisyn shrugged one shoulder. “Shaya threw mine before I joined—it’s no biggie.”

“That’s what I told her.”

“How’s she doing this morning?”

“All right. She still won’t accept that Ignacio might believe she’s his mate, but she informed me earlier that she intends to put him out of her mind today. That works for me. I want her to enjoy the party, not be distracted by thoughts of him.” Eli smiled as the mink leaped onto his shoulder, apparently done being fussed over. “Hey, gorgeous, you ready to go inside?”

“We’ll head to the lodge and see if Shaya needs any help setting things up. See ya soon.” Roni waved at the mink. “Bye, cutie.”

Eli walked into the lodge, closed the door behind him, and looked up at his little mink. “Enjoyed fucking with Bracken, did you?” She clucked, and he nodded. “So did I.”

“I just don’t understand why anyone would want to lick an ass hole,” said Casey. “I mean … it’s an ass hole—enough said.”

Eli chuckled. They’d been firing lighthearted questions at each other as they traipsed through the trees toward the main lodge, hand in hand, and he’d just asked what sexual practice she simply didn’t understand the appeal of.

“What do you prefer—thongs or panties?” she asked.

“Thongs,” he replied without hesitation. “They’re easier to snap off.” Eli smiled when her pupils dilated. He pitched his voice low as he asked, “What’s your biggest sexual fantasy?”

“Hmm, I can’t say I have sexual fantasies, really. I did think a few little scenarios might be hot, though, like being seduced in my sleep—something you’ve already done. It was hot.” She tilted her head. “Would you rather give oral or get oral?”

“Ah, that’s a tricky one. Normally I’d say I like to be on the receiving end—what guy doesn’t love a blowjob? But eating your pussy has become my favorite hobby.” He put his mouth to her ear and whispered, “Love the little noises you make when I fuck you with my tongue.”

“Stop that, you’ll make me wet!”

He just laughed.

“Ever had a girl take you with a strap-on?” she asked just as they stepped out of the trees and the main lodge came into view. The party was being held inside, since the weather forecast had predicted rain.

Eli grimaced at her question. “Not interested in having anything up my ass, baby. But your ass? Yeah, I love having a piece of that.”

“Favorite sex position?”

He pursed his lips. “Depends if you’re sober, baby. My favorite is definitely girl-on-top when you’re drunk. No woman has ever ridden me as hard as you do when you’re blitzed.” Eli was kind of hoping he could get her to do the same tonight.

“Least favorite sex position?”

“Depends if you’re sober. I love taking you from behind, but not while you’re drunk—you always sneakily try playing with your clit and get us both off too soon.” He made a mental note to tie her hands behind her back next time.

“What’s your favorite—oral, anal, or regular sex?”

He blew out a breath. “Depends if you’re sober—”

“Oh my God, forget it.”

He chuckled again.

Entering the lodge, they found that the living, dining, and kitchen areas were packed with people. All turned at the sight of Casey. He squeezed her hand. “Come on, I want to introduce you to everyone. You met a lot of them at the Velvet Lounge.”

Half an hour later, Casey still hadn’t yet met everybody—none were satisfied to simply say hi and let her move along, which surprised her. They asked her questions, told her a little about themselves, and quizzed her about mink shifters.

Even with the many lawn chairs that Shaya had brought inside, there wasn’t enough seating for everyone. Some had perched themselves on the kitchen counter or the arms of the sofas. Others sat on their mate’s lap or on the rug near the fireplace.

People chatted and laughed, overriding the sounds of food crunching, bottles clinking, and cans popping open. The breeze occasionally swept through the open windows, swirling the scents of beer, hard liquor, and the various foods that were spread over the dining table.

Kathy and Gwen took turns brushing the crumbs and bits of food that had fallen from paper plates. They also occasionally circled the large open-space, collecting disposable kitchenware and empty bottles and cans.

Casey suspected that Eli would consider it hectic. But compared to the parties she’d attended with her many, many pack mates, it was pretty tame. Still, being in such a small, crowded space never made her mink happy, and Casey wasn’t too fond of it either. She did like the guests she’d met so far, though.

The Phoenix Pack kids were a riot, especially the Alpha pair’s son, Kye. He seemed to feel compelled to try staring down Nick, which irritated the Mercury Alpha male to no end.

It was just as a Phoenix Pack she-wolf, Grace, was chatting with her in the kitchen that two unfamiliar people approached, paper cups in hand.

The elderly woman gave Casey a gracious nod. “I’ve been waiting for Eli to bring you my way, but he was taking too long. I’m Greta, Trey’s grandmother. This is a good friend of mine, Allen.”

Casey smiled at them both. “Hi, I’m Casey. It’s really nice to meet you both.”

Greta returned the smile. “My Roni and Mila told me all about you. They’re lovely girls.” She lifted her chin slightly. “They think the world of me, just as my boys do.”

“Aw, that’s nice.”

“Roni says you’re a mink. I knew a mink once. He …” Greta averted her gaze, blushing. “Well, he was a very nice man. And very sweet to me.”

Oh, so she’d once had a little fling with a mink.

Greta touched her arm. “Roni also says you’re perfect for Eli. I’m glad.”

Allen nodded. “It’s good to see him smile a real smile.”

Casey peeked up at her mate, who was staring at Greta in what looked like bemusement. “It is,” Casey agreed.

“I wish you and Eli every happiness.” Greta patted her hand. “I’m sure we’ll talk again later.” And then she and Allen were gone.

Casey turned to Eli. “She seems really nice.”

“Well, she’s not,” said Grace, frowning. “I don’t know what that was. Then again, she often puts on an act in front of Allen.”

Eli shrugged, pulled Casey closer, and tipped his chin toward the cooler. “Beer? Soda? Water?”

“I haven’t finished this beer yet.” Casey took a long swig from her bottle, noticing that Eli’s eyes—glittering with heat—were glued to her throat as it worked to swallow the beer. She spoke in a low voice as she said, “You’re thinking some really filthy things right now, aren’t you?”

“Put it this way,” he said quietly. “If we weren’t in public, you’d be on your knees with your mouth wrapped around my dick.”

“It’s my dick.”

His mouth kicked up into a smile. “Possessive little thing. I like it.”

“I know you do.” She grazed his ear with her lips as she whispered, “Just thought you should know … I’m not wearing panties.”

He groaned. “You’re going to pay for that later.”

“Oh, I do hope so.”

With her mate close behind her, Mila sidled up to them. “Hi, Casey, it’s good to see you again. Before I forget, I want to say thanks for getting me a ticket to your last game. It was awesome.”

“You’re welcome,” Casey told her.

“It was the best fun I’ve had in ages,” said Mila. “I would totally have smacked the shit out of the bitch who broke your ankle if Dominic hadn’t held me back.”

“And then you would have been banned from future games,” Dominic pointed out.

Just then, Jesse, Trick, and Marcus approached. They dug beers out of the cooler.

Jesse’s smile was somewhat impish. “Hey, Mila.” He put a hand to his chest. “Is there an airport near here or is that my heart taking off?”

“Speaking of hearts,” said Trick, “mine’s been stolen since I first saw you. Can I have yours?”

Dominic glared at them. “Ha. Fucking. Ha.”

Marcus leaned toward her. “You know, Mila, I’ve heard it said that a kiss is actually the language of love. Want to go to my lodge and have a conversation?”

Dominic’s nostrils flared. “Do we have to go through this shit every fucking time? Really?”

Marcus pursed his lips. “Honestly, I don’t foresee it stopping any time soon. If ever.”

Leaving Dominic and the other males to argue, Eli led Casey into the living area. There were no empty seats, but Jaime shuffled along the sofa to make room for Casey to fit on the end. Eli perched himself on the armrest, content so long as he was close to his mate.

Sitting on his mother’s lap, Jaime’s infant son, Hendrix, reached for Casey with both arms and grunted, “Uh.”

Jaime sighed. “He makes that sound when he wants something. Or when he doesn’t. Or when he’s hungry. Or when he likes something he sees. Basically, it’s all we get out of him.”

Casey drained her bottle, set it on the table, and then carefully took the infant and set him on her own lap. “Hey, mister. Don’t you look smart.” She blew raspberries on his neck, loving his contagious giggle.

As Eli dropped a kiss on her head, Hendrix frowned at him and said, “Uh.”

Jaime tried stifling a smile. “I don’t think he wants to share Casey’s attention.”

“Tough luck, kid,” Eli told him.

Chuckling, Shaya looked at Nick, as if expecting him to be doing the same. But he was too busy glaring at someone on the far side of the room. Shaya poked his shoulder. “Would you stop having stare-outs with Kye?”

Nick frowned at her. “He started it.”

“Cassidy seems to be doing fine,” Jaime cut in.

Shaya’s gaze shifted to the little girl, who was holding hands with Cain in the dining area. “She’s had a few nightmares since the shooting, but she doesn’t seem to remember them afterward.”

“I heard that Cain admitted he’s her true mate,” said Dante, the Phoenix Pack’s Beta male.

“Yeah.” Shaya’s eyes narrowed slightly on Dante. “You suspected it?”

“I doubt that it will come as a surprise to many people,” the Beta told her.

“He’s so good with her,” said Jaime, watching as Cain spun the pup in a circle. “Does she know he’s hers?”

It was Nick who responded. “She hasn’t mentioned it, and we haven’t said anything because we’re not sure how she’d react.”

“I think the knowledge would be a comfort to her,” said Casey. “I mean, it’s clear she adores him.”

“I don’t like the idea that she’d be moving to another pack when she’s older, but not many are lucky enough to have their children stay within their pack.” Shaya slid her gaze to the couple approaching them, who were arguing over a plate of chocolate cake.

Roni whacked Marcus’ chin with her cutlery. “If I’d wanted to share it, I’d have gotten two forks. My God, do you ever stop eating?”

“I have a fast metabolism,” Marcus defended himself.

“You have a bottomless stomach.” Roni shoved a forkful of cake in her mouth, shooting him a look that dared him to try to take the dessert from her.

“He’s no different,” Frankie said to her, gesturing at Trick as he crossed to her. “I asked him to watch over my food while I went to speak to Kathy. All that was left when I got back was a blob of potato salad.”

Sighing, Trick offered his mate his cake. “Here, have that.”

Frankie sniffed, folding her arms across her chest. “No, thank you,” she clipped.

Trick sighed again. “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.”

Frankie frowned. “Why would I ever want to cut off my nose? And that would be masochistic, not spiteful.”

His lips thinned. “It’s just a turn of—”

“Yeah, yeah.” Frankie looked at Shaya. “Ally seems kind of quiet.” She tipped her chin at the Beta female, who was talking with Taryn and Riley at the dining table.

“She’s feeling guilty,” said Nick. “Her Seer gifts are playing up, so she didn’t foresee Eli’s attack or the shooting. I’ve told her she has nothing to feel guilty about, but it’s like talking to a brick wall. The words just aren’t penetrating.”

“Derren won’t let her wallow for long,” said Frankie. “It’s cute how he stands behind her chair like a sentry, looking all serious.”

Shaya’s mouth curled. “He’s been in such a crazily overprotective mood since she got pregnant that I half-expected him to be weird about welcoming a newcomer to the pack, especially since minks are rather … interesting … but he’s been great.”

Holding a bowl of chips to her chest, Madisyn smiled. “Casey’s mink is so amazingly sweet.”

Bracken stared at his mate, incredulous. “Sweet? Seriously?”

Madisyn gave him a bored look. “You’re not still whining about that little nip, are you?”

“It wasn’t just a little nip,” Bracken snapped. “I’m telling you, she wants me dead.”

“I can’t possibly imagine why she would.” Madisyn’s words were dry as a bone.

Bracken twisted in his seat to face her. “Oh, is that so? Well, I can’t possibly imagine why someone would start waving their arms when they’re asleep, calling out, ‘that’s not how you do the Hokey Cokey, get it together, people!’”

Licking salt from her fingertips, Madisyn flushed a deep red. “I did not do that.”

“Lies.” Bracken turned to Casey. “Be honest, your mink would totally add my body to her collection if she could, right?”

Casey tilted her head. “I think she’d rather just scalp you.”

Madisyn gave him a pointed look. “See, you’re just being a drama queen.”

Bracken gaped at his mate. “Like scalping me would be nothing?”

Exchanging an amused smile with Casey, Eli squeezed her nape, asking, “Want another beer, baby?”

“That would be great, thanks,” said Casey.

“Make it worth my while, then.” Eli sank into the kiss she gave him, though he kept it PG since Hendrix was watching like a hawk. “Hmm. Best taste ever.”

Casey watched him head to the kitchen. Okay, she watched his ass as he walked to the kitchen. It was a rather delicious sight.

Leaning forward, Shaya smiled at Casey. “He’s so totally gone for you—I love it. I was worried about him for a long time. It’s nice that I don’t have to worry anymore. I was so surprised that he recognized you as his mate so fast, given that Kathy’s experiences had to have left him with some issues. Nick and I recognized each other at first glance, you know.”

Casey widened her eyes, going for clueless. “Really?”

Shaya stared at her for a long moment. “Eli told you, huh?”

“Only some of it,” said Casey. “I noticed you seemed sad sometimes when you saw me and him together. He just wanted to assure me that it wasn’t personal.”

“It’s really not personal. It hurt when Nick walked away from me. I’ve never felt pain like it before or since. It would be easy to be bitter about it, but I’m not. I mean, think of this: If he hadn’t turned his back on me, I wouldn’t have moved to Arizona. And if I hadn’t moved there, I wouldn’t have met Bracken, Jesse, Zander, or Kent. We wouldn’t have later all come back here with Nick and formed the Mercury pack. Caleb might never have known Kent, just like Bracken might never have found Madisyn, and Eli might never have met you, and so on and so on. We’re all where we need to be, and that’s what’s important.”

Casey wished she could say that she’d be able to look back on such a painful time and spin it in a positive way, but she’d be lying through her wisdom teeth. “God, Shaya, you’re so nice.”

Shaya just chuckled.

“What’s funny?” Eli asked as he returned. His mate just shook her head.

Although all the food was consumed within a couple of hours, the guests stayed—drinking, telling stories, teasing each other. Eli relaxed more and more as the evening went on, purely because his mate relaxed. Everyone was kind and welcoming toward her, just as he’d hoped they’d be.

He doodled patterns on her nape with his finger, wishing he knew why their bond hadn’t snapped into place. He’d claimed every part of her. There were no secrets between them, no protective walls, no doubts about mating or about each other. And yet, their bond remained incomplete. He just didn’t get it, but he didn’t let himself dwell on it right then, knowing she’d pick up on his change of mood. He didn’t want to spoil what was supposed to be a fun evening.

It was dark when the tipsy guests finally began staggering out of the lodge—most were humming merrily as the sober, designated drivers guided them to the crowded parking lot. Eli and Casey joined some of his pack mates in following the guests to the door to wave them off.

Just as Riley was about to leave, Gwen grabbed her arm. “Hey, Riley, what can I get Savannah for her birthday?” she asked quietly, referring to the young viper who the Phoenix Pack had adopted.

Riley raised her hands, swaying slightly. “Don’t ask me, I’m genuinely stuck on what to get her. She’s not an easy kid to buy gifts for. There are things I would have thought she’d love, but she’s barely paid them a glance when they pop up in a TV commercial. If anyone has ideas, that would be great.”

Casey shrugged. “All I ever wanted were balls.”

Eli barely managed to hold back a smile as all eyes, twinkling with amusement, landed on his mate.

Riley cleared her throat, her lips twitching slightly. “Balls?”

Casey nodded. “I’d play with them all day, working and improving on my technique.”

Almost groaning, Eli wished he had a pretzel or something to shove in her mouth.

“Technique?” echoed Riley.

“Yeah,” Casey went on, oblivious. “But I was picky about size. I didn’t like them too small—you don’t get as much use out of them then. Hardness, pressure, and diameter are important. They’re no good if they’re going to …” And then realization seemed to dawn on her, because her cheeks reddened. She sighed. “Yeah, I’ll shut up now.”

Eli chuckled, which earned him a pinch to the side from his mate. After waving off the Phoenix Pack, they helped clean up the mess in the lodge. Noticing his mate stumbling a little drunkenly, he spoke into her ear. “You okay? You look like you need to go and lie down. It’s probably best if you spread your legs while you’re at it.”

Casey’s mouth quirked. “I’m kind of tired. Maybe we could just cuddle tonight.”

Knowing she was teasing him, he nibbled on her earlobe as he whispered, “We can cuddle after I’ve taken you.”

“But I’m feeling really sleepy.”

“Come on, I’ll only take five minutes. You won’t even know I was there.”

She chuckled. “Fine, fine. But you have to do all the work.”

“I don’t have a problem with that.” Eli kissed her, sipping from her mouth and sifting his fingers through her hair as she melted into him.

Breezing past them, Bracken said, “You’d better hope she doesn’t shift into her animal form when drunk. A mink under the influence of alcohol will be one unstable creature. Then you’ll learn what her nips feel like.”

Madisyn groaned. “Oh my God. Would you let it go already!”

Bracken’s spine snapped straight. “Her psychopathic mink wants me dead, and you’re asking me to let it go?”

“Stop picking on the poor thing and calling her names, you’re gonna hurt her feelings.”

“What feelings? She’s a stone-cold killer.”

“Then why piss her off?” Madisyn picked up the garbage bag and hauled it outside, ignoring Bracken as he trailed behind her, muttering under his breath.

Casey turned to Eli. “I can’t tell whether she’s messing with him or not.”

“Oh, she’s messing with him,” said Eli. “Madisyn likes dicking with people in general, but she persistently does it to him. We all love it, because it brings out some of the old Bracken; the parts we thought died along with his family. She probably teases him so often because he hogs so much of her time and gives her very little space. You think I’m bad—he’s ten times worse. If Madisyn was on a soccer team, he’d observe every practice and possibly even insist on hanging with the coaching staff during games.”

Casey snorted, scrubbing sticky stains from the kitchen countertop. “Like you haven’t thought of doing both those things.”

Of course Eli had. “Only because I like watching you play and want to be close in case you need me.” Hearing his phone ring, he pulled it out of his pocket. Eli felt his brows draw together as he saw Adrian’s name on the screen. “Hello,” he greeted. What the Alpha said next made Eli grind his teeth. “Yeah, I’ll tell her.”

Ending the call, he pocketed his cell and turned to Casey. “That was Adrian. The young girl working at the bakery beneath your apartment has been dating one of Ignacio’s cats. She claims he did ask questions about the Hounds and that your name cropped up a lot in the conversations. It was all disguised as pillow talk but, yeah, I’d say she was being milked for information on you.”

Casey cursed and slapped the wet cloth on the counter.

“Now will you consider that just maybe I’m right and he believes you’re his true mate?”

She shoved a hand into her hair. “I just don’t know why he’d ever think that. I never came onto him or—”

Eli caught her face in his hands. “I am not for one second suggesting that you did anything to make him believe it. He got the idea in his head somehow. It could be that he just didn’t know how else to explain why you drew him.”

“Drew him?”

“You’re a very compelling person, Casey. And you’d be ten times more compelling to someone with the kind of demons he possesses. You’re everything that the people who let him down, including his mother, aren’t—strong, protective, loyal, caring. It makes sense that you’d be a temptation to him; that he’d want to possess you.”

“If you’re right about that, he’ll try to kill you.”

“I know. But I’ll be ready when he does. Although I might not have to wait until he comes to me. You remember the falcon I let live?”

“Yes.”

“Cain thinks he might have an idea of just who it was—apparently, there was a particular group of falcons he knew who were also hired thugs. He’s having some of his associates from The Movement check it out.” Eli stroked her bangs away from her face. “This could all be over soon. When it is, we can forget about that fucker and get on with our lives. Move in together. Have our mating ceremony. Maybe have a pup or two. Or a mink—I’m not fussed so long as they’re healthy.”

“You have it all planned out, huh?”

Bracken followed Madisyn back into the lodge, saying, “Well, when you find my scalp pinned to our front door, you’ll feel like a bitch for not taking me seriously.”

Madisyn scratched her cheek. “I don’t see how a mink could hammer a nail into a door. She’d be more likely to just use your hair to feather a nest or something, so there’s really no need for the drama. Honestly, you always insist on making a mountain out of a molehill.”

Bracken threw up his arms. “I give up.”